Written by NFPT Staff Writer
It's a fact of life: Clients will travel. So how do you keep them motivated to train even while they are away for a week or more at a time?
It is important to realize that while they are away, most clients will likely have less time and fewer resources than they did at home, especially when it comes to training.
You can almost hear the excuses now: "Well, my trainer wasn't there so I couldn't work out," or "I forgot some of the moves."
That's why it's vital to develop a well-structured, easily understood, and above all, practical, workout for a client going on a business trip or vacation. By doing some work ahead of time, you can equip your travelling clients with the means to stay on their path towards a healthier lifestyle.
With that in mind, below are some suggested steps for keeping your clients motivated while they are traveling.
Review
Reviewing exercises and their names with your clients should be a fairly straightforward matter. Since you already instruct your client personally, then the names and techniques should be a quick review. One way to do this is to devote one session to review the correct form and the exercises that a client will be doing on his or her own while away.
The recommended steps below are aimed at furnishing clients with the visual, physical (the client should have a muscle memory for how the exercise should be done), and verbal reinforcement to help them better retain the information to and put it into practice on their own later on.
o Name the exercise;
o demonstrate the exercise;
o have the client perform the exercise;
o invite questions and clarify anything that they consider vague -- they won't have you over their shoulder to ask later on.
Select Core Exercises
Choosing which core exercises to include is perhaps the most straightforward part of developing the workout program. The obvious is select exercises that have proven successful consistently in targeting each muscle group.
Remember, simplicity is golden: There is no need to have a client perform a complicated incline seated cable cross over when he or she benefit equally from a basic incline dumbbell press. And, since many clients won't have access to a gym and its machines, practicality is the watchword when designing your client's routine while traveling. For example, locating an incline bench would likely be easier than finding a cable crossover machine. Likewise, specifying an alternate dumbbell curl is more practicable with limited equipment than is a seated preacher curl.
While you are at it, be sure to include three to four exercises for each body part. Workouts should include all major muscle groups as well as incorporate abdominal, calf, and cardiovascular exercises.
Just as important is the nutritional guidance that we as fitness professionals must reinforce. Make sure that your clients understand the importance of maintaining a well-balanced diet. Consider role-playing with your clients: have them consider what choices they might encounter at a buffet, for instance, and what might be some of the healthier selections. And there is no better time to emphasize the importance of staying properly hydrated while traveling and after arriving.
If possible, the completed travel program design should be spelled out in writing and be very specific in the mention of the exercises, repetitions, and rest periods. It is better to be as thorough as possible rather than leave your clients guessing.
Below is an example of a program designed for an advanced traveling client. Keep in mind that most clients would find the below training volume a bit much to handle, especially if they are on vacation(!):
Monday
(Chest/Back/Abdominals/Cardio)
1) 3 sets of 15 repetitions flat bench dumbbell press using 20-25lb weights
2) 3 sets of 15 repetitions incline dumbbell press using 15-20lb weights
3) 4 sets of standard push-ups 20-25 repetitions
4) 3 sets of 20 repetitions one arm dumbbell rows using 15-20lb weights
5) 3 sets of 20 repetitions lat-pull downs to top of chest using 60lb weights
6) 4 sets of 30 abdominal crunches
7) 40 minutes on treadmill at speed 4.0( brisk walk )w/4% elevation
8) 4 sets of 40 standing calf raises
Wednesday
(Shoulders/Legs/Abdominals/Cardio)
1) 3 sets of 15 repetitions seated shoulder dumbbell press 10-15lb weights
2) 3 sets of 15 repetitions of dumbbell shoulder side lateral raises 7-8lb weights
3) 3 sets of 15 repetitions of dumbbell shoulder front raises 7-8lb weights
4) 3 sets stationary lunges 25 repetitions each leg
5) 3 sets leg press 15 repetitions 100lb weights
6) 3 sets leg extension 15 repetitions 50lb weights
7) 3 sets of 40 abdominal crunches
8) 40 minutes level 5 stationary bike
9) 3 sets of 50 standing calf raises
Friday
(Biceps/Triceps/Abdominals/Cardio)
1) 3 sets seated alternate dumbbell curls 15 repetitions 12lb weights
2) 3 sets standing straight bar curls 15 repetitions 25lb weights
3) 3 sets standing alternate dumbbell hammer curls 15 repetitions 15 lb weights
4) 3 sets reverse bench dips 20 repetitions
5) 3 sets tricep push downs using lat-pull down machine straight bar 15 repetitions 30lb weights
6) 3 sets tricep dumbbell kickbacks 20 repetitions 7lb weights
7) 5 sets 30 abdominal crunches
8) 40 minutes treadmill 4.2 speed 5% incline
Parting Thoughts
Being prepared for the eventuality of travel will allow your clients to keep their conditioning levels as if they had never left. Providing your clients with the tools needed to continue toward their fitness goals -- even if they are in a different environment -- is a great way to keep them motivated. By listening to your clients' needs and working within their limitations, a personal trainer lets them know that time away from home doesn't necessarily mean time away from training.
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written by helen, July 07, 2011
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