Whether you are a beginner personal trainer in Adelaide or you have years of experience in the field, there are some potential pitfalls you could encounter throughout your career. When working to help your clients improve their level of fitness, it is possible to overlook some things that could otherwise boost the satisfaction and loyalty of your customers. While it is very easy to fall into some pitfalls, they are easy to correct. Read on to find some common mistakes you need to avoid.
Not obtaining a medical history
Personal trainers often neglect to get a medical history of their client’s injuries and health conditions. It is very important to be aware of such issues before you begin your training with clients. If you discover your client had heart complications, you will know to keep a close eye on her or him and watch for any signs of distress. Also, if you find out he or she had a shoulder or knee injury then you can tailor the work and avoid undue stress on that joint.
Poor record-keeping
Lax record keeping is a common mistake that personal trainers make. It is important to maintain accurate documentation of the blood pressure, general responses and the number of repetitions of each exercise of your clients. This will help you track down their gains and know how to plan for their training.
Using one-size-fits-all programs
A personal trainer near you needs to adjust an exercise program to accommodate the medical problems of the client. Aside from this, the personal trainer needs to individualize the program to address the fitness level, personal goals and progress of the client.
Someone who wants to lose weight will need a different workout program than someone who wants to gain weight. A diabetic person will need a different workout program from a pregnant woman. These are some of the most important things to bear in mind when designing a suitable program for each patient.
Pushing clients too fast, too far
A personal trainer needs to avoid pushing clients so far that they end up failing to come back. If a client wants to stop with the training session, you should determine if he or she is in pain, discomfort or just doesn’t like the activity. It is important to remember that the client has the final say.
Poor communication
Communication is a very important skill for all personal trainers. Personal trainers have the responsibility to motivate his or her clients to be consistent. It is therefore important for a personal trainer to be able to observe the personality of the client and see how they can respond. Personal trainers should know the power of positive reinforcement when it comes to building the drive of a client or the confidence of a client.
Unfocussed attention on clients
If you are a personal trainer Adelaide then it is important to remember that your clients want your full attention. You should therefore eliminate things that would distract you.