By Dr. Ana Grimh
When you picture a coach, what do you see?
How would you describe this coach?
Have you had a coach in the past?
You may consider “coach” someone who shows up to read your work out to you & entertain you while doing so. Maybe this coach is someone that is way too obnoxiously “motivating” at 5 am, preaching things like “No days off” or “push it to the limit”. If this has been your experience, we can see why you may be reluctant to hire a coach. For example, if you are a self-starter, you probably do not need the motivation. You can do it yourself! Am I right? While facilitating & entertaining are not inherently bad, you are certainly missing out on how beneficial a professional coach can be for you.
Not all “coaches” are created equally. Our definition of a Coach is not similar to the one described above. As suggested by OPEX, a professional coach is a person who
ASSESSES your personal needs (does not guess)
PERSONALIZES the experience (does not template)
COMMUNICATES WITH you (not AT you)
Provides you with what you NEED (which may not necessarily be what you WANT) and EDUCATES you in movement and how to train (not just give you exercises).
Essentially, you are unique, & you should be assessed based on your specific needs, wants, weaknesses, limitations, & goals; provided with an individualized training program that fits your life; & be mentored in all aspects of health & wellness (nutrition, sleep, stress, etc).
At Align, it's not about being fit. It's about being well. As your wellness partner, we'll provide focused, purposeful teaching to help you reach and maintain your wellness goals. No bullshit. No gimmicks. No matter where you are, we'll meet you there.
When you are ready to focus on your health & wellness, you should consider hiring an Align professional coach. Why?
Here are the top 3 reasons you NEED a professional coach
3. We will build a relationship with you. We care about your whole-body wellness, both physical & mental. You will find that you will discuss more than just the gym during check-in sessions with us. We want to learn more about & from you in order to maximize your experience & results. We have your best interests in mind.
2. We will educate you…but not in a condescending or shameful manner. We want you to understand what & why you are doing certain movements/exercises in our facility. There should be a reason for each exercise or group of exercises written in your program. If your “coach” cannot quickly explain why they are having you do something, then you are not with a professional. We will also encourage you to ask questions, share your feedback, & do your own research (& bring back discussions/questions to us!). You should not be completely dependent on us!
1. We will individualize your program & experience. A professional coach (like us) will assess you prior to writing a program. Based on that assessment, s/he will develop an appropriate schedule & exercises based on your specific strengths & weaknesses. We maintain a smaller group class size in order to personalize the “general” program to fit you. We also continue to assess & individualize as you go – we obtain & track various health metrics, such as blood pressure, pulse, respiration, body fat percentage, weight, & any appropriate strength or conditioning-related measures (one rep max, time done, or work completed, etc).
If you are serious about your health journey, you must team with a serious coach, a professional. You do not need a dictator or an entertainer.
In order to achieve long-term health & wellness, teamwork, open dialogue, & a personalized discussion & plan are required and you will find that with a professional coaching team.
We will bring that environment & relationship to you at Align!
Cheers,
Dr. Ana
About the Author
Ana Grimh, BA, DPT, CSCS, FMS-1, CF-L2 Trainer Doctor of Physical Therapy, University of Wisconsin - Madison Owner/Mastermind
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