The Shortcomings Of Personal Training For Clients Who Are 50+ Years Old

What you are being asked to do might be putting you at risk!

The fitness industry is a very fascinating market place these days, and one that can leave certain groups pulling their hair out... well if they still have it. (I don't.) The 50+ crowd has been getting the raw end of the deal when it comes to what most of the fitness industry provides. Most gyms and studios cater to 20-50 year olds. And that makes sense - generally speaking, the more we age, the more damage it seems we have done to our bodies. (There are people like my wife who had back surgery at 17 years old, too.)

SIDE BAR: There is still little to no regulation for the personal training industry. 

A personal trainer can be very busy with clients yet not have all of the liability insurances, or the education you would expect. (This is for another blog post).

Unfortunately this often leaves people in the hands of some well-intentioned, yet sometimes damaging hands. Given the sensitivity of many people who are looking for personal training, there is little room for error in training methodology when working with them.

If you are over the age of 60, even 50, and you are reading this, welcome! 

You have just stumbled upon (or intentionally tracked down) some of the best trainers and Muscles Activation Techniques Specialists equipped to give you ways to support YOUR body.

Why is this so important?

It typically comes down to one question: HOW LONG DO YOU WANT TO BE ON THIS EARTH FEELING THE WAY YOU FEEL? Unfortunately, without intervening and making some changes, it only gets worse. We have numerous testimonials from people of all ages saying they now feel the best they have in years.

The human body is an amazing organism designed to survive just about every situation we could place ourselves in - feeling good, or avoiding pain isn't needed to merely survive. However, it's still possible to elicit responses in the body that can help keep our bodies functioning pain-free (or in less pain) for many more years.

Where do others miss the boat when it comes to working with the 50 and beyond population? They treat them like every other "body" out there.

If you find yourself in this group of seasoned humans, you might have already noticed your body does not respond like it used to to physical activity - or dieting. Given the physiological changes that happen in most of our bodies, that is accurate. Your body is not going to respond, and usually negatively.

You must adapt to meet your training and nutritional needs; there is no "one size fits all" option that we've found. The risk is too high to assume your body can handle what another body can handle. I know that sounds extreme, but trust me I see it all the time. So many frustrated clients have come to us after just one pulled muscle started a downhill cascade of events.

There are a lot of things you can do to start to "reverse" what pressures we put on ourselves daily. You will want to start here:

1. LISTEN TO YOUR BODY!!!! Pain is your check engine light, decreased energy is your check engine light, emotional distress is your check engine light. Learn to listen to the warning signs your body is sending you BEFORE you totally break down.

2. SHARE those warning lights with trained professionals that can help assess your entire system for issues, someone that understands the interconnectedness of all the parts involved, and someone who has experience in working with your age demographic.

3. COMMIT to being better!! It's not just about how you look - which you know if you have been in any kind of pain. Focus on being healthier - stronger and emotionally grounded.

Fitness-Tek specializes in helping individuals like yourself get into the best shape of your life. While we have provided some bullet point to start with, please don't hesitate to reach out if you find yourself stuck. We can explore what else you can do to further progress your body in a healthy direction.

Yours in Health,

Kevin and Team