Personal trainers can fuel drive for fitness
• Sorting out titles
• Who's who in local personal trainers
By Paula Rath
Advertiser Staff Writer
 |
| Illustration by Greg Taylor • The Honolulu Advertiser |
Perhaps their goals were too optimistic and they are demoralized. Maybe they overdid it the first few days and are in pain.
Worst of all, maybe the workouts were so humdrum they got bored and lost their motivation.
A personal trainer might be just what they need.
A good trainer is an expert in the field of fitness. He or she spends years in school, in sports and in the gym learning what makes an effective exercise program.
A personal trainer used to seem like an indulgence for the rich and famous. In the 21st century, however, they are ubiquitous, working out with clients in gyms, public parks and even at home.
But how do you find the trainer who can help you achieve your desired level of fitness?
The ideal way is through a personal referral from a close friend who has similar goals to yours and has had great results with a trainer. Otherwise it's a good idea to talk to the fitness consultant at your gym to help you find the trainer who best matches you and your needs.
If you have specific health concerns, such as low back pain, a history of orthopedic injuries, heart disease or diabetes, find out which trainer has experience with these issues.
Compatibility is key
The relationship between trainer and client is an intimate one. You are, after all, dealing with sensitive issues of body, weight, nutrition and exercise.
Rick Ahn, fitness director for The Honolulu Club, said the comfort factor is primary. "You need to match your personality to your trainer. Do you have something in common? Is your demeanor similar?"
An extensive interview with the trainer is recommended. It's also helpful to talk to other clients who have worked with the trainer, or to watch the trainer working with someone else in the gym.
Do you want your body shape to look like the trainer's other clients? Or do they look like Schwarzenegger when you would rather look like Pitt? What would you prefer to emphasize: cardio, balance or strength? Upper or lower body?
Listening is a key quality in a trainer. If the trainer is more interested in telling you what he or she knows than listening to your needs and goals, that's a red flag. Gabrielle Butchart of Diamond Head Therapeutic said trainers should "Be present, not thinking about their own life or their grocery list. It's important to hear between the lines."
If you have a health history that might affect your workouts, this should be discussed up front. Ask the trainer to contact your physician or physical therapist for guidance and recommendations. Many trainers take down detailed medical histories outlining disease states and past injuries.
If just beginning an exercise program, it's important to get clearance from your doctor.
Butchart said a trainer's own life experiences are important: "As a trainer, if I had never sustained traumatic injury to my body, I wouldn't have the compassion to work with women who have experienced trauma and lived with pain."
Alphabet soup of athletics
The field of fitness has a surprising number of letters in its alphabet soup. Trainers can be certified by dozens of organizations. However, all certifications are not equal. Some require nothing more than a high school diploma and current CPR certification, while others demand science degrees and stringent exams.
The American College of Sports Medicine generally is accepted as the gold standard for fitness certifications. ACSM exams require formal training in exercise science, physiology, kinesiology or physical education.
Other respected credentials are issued by the National Strength and Conditioning Association and Aerobics & Fitness Association of America.
Beware of what's out there
Regardless of your age or health history, it's important to ask a trainer if he or she has current CPR certification.
Insurance is another issue. A health club generally carries insurance for any training done on site. An independent trainer must self-insure. In either case, ask.
If the trainer seems to offer the same advice and workout plan to several people, beware. "We don't want a trainer to offer cookie-cutter recommendations," Ahn said.
Watch out for trainers who push nutritional supplements. Many of these are pyramid schemes or money-makers for the club or the trainer. "At some clubs it's part of the business, but unfortunately it can get abused. Often you don't need supplements or they might even prove detrimental," Ahn said.
If a trainer seems to be making you proceed too fast, question the pace. Ahn recommends increasing workouts by not more than 10 percent per week.
The ultimate question, of course, is: Does the trainer work for you? Are you making progress toward your goals? Are you motivated? Are you feeling and looking better? If not, there are plenty of other trainers out there who might be a better fit for you.
• • •
It's easy to be confused by the various titles employed by fitness professionals. Here's a brief overview:
Personal trainer: Fitness professionals who work with individuals to increase their fitness levels through personalized programs of exercise.
Athletic trainer: Medical professionals who specialize in the prevention, assessment, treatment and rehabilitation of injuries and illnesses that occur to athletes and the physically active. These trainers are the people you see running out onto the field or court when an athlete is injured while participating in a sport. They train athletes for optimal performance and work closely with sports medicine physicians when injuries occur.
Physical therapist: Provides services that help restore function, improve mobility, relieve pain and prevent or limit permanent physical disabilities of patients suffering from injuries or disease.
Physiatrist: A physician specializing in physical medicine and rehabilitation. They treat a wide range of problems from sore shoulders to spinal cord injuries, with a focus on restoring function to all major systems of the body. Education includes four years of medical school and four more years of postdoctoral residency training. Often added is a one- or two-year fellowship in a specific field such as the spine, sports medicine, pain management or injured workers.
• • •
Who's who in local personal trainers
We asked Honolulu fitness buffs of varying ages and fitness levels whom they trust as personal trainers. These names came up often. While their backgrounds differ widely, they seem to achieve good results while engendering fierce loyalty.
Gabrielle Butchart
- Clubs/Affiliations: owner of Diamond Head Therapeutic; 737-4646
- Education: No degrees relating to exercise science
- Age: "The second half of my life"
- Years of experience: 30
- Certification(s): American Council on Exercise (ACE), International Dance & Exercise Association (IDEA)
- Latest techniques: "My strong focus is balance and posture analysis and core strengthening through functional and conventional exercises."
- Session fee: $100
- Philosophy: "I'm redefining fitness for every stage of a woman's life. It's not just about the aesthetics — it's about the quality of life, the freedom of movement and the absence of pain."
Dave Chong
- Clubs/Affiliations: The Honolulu Club, owner of Revelations Health Performance Enhancement; 375-7678
- Education: MS in exercise science
- Age: 33
- Years of experience: 13
- Certifications(s): ACSM, NSCA, USA Weightlifting
- Latest techniques: "Balance and stability using tools such as discs and fitballs — anything that throws people off balance because it helps strengthen the trunk and reduce injury risk."
- Session fee: $36 to $48 per hour
- Philosophy: "Set clear goals. Be realistic and understand there are no shortcuts."
Ken Gordon
- Clubs/Affiliations: Owner of Exercise Therapy & Conditioning Center; 732-3201
- Education: BS in exercise science
- Age: 49
- Years of experience: 25 (13 as a teacher and coach of football, track, basketball and swimming; 12 as a personal trainer)
- Certification(s): ACSM, NSCA
- Latest techniques: "Building the foundation through training on the unstable surface — core training with lumbar rolls, stability balls and discs."
- Session fee: $35 and up
- Philosophy: "You have to listen to the client or the patient. History and assessment are important. ... People need to become competent over their own fitness and learn to make safe and efficient choices. But you gotta know that nothing takes the place of plain old hard work."
Donna Lee
- Clubs/Affiliations: JMG Prescriptive Fitness (available independently and at the Pacific Club); 255-6391
- Education: Two MS degrees, one in exercise physiology and one in human physiology
- Age: 40
- Years of experience: 16 years in fitness training; cardiac rehab at Queen's
- Certification(s): ACSM
- Latest techniques: Pilates, core strengthening, and exercises to increase agility and coordination. Specializing in orthopedic and cardiac post-injury and post-surgery rehabilitation.
- Session fee: $80
- Philosophy: "My goal is to help people work back from illness and injury. It's so satisfying to see the intrinsic benefits people get from fitness training."
Mike Sapp
- Clubs/Affiliations: Head trainer for The Gym and independent trainer; 228-7277
- Education: No degrees relating to exercise science
- Age: 47
- Years of experience: 18
- Certification(s): International Sports Science Association
- Latest techniques: Fast-paced resistance training with balance and stability movements, as well as Pilates.
- Session Fee: $50 to $80
- Philosophy: "I was lucky enough to learn from some of the pioneers of the fitness industry while living in Los Angeles, and have seen firsthand what the benefits of a healthy lifestyle can produce. I know the original muscle beach men who still work out and enjoy great health."
