How can you ensure clients understand the purpose of each exercise?
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Functional training is a popular and effective way to improve your fitness, strength, mobility, and performance. But as a trainer, you know that not every exercise is suitable for every client, and that each one has a specific purpose and benefit. How can you ensure that your clients understand why they are doing each exercise, and how it relates to their goals and needs? Here are some tips to help you communicate the purpose of each exercise in your functional training sessions.
Before you introduce a new exercise, explain the concept of functional training and how it differs from other types of training. Functional training is designed to mimic the movements and challenges of everyday life, sports, or work, and to enhance the body's ability to perform them efficiently and safely. It involves training multiple muscle groups, joints, and planes of motion, and often requires balance, coordination, and stability. By explaining this concept, you can help your clients see the relevance and value of each exercise.
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Dexter Jemuel Tay
ICF-ACC | WBECS Certified Breakthrough Coach | ICP Agile Coach | Kettlebell Athlete & Coach | Health & Human Performance Specialist
1) Simplicity is Key: Start with a simple, clear explanation of the exercise's purpose and benefits. Use plain language, avoiding jargon, to ensure clients can easily grasp the concept. 2) Real-World Application: Relate the exercise to real-life scenarios. Explain how it mimics movements they perform daily or how it improves functional fitness, making it more relatable and motivating. 3) Emphasize Benefits: Clearly state the benefits of the exercise. Explain how it contributes to their specific fitness goals, such as building strength, improving flexibility, or aiding in weight loss.
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One of the best ways to show your clients the purpose of each exercise is to demonstrate it yourself, or use a video or an image if you are working online. As you perform the exercise, point out the key elements of the technique, such as the posture, alignment, range of motion, speed, and intensity. Explain which muscles, joints, and skills are involved, and how they relate to the functional task or goal. For example, if you are teaching a squat, you can say that it strengthens the legs, hips, and core, and that it simulates the action of sitting down and standing up.
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Nicolas Sart
Tailor-made Home Gyms | Workout Discipline | Founder of Enso Bodyweight Training System
Deconstruct and make sure they understand the starting and end positions. When these 2 are very clear, movement usually follows naturally.
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Dexter Jemuel Tay
ICF-ACC | WBECS Certified Breakthrough Coach | ICP Agile Coach | Kettlebell Athlete & Coach | Health & Human Performance Specialist
Show: Begin by demonstrating the exercise yourself. Perform it with proper form and technique. Visual cues are powerful in conveying the intended movement.
Another way to reinforce the purpose of each exercise is to provide feedback and cues to your clients as they perform it. Feedback can be positive or constructive, and it can help your clients correct their mistakes, improve their performance, and feel more confident. Cues can be verbal or visual, and they can help your clients focus on the most important aspects of the exercise, such as breathing, contracting, or stabilizing. For example, if you are teaching a plank, you can say "squeeze your glutes and abs, keep your back straight, and breathe normally".
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Dexter Jemuel Tay
ICF-ACC | WBECS Certified Breakthrough Coach | ICP Agile Coach | Kettlebell Athlete & Coach | Health & Human Performance Specialist
Tell: Provide a clear and concise verbal explanation of the exercise. Explain its purpose, the muscles it targets, and how it fits into the overall fitness plan. This step offers clients an intellectual understanding.
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Dennis Solis
Refrigeration Technician @ R-Cold Inc | Certified Technician & CEO of Home Fitness Werx
Building a robust mind-muscle connection is crucial. Mirrors play a pivotal role by allowing clients to visualize muscle contractions in real time, enhancing mental-physical alignment. Combining this visual feedback with the internal sensation of muscle stress deepens the connection. Verbal cues from a personal trainer are equally essential. Clear instructions guide clients through exercises, reinforcing the mind-muscle link and providing immediate feedback for adjustments. The synergy between mirrors and verbal cues creates a powerful approach. This combination significantly contributes to an effective mind-muscle connection, enhancing the overall training experience for clients.
Finally, you can help your clients understand the purpose of each exercise by relating it to the outcome they want to achieve. Whether it is improving their health, fitness, performance, or appearance, you can explain how each exercise contributes to their specific goal. You can also use examples from their own life, sport, or work, to show how each exercise can help them overcome their challenges, prevent injuries, or enhance their abilities. For example, if you are teaching a lung, you can say that it improves the mobility and strength of the hips and legs, and that it can help them walk, run, or climb stairs better.
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Dexter Jemuel Tay
ICF-ACC | WBECS Certified Breakthrough Coach | ICP Agile Coach | Kettlebell Athlete & Coach | Health & Human Performance Specialist
1) Understanding Their Goals: Take time to understand their fitness goals, fears, and motivations. 2) Personalized Feedback: Provide feedback tailored to their progress and challenges. 3) Active Listening: Show genuine interest in their concerns and questions. 4) Empathetic Communication: Use empathetic language to convey understanding and support. 5) Highlight Progress: Regularly emphasize how their efforts contribute to their goals. By integrating empathy, clients feel heard, valued, and motivated to stay committed to their fitness journey.
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Dexter Jemuel Tay
ICF-ACC | WBECS Certified Breakthrough Coach | ICP Agile Coach | Kettlebell Athlete & Coach | Health & Human Performance Specialist
Verbal cues in exercise can be categorized as internal or external: - Internal cues direct focus on body movements, enhancing skill development. - External cues shift focus to the desired outcome, often improving performance and learning. Research supports the effectiveness of external cues for motor skills. Benefits: - Internal cues aid technique refinement. - External cues enhance skill execution and motor learning, making them preferable for most coaching situations. External cues often lead to better results due to their focus on the outcome.
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