Are We here to Entertain our Clients?

Comrades,

I was reading David Whitely's Blog today, Senior RKC Instructor. He wrote about strengthening your weakest link. Everyone of us has one. Do we know where it is, some of us do but, some of us don't. It is our job as fitness professionals to identify our clients weakest link and help them repair what is needed to make them strong and healthy. Yes, there are those of us who put our clients through very demanding trainings, and there are those of us who feel the need to entertain them as we do it.

After reading his article, I started to think that as a trainer, I need to be first and foremost concerned about that weak link that my clients have and how can I fix it. I know some of us realize we have an imbalance but, we don't want to take the time to fix it. We would rather go for a run or lift weights.

I urge you to really think about your training and where it is going. Think about the goals you have and share them with your trainer. Hold them accountable for your progress. Ask them to identify your weakest link.

I am on a mission to identify my clients imbalances and to fix them the best way I know how,(FMS). A lot of these issues can be fixed in a short period of time. It just takes effort on the part of the client to do their homework and as a trainer to hold them accountable.

Phil Scarito, RKC

CK-FMS Summary-Please Read This Comrades

Comrades,

This weekend has enlightened me in so many ways. Just when you think you have a pretty good understanding of training principles, the FMS throws a wrench in it, in a good way. The Functional Movement Screen Workshop that I attended has changed the way I train and initially screen a client. Think of it this way, we all develop movement patterns that over the long term, if not corrected end up giving us lumbar pain, knee and hip issues. What if there was a way to correct these movement patterns, allowing everyone to train with no imbalances? As stated in my FMS manual, "The focal point of this program is that significant limitations or Right and Left imbalances exist in some individuals at very basic levels of movement."

So what does this mean to you? Why should I go through the screening process?

I don't know about you, but I don't want to lift weights, run and press a bell when my body has a dysfunction. What am I doing? I'm inevitably going to create an injury. I want my body screened and corrected, bringing me to an even level so I can build upon it. Brett Jones, Master RKC Instructor said, "What we are doing is building fitness on dysfunction." I don't want to train around a pre-existing condition, not fixing the root problem. The idea is to individualize a training program based on a client's weakest Link.

This brings me to my next point, BOOTCAMP training. Since, all of us have some sort of imbalance, how can we train a group of 20, 30 even 40 people at one time and focus on their individual weaknesses? Everyone has a different weakness and corrective exercises for that weakness. So, we are essentially building fitness on dysfunction and not making anyone better.

This weekend I and my fellow RKC Instructors were the 1st group of RKC's to learn how to properly screen clients and find their weaknesses. They gave us the corrective movements and conditioning exercises to create a healthy-symmetrical client. I will be screening each and every client of mine over the next 3-4 weeks. I look forward to the process and making my clients healthier and stronger.

Phil Scarito, RKC

Update on my trip so far

Comrades,

It's been only the first day, but I have to tell you this Cert is gonna be amazing. Today I got to meet hang out with David Whitely, Kenneth Jay and Will Williams. We all unloaded about 20 crates of bells for the Cert tomorrow.

Got some great Pics to post. The hotel is awsome. There is an irish pub downstairs, where I can get Guiness on Tap anytime I want. Love it.

I will keep you all updated on how the beginning of the Cert goes.

Phil.