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Australia Day - Network Office will be closed
by Kathryn Weihen - Monday, 23 January 2012, 02:15 PM
 

To all our awesome and studious ePT and eGX students, the Network office will be closed this Thursday January 26th for Australia Day, so you guys can have the day off study as well !!

Normal office (and study) hours will resume Friday January 27th.

Have a great day !

Network Education Team wide eyes

Picture of Chris Dounis
Walk before you run
by Chris Dounis - Monday, 16 January 2012, 01:33 PM
 

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.
Picture of Kathryn Weihen
Attention all Cert IV Students
by Kathryn Weihen - Wednesday, 11 January 2012, 11:10 AM
 

Hope 2012 is starting well for you all and by the look of my desk this morning, you are all back into your studies wide eyes

Just a quick announcement as we had a Module 6 challenge 30 Outdoor circuit assignment arrive in the post however there was no assessment document attached and no name on any of the pages of the assessment.

It arrived in a clear plastic sleeve with an A4 picture printed of the outdoor location (grass area by the water).

If this assessment rings a bell to you, could you please email me - kathryn.weihen@fitnessnetwork.com.au so I can assess it and ensure the feedback is uploaded to the correct person.

Can I also take this time to highlight the importance of always attaching the assessment document to your work with your name and contact details on it. Please also ensure all pages of your work have your name on the bottom of them.

Many thanks for your cooperation - Kat smile


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