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GURU - THE PERSONAL TRAINER
WHO IS A PERSONAL TRAINER?
For the sake of convenience we will use the word 'trainer' in this article.
Though I personally feel 'teacher' is the proper word. Trainers are for animals,
whereas
humans need teachers to teach them....to guide them on the path.
The concept of
personal trainers has recently blossomed. This is a result of the influence
of 'the west'. Everywhere we see personal trainers mushrooming. Every other
day we come to know that someone has returned from the USA with a certification
of a personal trainer. Going abroad for a couple of weeks, getting a certification
done, return back and start teaching, that is the trend. Having a personal
trainer has become a 'status' symbol.
In fact the concept of personal (teacher) trainer is prevalent in India since
ancient times. We called it the 'Guru-Shishya' relationship. This traditional
approach is and was always the most revered and intimate relationship between
a teacher and a student. A relationship which is considered sacred and personal
and is often put on the highest pedestal. The 'Guru' acts as a friend, philosopher
and guide.
The 'Guru' (personal teacher) is someone who primarily has experiential and
theoretical understanding about the training methods. A 'Guru' also has a
traditional lineage. He/she understands the need of the person at all levels
i.e. physical, mental, as well as emotional. Most important the trainer should
not impose his/her knowledge on the trainee, but just act as a catalyst to
help the individual to better understand himself/herself. A personal trainer
is not just about theoretical understanding but more importantly a person
of experiential wisdom.
Writing down a workout program for an individual according to the book and
saying "Do this for four weeks and then change to the next module." is
not enough. The human organism has its own biorhythm, which changes everyday.
A personal teacher understands this and has to be sensitive to these changes
and suggest the training program depending on that rhythm.
The teacher/personal trainer is someone who has the understanding, educational
background and diagnostic know-how to design an individualized exercise program.
Once your teacher has found out what your goals are, he or she can tailor
a program to help you achieve them. With a teacher's guidance, you can maximize
your results in a minimal amount of time.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS? Why do you need a trainer? Can't you get results just by going into the fitness center and working out on your own? Or follow an encyclopedia?
Motivation: It takes more than state-of-the-art equipment to reach your health goals. You have to exercise regularly and make each exercise session enjoyable. A trainer will help you develop the incentive to stick to your exercise plan.
Guidance: A trainer's understanding enables him/her to customize an exercise program, making it specific to your goals. One size does not fit all! Plus, your trainer will teach you correct form, which will maximize efficiency and effectiveness, and minimize the chance of injury. Finally, as your health improves, your trainer will fine-tune your program to meet your changing needs and make sure you continue to get results.
Convenience: Don't have time to exercise? You and your trainer can figure out a schedule that will work for you. Together, you can also brainstorm ways to overcome the other obstacles that stand between you and your goals.
WHO NEEDS IT?
If you feel you are not reaching your specific health goals, not putting the maximum effort into your training sessions--or not getting the maximum results from training--personal training is probably for you. Do you have trouble showing up three to four times a week to exercise? Are you unsure how to use all the equipment at your facility--or which equipment is best for your needs? Do you sometimes feel you are just "going through the motions" and not achieving the results you want? Are you confused on what kind of training activity is better suited for you? Have you reached a plateau in your progress? Is it difficult to motivate yourself to try harder each time? Do you feel you need more guidance to get the most from your exercise program? Have you come to a point in your training where you either get bored or stop seeing results?
When this happens it is absolutely crucial that you change what you are doing; this is when you need to get creative by incorporating something new into your program. In consultation with your Guru/Trainer you can make effective changes in your program in many ways. Try new or alternate exercises; change the order that you train your muscles or the order of the exercises, and so forth. You may also want to do 'cross-training' and change your training activity altogether.
If you answered yes to a few of these questions, you may need a personal trainer! You can get the individual attention you need for the motivation, guidance and custom results you want. Personal training is not just for movie stars and CEO's. Rather, it is an innovative, affordable route to a results-oriented exercise program for you.
One point--maybe the most important of all for ongoing strength training programs--that is absolutely imperative to understand and implement into your training regimen is the need to overcome training plateaus. Ideally, you want to always be going through a momentum phase in which you try something new and "shock" your muscles, forcing them to make gains. Eventually however, you will.
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