SLOWING DOWN TYPE-A’s
One of my biggest challenges is to help my Type-A clients slow down during our sessions. Often times, when clients are chronically busy and time-crunched, they often carry that harried pace into our sessions and it can be quite detrimental. They keep moving during the sessions as if any time spent recovering is time wasted. After all, time is money, right? So, they pace around, hands on hips, waiting impatiently for the next set to begin. I try to insert a couple of questions to stretch the rest interval to 2 or 3 minutes on a heavy day but my jabbering is often perceived as an unnecessary delay rather than a calculated break.
Granted, this is a good problem to have. Most clients enjoy resting way too much and they are the ones gabbing away to extend their time in between sets (give it up people, trainers have seen every type of procrastination technique ever invented!). However, convincing a Type-A client that rest is actually important and necessary can be quite a difficult proposition. I try to explain that when we exercise, especially at higher intensities, rest is critical to recharge the muscles and energy systems being taxed so that we will be fresh for subsequent sets. If that doesn’t work then I stack several movements in a row (more than I usually might for a person who actually listens to me) so that I specifically induce fatigue, causing the movement patterns to fall apart. Here’s an example of such a scenario:
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(You can’t imagine how much verbal, visual, and tactile cuing I’ve tried to improve the form on this movement)
I try to point out the sloppy form and have even started showing clients the videos I take of them to illustrate my point (quite an uncooperative left shoulder in this case). I want them to see and feel the fatigue so that they can appreciate the value of rest. It works in some cases but rarely have I been successful at slowing down a supercharged client consistently. Having energy, enthusiasm, and a driving work ethic are certainly desirable traits as long as they are managed effectively during the workouts. Yet again, my patience and skills are tested.
Keep on Movin’
-CA
3 comments
jason says:
March 27, 2012 at 2:55 pm (UTC -5 )
is it possible to give these type A’s another muscle group to work instead of an “empty” rest? and as a trainer how much should we curtail our ideas about training (in this case rest) to those being trained? should the trainer adapt to the client at all?
carolynappel says:
March 27, 2012 at 5:15 pm (UTC -5 )
Hi Jason-
You can absolutely have your client working other parts of the body while allowing certain parts to rest. Just be aware that continuous work, especially on a heavy day, can tax the client’s metabolic systems enough to prevent adequate recovery before the next set. So, the muscular system may be recovered in time for the next set of lat pulldowns but the ATP-CP system might need more time to recharge in order to produce another near-maximal effort.
As for your other questions, I do agree that the trainer needs to adapt to each client’s needs with an understanding that our job is also to educate our clients to make them more knowledgeable and efficient movers. It’s a delicate balance between accommodating them without sacrificing what you, the trainer, knows would benefit them the most. That is where skill, practice, and an intimate knowledge of that client’s envelope of tolerance come into play. And, as I said in the blog, it is something that still challenges me (even with long-term clients).
Thanks for your comment.
-CA
jason says:
March 28, 2012 at 3:51 am (UTC -5 )
first, is there anyway you can allow for corrections if a field is not completed instead of it erasing everything you wrote? (smile)
okay, does the atp-cp system affect the entire muscular system or just the muscle group being worked? and can stretching be incorporated instead of lifting or rest without compromising the system either way?
i have a couple of type A’s but i think they check it at our sessions. i don’t think i over train them but after reading your blog i had some concerns. i haven’t had any negative responses or injuries and their form holds up throughout or session.