When shopping for a bicycle in Italy, the first thing the builders do for you is take your measurements. That way both you and the builder know what size bike you need built. I have been test riding new bikes, and most shops want you to buy the bike before they give you their version of a fitting. If I do decide to buy a new bike, I will have a professional fitting done before the purchase.
What does this have to do with hiring a personal trainer?
When most trainers design a workout program for you, they concentrate on what intensity you should use to work out. (How many sets and reps of each exercise, what heart rate to work at, etc.) Shouldn't they focus on teaching you how to move before adding any intensity to your program?
The tide is shifting thanks to trainers such as: Vern Gambetta, Mike Robertson, Erin Cressey, and many others including myself.
What do I feel is the best way to determine where to begin?
Before having a new client exercise, a Medical History Questionnaire is filled out. The goal: Find out what might keep this client from being able to perform certain exercises. The next step is to use this Questionnaire during what I call the Subjective Assessment. This covers any concerns brought up in the Medical Questionnaire in detail. An example: If the client is dealing with knee pain: When did this pain begin, what makes the pain worse, better, what treatments have already been tried and how did they help, etc.
Once I feel it is ok to begin, the next step is having the client go through a Dynamic Warm Up which will show me most of what I need to know. Watching them perform some basic movements like squatting or lunging will help complete the picture of how they move and show me what that client needs to work on to begin moving better.
Don't settle for just another workout. learn how to move first.
How to use exercise to prepare for the challenges of aging.
