Motivation vs. Instruction

[GoGoGo]

First of all, if you are short on time or don't feel like reading the whole story, please only read the bold parts of this post. Thanks.

I got a question for you trainers:

Do most of your clients come to you for instruction or motivation? I ask because when I was a client, I wanted my trainer to show me how to use the gym equipment and work into a program without injury (I've had past injuries frustrate me to death). I didn't need motivation. I was (and continue to be) already motivated to work out naturally.

My first trainer was God awful. She didn't assess me at all and thought I looked much more "fit" than I was. While it was true, I was very "fit," I specifically told her that I had NOT been in the gym for 2+ years, but I did jog multiple times per week. She then started the bootcamp drill-sergeant like stuff that you'd see in a middle school PE class. I was thinking "this lady is really missing the mark. I don't need someone to push me, I need someone to show me how to properly use the equipment and which exercises to do to meet my goals."

Sure enough, I got injured pretty bad from what she had me do and never went back to her.

Luckily, I got a much more experienced and qualified trainer who did exactly what I wanted: showed me how to properly use the equipment and introduced me to exercises to help me meet my goals.

This was a while back now but I reflect and I think of how each style was different. She was mainly a "motivator". He was what I would call a "trainer."

So my question to you guys is are most of your clients like me; they want simple instruction or are they in need of motivation? Or both? Feel free to share any of your opinions on this too. Thanks a lot.

[John Prophet]

did u tell her what u wanted? IMO, the ultimate responsibility for results still comes down to the trainee...not the trainer. no one can injure u except yourself.


I dont understand the whole "come to a trainer for motivation" thing. I guess because ive always worked out solo and its just something Ive done...I never had anyone yelling at me or whatever.

Ive had clients basically come to me and they dont want to be in the gym, they dont want to make even small, gradual changes to their diets. Then they look at me with a straight face and they are like "hey, you are supposed to be motivating me".

I have no real response to give to that but my thought process at those time sis "youve got the be effing kidding me?!"


I definitely look at training as more of giving a guiding hand and teaching them how to do the exercises with good form...teaching them how to make a sensible workout plan...make sensible diet plans. The main motivation is just the fact that they are supposedly "accountable" to show up for their appointment.

I DO of course do plenty of encouraging etc...but im not really a big rah rah guy.

Probably the rah rah guys get more clients. Seems their formula is sort of "stick to easy machine or low skill exercises and count reps out loud and keep things moving at a fast pace". In other words it seems like hype will always sell.

[John Prophet]

So my question to you guys is are most of your clients like me; they want simple instruction or are they in need of motivation? Or both? Feel free to share any of your opinions on this too. Thanks a lot.


frankly the average client just shows up and stands there looking at you..clueless. Most dont know enough to actually articulate what they want or need. They basically want the whole "hydroxycut" experience. u know, obese to ripped in 6 weeks without sweating

[kserajuddin]

Some people come looking for instruction - like you were with the machines - in that case it's just a few lesson until they can go on their own -

Others come for motivation - they wouldn't work out if you weren't standing there, and at times fight the training - not really sure what they want, and not sure if they're willing to work hard enough to get there - I don't like training these types of people -

The long-term clients that we're all looking for as trainers (that you can keep for years, and once you reach a critical mass of about 12, you never have to market again) need a little of both -

They want someone to push them hold them to the workouts -

And simultaneously they're looking for proper instruction to avoid injury and achieve THEIR RESULTS -

This is where most high-end training falls into - they don't want to think about anything in terms of exercise - they leave that all up to you - they just know what they want, and depend on you to achieve or maintain it - that's why when you're not training, you pretty much just bs with them the whole time -

[John Prophet]

Others come for motivation - they wouldn't work out if you weren't standing there, and at times fight the training

yeah, I have had a few of those...one in particular. I mean, I fight my own "negativity" issues (as u know kser) but this dude made me look like Zig Ziglar or something. He lost 20 lbs yet he'd say things like "I hope this works" and "I hope I get some results".

I could tell that as far as workout energy and enthusiasm that I was "doign all the work" and sure enough when I needed a week off he dropped to the wayside.