Fit To Coach? Why Fitness Coaches Should Practice What They Preach
To be a great coach, you don’t need to have the strongest squat or the leanest physique, but you do need to practice certain daily behaviors
I’m a big proponent of fitness coaches earning credibility through not only knowledge and certifications, but also by embodying the principles that they teach and expect their clients to adhere to.
As coaches, practicing what we preach goes beyond a mere suggestion—it’s an essential component of our profession. In this article, I’ll dive into why coaches should actively engage in daily movement, adhere to a healthy lifestyle in line with the Basic Lifestyle Guidelines (BLGs), strive for consistency and be living examples for their clients.
Embracing Daily Movement: Understanding Through Experience
A coach’s commitment to daily movement, incorporating both resistance and aerobic exercises, is vital. This isn’t just about maintaining our own personal fitness, strength, aesthetics, etc.; it’s about deeply understanding the dose-response relationship of what we’re prescribing to our clients. When a coach regularly performs the exercises they prescribe (or has done so in the past), they gain insights into how different bodies respond to various intensities, volumes, techniques, structures and exercise selection. This experiential knowledge is invaluable in crafting effective training programs that you can relate to when your client has questions, issues, or challenges.
Experiencing this firsthand also allows coaches to better empathize with their clients. Understanding the physical and mental challenges that come with different training modalities improves a coach’s ability to understand and guide their clients. It’s one thing to theoretically know how a squat should feel and another to understand the burn in your quads on the last rep of that drop set you just prescribed to your client.
Living a Healthy Lifestyle: The Power of Example
Adherence to the Basic Lifestyle Guidelines should be another non-negotiable aspect of a coach’s life. These guidelines aren’t just recommendations for clients; they are blueprints for coaches as well. A coach who prioritizes sleep, manages stress effectively, eats nutritiously, moves outside the gym and maintains healthy relationships serves as a powerful role model for their clients. Living these principles demonstrates to clients that these aren’t just lofty ideals but achievable, daily habits that we should all be adhering to.
When coaches practice the BLGs, they can share their own journey with their clients, including the challenges and successes, making the coaching process more relatable and authentic.
The Pursuit of Consistency: Building Trust & Reliability
Consistency is the foundation upon which trust and reliability are built. A coach who is consistent in their own training and lifestyle choices establishes credibility. Clients are more likely to listen to and respect a coach who ‘walks the walk.’ This consistency also reflects a coach’s dedication to their craft; it’s challenging for someone to trust your advice if that advice is not good enough for you to follow. It’s kind of like a dentist who does not floss, and as a result, they have consistent cavities while telling their patient they should floss because cavities are bad for their health.
Also, we should be teaching our clients that consistency is the key to long-term and lasting success. Consistency in training, nutrition and lifestyle habits breeds results. When coaches embody this principle, they become living testimonials of the effectiveness of their methodologies.
Being an Exemplar: Inspiring Beyond Words
Finally, the most compelling reason for coaches to practice what they preach is the power of being an example. A coach’s lifestyle and choices can inspire clients to push through barriers and strive for consistent improvement. When clients see their coaches overcoming obstacles, staying committed to their health and balancing life’s demands, they find motivation and hope in their own journeys.
An exemplary coach does not just instruct; they ignite change. They show that the path to health and fitness is not just through tough training sessions and strict diets but through a holistic approach that encompasses all aspects of life. This example is particularly powerful in today’s world, where people are bombarded with quick-fix solutions, unrealistic fitness ideals and a lack of personable responsibility. A coach who embodies a balanced, health-centered lifestyle is a beacon of authenticity in an often misleading fitness landscape.
The role of a coach extends far beyond the gym. It’s a role that demands a deep commitment to personal health and a consistent effort to practice what we preach. This is not to say that coaches must be perfect, as there is no such thing, rather, it’s about consistently putting in the effort. As coaches, we must not only direct our clients toward their health goals but also journey alongside them, leading by example. This approach not only enriches our professional practice but also reinforces the power of health and fitness in being a supplement to a healthy and fulfilling life.
See Carl’s previous column here.
Next column: Breaking Down the Business of Boutique Fitness
Carl Hardwick, CEO of OPEX Fitness & CoachRx, is a strong advocate for bringing honor to the coaching profession and raising the value of all fitness coaches. He lectures frequently about program design, business systems, and building a sustainable coaching career. Follow him on Instagram @hardwickcarl and OPEX Fitness on YouTube