|
If PT = personal trainer, then you're going to be working mostly with older individuals who want to lose weight and/or have no fucking clue about anything. I'm a PT. All I do is run people through effective, compound oriented workouts, then I make them do some rehab work for their bad posture.
I have 3 templates I work through using box squats, goblet squats, benching/pressing/rowing, and then some explosive/hypertrophy hybrid stuff: kroc rows, push press, squat jump, etc. For cardio, I introduce interval training. Generally I won't go below 5 reps, and I rarely go above 12. But don't overload them with too much. I like to just write down the shit we do as we do it, then at the end of the workout I'll give it to them. Then they can do the workout over again. The information you give them probably won't sink in. They've got other shit to worry about in their lives, so don't expect them to take each training session as a learning experience. Correct their form, tell them what it does, and you're fine. Sometimes they like hearing about it, but it's rare they'll actually take it to heart. What they really want is to pay someone to do it for them, and to do it correctly.
The most important thing is to fix their horrible squat form, and box squats for 8-10 reps for a few weeks help (though if you can 300-500 reps total would be a better goal). They all have horrible squat form, so learn how to coach a squat if you don't already. Make sure you don't lie to them or start acting how a "personal trainer" should act. I don't hide the fact I train powerlifting/strongman. I've read Supertraining (and dozens of other shit about athletic development. never stop reading) and I train on a strongman modified Westside template. People want someone who's smart and make them make progress. They don't want Timmy the Personal Trainer (Jim Wendler reference). Don't use machines unless you get someone with an injury or someone who you know will feel embarrassed using the free weights with a bunch of dudes. Use the Rate of Perceived Exertion (RPE) scale as a gauge whenever possible, but watch their form and decide what number they're actually at. Be aware they have no idea what heavy weights feel like. They might tell you it feels like a 8/10, but then they'll hit 10 reps without even squinting. They're just not used to feeling heavy weight and don't know how to handle the pressure.
It's not a hard job as long as you generally enjoy lifting and helping people.
|
