personal_trainerIt goes without saying that a well thought out customized training program sits near the top of the list for being successful in your endeavours to looking good naked. Based on your training history, current health and fitness status, previous and/or current injuries and obviously your goals, a trainer or strength coach will design you a personalized program. Having said that, the trainer shouldn’t give you exercises that:

  • a) you couldn’t do,
  • b) add to current areas of pain,
  • c) put you in at-risk positions, and
  • d) take you further away from your goals.

However, there is more to it than what exercises to do in the gym.
 

The Personal in Personal Training

 
There are other pieces to the puzzle that are also inherently important when working toward your goals with your health and physique. The phase personal training implies one-on-one training; however, the meaning goes much deeper than that. The personal in personal training more so reflects what you bring to the table.

Improving your current state of health, wellbeing, strength level, energy level and happiness with your naked body takes time, effort and dedication to see results. It also takes a great team. Every time I get a new client, we form what I like to call the dynamic duo.

I can provide the guidance, motivation and awesome programming, but you need to have to these qualities to ensure your road to success isn’t so bumpy.

Here are my top 5 ingredients for success:

1. Drive /drīv/ – To push propel or press onward forcibly – reaching your health and fitness goals requires constant drive and a push in the right direction. A lack of drive can leave you sitting in the dust.

2. Intensity /inˈtensitē/ – Exceptionally great concentration, power, or force – a lack of intensity in the gym will slow your progress toward looking good naked. Leaning over the stepper or lifting too light won’t be enough stimulus to force your body to adapt. The intensity doesn’t have to be over red-line, but you need to feel slightly uncomfortable. Programming recovery sessions and getting 7 to 8-hours of uninterrupted sleep a night are just as important as training at a high intensity, so make sure you have balance.

3. Effort /ˈefərt/ – A vigorous or determined attempt – this is similar to training intensity. Your effort should force your body to change and adapt to the training stimulus. It doesn’t matter what level you’re at or if you have old injuries. Strive for that training effect in every workout. Bring the effort and notice your body change.

4. Discipline /ˈdisəplin/ – Training expected to produce a specific character or pattern of behaviour, especially training that produces moral or mental improvement – your new pattern of behaviour might be drastically different from the life you’re used to living. Focus on changing one habit at a time so it’s not so daunting. You’ll also be more successful.

5. Consistency /kənˈsistənsē/ – Conformity in the application of something – probably my number one must for progress. Consistent training, consistent nutritional habits, and consistent lifestyle choices will lead to change. Starting and stoping your workout program or eating well for one afternoon and poorly for the next day will not add up to success.

All of my most successful clients have brought qualities 1 though 5. If one’s missing, I’m afraid to say the results haven’t been as pronounced. When signing up with a trainer, coach or class, make sure you’re carrying your end of the deal for maximal results.

Thanks for reading. My intention wasn’t to scare you, but to make you realize, us as trainers, don’t have a magic wand (although that would be very cool!).

-JK

I heard really good things about it from my sister, and I could see the positive results she was getting.  I needed to do something.  I was overweight, depressed, and recovering from a back injury.  I had reached a point where simply getting up out of a chair was becoming difficult.  I knew that if I didn’t do something about it my senior years would be very burdensome to the people close to me.  I’m so glad I did!  After just a few weeks my day-to-day pain was drastically reduced, and my mobility increased. I had the confidence to try sea kayaking, and I now play ice hockey twice a week!

The key difference is the expertise.  The trainers know the gym equipment and the exercises, but they also have degrees in kinesiology, and can apply what they know to your workout.  As someone who was in poor physical condition starting out, I was worried about hurting myself.  Previously I tried an outdoor weekly bootcamp and injured my knee by pushing too hard.  The trainers at JKC constructed a program that started at the right level for me, evolving it as I grew stronger and more fit.  I feel well looked after.

JKC is different from other gyms/fitness regimes I have tried in the past because of my level of comfort with the facility and other JKC clients and the amount of knowledge both Jon and Thomas demonstrate through personal attention to form, core development and overall strength is outstanding. JKC is by far the best training hands on attention that I’ve experienced period and I have experienced many over a lifetime of activity and playing various sports. The facility has everything you require plus, as you will learn there are many ways to use every piece of equipment and Jon and Thomas are very creative! There are many age groups and professions who attend this gym from elite athlete’s to the rest of us and the casual but focused atmosphere in the gym makes each visit interesting, friendly and challenging at all levels.

The people and the training set JKC apart from other gyms or programs I’ve tried in the past. Truly Jon and Thomas meet you where are and help you get to where you want to be. There are no expectations and never any judgement. You can go there having the worst day and you always leave feeling better. Truly JKC has given me a level of strength and confidence I would not have had otherwise ❤️.

I had spent a fair bit of time in gyms in my teens and twenties but I turned away from the gym to focus on activities that I enjoyed more. What keeps me at JKC is that I do really enjoy it. I always feel that I’ve accomplished something when I leave at the end of my workout. The environment is really positive and focused on challenging yourself whatever your level of comfort and fitness. I’ve also seen results that I’m really happy with; having someone who really knows what they’re talking about to guide your workouts makes them way more effective and focused than just “going to the gym”.

Shortly after I started at JKC, I sustained a fairly major injury that took me off my feet for several months. When I started to get back to activity, it was very difficult. Jon and Thomas worked hard to tailor my workouts to my goals and what I could do. With their help, I’ve been steadily building back strength and function.

I’ve been weight training on and off for years but never really had a specific goal or target in mind so routinely stalled out, plateaued or stopped training all together. Before I joined JKC I was definitely in a fitness slump and needed something to motivate me and get me back on track. I did a bit of digging online, looking at various personal training options and gyms around town but JKC seemed like the best option by far. I’ve tried big box gyms and other personal trainers in the past but none of them have had the perfect combination of goal specific fitness programming, welcoming and supportive environment, and the knowledge and passion to back it all up that you’ll find at JKC. Jon and Thomas are great to work with, they know how to motivate you if you’re having an off day and are well versed in all the different ways to make your muscles burn! I also have noticed some major improvements in my deadlifts since I started with JKC and was really happy with the result.

As Seen On: