Experiencing the Details

Image courtesy of powerplate.mercola.com

When it comes to improving a client's exercise experience as well as your value in their mind, I think one of the biggest things you as the exercise consultant and professional can do is to put a huge amount of focus and energy into the little details of each exercise.  In fact, being a real stickler when it comes to enforcing what exact positions you want your client to hold while performing precise motions under control (assuming both the positions and motions are within their abilities) can completely transform the sensations they are experiencing and may actually allow you to stimulate the tissue(s) you are intending to.

Look, most people can perform elbow flexion on their own.  If you put a dumbbell in somebody's hands, as long as the weight is less than the torque-producing capabilities of their elbow flexors, most people will still be able to perform the motion of concentric elbow flexion while holding that dumbbell.  So how much value are you creating in yourself if you just allow the client to move the dumbbells as he or she pleases?  Additionally, how is your value going to be perceived by the client if what they do with you feels exactly the same as what they do or could do on their own?

Image courtesy of livestrong.com

I've written before how sensation and experience can be altered through cuing, which can be improved by you experiencing the cues, as well.  I've also written about the importance of experimenting with different resistance profiles for yourself so you are better-able to provide different experiences for your clients.  All of these things can be influenced by where a client's mind is at, what they are focusing on, and their intention with each exercise.  And all of these things can be amplified by focusing on the details.

What are the precise words and phrases you are using with you client?  What is it exactly that you want them thinking about, and  how are you communicating that?  And now, after you yourself have experienced different resistance profiles for similar motions and/or in an attempt to stimulate the same tissues, how are you going to create one that is absolutely specific your client's needs and abilities that not only feels good, but feels like nothing else they have done before?

In order to effectively enforce the details, you have to have a detailed picture in your head of exactly what you want.  You have to be confident enough in yourself to be able to regress a client when necessary, not just allowing them to continue on with the exercise with uncontrolled and/or imprecise motions and an inability to maintain positions.  Also, you have to be able to effectively communicate with your client, whether it be visually, verbally, via tactile stimulation, or some combination thereof.

How much are you enforcing the details of exercise?  How much is your client experiencing them?

Your body.  Your training.

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