Who's Your Buddy?

Many of us are more likely to work out if there is someone else there.  This is the whole idea behind fitness classes, personal trainers, and even workout buddies.  However, choosing who we work out with requires a little bit of care.  Some things to consider:

How likely to flake on me is the person I’m considering?  Sadly, this is not just a question about our friends.  Some fitness professionals are more professional than others.  (No, I’m not saying that fitness people can’t get sick or go on vacation; just that some of us are better at showing up regularly and on time than others.)  If we want someone to be there to help us be there, too, we need to ensure that we pick someone who is good at arriving, not someone who is good at giving us a reason not to show up ourselves.

What does the person know and how does that person know it?  This question depends on context.  If we’re looking for someone to walk with us, pretty much everyone we know is qualified.  If we don’t have a wonky knee or a tendency to faint when we get overheated, we don’t need to interrogate the class instructor.  However, if the instructor is not asking the class if there are any issues, it is not an entirely good sign.  We want to work with people who know how to modify things for our parts that are not perfect.  If we ask our trainer about what we should have for breakfast, is she giving an opinion or an educated answer based on actual, factual research within the scope of her practice?

How trustworthy is the person?  Working out can be scarier than therapy.  We all have “issues in our tissues.”  Is your friend the kind who will help you face the stuff you are scared about?  Is your trainer supportive when you succeed and when you fail?  How does your instructor teach you something new and unfamiliar?  And in all those instances, how much do you need to worry that your fragile places will get broadcast to the larger world?

The right friend, instructor, trainer can be transformative.  Take the time to find the right one to work with.

(One reason the first session with me is always free is so that my clients can figure out if I am the right trainer for them without the stress of spending money on it.)

We can do this.