Strength training is the most popular form of exercise. So many people aspire to build and tone muscles to enhance their physique and physical capabilities. Designing a successful strength-training program for your clients allows you to help them achieve their ideal goals, enhancing your business as a personal trainer and your clients’ fitness journeys. However, coming up with an effective program and class involves a host of considerations, from exercise selections to your clients’ physical skills. Check out our top tips on how to design a strength-training program you and your clients will love.
Establish Goals
Before deciding on the actual training portion of your program, establish and define your clients’ goals. Whether your clients want to build muscles, tone, or improve their overall fitness level with strength training, setting goals allows you to design a program that best serves their needs. Establishing goals and potential outcomes also motivates your clients, boosting the success of your training course.
Determine Frequency
The frequency of strength training is an important aspect of designing a program. Depending on your client’s fitness level, age, and goals, you’ll need to determine how often they should strength train per week. Generally, beginners should aim to strength train two to three times per week, while intermediate or advanced clients can fit in more sessions.
Choose Exercises and Equipment
The main component of any training program is the activities. What exactly will your clients be doing? Your exercise choices will vary depending on your set goals and clients. However, a successful training program generally offers variety, keeping clients on their toes and interested all while staying on track toward meeting a certain outcome. Implement exercises that isolate certain muscles. Add workouts that engage multiple muscles simultaneously. Use varying essential commercial gym strength equipment and diversify exercises—there are many to explore. Your equipment and exercise choices shape your entire training program.
Consider Progression
Progression is the process of gradually increasing the load or intensity of an exercise over time. Implementing progression growth in your workouts prevents your clients from plateauing, making sure they continuously reap results and grow. Throughout the program, your clients’ physical abilities will improve. Adapting your workouts and considering progression later down the line in your training program allows you to consistently challenge your clients. You can add progression by gradually increasing the reps, sets, or weights.
Recovery and Rest
Rest and recovery are critical components of any training program—they prevent injuries and establish pacing. Implementing rest and recovery days gives your clients’ muscles time to repair and reduces risks of burnout. Pushing your clients too hard and nonstop wears them down fast, putting them at greater risk of injury, poor health maintenance, and giving up altogether. Balancing work and play in your training program keeps your clients happy and healthy, maximizing their performance and, in turn, enhancing their results.
Designing a strength-training program that will suit your clients’ needs and offer the best results involves a lot of consideration. Keep these tips in mind and create training programs that bring you and your clients closer to their goals.
