The Unnecessary Evils of The Personal Training Industry

I hear you completley!! I used to workout at a big branch, nationwide franchise, won't say where but it sounds like 34 hour fitness. I would get so pissed off watching these "meathead" trainers who spent more time staring at themselves in the mirror or flirting with every hot girl that walked by them, instead of paying attention to their client. Love having my own business and setting my own training standards!!

I couldnt agree with you more on this subject. I opened my own studio back in June, and while spending the time to get my business plan as accurate as possible (by maybe shopping some of the local competitors) I witnessed things that I never dreamt someone in our industry would have people do. In fact, since I have been in my own private practice, it seems I have had to spend a significant amount of time explaining to people that I will not do the awful things that the previous trainer did to them. One lady, for example, about 60 years old had a trainer not only assist her in tearing her acl, but also had her perform deadlifts in a manner which appeared to bust all the blood vessels in her eyes!!!

I hear you loud and clear, see it day in day out…who's teaching these brain dead idiots.

It's why I set up my weight training technique website!!

I always like a rant every now and then…glad you got it off your chest.

Alex

That's what happens when people take weekend certification courses and big corporate gyms hire them. There are plenty of other exercises that trainer could have done in exchange for stiff legged deadlifts, which no trainer should ever have a client do.

I run into this ALL the time. I'm an Olympic weightlifting coach and ironically, when other trainers see what I'm having my people do, they get all wigged out because they're convinced that any time of olympic weightlifting is going to be bad for your back, knees, nose, whatever.

But, then they'll turn right around and have some obese middle aged woman do one legged squats on an F&%'in Bosu ball! Talk about dangerous!

The fact is, because their are essentially no regulations in our business as to what constitutes a "trainer" any body (and unfortunately) everybody gets into it. These people haven't developed the intuition for what is and isn't ok for a client that only comes from years of study and experience.

Sad but I'm not sure we're going to see the light anytime soon.

Yeah, I tried reporting this type of incident to the management of a very large gym chain. Like they care? They so much as told me to mind my own business and as long as the trainer carried his own insurance ignore it. Meanwhile, the idiot had a very obese first-time exerciser (apparently) doing WALKING LUNGES holding 20 lbs in each hand–with her knees crashing down to the floor with each painful rep–while he praised her to continue! Blasphemy to fitness.

Hey Chris, I see it every day. The young cocky trainers that want to make a name for themselves rant and rave about how much they do in front of their clients. Plus they love having older people in the gyms and health clubs doing bizarre workouts.

I think my fav so far is the guy that talks really loud and says after every comment or command to a client, "you know what I'm sayin",

how cheesy….

The revolving door syndrome live on, doesn't it corporate fitness facilities???

Hell yes it's the fuckin trainers fault ! Where the fuck did he/she get their cert./diploma , education ! You should have put your foot in his ass ! sittin the night in jail may have been worth the satisfaction ! I have not been doin well in gettin a job in a gym . And fucksticks like this get jobs ! Has me stuck in stupid ! good call my friend ! I have a few good stories like that as well .

dude, chris, i completely agree with you. seeing this type of "professional instruction" really sets me off… next time i see this happening, i won't hesitate to go up to the client, correct their form in front of their trainer and let them know that if they want real personal training, they can give me a call….

also, chris…. want to say thanks for this post for another reason. you just gave me a great marketing idea that i may try to implement when i get back to the states.

Chris

I'm sorry but your a better man then me in this situation. I would have went off (and have gone off) on a trainer like that.

I was once working out at a gym (for legal purposes I will spell only some of it) WHY M SEE A to be exact and saw a trainer working w/ an elderly client having her do leg raises on the Romanian chair. All he said was "they don't really have a name for this exercise and machine". I stopped my workout and told him what the name of it was and promptly called him an idiot at the end.

Idiots like that really piss me off and is the reason why sometimes we as Fit Professionals don't get taken as seriously.

Gyms/studio owners should have better hiring practices instead of viewing trainers as glorified salesmen.

WOW! As much as I want to say I cannot believe this happens it happens more often than not and its embarassing as trainers to see this happen because it gives us that are properly trained a bad rep. I am very grumpy after reading this not shocked at all that it happened but cant believe how cheap people are just to get someone to fill the spot instead of an actual professional that will deliver what the client deserves and needs. It makes me sick.

Chris, I can totally relate to your experience. I regularly see trainers instructing "correct" form for kettle bell swings, presses, etc. and watching clients perform the lift with rounded and twisted backs, and locked knees. I've actually spoken with trainers alone about this and, of course, they get defensive and don't even acknowledge me. These kinds of trainers reinforce the negative stereotypes that people have about personal trainers.

Amen…experience and passion over a weekend crash course anyday if you want to assist others on the path. Very frustrating to watch. Nick said it above…Intutitive trainers take years of study and they practice "trial and error reps" on THEMSELVES not on clients and those who need help. But alas, you cannot educate the institution any more than these trainers have been educated by a cash grab certification gimmick.
Some of these guys would better serve the community pushing coffee out a window. Harsh?

I can not even begin to tell you how many times I have seen that type of incompetency of trainers in my approximately 20 years in the fitness industry. First of all, it is too easy to become a trainer. Secondly, the client thinks that their trainer is an expert and they tend to listen to anything and everything the "expert" says. I have seen some crazy training or perhaps injury causing advice in the gym. As an outsider, I do not think that anything positive can come out of approaching the trainer. (fistfight? getting thrown out of the gym?) Even thinking about this subject is really ticking me off!!!

Chris, I often train at comercial gyms and I agree with you completely. The fault for the low quality of service lies on the companies doing the hiring more so than the person hired. I have performed several trainer interviews for the Spa at Trump in Chicago and it is not that difficult to hire someone who knows what they are doing. That is of course if the person interviewing knows what they are doing themselves.
This industry is plagued with so many people without passion and appropiate knowledge it is scary. Personally I can't stand people who train "until they figure out what to do". If you are not passionate about fitness and helping people then walk away you are hurting those who do and the ankles, knees, backs and shoulders of those who come for help.

That's f%$#ed up!! Sorry but no other words for it.
That's the money hungry mentality of Corp gyms and hiring anyone.
You would think They would be extra careful who they have train their elderly population in that gym. They SUCK!
We should start a group called Exercise Police and get the frauds to run off and the under-educated to get it right. But of course we would be the haters not the concerned fitness professionals in their eyes.

The big box gym I used to work at allowed new trainers sixty days to get their certification. It was tough watching unqualified trainers grossly over or underestimate the fitness level of their clients every single session. Basically throwing a new batch of trainer spaghetti against the wall to see what sticks and makes them a profit.

I have said this time and time again when people come into my studio and complain about my hourly rates. You get what you pay for in this industry. I have ranted and raved about inexperienced trainers in this industry that give everyone a bad name. I am amazed that people will jeopardize their health and wellbeing in the name of saving $20 dollars an hour. I always ask them if they would seek out the best surgeon or the cheapest one?
No its not the trainers fault. they want to earn a living. The problem is with corporations and their greed. In the gym where I work out the trainers seem to think that having their clients perform acrobatic circus exercises will get them in shape. All it does is draw attention to the trainer, and put the client at risk.
I don't care how much certification a trainer has, it doesnt mean a damn thing to me when I hire them. Sure they need a good cert but I need them to have practical knowledge, make sure they know why a certain exercise needs to be done and how to perform it correctly, as well as be able to convey that to my client. And they better be able to assess a client. If I see a trainer performing deadlifts with an elderly client there will be consequences.
Most of the trainers out there will perform the newest and flashiest exercises because it helps them attract new customers. They need the new customers because the old ones dont stick around. Why because they never get results.
Ok enough ranting.

I've seen trainers make people squat heavy weight, when they can't even keep their heels on the ground. I've seen trainers push clients using bad form and screaming "give me 5 more"! I've seen trainers with obese, barely able to move, clients and they make them do strength training 3 times a week for an hour with no cardio!
This profession is due to get regulated. Once it happens, 75% of trainers will lose their jobs. Big gyms will hate it, because they will actually have to pay trainers. Big time certifications could lose some of their pull. Small time certs will all be gone, but they should be gone anyways.
I know trainers who take a one hour online quiz and get certified! On the Today show, it took Matt Lauer(sp?) 15 minutes to get a cert on-line, FOR HIS DOG!

This situation has the potential to force the state to certify/license personal trainers–heaven forbid. If we don't police ourselves somebody will do it for us. As for corporate and commercial gyms — people will get the training they pay for (budget corporate prices with uneducated trainers)– not the training they deserve. No one deserves to be injured in a workout, or permanently disabled due to the "greed factor". If you don't really care enough to study then get out of training before you hurt someone who has put their faith and trust in your expertise. There are such things as ethics and morals in this world. If you are just starting, then mentor with someone who can teach you and in the meantime don't try to train anyone above the level of your current ability, for the sake of all of us PLEASE.

Chris,

These corporate facilities should be to blame. They could give two shits about what the trainer knows, as long as he or she is there to greet the client and make sure they pay that's all that matters.

That's why there are trainers out there that give the good ones a bad name because they are only doing what they just learned from their 2-day workshop and not doing what is best for the client.

I would have actually called the trainer out then went to his manager.

From what I see in those places the mangager only cares in what you got or what you're bringing in forget about getting the client results, that would be touch much of a good thing and too much work.

On that note, keep up the good material.

Stay at it,

Joe

Hey Chris, I gotta say Im right there with ya. Like many of the others who have commented I too worked for a corporate gym, of course I wont say the name either but it does rhyme with Rallys. It was very funny when I showed up for my "training". Firstly it was more on how to sell and get clients then form or safety. Then when I was at the gym the director said this is the new girl josh can you show her around? So I did, now she was smokin hot, not all there up stairs. As we walked around I asked her questions that I thought another trainer should be able to answer like what do you think about stretching, after warmup or after the whole workout? Oh I dont stretch so I dont make my clients either. Ok? What kind of nutrition plan do you use with your clients? Oh it doesnt matter what they eat, they just come for a workout and burn lots of calories. Not really but ok. and this one is the mother of all omg moments I asked her how many calories where in a lb of fat? uh like 100? WHAT THE HELL!!!! So she was hired for looks and not for quality. I left before I could see how she did but I doubt her clients saw much if any results. That ok chris if the big box gyms werent so crappy then quality trainers like the readers of your blog wouldnt have such a great market to actually HELP PEOPLE.

Thanks for everything you do chris catch you later.

Chris,

That's why we created the Association of Professional Personal Trainers (APPT).

United We Stand…

Against Our Common Enemy

…The Pretenders Among Us
(they are in your backyard and are eating out of your future)

The Pretender has usurped our profession for the last time…

The APPT was created For Those Personal Trainers Who Believe that the World’s Newest Profession has been Tainted and Flouted Like it Were the Oldest and Want to Take Back Their Integrity and Worth.

I appreciate you taking a stand on this issue and look forward to reading more comments.

See it too often and yes the gym is at fault. This is why I don't workout in a gym any longer as I have my own studio now. But let me tell ya I would be the first person that would say something now. The Corp just does not care about there clients well being just their wallet

Mike

Wow Chris! If I was you, I'd send a formal complaint to head office! I've seen this type of training at the gym I use to work out of, and it disgusts me! Just like a few other trainers here have already stated: you get what you pay for. Do I charge a tad more than other trainers in my area? Ok. But I have experience and education to back it up. It's not the trainers fault, but a complaint should still e made.

Dude, I'm feeling you right now, and not in an inappropriate way.
This is so common in our industry that it disgusts me.

I believe this will continue until there is some type of standardized licensing body within each state. We need to separate
these wanna be Trainers from the True Professionals.

If they wanna just make a quick buck, they may as well be
tending bar somewhere.

It comes down to personal responsibility for us as trainers who actually know what we are doing to set an example and call out "trainers" who don't know the difference between Quadriceps and Hamstrings. If I don't approach the trainer, training manager, or front desk directly I make sure to do the exact exercise that he/she was teaching wrong correctly, and as close to them as humanly possible.

It's also fun to talk with the trainer after their session, feign interest and get them to talk about proper form, muscle activation, injuries, etc. and show them exactly how far they need to go before they can be unleashed on the general population. I've found the questioning method works well to humble them without embarrassment (Dale Carnegie is still right), then throw in the "oh I've been teaching fitness for X years, you'll get there"

I am super anal when it comes to form and technique. That is why reality shows kill me to watch.
I would've stopped the PT, took him aside quietly and asked him his approach and why he does it that way?

Hi Chris

One sentence:

fifty five year old woman, overweight, young trainer had her doing woodchops on a bosu ball (or what every the hell they are called)

Practical and effective……..bulls#it that is!

I am so annoyed by that that I am having a hard time typing right now. People are being hired just to save some money while clients are getting hurt and having negative feeling toward the real trainers around. Companies and/or organizations like that should be closed down if they are not going to have real trainers in the facility

This is the reason i opened my own gym early last year. I have been a trainer for 5 years now and if you cant get the basics right then why bother. I know every member by 1st name, what phase of training for what goal they are doing and often find myself marching accross my gym when i find a member lifting with bad form. But then again have been the same since day 1!

This is an unfortunate thing that happens waaay to often but like you say Chris if the gym isn't willing to pay for quality they are not going to get it in there trainers! I think it is a huge dis-service to our potential clients. It is our jobs to snatch them away and educate them and show them the truth in fitness… hell we may even save them a few shekels but the true value will be in the experience of them working out in our gyms and getting quality training in an environment that excites them and drives them to their goals.
So educate the populance (is that a word???)and gain a trusting client.

Train hard, Live life,
-Darrin
http://www.fitwarriors.com

So pleased to hear others are as disgusted as I am! I am perpetually on the soap box re: this. What really rattles my chains, is that so many "trainers" get their qualifications (which basically says "I can read books and regurgitate") and are out there with absolutely no practical experience! They proceed to undercut you in price and the "unknowing" public thinks they are getting a good deal….SHEESH!!!

Hi Chris
This is almost an industry standard where I come from, and instead of just being amazed I decided to do something about it.
We now train trainers in the cert 4 course here in Australia. We are building a new breed of trainers.

I'm glad you resisted the urge to kick that guy's ass. =)

I totally know what you mean though. It's frustrating for those that do know what the hell they are doing to watch other trainers literally hurt their clients and put them in jeopardy.

It irks me everytime I go to the gym too…. Grrrr

lmao….I belong to the same "gym" and their trainers are horrible…most of the time they aren't even looking at their client…I remember watching a guy make his client do walking lunges with the worse form….all the while the trainer was walking IN FRONT of his client like he was leading some kind of warped exercise band….sad, but true

This is horrible to see, and it still can be seen in even fancy clubs.. even with trainers who have bachelor degrees in the field… so you can't put down trainers who do those silly weekend certs because some of those trainers are better than ones with degrees. its all about application! gyms should be more strict when hiring by previewing a trainers techniques, cues, etc… these should be part of the interview because it is very crucial to the potential clients success!

This really upsets me as well. I worked for a huge corporate gym once for about 3 months. NEVER AGAIN! They really don't care about their employees – let alone the safety of their patrons!

I do personal training but group exercise is my passion. Even in my classes, I am a Nazi about form, form, FORM! (Sometimes I think my class gets tired of me correcting them but I don't really care. It's only because I care that I nag, I usually tell them.)

I agree. If you don't have a love for fitness, you should not be training anyone.

Big company I once worked for …. first thing they said to us PTs in the group wecome meeting was "Make no mistake… YOU are Salespeople NOT Personal Trainers"

Really? …. REALLY??

I came close to walking out – although didn't since I had paid 3 grand to get there AND had I walked out I wouldn't be where I am today…

Having said that I can tell you that I did visualize me ripping their arms off and beating them with them… LOL!!

Someone mentioned too about seeing their "PTs" as Gl;orified Salesman and having worked for more than one of those companies the mindset is just that…

and it is far too easy for folks to become a PT… a weekend course and you're now charging 80 an hour (you're also 18 yrs old and no life experience)

Greg mentioned APPT and it's these movements that need to be supported and going by all comments on here it is us that need to ensure we do our best to continue to raise he standards and profile of the industry until the meatheads and sales kids get their act together or hit the road…

Cheers

AT

I would have wanted to go talk to the fitness director to point out the concern. I think trainers like that make the good ones look that much better… My clients regularly point out how they recognize how much critique and lecture I give them about proper form especially when they see other trainers in the gym with their clients who aren't practicing the very form they have been taught to perfect. I actually had one of my clients go so far as to reference such a scenario telling me if I ever let him do a move the way the other trainer was letting his client do the move he'd fire me. LOL. The other thing that amazes me is out of shape trainers… and the more amazing thing is those who hire them. I don't know anyone who would hire an accountant that can't handle their own money! Yet I see people training with out of shape trainers! Doesn't make ANY sense! What gives!? Now you got me all worked up Chris! Time to go workout! LOL. Have a great weekend!

Ok

Guys

You are all missing the big picture.

The girl in the 'squats' motivational poster

is a 5 star (ahem). Wow.

You don't need cardio to lose weight.

Chris,

Okay, my question is; As a gym owner, how to you address this situation to the careless trainer? How do you tell them that their clients are training with incorrect form without offending them or having them walk out or quit?

I hear about situations like this all the time from my clients who used to train at big corporate gyms, and have unfortunately seen something similar in my own gym via video surveillance.

It's the state of the industry. Easy to get in but very hard to stay in. It takes a weekend to earn a basic cert. But it takes years to really develop a solid knowlegde base to train people properly. Yet, many of the chain gyms don't pay much to draw that kind of dedication. This is why there is an attrition rate of 90% on the training staff. I have a 4 year exercise science degree, a six month diploma from a national vocational school, another national cert from a sports medicine acadamy, a corrective exercercise specialization cert, and I'm starting my internationally board certified nutrition coach cert now. It's hard to get someone to work for10$/HR and do all that. Definately has to be done for love unless there is monetary reward.

I'm only starting to see a good income in this last year. But, now I'm really doing well and my clients steadily refer people and I have a waiting list for 80% of the time slots I have available while working over 40+ session/ week. It took a lot to get here, and I just watch trainers come and go like a revolving door. All I can do is represent my profession well, and offer correct help to those bad trainers leave behind.

This is so true! I have my own training studio for my clients but I moonlight as a group fitness instructor at the chain that rhymes with…

Any trainer worth his/her salt that I see there doesn't stay there long, and neither do the terrible ones!

Hi Chris.

This makes me crazy! I have my own studio now, as well as a boot camp company. But I worked in a gym for many years and saw these trainers who took weekend certification courses train these people and I felt like you did everytime I watched them.

Now the majority of my work is teaching boot camp classes and even with a group of people, I am a stickler for form. My partner and I teach the classes and usually one of us instruct the class while the other makes sure everyones form is good, as well as we modify exercises for those less fit. It is soooo important and Im with you 100% on this issue.

It is a shame that gyms aren't more concerned about peoples well being…its all about the bottomline and it is too bad. Shame on the gyms who hire these people…and then allow them to stay.

Great post!

Right on! Most big corporate gyms like 24 hour and Bally's hire uncertified personal trainers to create a high volume of trainers to service a big member base. They figure the more bodies they have walking the floor, the easier it will be to close more deals. My mother fell trap to a trainer at 24 hour and her trainer was never on time, extremely unprofessional, and acted like she didn't care about the session. I hate corporate gyms! Especially the trainers, they make real fitness professionals look bad.

@Chris

Ahh yes the blonde in the pic…

Beast!!

;0)

AT

hahahaha dude I know exactly what youre saying. I train at the same gym and it drives me crazy! Some other stuff i see there are when the trainers having a full conversation with his buddy about what hes doing that night while his clients struggling to do anexercise. Im sure this happens at every gym, it annoys the hell out of me but its all over. Good post bro!

My husband and I went to a specialized school for fitness trainers and the president and main instructor of the school, which has been in business for over 30 years, is an expert witness in death and injury liability cases for this and many other gyms and trainers who end up causing harm to clients. Some of the horror stories we've heard…

Unfortunately, there are no regulations as to who can call themselves a trainer. For 49.95, anyone can go online and take some stupid test and get a cert. This is what makes trainers dangerous. The gym you (sort of) mentioned is well known for hiring "trainers" based on their looks. In fact, they don't actually WANT qualified trainers because they'd have to actually pay them more.

So glad you put this out there!

After reading you post I had a few thoughts
Guns don't kill people, people kill people…
Squats don't injure the body, bad squats injure the body…

I just opened a 8200 sq foot private training facility 1.5 miles from a brand new LA Fitness. Many asked if I thought that they were competition. ahhh.. no. I have turf, sand bags, tires, squats racks sorry spritzer bottles. I'm results based. I don't believe in mind numbing steady state cardio and using the smith machine. If you want a relationship and support from those that come from similar backgrounds and are training with similar goals, then we're for you.

Thanks for the laugh!
Scott
http://www.umbergerperformance.com

You nailed it brutha! The industry needs higher standards. I live in Santa Fe, New Mexico. I wish you could just see what goes on in some of the gyms here.

I cringe when I hear some of the trainers in my gym, 20 years old, charging the same price as me – 11 years older, and been weight training since they just started school…

They do nothing but count reps from 1 to 20 while looking round the gym while their client is using completely poor technique.

I can't wait to go out on my own and do things as I want, not how the gym dictates, and side by side with experienced trainers who give the rest of us a bad name

Until individuals begin thinking of personal training as a CAREER and not a STEPPING STONE (I talk about this in my book), it's going to be a mess.

This happens to me also when I go into the corporate gyms. I see it so often that I purposely try to stay out of them. This was one of the main reasons why I opened my own studio. It seem like their should be some kind of regulation on this sort of thing.

Yup we've GOTTA set our own standard. I go to a big box gym around me to do some sprinting and pullups from time to time so the scenery changes. I gotta tell you that what I see these "trainers" doing with their clients makes me gasp.

It's one thing to carry a clipboard and pull out pins for people… which is quite pathetic really, but another to act like they know what they're doing and everyone is watching them as a so called "fitness professional". Well that is certainly NOT my standard or that of real fitness professionals out there. LOL

Great post Chris!

i see this all the time at different gyms.

At my current workplace, my job as a senior trainer is to mentor rookie trainers. i educate them on many different aspects of being a complete personal trainer and that is nutrtion, sports coaching, rapport building skills, sales training skills, how to coach clients into having goals, how to conduct a cardio session also how to perform ALL weight resistance exercises and structure programs. this takes three months of 1 on 1 attention. then they will be up to the standard of what i call a trainer because without this knowledge they are worthless to the clients and to the business. i dont understand why all rookie trainers dont have a mentor???

That is really the sole reason I do not go to commercial gyms. It makes me cringe. So build a network of real trainers around the world and when you have to travel go to there facility and train. Just my thoughts. If anybody is in new jersey and needs a real place to train come to my facility. Email us and tell us you hate commercial gyms and want a real place to train. You are all welcome

Mike
http://www.hanleystrength.com
http://www.thetrainingstudionj.com

I see it all the time its a joke give us the worst reputation. Especially, for trainer that know the real deal form is everything.
Gym should stop hiring trainer or so called trainer with no experience what so ever….. Their hurting people instead of helping them.

That's why we fight every day. From doctors to osteopaths, they all should do what they know. But please don't prescribe exercise. They often do and i understand then, with this RETARDED trainers that only work in order to make some bucks and don't give a shit about client's health. This way our industry will never be respected as medical or physio…

Hi Chris,
This negligence doesn't just happen at large big box type gyms, there are medically-based fitness facilities that have trainers with a B Sc. behind their name but that doesn't equate to them being a competent trainer. I used to go to one of these gyms in my city and so often the staff were standing around talking to each other while gym goers were doing exercises completely wrong and potentially dangerous to their back and neck. Other trainers were doing high intensity workouts with novice clients – such as flipping heavy tires with rounded backs. It was very attention getting for that trainer, but I was cringing as I watched the individual go through that workout and couldn't believe that management weren't monitoring what their trainers do.

It's from situations like the ones all of us have listed that causes us to have a completely different training mindset for our own facilities – a model of excellence and safety.

Great blog post…thanks.
-Sara

Hey Chris

This is what inspired me to become a trainer. Seeing horrific training techniques deployed on innocent clients made me just cringe. I couldn't take it. There should be a practical examination for all trainers to take that must show proper lifting techniques, this is a serious issue.

hellow mr gregg justice. wow so you have the appt formed . i would like to know more. i cannot tell you how i have been wanting to find ,and hear from other trainers wisdom. i have benn at this 24 for gym for going on 9 years and two moths an s i fell i am at a dead end. i cannot begin to describe the nightmare working there, and seeking honest support and direction. i hope to know more, and have hope. god bless you, and the new formed appt.