While I was working out today in one of the local big commercial “healthclubs” ( I wont name names) I had the opportunity to witness something I thought I would share with you.

I watched a personal trainer take his NEW client ( I assume she was new based on the conversation I overheard) over to the leg section to begin their session.

The client was a woman in her 40’s I believe who was obviously nervous about starting the session. The trainer then says “OK..lets start. First I want you to do some walking lunges”.

The client thinks for a second and begins to walk across the floor doing what she believes is a correct lunge.

After about 6 steps the trainer says “What are you doing?” because she is NOT doing the exercise right at all.

The client says “Um..walking lunges?” The trainer, look annoyed, says “well you are doing it wrong” to which the client replys “Well you NEVER SHOWED ME HOW TO DO IT RIGHT!”

What a great response! I almost fell over laughing!

Why?

Because it was very obvious the client did not know how to do the exercise but the trainer NEVER even demonstrated or explained the mechanics of how to do the exercise correctly!

You have to be a lot of things as a trainer a being a “teacher” is very high on that list.

People learn in different ways but by demonstrating the the exercise as you explain how to do it correctly is the way it should be done.

Not a good start for the trainer…and even worse…not a good start in the clients eyes!