Designing, Planning & Leading an Exercise Session

Designing, Planning & Leading an Exercise Session 1/08/2012 SHMD 249

Pg 248 To ensure participants are happy with their progress and will keep training, it is important that the trainer is able to design exercise programs and session plans which are relevant to the specific needs of the participant.

Stage 1: Gathering Information • To be able to design a specific exercise program for a specific individual, you will have to carry out a comprehensive initial consultation. • This will involve the participant filling out questionnaires about their health, medical conditions, goals, and lifestyle. • This will be followed up by a face-to-face consultation to find out more about the participant. • The trainer needs to build up a detailed picture of this participant and their life so that the exercises they choose and the program they design will have the best chance of succeeding.

Stage 1: Gathering Information FACTORS TO CONSIDER: • The trainer needs to consider a range of factors to ensure the program is appropriate and that it will benefit the participant rather than harm them. • The trainer needs to consider the following: • PAR-Q responses – have any contra-indications to exercise been identified? • Medical history – do they have any conditions which may affect the training program and choice of exercises? • Current and previous exercise history – this will give an idea about the current fitness level of the client

Stage 1: Gathering Information FACTORS TO CONSIDER CONTINUED... • Barriers to exercise – do they have constraints such as time, cost, family responsibilities, or work commitments? • Motives & goals – what is the participant aiming to achieve and what is their timescale? • Occupation – hours worked and whether work is manual or office-based • Activity levels – amount of movement they do on a daily basis • Leisure time activities – whether these are active or inactive

Stage 1: Gathering Information FACTORS TO CONSIDER CONTINUED... • Diet – what, how much and when they eat • Stress levels – either through work or their home life, and how they deal with it • Alcohol intake – how much they consume and how often • Smoking – whether they are a smoker or ex-smoker and the amount they smoke • Time available – the client needs to fit the training into their schedule and the trainer needs to be realistic when planning the program

Stage 1: Gathering Information CLIENT GROUPS • Clients are the central focus of the fitness industry • It is essential to understand the individual needs and goals of each client • Each client needs to be treated as an individual • Clients will come from a range of backgrounds, ages, fitness levels, shapes and sizes.

Stage 1: Gathering Information • You may see the following groups of people as clients: • Varied ability levels – beginners, intermediates, advanced • Varied fitness levels – low, moderate or high • Elderly • Juniors • Athletes • People with specific goals, such as running a marathon or weight loss • Pregnant women • People with medical conditions such as asthma or diabetes

Stage 1: Gathering Information ACTIVITY SELECTION • Once you have gathered information about the client, you need to select the appropriate intervention in terms of the exercises you choose. You need to consider the following factors: • Likes & dislikes – what is the participant comfortable doing? Why do they not like certain exercises?

Stage 1: Gathering Information Consider the following factors continued: • Accessibility – where can they get to for their training? This may be physical or limited by cost • Culture – are they limited by their culture in terms of expected roles and responsibilities, and also dress code? • Equipment available – are activities limited by venue and what it has to offer? You may be training in a gym or at the clients home

Stage 2: Establishing Objectives • To ensure the success of a program, it needs to be specific to the outcome the client wants • Therefore it is important that you find out exactly what the client would like to achieve

Stage 2: Establishing Objectives • The clients objectives could be any one of the following: • Cardiovascular fitness • Flexibility • Weight loss • Improved health • Muscular strength • Muscular size • Muscle tone • Power

Stage 2: Establishing Objectives ONCE YOU HAVE ESTABLISHED THE OBJECTIVES, IT IS TIME TO PLAN THE PROGRAM

Designing, Planning & Leading an Exercise Session