Very interesting topic. I am a Personal Trainer part-time, and a teacher by day. So I totally agree about applying educational theory in my training practice. I also look for opportunities to actively "teach" my clients about the various components of their program - the "why" if you will, behind what we are doing. I also do "action research" (another education buzzword) by trying out the new things I learn (through continuing ed etc.) with my clients to see what works for them.
But the bottom line behind being a great trainer, I think, is understanding each clients' unique needs and goals, and then helping to achieve them. In my gym (a small, personal-training studio), we have mainly older people, many in their 60s or beyond. Many have been coming to us for years. They are not necessarily looking to "take it to the next level." They are mostly concerned with maintaining good function so they can go about their daily lives easily. Most/all have joint or other health issues.
Of course I always encourage them to push themselves...but that can look very different from pushing a young athlete in his/her prime. I believe the great trainers are the ones who know this, and know how to set/achieve challenging, satisfying goals that are unique to each client.
As one final aside, I can tell you that I have clients who truly don't really want to work very hard. But they need me to "get them through it," and as long as I keep the program interesting and varied, they're happy, even if it's not truly challenging. Others want to push hard, because they're paying good money and want tangible results for it.
Like I said, it all depends on the client...wait, someone else said that before me!
- Jennifer
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