Chapter 2: Personal Training

August 20, 2011

CHAPTER 2:  Personal Training

          Who would've thought that I would write a chapter about personal training.  It's one of my biggest passions in life.  I've dedicated many hours to exercise and dieting.  Accomplishments, failures, I've even made the mistake of putting it first in my life.  Bad idea.  But that's another chapter.  So what is personal training?  Who can be a personal trainer?  What does it really take to be one?  Alot of you have been personal training and you don't even know it.  I myself have been personal training people for years now, in the exercise and fitness industry.  Granted there's absolutely no money to be made in the industry but hey, I like what I do.  So here's how it works.  New members that join a gym are granted a free session with a personal trainer (THAT'S ME) and we run through some of the basics of what would happen if they were to pay for training and take me on as there "leader" or so to say.  Let's take a second and actually think about that sentence.  People...pay me...to be there leader.  People actually trust me...that I have the knowledge and understanding of what I do and how to do it.  They believe that I am the answer to all of here problems.  Wow I feel powerful.  Anyway, moving on.  So these people come to me, and pay to use my knowledge.  So what do I do for these people?  Well first thing we usually go over is a diet and exercise routine that will fit to there lifestyle.  So on my own time, I make up an idividual diet plan and exercise routine for each specific person.  Next thing we do is we schedule out weekly appointments where they come in to the gym and we have a one-on-one training session that is usually way harder than what they would be doing on there own.
       This is how personal training works.  I give them all the necessary tools they need, diet plan, training routine, etc. and then we meet once or twice a week for actual training.
       Aside from personal training, there's another way that individuals can get with another person and workout just as they would with a personal training.  This would be known as a workout partner.  As a workout partner, you meet everyday at the gym, same time/same place, you do the same routines, you spot each other, motivate each other, learn from each other and do basically everything together.  Before you even know it, you have this connection with some guy you thought it would be cool to lift with cause he was bigger than you.  This connection may even lead to an out-of-the-gym friendship.  The connection you have inside the gym is so spot on that you guys know each other like the back of your hand.  It's a distinct relationship that noone else understands but you two.
      These two different forms of connections, whether it be personal training someone individually or having a workout partner, can be very easily compared to the relationships you have with everyone else, and more importantly, God himslef.  If you really thought about your connections with your friends or with Jesus Christ what would you categorize yourself as?  A personal trainer or a workout partner?  Do you go to church once a week because the Bible says so?  Do you read your bible on Sundays and put it away until the next?  Do you make it a habit to pray at night simply because....it's a habit? If you find yourself making it a habit to simply be with God, you might need to rethink your relationship with him.  If you find it difficult sometimes to have to go through this "routine" of "church, bible, prayer" every so often you may need to reasess your connection with the man above.  If there's not a fire burning inside you all the time making you just wanna praise God and want to learn more about him everyday, you need to get to that point.
       The same goes for the relationships you have with other people.  Let's say you're a youth leader or just a simple follower of God willing to do his works.  Do you think after reading what you've read that you are a personal trainer...or a workout partner?  Do you take people under your wings, give them all the necessary tools they need to follow God and then meet up once every sunday to see how they are doing?  Do you find yourself calling them up every once in a while to catch up on things?
      Ever since I started lifting, I've had dozens of workout partners that I've made good connections with.  I've also been personal training for a while now AND I've also been a "client" to other "personal trainers".  And even though this is how I make money, I still can't stand personal training, even more importantly, being a client to one.  There's no connection like there is with a workout partner.  You don't learn as much, there's no relationship, it's just not as fun.  And if you treat your relationship with Jesus Christ or your friends and family  like you do a personal trainer treats there clients, you might wanna slow your role, rethink a few things, and possibly even start from scratch.  God wants a deeper relationship with you.  Having a family involves having a very distinct relationship with each family member.  Friendships with other people require more than just a simple "hello" at church on sunday mornings, or a few back and forth text messages to catch up on things.  Go deeper with your relationships in life.  See where God can really take you and try to learn the real meaning of Gods definition of "relationships".

(**We all know God's thoughts on hypocracy.  Take care of your own problems before fixing someone else's.  I myself realize that I of all people shouldn't be preaching about relationships.  There are many in my own life that need to form before I go writing things about others fixing there own relationships with others.  And once I feel I have created my own relationships with others and my relationship with God is where it should be, I'll delete this paragraph.  But for now, I don't want anyone getting the wrong impression that I'm perfect or I have plenty of relationships with others.  So let this be a paragraph of understanding that I know that I may be somewhat of a hypocrite but I am working on it)