BDx Biomechanics

What does it take to be an Exercise Specialist?  Well, it takes more that writing out a workout schedule/fitness program, and it requires more intelligence than just pushing people through hard exercises and tough workouts…

In my previous post, I stated some frustrations I have with the fitness industry, and I questioned what makes a trainer truly “great”.

I received several responses, and after deleting the very entertaining emails challenging me to “try your workout to see for myself”, I found that the most common question (of serious inquiries) was along the lines of, “if that’s what wrong with trainers, then what are they actually supposed to do?”.

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What makes a personal trainer “GREAT”?

…If you asked a bunch of different people that question, you’d probably hear a variety of answers.  This article intends to explore some of the most common answer-types, while encouraging the reader (you) to raise your standards and your expectations for the so-called “professional” trainer.

* “Beautiful words are not always truthful, and truthful words are not always beautiful.”  – Lao Tzu (modified)

If you were to ask a gym owner about trainers, a “trainer” is a type of employee, and a “GREAT trainer” is often described as someone that sells a lot of training sessions, is outgoing and friendly with members, and doesn’t cause any friction among members or staff.  Upon closer view, that gym owner’s definition might not mean much more than “valuable employee”.  Of course, those qualities may be important – but (obviously) there’s much more to being a “great trainer” than just being a good member of the staff… Read the rest of this entry →

We can’t “squat like babies”, so let’s not give that advice to others, and let’s not believe in that misconception.

Here is a 5-part series (courtesy of RTS) which  explores the mechanical realities of squatting – from mechanics, to modifications, single-leg assessments, and single-leg squats.  Enjoy! Read the rest of this entry →