Having worked in the fitness industry for over 12 years, I’ve encountered plenty of misconceptions about training. For one, what someone looks like does NOT make them a good trainer. After all, genetics (and steriods) can’t be coached.
But the most common misconception is that someone should “get in shape” (whatever that means), before seeing a trainer. And while we have our bias on this topic, here’s why we believe the best time to start training is right now.
First, I understand the idea of waiting until an ideal situation to start a new commitment and routine. After all, our services aren’t cheap. But two scenarios we tend to see are a) people get hurt or burned out from working out on their own, and/or b) they fail to establish the routine and accountability to make this habit stick.
That’s why working with a trainer can be so beneficial. Our trainers are terrific at creating accountability, coaching, and meeting someone where they are. Our initial strategy session takes an objective, data-driven approach to an individual’s current quality of movement and physical condition. From there, our system prioritizes the big movements and how to progress someone safely.
Can’t do a push-up on day one? No problem. We’ve seen multiple people in this category progress to a legit one arm/one leg push-up. Seriously.
On the other side of the coin, we’ve had clients tell us how they waited or waffled before starting with us. And almost every single time, they’ve told us how they wished they had started sooner. They realize how much further along they’d probably be if they hadn’t waited.
The last thing I’ll say is that we understand that walking into any new gym is intimidating, especially if it hasn’t historically been your “comfort zone.” But we like to think our community is different. This quote from our Google Reviews illustrates the difference when you walk through our door:
If a welcoming environment where you can grow stronger without all the weird metrics and meatheads is what you’re looking for, you should start training here. You won’t regret it.
Few things in life are more empowering than getting stronger. And regardless of the shape you think you’re in, the best time to start is now.
In strength,
Alex
Alex Tankskey is the founder of The Movement Lab. A former marketer and Facebook surfer, Alex changed careers when he experienced how strength can transform your life. He's now a Strength Coach under the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), StrongFirst (SFG1), Functional Movement Systems (FMS), and a certified Precision Nutrition Coach (Pn1).