themselves in a little bit – can
be what keeps them coming
back to the gym,” Mark explains.
For younger PTs, who will
understand those principles
without necessarily having had
those experiences, there’s a lot
to be gained from talking with
more experienced PTs about
this perception that many older
clients will be coming to the
gym with.
“
It’s more
about
knowing
people’s
limitation
when they
get older.”
“Seeing the gym full of young,
fit people can be intimidating to
those that are older and unfit.
Even with fit-looking older PTs,
there will be some recognition
on the part of similar aged
clients that may well have gone
through similar experiences
with fitness – they’ll have had
that point in your 20s where
you don’t even need to warm
up or cool down, you just throw
yourself into exercise and you’re
done. And they’ll have come
out the other end of that, to
where, in your 50s, you’ll need a
lengthy warm up and cool down
to cope.”
“One of the great things about
working somewhere like David
Lloyd’s is the conversations you
have with other trainers of all
ages. It’s a great way of learning
on the job, and highlights the
benefits of clubs hiring PTs of all
different types.
“The advice I give to
younger PTs is more about
understanding people’s
limitation when they get older.
Their bones might be a bit
weaker, their muscles less
flexible. You’ve got to place a
high importance on starting at a
low level, then working up from
there.
“That’s always got to start with
12
FM
www.exerciseregister.org
an assessment of a new client,
before you do any training with
them. Can they do a press-up?
If not, can they do one on their
knees?
“It sounds obvious, but it can
be easily brushed over when
you first start out in the job. I
remember nearly killing my first
client, the poor guy, as he could
do the exercises I was giving
him but he didn’t have the
underlying strength to continue
it. It was about four days before
he could even attempt another
session!”
What can the industry do
to help trainers learn those
lessons before they make those