Do you judge your trainers/instructors by their appearance?

[blackbeard]

I judge trainers based on the people they have trained. I'd rather train with some old oly coach with medals under his belt than with some guy who's been lifting since he was 12 and got his certs from a 2 hour online course.

Agreed. I think part of the problem is that its a "perception" issue. I suppose if one is looking for an aerobics instructor they would look for an MTV Dance-type. How many basketball coaches are hired because they look like Michael Jordan? If one is looking for a coach then one looks for knowledge.

 

[Red_Panda]

Update on that instructor I was talking about who looks heavy but is really strong and gives me a great workout every time - at the end of a class recently she opened up to the class to talk to us about what led her to start working out and teaching the class. Apparently she was always really heavy as a child, so her current weight is actually a big improvement for her. As so many have said, you don't know what people do outside of the time you see them... you also don't know where they're coming from originally. But I have to say, her classes have given me some pretty fabulous abs and thighs, so she does know what she's doing! =)

 

[Eric L]

I don't discriminate and judge a book by it's cover either. But as a trainer, you are responsible for the safe training of your clients and for their motivation. Which is more motivating or supporting to you? An out of shape instructor or a very fit and conditioned one? Trainers owe it not only to themselves but to their clients to be in shape. Positive peer reinforcement and setting an example is your job as a CPT.

But, instructors who are out of shape can be just as good as fit ones...But it's like a shoemaker with bad shoes, it's a little odd but they get the job done.

As for your trainer Red Panda, I've read a quote once which would describe her:

"Judge me not by the heights to which I have soared but by the debts out of which I have climbed."

It's much harder for a person that has been out of shape for the most part of their life to get in shape than one who has been fit since their childhood. I can tell you this first hand because I am one of them. Habits and routines have been engraved in her lifestyle and she finally broke free of them. She turned it around 180 degrees and look where she is at now. I think shes great... Quality trainer right there. It just shows how judging someone on their looks is completely wrong.

Personally, I have to admit that I really can't hold back from judging someone from their looks sometimes...it's like an instinct.

 

[JackShephard]

There cannot be any discrimination in this particular context, it's impossible. If you judge your IT support guy because he's too skinny/too fat - then that is discrimination - after all, he's here to fix your computer, that's it. But your PT? Damn right I expect him/her to be super duper fit.

It's not discrimination, it's respect I have for the sport (is this a sport? but you know what i mean). I learned that it take dedication, and an extraordinary amount of knowledge to get to the 'higher echelons' AKA 'looking fit' AKA 'cover of magazine'.

Yes, I'm totally, 100% proud to say that I would feel far more comfortable giving my 40 quid per session to a guy who looks like what I want to look, versus a guy who looks like me.

This is not discrimination, it's common sense.

For example, panda, if you came to me and said 'hey I can teach you how to lose weight' - I'd take you very seriously considering the amazing results you had (very inspiring by the way, but I got told off when I showed your pix to my wife . On the other hand, if Mr Flabby comes to me with the same advice, I'd probably chuckle.

 

[Dallen]

So we had a discussion in one of my classes about different kinds of discrimination in the workplace. Most people jumped headlong into the racial angle, but it got me thinking about something interesting, and I thought I'd pose it to you all because now I'm curious to see what everyone here thinks.

When you go to a personal trainer, or a yoga class, or an aerobics class, or watch a workout video/tv special, or even just read a book or hear someone speaking/lecturing on the subject of fitness, do you pre-judge the activity leader based on their physique? Are you more likely to take a trainer/instructor/teacher seriously if they are in what you perceive to be good to excellent shape? Or do you believe that they can still know what they're talking about and get you in shape effectively even if they themselves are out of shape?

For example: I have had classes where my teacher was, shall we say, on the heavy side. So walking in I was bordering skeptical, because she's been teaching this class for years. Which means she has been doing this exact routine at least as many times a week as those in her class will be right? And for much longer. So why is she not in great shape as she promises we will be "by bikini season"? But the class starts... And not only do I feel the burn and the break a sweat, but she is in fact very strong under those layers! How she can do what we're doing with ease while talking steadily is beyond me. So maybe some people are good at exercise but just poor eaters? So we can take them seriously on the one subject, but not the other? Or perhaps her metabolism is slow? Or I suppose there's probably a plethora of other reasons why, with all the exercise, she could be so strong but still so heavy. But do you take them less seriously? Are you less likely to take that class to start with even? If you were the owner of a gym, would you be less likely to hire a "heavy" trainer even if they could perform on pair with a fit one? Input! Debate!

Not everyone practice what they teach. It's a fairly known fact that some people do the direct opposite of what they preach.

Take it from me: learn and listen from everyone, including those who seemingly know nothing, and in that, you'll find true knowledge. I learned many times in the past that it's better to listen to everything, but yet not one particular thing. In that, you'll find the truth of what you're looking for.

However, to answer your question, I would want to see the person in action before I make judgements. If I were to hire something, I'd want them to do the job, rather than look the part.

 

[nicolaw]

There are some good discussions going on here. I'm just going to comment on some things people have said

Then, there are trainers that look the part and to be honest just CRAP in term of training skill. Half the time, they are admiring themselves in the mirror while the trainee is working out.

So true.

Intresting topic.. I judge fairly easily but when it comes to a PT I need them to have a good knowldge, but something that I need from a PT is a good personality. Make jokes and make the work out just a little easier. I had one PT who was an intense very large man who made me alot stronger but I wanted to cry everytime I got home haha. Now I have a PT who is just as knowldgable but gives me support and is more of a friend. I come home feeling great now

Yeah that's so true. My PT is a friend and sometimes, it's not a good idea to train friends, but she is more of my mum's friend, but she is fantastic. I feel that I can tell her ANYTHING and she never puts me down, always focuses on my positives, we can laugh, she pushes me at the right times, doesn't push me when she knows I'm at breaking point physically, I always feel good when I leave our sessions. She'll ask where i'm at before every session.

I judge trainers based on the people they have trained. I'd rather train with some old oly coach with medals under his belt than with some guy who's been lifting since he was 12 and got his certs from a 2 hour online course.

Yeah, i've done my certificate III in fitness, and some of the guys that were there, have obviously been pushed by their parents or whatever to do it, because they just have NO EMPATHY. They are your typical footballers and really, the only clients they will be training are footballers. I could never see them being sympathetic to overweight people, they would laugh and make jokes about one of the older ladies that was there, and snigger at people who couldn't do the exercises. It's a disgrace.

b/c I believe the way you present yourself is your biggest advertisement.

Exactly

Apparently she was always really heavy as a child, so her current weight is actually a big improvement for her. As so many have said, you don't know what people do outside of the time you see them... you also don't know where they're coming from originally. But I have to say, her classes have given me some pretty fabulous abs and thighs, so she does know what she's doing! =)

I always try and remember this when I see overweight people. You don't where they have been before this and where they will be later on, or the context.


I'd like to give some insight into this. I plan to do exercise and sport science at Uni, but my UAI wasn't very good, so I have to do a diploma of sport to get into uni first. And this diploma involves my cert III and IV in fitness, so I can be a PT if I want, it was never really my plan, but if I decide to I can. Now, I have to admit I am a little overweight, and I am not the fittest person out there, but I do LOVE sport and exercise.

I will NOT become a personal trainer until I have lost weight and become fitter, and done all the things I plan to teach people. My answer to this thread is yes, I do judge trainers by their looks, not entirely, but to an extent, yes. There is no way I could teach people to do things when i had not done them myself. Sure I can reel off everything I learn in my course, but if I can't lose weight myself, how the hell can I tell other people to do it? There's no way I could do that. I would want to be able to show my clients how to do it, with technique and everything. Think about it, how weird would it be if you were like training with a PT and you were outdoing them in everything? Like if you were running or something? Too weird.

I know it's different when the looks are deceiving and they are stronger than they appear, that's different. And I know trainers who are older and have a wealth of experience but don't look like they've done it, it's just ageing. So I would definantly check out people they had trained first and find out their qualifications and everything.

 

[BikeSwimLaugh]

I think we're all on the same page here......but still interesting to chat about.

Today at the gym I noticed a few trainers while on the treadmill . When you see trainers who are in really good shape, it's like a testament to their ability to bring you the similar results. When I see a trainer with a bulging gut or small arms...it seems rather hypocritical....it says: if you work hard and train with me, you too can have girly-arms and a tubby gut.

So let me ask you something....would you get a haircut from some hair stylist who had a pathetic haircut? I suppose it's the same answer. If that hair stylist had a book of clients and he did great work, then so be it...but you can't say it doesn't give rise to question.

I go to buy a used car and it backfires & stalls...I'm walking!