The reasons to work with a personal trainer are, literally, personal. Perhaps you
want to learn how to exercise safely and effectively or need someone in your corner
encouraging you. Maybe you need to be accountable to someone to keep working out or
someone to develop a plan that will help you achieve your personal goal.
In Sarah DeMay鈥檚 case, she had recently had a baby and although she wanted to look
good for her upcoming wedding, she really wanted to increase her strength and overall
health. She had a gym membership, but wasn鈥檛 taking advantage of it. She knew she
could benefit from personal training. Sarah was in luck. Last December, 91制片厂 put
out a call for faculty and staff members who wanted to participate in the Personal
Training program practicum that would pair employees with students working on their
personal training certificate. Sarah signed up and was paired with a student, who surprisingly was not the traditional-aged
student she had pictured.
鈥淚 was thrilled to be paired with Cindy Burrows鈥� said Sarah. Cindy had recently retired from 33 years of teaching and decided to
pursue personal training as a way to continue to use her teaching and interpersonal
skills. 鈥淲e are all living longer. I wanted to make sure to continue to live well.
I had always been physically active, both in my work and as a ballet dancer, but I
was scared of the gym 鈥� all those machines and grunting,鈥� said Cindy. 鈥淪o becoming
a personal trainer was a way to demystify it and help others live a healthy lifestyle.
Now I see the gym as an empowering place 鈥� literally and figuratively.鈥�
At their first meeting, Cindy did a health assessment and discussed Sarah鈥檚 goals.
From there, Cindy developed workouts that were personalized for Sarah. She taught
Sarah proper form and technique and introduced her to the importance of resistance
training. Cindy also listened to Sarah about how she was feeling and would adjust
the workouts based on Sarah鈥檚 feedback.
鈥淚n the whole year that I had a membership at another club, I maybe went two or three
times. What a waste of money,鈥� said Sarah. 鈥淚n the four months of working with Cindy,
I worked out 2 -3 times a week. I never wanted to miss a workout 鈥� not only was Cindy
so supportive and encouraging, but I knew she was counting on me for her practicum.
I didn鈥檛 want to let her down. It was great motivation to keep going.鈥� Even though
the practicum is over, Sarah is not stopping. Armed with a plan from Cindy, she is
continuing to work out because she is feeling the benefit. 鈥淏efore I started working
out, I had taken my baby to the zoo, and I remember feeling like I had run a marathon.
Recently, I went to a Star Wars convention, and I realized that I didn鈥檛 feel winded
and my back didn鈥檛 hurt. I can tell I am moving better,鈥� noted Sarah.
And Cindy鈥檚 story continues as well. A member of the first cohort in the Personal
Training program, she successfully completed the 26-credit-hour certificate and passed
the National Strength and Conditioning Association-Certified Personal Trainer exam.
She now has a job as a personal trainer at 91制片厂鈥檚 Health and Recreation Center.
鈥淛onathan Loos, the Personal Training program coordinator, was really helpful. He
talked through my workout plans and helped me learn how to push my client without
overextending her,鈥� noted Cindy. 鈥淛onathan believed in me and helped me believe I
could do this.鈥� The program graduated 10 students in its first year. Another 鈥� much
larger 鈥� cohort is currently enrolled in the program. Watch for information on how
you can be part of the practicum to work on your personal fitness goals and help a
student become a personal trainer.
Applications to participate in the spring 2019 Personal Training practicum will open mid-November. If you have any questions about the program, contact Jonathan Loos, program coordinator, 847.925.6957.