Today’s blog will explore how to plan a fitness session without feeling overwhelmed. This is for you if you are a trainee or newly qualified FITPRO, and NEW to planning client fitness sessions.
I’m going to share two analogies with you that will simplify your planning. One is related to Sandwiches and the other to the Solar System.
Watch the 14-minute video to reveal how to plan a fitness session. Then test your knowledge with three mock questions.
How To Plan A Fitness Session
The Sandwich Analogy
A sandwich is great. It successfully fills you up when you are hungry.
A sandwich is structured and simple
It has a generic format of two bits of bread with a filling in the middle
However, it can be made individual with different types of bread and different types of filling
WAs FITPROs we can learn a lot from the humble sandwich as a means to simplify the planning of a fitness session
Bread 1: The Warm Up
In any sandwich, you need to start by laying out the first slice of bread on the counter/ worktop.
In our Planning equivalent …
This is the Warm-Up.
A warm-up has a generic structure that you’d follow with nearly all clients. Just like a sandwich has a generic structure of two slices of bread. However, there is also space for individuality …
The sandwich could use gluten-free bread, seeded bread, sourdough bread, white bread, thick slice, thin slice…
The individuality in your warm up includes:
- Does your client need a longer pulse raise for their asthma?
- Or maybe they have tight hip flexors and you add an extra hip flexor stretch?
- Maybe they need an extra mobility exercise to ease their sore back or arthritis?
These individualities come after you have the initial generic structure.
Now let’s swap to the next analogy …
the solar system
MARS is a warm planet, so we will use this as an acronym to add structure to a generic warm-up
M = Mobility exercises
a series of fluid movements that gradually increase synovial fluid lubrication on major joints
A = Activation exercises
a chance to activate the muscles, posture, and core before increasing intensity
R = Raise Pulse
a gradual increase to RPE4 (out of 10) using cardiovascular exercise. Usually about 5 mins long
S = Stretch
either dynamic or static maintenance stretches to prepare for the session ahead
Bread 2: The Cool Down
Every session requires a cooldown… just like every sandwich requires two bits of bread.
We used the MARS acronym to give the warm-up a generic strucutre.
So for the Cool-Down, we will use the PLUTO acronym
It is a Cool planet, and we want to Cool down our clients.
P = Pulse Lower
a reverse of the RPE escalation experienced in the warm-up, we gradually bring the pulse back to RPE 2 (out of 10)
L = Lengthen
here we include the developmental stretches that will improve the client’s flexibility at specific joints
U = Understand
here is your chance to get feedback and evaluate what your client enjoyed about the session
T = Tips and Advice
offer your client a maximum of three tips or advice so they can get more out of their session next time
O = Organise and Overdeliver
here you can take a moment to check your client is booked in the diary for next time, and link their progress today to their outcome goals.
Now you have the structure to follow when creating a generic warm-up and cool down …
and it is as simple as making a sandwich… now let’s look at the main filling
The FIlling: Main section
A sandwich isn’t complete without the filling. It is the main event.
There are hundreds of fillings you could have in a sandwich, and the choice can be overwhelming.
Much like there are hundreds of exercises you could include in your client fitness sessions, the choice can be overwhelming
The key is to start generic and simple and add individuality afterward.
You can then consider the compartments of fitness and include both Cardiovascular and Resistance training in your main session. Flexibility is already accounted for in the warm-up and cool down, so you want to make sure the other components are included here.
This is like including Ham and Cheese in the same sandwich.
The ham is the resistance training and the cheese is the cardiovascular training
Depending on your client’s goals and frequency of training, they may have more cheese or more resistance training in one session. You may even have sessions that are just Resistance training – so just a ham sandwich.
Simplicity avoids overwhelm
It is important to consider the individual needs of the client. You can make small adaptations to your generic plan (like adding mayonnaise or tomato to your sandwich) , but it helps to have a generic template (like ham and cheese) as a great starting platform.
Expand the conversation
If you enjoyed this conversation and exploration of planning… check out our FITPRO Sessions podcast Season 10, Episode 7 where we explore “Planning Imposter Syndrome” and the sandwich analogy in more detail
Download on your favourite podcast apps here: CLICK HERE
Our FIT-Progressions online programme breaks down session structure, each component of fitness and how to periodise your programmes for best client results.
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>>>> Join us for FIT-Progressions here
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- struggling to complete your coursework for PT, Yoga, or Pilates
- a newly qualified FITPRO that feels stuck or overwhelmed
- unsure where to start when planning a client session
- worrying about applying your course knowledge with a real client
- doubting you could get results and lack structure to client packages
- anxious and confused about how to get found and get busy
Click the link to find out more and join us:
https://courses.parallelcoaching.co.uk/products/fit-progressions/
Test your knowledge with today’s planning mock questions:
[NOTE: The answers are below the 3rd questions]
Q1: What is the acronym used to structure a generic warm-up?
A. SATURN
B. MARS
C. VENUS
D. PLUTO
Q2: What is the acronym used to structure a generic cool down?
A. SATURN
B. MARS
C. VENUS
D. PLUTO
Q3: What factors would influence the content of the main component in a fitness session?
A. Client goals
B. Worries the client is bored
C. The newest gym equipment
D. The FITPROs personal preference
Answers to the mock questions are :
Question 1= B, Question 2 = D, Question 3 = A
If you want more mock questions like this, then you can download more Free Mock Questions: DOWNLOAD NOW
Dedicated to More
Hayley “How To Plan A Fitness Session” Bergman
Parallel Coaching
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