Personal training can be intimidating, but it shouldn’t be. We tapped a couple of the go-to fitness pros at Calhoun Beach Athletic Club, Mary Clapp and Jeff Kozlowski, to tell us more about personal training, their fitness philosophies and why they think it is for everyone.
How does one get set up with a personal trainer?
Mary Clapp: There are a few different ways a client gets set up with a Calhoun Beach Club trainer. Every new member is given a couple complimentary sessions with a trainer. It is a wonderful way to connect with clients and start collecting information about their specific goals, health history and activity level. Our trainers have the client experience different cardio and weight machines and conduct a mini workout. This is the perfect time to encourage clients who are looking for more personalized guidance. Our trainers do a wonderful job greeting and engaging clients on the floor, which proves to be another way a client will choose a trainer they resonate with.
Jeff Kozlowski: As the personal training manager, I can recommend which one of our staff would be a good fit. Sometimes members review trainer bios posted in the club and contact a trainer by taking one of their business cards on display.
What are some of the advantages of hiring a personal trainer over navigating the gym on one’s own?
MC: Hiring a personal trainer takes away the intimidation of a fitness floor and the plethora of equipment available. Our fitness floor has three brands of fixed machines so it is a bit daunting for a newcomer. The personal trainer is capable of testing these machines with the client, and together they can decide which is most suitable for safety and effectiveness. Hiring a personal trainer takes the guesswork out of navigating your way around the gym as well as providing a well-balanced program with attention to proper technique.
JK: There are many advantages to hiring a personal trainer. First is the issue of safety. A personal trainer can help you determine how to use equipment and a proper level of resistance and can provide a demonstration for an exercise. A trainer can help you assess and determine your baseline and map out a schedule to reach your goals.
Do you have any specialties?
MC: I am passionate about all forms of stretching, from PNF to myofascial release techniques. I specialize in active isolated stretching and Essentrics. Our joints and soft tissues function at the highest level when they are in optimal length and tension. Functional fitness is another modality I use often. Functional exercises use the whole body, mimicking everyday activities while challenging clients’ core stability, spatial awareness, posture and coordination skills.
JK: I personally specialize in helping people become better equipped to deal with the activities of daily living. I also specialize in balance and stability training, thereby increasing one’s mobility. I tend to focus more on the subset of muscles that support and stabilize the joints instead of the muscles that just carry out an action.
What does a personal-training program consist of?
MC: Each personal trainer has a different method and approach to composing a program, but every program will begin with a discussion of reasonable goals, various movement assessments, body composition measurements and the client’s readiness. In the weeks and months that follow, the program will progress as the client adapts and improves their level of fitness. Goals and measurements are revisited and revised for continued success. Motivation, encouragement and empathy are a significant part of any program.
JK: A personal training program usually consists of the following: a proper assessment, including medical history, goal setting, and a postural and functional movement assessment. It also includes a schedule of proper exercise prescription (days and times to meet with a trainer) as well as homework outside these sessions.
What are your personal training and health and wellness philosophies? What has worked for you?
MC: My approach is to train “from the inside out,” meaning that I try to bring the client into better alignment and work on imbalances and dysfunctions first, never loading a faulty foundation. I love educating my clients to take ownership of their health and fitness.
JK: I believe that consistency should be at the forefront when dealing with health and wellness goals. Age determines intensity and extremeness as well as one’s recuperative abilities. That being said, I believe in working smarter and more efficiently and not necessarily harder or for a longer period of time. I have found that teaching individuals to train and use their deep muscles as well as their superficial muscles has helped them move in ways they never knew was possible.
How is progress tracked when working with clients?
MC: I’m a numbers girl. I reassess clients every month to ensure we are moving in the correct direction. Progress is also tracked by the client’s energy levels, how clothing is fitting, sleep quality, strength and cardiorespiratory gains, and adoption of better nutrition.
JK: Progress can be tracked a number of ways. Depending on the client’s goals and his/her desire to be measured, this can be done on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. This may be physically performing a test and recording values; something non-exercising or non-invasive like taking a body-fat measurement; or something visual like checking gait or running stride. I personally like to write down values and records as well as micro progressions.
Any advice to those looking to jump-start their fitness routines?
MC: First, be honest with yourself about your current schedule, lifestyle and readiness for change. Taking on more activity without the ability to commit to it is self-sabotage. Remember: The “New Year, new me” resolution fades away quickly.
JK: I strongly recommend that you treat your health as an investment, much like your financial portfolio. That means seek out a certified fitness professional to at least have an assessment performed and find out your baseline and what a professional would recommend.
