Components That Make a Personal Training Program Effective

A basic personal training program should contain atpersonal trainer of 13 years wholeheartedly agree that
least 5 essential components:no matter what your fitness goal or ability is you must
1. Corrective Exercises: Basically this component of aincorporate the time for aerobic training. That time can
fitness program addresses your posture and howconsist of anywhere from 30-60 minutes of some
your body moves. I have helped many people looktype of aerobic activity (running, swimming, boxing,
taller, leaner, and healthier by merely helping them tocycling, etc.)
improve their posture and how they hold/move their4. Stretching/Flexibility Training: This component is
body. By not focusing on the muscles commonly calledcrucial to not only prevent injury but also this will help to
your "Mirror Muscles", the muscles like the Pectorals,give your body the "Shape" you want. During most of
Abdominals, Biceps, and giving some attention tomy personal training sessions I will put a client through a
strengthen and move the muscles of the Spine, Hips,dynamic and/or a functional stretching routine at the
Neck, and Hamstrings. This shift in training focus canbeginning then an assisted stretching program at the
help resolve many postural issues. Better posture willend.
lead to better function.5. Nutrition and Water Intake: (How Much are you
2. Resistance Training: This component of a personaleating/drinking, How well is your eating, when do you
training program may include traditional strength trainingeat, etc.) Your personal trainer and you should address
techniques to specific functional training techniques.the areas with your eating that need improvement.
The Goal is to increase lean muscle tissue. Your bodyWe,as personal trainers, will figure out what food you
burns more calories with more lean muscle tissue,currently have (if any) that is good and what is not,
period. So we need to put stress on your muscles tothen what to shop for to compliment the other
stimulate the muscle growth and tone. Unfortunately,components of your fitness program.
many personal trainers, good and bad, focus way tooThese 5 components are Essential to any fitness
much time traditional strength training techniques. Whichprogram and they are even more effective with the
will truly limit the effectiveness and quality of results.addition of a 6th component.
Though an individual may get stronger, they may not6. Professional Assistance from a Personal Trainer:
lose weight, improve flexibility, and/ or improveThe fitness program must evolve as your body
cardio-respiratory health. Be sure that your fitnesschanges and adapt to the other 5 components of our
program is not focusing solely on ONLY resistancepersonal training program. We will not let our workout
training.sessions with me or on your own get "easy" or
3. Aerobic Training: "Cardio", this component you, as"boring". We will always modify the various
the personal training client, should do daily. Manycomponents to give you the best workouts and eating
sources recommend at least 30 minutes daily. I as aplan possible.