break down the barrier of exercise being something to fear, and is really something that is accessible to them.

Gemma Mullinger, a Level 3 REPs member from Devon, experiences firsthand how directly focusing on the needs of a client has had a positive impact.

“I work in a ‘ladies only’ gym that focuses on customer service, having a laugh in a supportive, female friendly environment, individual training plans and regular assessments to see how our members are getting on. Ladies who have previously hated gyms enjoy coming.

As REPs members we should be able to engage new audiences and cater for them to be able to enjoy different fitness experiences. There are examples of how REPs members have already provided exercise instruction to audiences including those suffering from obesity, diabetes and heart disease, ante/post natal women and older adults, enabling them to incorporate exercise into their lives and benefiting from the positive changes that this brings.

As well as the positive experiences, there are also inevitable challenges that they have faced. Engaging people is only the first step, retaining and maintaining this motivation can be equally as challenging, with many people wanting instant results.

REPs member and Head of the School of Personal Training at Future Fit Training Ltd Paul Swainson has always made sure the emphasis is with the client, and ultimately it is their actions that will result in success.

“It is very common to come across people that expect results purely because they have hired a personal trainer, as if paying money entitles them to achieve their goals with minimal effort.

“One of my most memorable ‘challenging’ clients was a very driven business women who I knew from our first meeting would be hard work. In her taster workout I began with an interactive warm up drill rather than five minutes on the treadmill, so I was more than a little shocked when after 30 seconds she simply stopped and said: “bored!”

“From that point on it became apparent that ‘short and sharp’ was going to be theme of this lady’s workouts and even the individual exercises. So I structured her programme around single set training, circuits and game-based drills. She wasn’t interested in understanding what was physiologically happening to her body, something that a lot of clients find motivating, and so the focus needed to be on reframing her perception of training. Her sessions needed to be fun; not exercise.

“Over time I got to know this client’s personality and realised her forthright honesty was not so much rudeness as a direct, to-the- point attitude which I could actually take advantage of by delivering ‘no-nonsense’ sessions. There was little small talk at the start of her training, we would just get straight into it with minimal rest, packing a great deal of exercise (sorry, fun) into a short space of time. She responded fantastically.”

Paul’s client-centric approach was the key to maintaining engagement. “Find out how you can use their own characteristics to maximise their experience.”

www.exerciseregister.org 15 SPORTS THERAPY UK

HIGH QUALITY, FLEXIBLE TRAINING, AT A PACE TO SUIT YOU COMBINING PRACTICAL TRAINING AND HOME STUDY

l Sports Massage Certificate

l Sports Massage Practitioner Diploma

l Assessment of Sports Injuries

l Sports Therapy CPD Courses

For prospectus and full course details view www.sportstherapyuk.com Tel: 01438 718755

Email: info@sportstherapyuk.com