THE QUICK READ
• Periodisation allows you to plan for your client ’ s specific ups and downs
• The first step is to get clear on the individual ’ s goal and why , and to then continually check in with yourself and your client to ensure you are on track
• Asking members and clients , instead of telling them , allows them to listen to their bodies and assess what they can give at that time , on that day
• With the use of simplified language , you can work with your client to assign a unit of measurement to their various physical activities , ranging from lowest to highest intensity
• By considering all of these elements , you can create a periodised training plan for clients that combines a smart balance of PT and class workouts .
your client ’ s specific ups and downs , depending on what challenge they ’ re currently facing .
If you ’ re a group ex instructor , you may be wondering why this is important to you . The answer is , participants will not keep returning to your class unless they personally connect with how and what you are teaching . The what you are teaching relates to the specific physiological
TABLE 1 : The principle of progression The Principle of Progression
Planned Recovery
Planned Recovery
outcomes people can expect to achieve by attending your class week in , week out . The how is how they feel about you personally . More than likely , they will not be repeating your class if they do not connect with you in some shape or form .
As an instructor , it is unlikely that you will know all the differing goals and whys of your participants , and I am not suggesting that you should . What you must ensure , however , is that you are clear on exactly what your class offers people . If you were recommending your class to someone , could you clearly explain in a sentence what they should expect to achieve , and how they should expect to feel upon leaving the class ?
If either 1:1 coach or group exercise instructor is unclear about the goal and the why , it ’ s possible that the training being delivered is unspecific and off-target . How can we , as 1:1 coaches , expect to guide our clients to amazing results if we don ’ t understand their life and environment ? How can we , as group ex instructors , expect people to return if our deliverable product is untargeted or misleading ? The first step in our periodisation plan is to get clear on the goal and why , and to then continually check in with ourselves and our clients to ensure we are on track .
2 . Training Vs Coaching
Periodising our classes and our sessions increases our value in the eyes of our clients and members . It ’ s what takes us from being a trainer to being a coach . As a group ex instructor , instead of people attending our classes , it becomes an unmissable experience . The key for both is listening and asking .
Instructors , let ’ s start with you . ‘ Listening ’ in your classes means you are able to interpret body language and absorb small pieces of information participants give you . It means being able to feel the energy of the room and influence it in the direction of the class goals . ‘ Asking ’ means we give our members options in exercise selection and intensity . It means we let them choose their level for that day , for that given exercise . It means we use our cues and coaching points with pin-point precision so they can achieve the movements we instruct , while feeling safe .
Asking your members , instead of telling them , allows them to listen to their bodies and assess what they can give at that time , on that day . This level of autonomy in your classes makes them feel safe , connected to you and more likely to achieve the longterm goals of the class . Filming your class , getting a colleague or mentor to evaluate your class for feedback , and asking for member feedback are all excellent tools for facilitating this process of autonomy .
As coaches , we must learn to ask the right questions , consistently . We must be able to listen to the answer and interpret it to inform the quantity , frequency and intensity of exercises we prescribe . This is the hardest task as a coach , as our clients usually have completely different needs , wants and challenges in their lives . This leads us nicely into our third and final checklist point . However , if you don ’ t ask and listen first , the third step cannot and will not work .
3 . Language and Metrics
We have established the why and goals , and understood how we continually evaluate ourselves and our clients ; now it ’ s time to look at integration . The fitness industry has a language that we , as coaches and instructors , use all the time . Occasionally we will have clients
12 | NETWORK WINTER 2021