Physically Tweaked by Cat Smiley

I’m sweating it out in the neon light gym, trapped in a circle of mirrors that reflect danger. Attempting to focus on my last couple of reps, I can’t help but be wary of the guy grunting himself to injury lane, using fragile joints to heave gigantic weights through the wrong range of motion. To interrupt the zone of his workout (when he probably thinks he knows what he is doing) could undoubtedly backfire. Looking around I notice others contorting their bodies all with good intentions, and it becomes increasingly difficult to watch.

For some, admitting when help is needed in the technical aspect of our sporting endeavours is outweighed by pride. To others, seeking the help of a qualified professional is an essential ingredient to optimum fitness.

Glamorized by the rich and famous, working with a personal trainer has become so popular it could be considered a trend. However sociological demands of today’s fast-paced lifestyles have popularized personal training for the serious and practical person who value effective, safe exercise systems. Millions are realizing that variety, encouragement and motivation are key to enabling maximum results, sky rocketing the need for personal trainers in modern society. Certified fitness trainers, according to the LA Times, have the highest level of job satisfaction of any occupation in the United States.

Dr. Sal Aria, co-founder of the International Sports Science Association (the world’s leading fitness certification) summarizes: "If you want results, work with a qualified personal trainer. Unlike any other profession, certified fitness trainers can help individuals achieve their health and fitness goals by designing specific, personalized weight training, aerobic conditioning, flexibility, and nutritional programs. Several recent studies have concluded that individuals get better results in achieving their fitness goals by working with certified fitness trainers than those who work out alone or in group sessions.

What can you expect when you work with a trainer?

Effective personal trainers will start clients on a full body foundation resistance program that may be achieved in 8 to 12 exercises per workout, twice a week to be used in conjunction with cross training or other activities. Prices range from $35-$70 per hour.

Your instructor will emphasize several factors during resistance training:

Weight training machines — place your joint in line with the axis of the machine. This way you avoid putting additional strain on the ligaments by forcing a bizarre range of movement dictated by a cable. (For example, bicep curl on the apex machine. Put the elbow parallel to the axis).

Free weights — keep exercises natural. If you can’t imagine putting yourself in that position outside the gym, you are probably doing it wrong. Don’t swing the back, lock the knees, or hunch the shoulders.

Simplicity — starting out on good weight-training program need only entail about seven basic exercises that will work your whole body in the least amount of time. A good teacher will help you feel confident to exercise on your own, thus encouraging basic exercises that even the most sparsely equipped gym will have.

Becoming your own personal trainer takes planning. As well as motivation you also have to keep current with fitness and health knowledge. Keeping a training diary will help, as will enlisting the support of friends who are also interested in long term commitment to fitness.

Find activities that you love to pursue, so that exercise becomes no big deal. Cross training will put the adventure back into mundane get-fit kicks — yoga, sand sprints, push-ups off logs — use your imagination to add spice and get back to where you came from. In modern society we tend to get lost in the so called convenience of mashed potato instant gyms, forgetting that our real playground belongs to nature. Your body needs to move and be energized to enable it to live to full capacity. Look outside and embrace your own reality of fitness.

It takes maturity and an open mind to allow yourself to be corrected, or even to become a student again. Evolution of the fitness movement moves at such a pace, the average consumer would be hard pressed to keep up! Yet active living never seems to allow us to get off the learning bandwagon — just when you think you are doing okay it seems another challenge lands at your feet. Remember, allowing knowledge to power your inner strength will heighten the peak of your physical aspirations.




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