posted on November 3, 2021
When you hear the term “personal trainer”, what do you think of?
If you are not in the profession or have never worked with a trainer you are probably thinking it’s someone who delivers a workout regime, works their clients to death, and adds an extra 50 burpees every time their client falls off their diet plan. Or maybe you’re not thinking that at all. Either way, you are probably still not thinking of what I’m about to tell you.
Being a personal trainer isn’t just about creating workout programs, instructing how to perform them, and then correcting form or compensations. Yes, that is certainly part of it, but it goes way beyond that! When you’re with your clients you’re not just their trainer you’re their friend, someone they can vent to, someone to give them a good laugh, someone to distract them from hardships they may be facing in their personal lives, and so much more.
Hands down the most important quality to hold as a trainer is empathy. Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another. Typically, when people are coming to you, they are struggling with something whether that be confidence, motivation, self-esteem, etc. It is our job as trainers to establish trust and create a comfortable environment for them. It’s crucial for trainers to understand and communicate that EVERYONE STARTS SOMEWHERE. Some people may be embarrassed when they are not able to perform certain exercises or fail to lift a certain amount of weight. It is so important to respond by reminding them there is nothing to be ashamed of, they are just getting started, and they’ll get there in no time.
In these first couple of months being a trainer, I have learned a great deal. One of those things is that this is hands down the most rewarding job I will ever have. I am making a difference in people’s daily lives, their mental state, their health, and so much more! Another thing I’ve learned is how much easier things are when you truly enjoy doing them. I can’t begin to express how happy being a personal trainer makes me and how grateful I am that I get to do this every day. With that, I encourage you to go out there and change lives doing the things that truly make you happy.
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