So, I hear this or a variation of one of these ALL THE TIME…
I hurt myself after trying an exercise my personal trainer made me do. I had trouble doing an exercise and they told me to continue. They were rushing me to do an exercise.
I really don’t understand WHY people who get hurt by personal trainers don’t immediately stop training with them and sue them. The neglect would eventually stop if lawsuits started filing.
Some personal fitness trainers try to call everyone athletes and train them as if they were really competitive athletes. The average adult seeking general fitness or weight loss is NOT a competitive athlete and should not train like a competitive athlete. The average person who hasn’t competed in a top level sport in the last few months or years SHOULD NOT be doing advanced exercises like box jumps, burpees, or sledding, among other exercises, on day one. There are specific progressions and fitness levels that must be mastered before introducing the advanced exercises. That’s like telling a person who has never driven to compete in a NASCAR race.
It’s amazing how many personal trainers hurt people because they are feeding their egos or because they have very little experience and knowledge. Did you know that many personal trainers simply pay and take an exam online without any real-world exercise preparation, knowledge, or experience? And then they call themselves physical trainers. It’s SAD and the general public is paying for it.
Now, do you know WHY I am so proud to be an NSCA-CSCS? We know how to train athletes and we know when to hold back while helping an adult get fitter. We understand the SCIENCE behind the exercise and we know the progression of the exercise. A college degree is required to take the CSCS exam and you are given (and need) six months to study all the material. It is a serious certification and must be maintained with continuing education once certified.
Please DO NOT trust anyone to train you. Do your research, get references, and check the trainer’s credentials. A lot of people come to me AFTER they have been severely injured by personal trainers. It is your body, your money and your time that will be wasted by going to the wrong trainer. CHOOSE WELL!