๐ฆ๐ต๐ผ๐๐น๐ฑ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ผ๐ป๐ฎ๐น ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฏ๐ฒ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ถ๐ฝ ๐๐ผ๐ฝ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐ฑ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป?
๐ฆ๐ต๐ผ๐๐น๐ฑ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฟ ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐๐ผ๐ป๐ฎ๐น ๐๐ฟ๐ฎ๐ถ๐ป๐ฒ๐ฟ ๐ฏ๐ฒ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ถ๐ฝ ๐๐ผ๐ฝ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ป๐ฑ๐ถ๐๐ถ๐ผ๐ป?
This seems to be a hot topic, with some trainers even taking it upon themselves to body shame other trainers in order to overcome their own professional insecurities and stand out in a competitive industryโฆ
Shame on you ๐
Anyway, itโs an age-old question in the fitness industry: should your trainer be in tip-top condition, or is โnormal healthyโ more relatable? (I see a dad, in fair shape, being able to play with his children as โnormal healthyโ)
As with almost every area of health and fitness, I donโt believe thereโs a definitive yes or no answer, but Iโm going to give you my humble opinion.
First of all, itโs important to understand that what โtip top conditionโ means to one person and what it means to another could be worlds apart, for example; is your trainer a marathon runner, a body builder or a powerlifter? Each of these sports will bring with them a different physique which makes that individual happy. I mean, we would never sit in a consultation with a client and tell them what their goals should be to bring them happiness so surely it works both ways - who are we to judge, right?
Clearly, your trainer should inspire you, and of course, your trainer needs to be able to lead by a good example โ but should that be through what he/she looks like or should it in fact be about what he/she has between the ears; Their knowledge and qualifications? Their experiences? Their success stories? Their customer service skills? Their ability to understand and emphasise with you as a human being? There are many things to consider when choosing a personal trainer, and for me personally, Iโd place the quality of their 6-pack towards the bottom of that list.
I think that empathy is the key here, let me expand;
A 40 year old with personal hang ups, a career, children, elderly parents to care for and maybe a few relationship problems may struggle to open up to 20 year old, confident muscle bound (probably lovely) personal trainer who hasnโt got children or a mortgage and who canโt truly understand their situation? Iโm not saying that trainer is a bad trainer, but they probably have a different target audience to a more mature trainer who can empathise.
Thereโs loads more that I could say on this but ultimately, youโll choose the person who inspires you!