By Adam Dowell
To the class attendee:
Your coach is knowledgable, but doesn’t know everything about you or your body. There are some things that are expected of you when in a class that aren’t exactly painted on the wall. Here are a couple suggestions to help us make the most out of your training session.
- The best way to approach a new class and a new trainer is to introduce yourself, and inform the trainer of any impingements or personal contraindications you may have.
- Don’t be afraid to speak up. Every single exercise has a modification, or can be replaced by another exercise.
- Take initiative when adding or lowering weight. If the coach suggests that you add weight, but the current weight was challenging, speak up. We always want you to work to fatigue, not pain. Safety is always our number one priority. On the other end of the spectrum, if you started with a certain weight, and it was way too easy, you don’t need to wait for the trainer to tell you to step it up.
- On a scale of 1-10, in a class, you should generally be at an 8 for difficulty, unless otherwise stated by the trainer. If you feel like you’re getting away with a simple weight, you’re only cheating yourself out of getting the most benefit from the class.
- The most important thing to remember: keep it fun! Never get frustrated if you can’t get the hang of a move right away. It’s called “training” not “trained.” You’ll always be learning and finding new things you love about exercise!
