How to Choose a Fitness Instructor
Fitness instructors can be a great motivational help in achieving your fitness goals because of their knowledge in creating safe and effective exercise programs. But how do you choose the right one for you?
Choosing the right instructor to match your personality is a matter of "different strokes for different folks" because some people prefer instructors who are serious and quiet while others like more gregarious and dynamic ones. Some people like an instructor who "nags" them while others favor a more laid-back approach.
No matter what kind of instructor you prefer, there are common characteristics that they should all have and not have. This will help you choose the instructor of your dreams and avoid the instructor from hell.
Kinds of instructors
A group exercise instructor
is anyone who teaches physical activity to a group of people doing the same
thing at the same time. This can be aerobics, yoga, tai chi, military-style
calisthenics, dance, etc. Gym instructors also teach a number of people at the
same time but the people are all doing something different. Personal trainers
teach one-on-one either at the gym or at home.
Should have a
background in basic exercise science
You would not entrust
your body to someone without the proper medical training. Neither should you
follow exercise instructions from someone who has no background in basic exercise
science.
A good instructor will have a solid handle on anatomy, exercise physiology (how the body functions during exercise), kinesiology and biomechanics (how the body moves), basic nutrition, injury prevention, and exercise programming (how to make individualized exercise programs for a variety of people). This knowledge can be acquired through a formal four-year course or through certification/training with reputable fitness organizations.
Someone who has learned about fitness only through his or her own experience of working out is not good enough to teach other people. Additionally, even the best fitness instructor becomes mediocre over time if he or she does not keep updated with the latest fitness research.
Should have a
passion for fitness
It’s hard enough motivating
yourself to exercise, how much more when your own teacher is not excited about
fitness. How can you tell if your instructor doesn’t have the passion?
She is the group exercise teacher who never makes eye-contact with her class, the gym instructor who keeps looking at the clock to see when his shift will be over, and the personal trainer who is only good for counting out your repetitions and not much else.
Instructors with a passion for fitness are like viruses. They are contagious. They "infect" everyone they meet with the "fitness bug" by encouraging and inspiring them to be fit.
Should practice
what he or she preaches
It is a little hypocritical
to professionally preach the gospel of fitness and be a smoker or a heavy drinker.
Instructors, whether they like it or not, are role models for health and fitness.
A good instructor is someone who lives a fit and healthy lifestyle that is not
obsessive but is balanced and realistic.
A good instructor doesn’t have to be Mr. or Ms. Body Beautiful because no one has a perfect body but they should strive to be the best they can be physically. Otherwise, how can they motivate other people to do the same?
Should offer
modifications or alternatives
One size does not fit
all when it comes to exercise. A good instructor should know how to modify the
exercise or suggest alternatives for people who have special physical concerns
like hypertension, bad knees, asthma, etc. A bad instructor only knows a few
exercise formats and makes all his or her students follow it regardless of fitness
level or medical background.
Should not gossip
about other clients or instructors
If you enjoy listening
to your instructor gossip about other clients or other instructors, keep this
in mind – he or she is probably gossiping about you when you aren’t around!
A good instructor does not spread rumors about other people and is professional
about what clients or other instructors tell them in confidence.
Should not borrow
money from you or try to sell you products
Instructors and clients
can become closer than normal simply because of familiarity (seeing someone
three or five times a week for a couple of years) but a professional instructor
will not take advantage of this closeness by asking to borrow money or trying
to sell you insurance, real estate, etc. A good instructor respects your right
to exercise without any pressure. Imagine the awkwardness that can develop if
the instructor cannot pay you back or you refuse to buy their products.
Should not play
doctor or nutritionist
A good instructor recognizes
his or her professional boundaries and limitations. An instructor can suggest
things like putting ice on a sore area or an exercise alternative if something
hurts you but they should refer you to a doctor when the pain does not go away
after a few days.
They can offer advice like "eat more fruits and vegetables" and "cut down on too much salt, sugar and fat". (common scientific nutritional advice) but they should not make individualized diet plans for people with diabetes or hypertension nor should they recommend herbal concoctions or nutritional supplements.
Should not flirt
or "hit" on you
Instructor-client romances
do occur but, as a rule, a professional instructor does not act like flirting
with his or her clients is a job perk.
Should have an
"attention to detail"
I like to say that good
instructors have "eagle eyes" – they can spot a client doing something
wrong from far away. It is important to have an instructor who is vigilant about
precision in exercise technique because this can make all the difference between
wasting your time and getting the most out of the exercise.
Should not say
negative things about your body
No one has the right to
say negative things about your body, not even a professional in charge of getting
it back in shape. I know a woman whose eating disorder can partly be blamed
on her personal trainer. She was never happy about her body although she was
lean and trim because her trainer kept telling her that her body was still not
good enough. A good instructor will encourage a healthy body image, not promote
anorexia or bulimia.
Should have professional
work habits
A good instructor is always
on time and will find a reliable substitute when he or she cannot show up.
A good instructor asks your permission first before touching you when making corrections in your exercise technique. Additionally, when they touch you, it should be in a non-threatening and professional manner without any hint of maliciousness.
Professional work habits also mean that the instructor does not bring his or her personal problems to work. A sullen or moody instructor cannot motivate you.
Work attire for fitness instructors is, of course, more revealing than the regular office outfit but it should never be sleazy, untidy or dirty.
Should focus
on you and not on themselves
Beware of the group exercise
instructor who is too busy admiring herself in the mirror to notice that the
lady in the back row is about to faint or the gym instructor who is so engrossed
in posing and flexing his muscles that he doesn’t realize his client is about
to suffocate under a barbell.
Another no-no is a gym instructor who spends most of his time chatting with the other instructors or the personal trainer who goes on and on about his life while you are exercising the wrong way right under his nose.
A good instructor has only one thing in mind when he or she is on the job – your welfare.