When we say “professional exercise coaching” you probably relate theses words to someone you have had an exercise teaching experience with. Maybe a personal training, a gym instructor, a Pilates teacher or even a group exercise instructor; but these people may not be professional exercise coaches – although all of them can be! Allow us to elaborate…

A key component to being a professional exercise coach requires the understanding and the ability to appropriately apply physics and biomechanics (the study of human structure, motion, forces, and their effects on and within the body) as they relate to our body and the exercises we perform. Unfortunately, these sciences, which are fundamental to teaching you how to exercise safely and correctly, are rarely acknowledged or taught as part of current certificate courses in the exercise and rehabilitation industries.

Now you are probably wondering why biomechanics and physics are so important, when all you want to do is tone your arms or lose a few pounds.

Well, an exercise experience starts when you increase the forces acting on and within the body – yes, that’s right ‘force’! All exercises are about the application of force to the body. So whether you use a machine in the gym, go to a Pilates class, or just have a run in the park, you will be increasing the force acting on and within you.

Force is everything

Force is a catalyst for change in every living organism on the planet; gravity probably being the most influential in the way it creates the resistance needed for growth in plants, animals and us. In fact, gravity is just as necessary for life as oxygen.

So what has forces got to do with exercise? When exercising we apply forces to our bodies to stimulate our muscle cells to change. Applying too much force too soon or too repetitively can damage your health and increase the potential for injuries. And applying too little, while safer, will limit the effects you are after.

It’s important to realise that exercise and its effects are not magic. And if it is done without an accurate way of taking the forces (the stimulation) into account, the result is a pure guessing game.

We recognise that your body is as individual as you are. Therefore the way people move and the forces they can tolerate vary. By evaluate your current muscle strengths and weaknesses, we are able to tailor the right exercises to achieve the specific purposes you are after in your training.

So be smart and think before you next exercise.  Remember, no one exercise is better than another. It is when, why, how, and with whom it is used that makes the difference. And the better the exercise is tuned to your body, the faster the results – and the safer you’ll be from doing harm rather than good.

If you want professional help in getting these exercises right, contact us. Or if you would like direction on where to study to become a professional exercise coach, then read our section on the Resistance Training Specialist® program.