“Group training can cost as little as $15 an hour.
Women especially enjoy combining fi tness
with socializing. Working together and growing
together, they feed off and rely on each other to show up.”
~ Kristin McGee
Three years after the injury, Duke can now hold a downward dog yoga pose and do a headstand. “I’m also running again,” Duke adds. “I’m signed up for a half marathon.” Richard Cotton, a personal trainer in Indianapolis, Indiana, and the American College of Sports Medicine’s national director of certifi cation, agrees that a good long-term trainer often serves as a fi tness, nutrition and even life coach. “You can’t metaphorically cut off people’s heads and only train their bodies. Then you are just a technician,” he observes.
Building a true foundation for health requires understanding the importance of each building block, not just working
with a trainer for a few sessions and afterwards going blindly through the motions, attests Sandra Blackie, a former professional bodybuilder, certifi ed nutritionist and current personal trainer in San Diego, California. “I want to educate my clients.”
During extended periods, good trainers also revise routines at least once every four weeks to prevent adaptation, another problem that can hinder reaching fi tness goals. “Without trainers, people often get stuck in a rut and lose motivation,” remarks Blackie, who also adapts exercises according to bodily changes due to aging or other conditions. Long-term relationships also allow
trainers to focus on the individual’s bottom-line goals, Cotton notes. For instance, “I want to lose 10 pounds,” might really mean, “I want the energy to play with my kids,” or “I want to feel more alert at work.” “Achievable goals evolve from values,” Cotton explains. “It’s not about getting in super great shape for six months and then stopping. It’s about creating a foundation for life.”
Freelance journalist Debra Melani writes about health care and fi tness from Lyons, CO. Connect at
DebraMelani.com or
DMelani@msn.com.
Traits to Look for in a Trainer by Cecily Casey
Engage a personal trainer based on his/her positive responses to the following qualifi ers:
Starts by discussing short- and long-term goals Customizes a program for individual needs Reviews one’s health history in detail Conducts a posture analysis Screens each client for quality of movement Asks the client to track his or her food intake Provides helpful cues for improvement during sessions Critiques movement from various angles Is able to ramp up or ease off exercise challenges as needed Never uses the phrase, “No pain, no gain” Keeps current with educational certifi cations, workshops and seminars
Cecily Casey is co-owner of RealFit Gym, in Highland Park, IL, where she is a practicing American College of Sports Medicine certifi ed personal trainer.
September 2013 21
A holistic approach to personal and spiritual healing
Casandra Akins, M.S., LMHC
Casandra Akins, M.S., LMHC Licensed Mental Health Counselor
Individuals • Couples • Groups
Integrative Breathwork Deep Memory Process® SoulCollage®
407-740-0940 407-740-0940
2180 Park Avenue North #230 Winter Park, FL 32789
casandraakins@bellsouth.net www.akinscounselingcenter.com
Deep Memory Process® SoulCollage®
Individuals • Couples • Groups Integrative Breathwork
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