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Date Posted: 05:26:33 07/01/04 Thu
Author: J.R.Smith, c.f.t., s.p.n., s.s.c.
Subject: Why a certified fitness professional?

Why a certified fitness professional?
by J.R.Smith

Let me ask you a question? Would you go to a doctor that had not gone to medical school? Would you go to a physcial therapist that had never been trained in physical therapy school? Would you let someone take care of your taxes yet having never taken the first CPA course? Of course you wouldn't. And so the argument begins.

Unfortunately not many people give a second thought about going to a gym and asking someone to help them get a program started. The first question you should ask yourself is this...

Is this person a certified fitness professional?

Now the second most important question you need to ask yourself is one that you may not really know you should ask so I am going to help you with this one. You should ask yourself this....

Is this person's certification recognized by the National Organization of Competency Assurance or IHRSA? Hummm...that's a new one isn't it?

You see, there are over a 1,000 certifications available today for just about anyone to pop up and pay a few dollars and say they are a certified trainer. That is kind of like a person paying for some mail order doctor's licence yet you know that no one in his right mind much less any state is going to recognize this person as a doctor. Yet this happens in the fitness industry.

There are to date, only five organizations that are recognized by the NOCA and IRSHA. They are:

International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA)
National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM)
National Strength and Conditioning Association(NSCA)
American College of Sports Medicine(ACSM)
American Counsel on Exercise (ACE)

These five organizations are the only ones as of yet that require the strictest adherance to education, continuing education, and an even stricter entrance exam to earn their certifications. Does that matter? You better believe it does. And the reason is simple. You are in the hands of a professional who understands anatomy, physiology, orthopedic considerations, first aid, basic psychology, order of sequencing, metabolism, muscular energetic systems, and the laws of strength and fitness. Those who have chosen to go the easier route or have no certification at all can do something the others can't though. What is that you ask? THEY CAN HURT YOU.

Anyone who is working as a trainer without certification just because they exercise or was a former football player or some other athlete does not give this person the ability to be a trainer or other fitness professional. And if a company hires someone and does not require them to be a certified trainer by one of the five organizations I just listed, you should be warey of them and their training programs. It could be they are looking simply to make some personal training money but ultimately you will end up paying for more than training. You could end up paying for a hospital visit or physical therapy.

Several years ago, I made the mistake of hiring some people that were not certified trainers. I did give them some very good training but I was limited in teaching them every thing they needed to do. Ultimately, on three occassions of which I was totally unaware of at the time, one trainer caused a gentleman to have a mild heart attack, another to tear a biceps tendon and a lady to end up going to a neurosurgeon. Once I found out about what happened I fired the trainer since they obviously were not following my directions. This was of course well over 10 years ago. Now, I don't hire anyone unless they first are certified by one of the big 5 and then go through my Fitness School for at least 90 days.

The point I am trying to make is this. If you are going to invest in your health and fitness, attempt to lose weight and get in the best shape of your life, it simply doesn't make sense that you would allow anyone to even perform a body fat composition assessment on you unless they were a certified fitness professional. You can get hurt and hurt badly.

I encourage you to call every single fitness center and ask these following questions to whoever answers the phone so that you will know what you are getting before you even grace the doors of that establishment.

1. Do you offer certified fitness trainers?
( if they say no, then hang up. Even though there is no law in Kentucky requiring these people to be certified, they simply have no idea of what they are doing)

2. If they are certified, by whom are they certified?
(Remember the big 5)

3. Do you perform a complete fitness assessment prior to working with me?
( how could they have any idea of doing one if they don't know what to look for unless they are a certified trainer)

4. How long have you been working with individuals in a one on one situation?
(They should have at least 2 years of experience as a certified trainer)

5. Do you have a referral service to any of the local doctors or physical therapists?
( This is very important and it will give you some very good insight as to how credible they are if they don't)

6. Do you customize a fitness and weight loss program to my individual needs?
( If you have to follow a program that everyone else is following you have many problems not to mention that lack of a certified fitness professional )

7. Are you insured and compliant to the State Attorney General's office?
( Many clubs currently are not compliant with the laws of Kentucky simply because they don't know or are hoping to slip through the cracks and not be caught. Liability insurance is another important issue as well. There is only one credible liability insurance company that works with certified fitness professionals which is the National Health Club Association. If the club or trainer you are looking at is not affiliated with either of these, you could see your club or trainer getting shut down quick if anything were to happen to you are anyone else)

8. Do you have any testimonials I can get in touch with and ask them about their experience with this club or trainer?
( Everyone should freely give you a list of testimonials of individuals that would be more than willing to tell you about their experiences and how they accomplished their goals)

I have provided you with this information in the hopes that you will look at the fitness industry with a different eye. What was good for the fitness industry back in the 70's and 80's simply will not suffice in the 21'st century.

You need a certified fitness professional to assist you with all the complex issues that will arise during your time in the club environment. And you need a professional who can deal with them, not some former jock or kid who works out and reads Muscle & Fitness magazine.

And if a trainer or club makes any promises to you about the exact type of results you will get with their program or make you promises that offer more hype for hope, then you should see that as a red flag. And if they offer you before and after photos, ask if these people are local or from another club. You want to see people in your community so you can ask them how they did it.

Well that's it. I hope this will help you make a much more informed decision into choosing a health club or fitness trainer. It is important in today's society that you choose only the professionals that have put in the time learing their craft and how to help you achieve your goals.

I have a saying that goes like this:

" Construction work is dangerous if you don't know what you are doing...working with uncertified fitness trainers is no different."

If you would like to speak with me further about any of the information I have provided here, then by all means contact me at the number below. It's time to take the professional fitness industry into the 21st century. Come along for the ride as it will be one that will benefit you greatly.

J.R.Smith, c.f.t., s.p.n., s.s.c.
Professional Fitness Conditioning Specialist - ISSA
BioFit Exercise Technologies
606-677-6767

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