As the election season reaches a frenzy, talk about the presidential candidates is going on everywhere from the water cooler to the weight room and all places in between.  Talks about the election can elicit great emotion for one or both people involved.  In some cases, those emotions can boil over and often cause rifts in longstanding, strong relationships. 

For those people who work with a personal trainer, conversations often traverse a wide spectrum of subjects.  Because a client-trainer relationship can be a very personal experience. They can last years, whereby those 60 minute sessions can include personal conversations related to life, love, philosophies, points of view, and advice, one must tread lightly when it comes to politics.  A personal trainer and their client may have a difference of opinion once in a while, but when it comes to politics it may be best to steer clear of this subject.

In New York City’s borough of Manhattan, politics is a very hot subject any time of the year.  Not just at election time.  There is a large community of individuals who are very involved and very active politics and civic action.  Many of these people are wealthy individuals.  These wealthy individuals also tend to have personal trainers.  Depending on the fitness trainer’s style and the preferences of their client, one my do more talking than the other.  A personal trainer Manhattan may often assume the role of a bartender.  Sometimes during a personal training sessions they may be subjected to hearing about their clients activities the night before, a problem at work, or possibly a spousal issue.  While it may be hard not to offer advice at these times, it is best to refrain. 

If your trainer is a Romney supporter and you are a fan of Obama or vice versa, having that difference of opinion could fracture an otherwise strong relationship.  No matter how good the fitness program is, having a difference of opinion on gun control, abortion, foreign policy, taxes, or the economy can create an unnecessary reason to go shopping for a new personal trainer.

Offering advice to clients may seem like the right thing to do.  It is natural to want to help.  While spending so many hours with a client, a personal trainer Manhattan learns about them.  Not only physically, but mentally.  Are they a positive or negative person, their likes and dislikes, their take on current events, and yes, at some point their political views.  Often, the conversation can be just some friendly banter and some of the advice or insight that a personal trainer can offer may help, but the one time that it doesn’t help, could spell doom for the relationship.