If I had a dollar, actually make that 50 cents, for every time that I have seen a trainer instructing their client through an exercise loaded with poor, dangerous, non-functional and just plain bad technique, well... I probably wouldn’t be writing this. I’ve often wondered why, when the trainer clearly can’t perform the exercise themselves, they are asking their client to do it?
I think I know the answer and it stems from the fact that we all want to stand out and be different.
Now, there is absolutely nothing wrong with being different as a trainer – anything that gets the client the results that they want in a safe, effective and efficient manner surely can never be a bad thing. But simply trying to be different in a vain attempt to stand out from the crowd by programming all sorts of complex exercises that you are entirely unsure about is not going to see you last long in this industry.
There is an old saying when it comes to training – I’m not sure who said it first and I don’t know when they said it – but it is simply to ‘never instruct an exercise that you have not yet mastered yourself’, and this may be one of the best pieces of advice that you ever get. Don’t ever experiment with or on your client on their time.
If you saw a fantastic looking exercise in a magazine or on television that you believe your client will enjoy and will help them to achieve their goal that is great. But take the time to master it yourself first. If you can perform and coach a great squat than coach a great squat. There is absolutely nothing wrong with a program that is full of barbell squats, lunges, step ups, bench presses, dumbbell rowing, pulldowns, curls, extensions and crunches if those are the exercises that you know like the back of your hand.
Take time to add exercises to your arsenal, but don’t insist on it happening overnight. If you aren’t sure how to perform a great single-legged overhead squat on a TRX whilst standing on a bosu (what an odd and silly sounding exercise?) than don’t coach it and don’t program it. Because do you know what? Your client isn’t a dummy and they will know when you have no idea what you are talking about. Clients like a trainer who is assertive and concise and if you aren’t sure of an exercise you will be neither.
This might sound like common sense and I’m not saying that you are going to be that trainer, but I see it all the time. Stick with the things that you know and are confident with and don’t worry about what the other trainer in the corner is doing on the bosu ball with the kettlebell. Play to your strengths, walk before you try to run and you'll take a big step to having a long and fruitful career whilst the trainer in the corner is looking for a new line of work.
