Personal trainer types

One of my colleagues has a fat-phobia and he hates training large clients as he maintains that they are lazy and eat too much. Needless to say, his client base is very mixed, but he tends to attract businessmen and pretty girls. Not an obese person in sight. It sounds like the ideal combination of clients, but what about the ordinary or overweight people?

My weakness is patience – I have very little and tend to roll my eyes often when other people can see my frustration. My resolution for the year is to be more patient and serene and not get upset when a member does not understand how to perform a lunge with a shoulder press in one combination. Testing my weakness, I have landed some clients who are moody, demanding and difficult, but I am going to push through and grow my character. You may wonder where I am going with this confession, but I spent some time thinking about how my client base encompasses mainly women who want to lose weight. Each personal trainer will target certain types of people, whether it is their intention or not.

MODEL MOULDER - There are always the guys who chat to the pretty girls and enjoy toning their young bodies that are not very faulty to begin with. These sessions are much of a spectator sport as other trainers share comments or compliments while trying to wipe away the drool. There is usually much cleavage or cosmetics or both.

PLYO MANIAC – This is the athlete trainer who schedules clients around their training schedules and tend to train triathletes, runners and cyclists. There is much jumping, balance and core work involved in their routines and the clients can manage high repetitions without breaking too much of a sweat.

GAY GROUPIES – Whether it is the “fag hag” that the pretty boys love training with or the gay personal trainer that makes other homosexuals feel comfortable, there is a definite gravitation towards these trainers.

PROBLEM PEOPLE PULLERS – When watching these sessions, sympathetic looks in the trainer’s eyes communicate silently with their colleague who has to endure moaning and bitching from the client. Objections to doing exercises, complaining about instructions and loud panting can be heard by the clients, but the trainer patiently waits for the exercise to be completed. These clients think they are better qualified than the trainer and it is a wonder they have asked for help at all. One unlucky personal trainer seems to attract the difficult clients.

MAKE OVER EXPERT – This trainer tends to find the fattest, unhealthiest client they can source and change their life and waistline within a few months. The success story is great advertising for the trainer and it enriches the client’s life.

CHAT COACH – This is the personal trainer’s other role as psychologist and listener. The stories of the client are long and drawn out and take more than half the session.  After a few sessions, the client wants to know why they are not seeing results. This is when you mention their skinny cheekbones from all the talking.

CORPORATE COACH – The businessperson who does what they are told with little emotion and complaint. They either are the most dedicated clients (as they are determined not to be a failure) or they always cancel because work takes priority.

MOMMY MOVERS – These women tend to share the same trainer as the referrals are high in this group. Just one good result and all the ladies want to look like that one yummy mummy.

GROUPIES – Teaching group training classes exposes the trainer to a whole different aspect of the membership base. This is the place they pick up clients instead of walking the floor.

Identify yourself in these categories and realize that most clients fall into some type of category. This is an internal top secret document that can never be shared with the client.