I often get asked, why, at TF, do we call ourselves ‘Coaches’ instead of ‘Personal Trainers’? The answer, because we are Coaches, not just Personal Trainers. What’s the difference?
When you think of the term ‘Personal Trainer’ you think of someone that you see 1-4 times a week, spending an hour with them going through a range of cut and paste exercise programs. Besides your training session, you tend not to have much communication outside your hour.
When you think of the term ‘Coach’ you think of someone who supports you in all areas of your life, to help you unleash the best version of yourself.
A coach will go through extensive goal setting to ascertain exactly what you want and create a road map to get you there. They will discuss all areas of your life from your sleep, to your nutrition, your stress levels, your medical history, her menstrual cycle for females, your mood, digestion, mindset, the works. This is because progress encompasses your entire life, not just food and exercise. They then help you develop positive habits on how to improve all of these lifestyle areas.
A Coach will then assess your physical being, your posture and your structural balance. They will ascertain how you move, what restrictions you may have and then tailor movement packages to help you improve in all areas of physical needs. This includes mobility, stretches, activation exercises, posture in sitting, standing, walking etc. how to warm up, how to cool down, when to rest and how to rest. They will then tailor a personalized training program to compliment the other physical requirements, progressing your program as you improve your functional movement, flexibility, speed, power, coordination, agility, fitness and strength.
A coach helps you establish a nutrition plan that fits in with your lifestyle, that will enable you to achieve the goals you have set. A nutrition plan that nourishes and fulfills your body, rather than starving it or making it feel deprived.
A coach will check in with you, support you throughout your day, as you need. They elp you with your mindset giving you motivation and hope when yours is lagging. Empower you with knowledge, and encourage you to keep pushing on those ugly days you want to quit. They are your cheer squad, your mentor, a shoulder to lean on. They will call you on your bullshit and give you that kick up the butt when you need it. They will also pull you back and remind you when you need to rest.
A Coach is so much more than just a Personal Trainer. Just because a person obtains their certificate IV in Personal Training, does not automatically qualify them as a Coach. That is a title you must earn doing the hours on the gym floor, developing relationships and learning how to deliver value and be solution focused, without ego. And that is why at TF we call ourselves ‘Coaches’ not ‘Personal Trainers’.
- Coach Terri
