Finding the right trainer can be challenging. Finding a competent trainer if you are over age 50 is an even tougher task.

By Brett Cohen, personal trainer and functional aging specialist

If you are reading this article you have taken it upon yourself to do the research and not have one selected for you by the training managers at Crunch, Equinox or New York Sports Club.
If you are over 50 that’s like going to the hardware store for milk. You’re not going to find what you’re looking for or need in those places. You came to the right place. Neighborhoodtrainer.com

Below are what I think are the 3 most important qualities you should look for when selecting a fitness profession.

Knowledge:
A trainer that works with the mature population should have the appropriate certifications that apply to that population. To become a “personal trainer” simply requires an individual to pass an exam from a certifying organization. Some of those organizations are more credible than others. Regardless of which certification a trainer has, it should simply serve as a base level of knowledge. A starting point, not an end.

To be an expert in any field you need to have much more knowledge and education than a general practitioner would. The same applies to the field of fitness coaching. I wanted to become an expert in working with the mature population so I have obtained two such specialty certifications.

The National Academy of Sports Medicine: Senior Fitness Specialist
The Functional Aging Institute: Functional Aging Fitness Specialist

These are in addition to the certifications I have as a; personal trainer, holistic lifestyle coach and golf fitness specialist. As well as a Bachelor of Science in Education.

Experience:
The book Outliers, by Malcolm Gladwell, makes a case that based on research by psychologist Anders Ericsson, it takes at least 10,000 hours of deliberate practice to become world-class (an expert) in any field.

I was first certified as a personal trainer in 1999 and got my first job in a gym in 2000! Since then I have worked at three major fitness chains as well as several privately owned gyms. Working an average of 1,000 contact hours a year over the last 16 years I have long since eclipsed that 10,000 hour mark. The bottom line is….I’ve worked with a lot of bodies, most of them over age 50.

Empathy
Why did I chose to work with the over 50 population? I’ll tell you why.
First, I’m 54 myself, and even though I’m in great shape I can fully appreciate what it feels like to live in an aging body and the physical challenges associated with the aging process.

“I bring real life experience to what it takes to maintain a health body after age 50 and I want to share that.”

This population is grossly underserved. Having worked in the industry a long long time I see what’s it’s all about. Most of it revolves around the desire to burn fat, get ripped, shredded or huge. But for the most part those are not the goals of a person 55, 60, 70 or 80. I know, I have two clients that are octogenarians and neither one of them is training to get 6 pack abs!

The fitness industry has forgotten this population. There are very few trainers that truly understand the needs of mature adults. The grim reality is if you were to go to a big box gym your trainer would likely be someone in their 20’s or 30’s and have very little real life experience. Most often they will use the same training strategies that they use on their 20’s and 30’s clients. I see it all the time and it frustrates the hell out of me!

Brett’s Bottom Line:
Boomers and Seniors have different needs that what the traditional fitness industry focuses on. Fitness trends, gyms and fitness publications tend to focus on a much younger audience, ignoring the needs and desires of the mature audience.

If you are over age 50 and want some help with your health and fitness call me and get the personal attention you deserve from an industry expert who fully understands what’s happening in you body.

To find out more about my Fitness Over 50 program log onto my website: www.fitnessbydesign.nyc and download your FREE Fitness report today!