WHY
PERSONAL TRAINERS
By Karina Francois
SHOULD TEACH THEIR CLIENTS
TO BECOME ‘INTRINSIC’ EXERCISERS
Learning to love working out is often
the missing element to a successful
wellness program.
F
or many personal
trainers, keeping their
clientele motivated
to keep exercising can be
a struggle. Many start off
with good intentions and
a goal to get a bikini body
by summer, lose the baby
weight or bulk up to look
good.
But it’s a well-known fact that people’s
motivation tends to lose its shine over
time. It’s not that people don’t want
to be fit; they just have a hard time
following through. In fact, US statistics
suggest that 67 per cent of people who
have gym memberships don’t go, and
14
on average, most people who make
workout resolutions will quit them within
two weeks.
Exercise is an integral part of a healthy
lifestyle, and learning to love working
out is often the missing element to a
successful wellness program.
Whether or not a client will continue
with an exercise regime comes down
to motivation, and there are two types extrinsic and intrinsic. Understanding the
difference between the two is essential
for any fitness professional working with
an unmotivated client.
Most people tend to fall under the
umbrella of ‘extrinsic’ exercisers – that
is, a person who works out in order to
achieve the superficial gains – weight
loss, strength and muscle tone. These
are achievable when a person makes
a consistent effort over an extended
period - but it’s easy for them to feel
discouraged when they don’t see
immediate results.
In contrast, when a person has an
intrinsic motivation to work out, they
have a greater chance of success.
Instead of focusing on superficial goals,
they focus on the immediate positive
benefits of working out, and the great
feeling that comes after a session. They
take the time to enjoy their workout,
creating a positive association, which
encourages them to do it again.
Another reason people tend to lose
motivation is because they only hit the
gym to alleviate feelings of guilt - for
example, someone who rushes to the
gym to punish themselves for overindulging with food. Many people
also fall into the trap of comparing
themselves to others, which leads to
insecurities and discouragement. It’s
important to remind your clients that
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