Personal trainers help clients reach their fitness goals and live healthy lifestyles, but boredom, burnout and fitness plateaus interfere with the training process. Successful personal trainers use a variety of solutions to maintain their clients' interest, and help them past the sticking points in their fitness and weight loss programs.
Avoiding Client Burnout
In the Disney movie "Mary Poppins," the perfect nanny has a carpetbag full of tricks and experiences that keep her charges amused and engaged. Personal trainers have their own version of the carpetbag. It's called "variety." If your client is performing the same set of exercises each week, he might be performing on autopilot. Break the monotony by changing the equipment or changing the exercise venue. Substitute stability balls or other types of balance equipment for weight benches. If you usually work with clients in a gym or at their home, take them outside and use the natural environment as a gym. Adding variety may also help your clients move past their fitness plateaus.
Trainer Burnout
Trainer burnout is as serious as client burnout. The availability of online continuing education credits makes it easier to maintain your certification without incurring travel costs, but conferences and workshops spark a trainer's creativity. Plan to attend at least one major conference each year. Some conference presenters will conduct workshops at your gym or facility. This is an affordable option.
Dealing with Children
If your client cancels sessions because of childcare issues, or if your client's children interrupt your session, turn problematic kids into a fitness solution. Your local playground offers endless opportunities for parent and child fitness activities. Hopscotch, jump-rope, Frisbee and tag enhance agility, coordination and aerobic endurance. Holding on to monkey bars or the back or park benches provides effective upper back stretching. If your client has very young children, have her push them on the swings, and perform a squat with every push.
Dietary Issues
Your client's poor eating habits may sabotage his weight loss goals. Many people are unaware of the empty calories and high fat content in the foods they eat. If you have some background in nutrition, take your client on a trip to the supermarket, and teach him how to read the labels.
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