1.1 describe the importance of client consultations
1.2 describe ways to ensure client confidentiality and adherence with data protection legislation
1.3 describe how to cater for clients with different goals or needs
1.4 explain the role and responsibilities of the Gym Instructor
1.5 identify the information to discuss during a client consultation
The consultation is an essential aspect in designing a training programme for gym members. The consultation aims to establish the member’s current motivation, identify current behaviours (good and bad) and their reasons for training. Also, the consultation is the perfect opportunity to build a professional relationship and rapport with members.
Consult in a suitable location. Most gyms will have an area suitable to sit with a client. After gathering and interpreting the member’s responses, agree on an action plan and include interventions for behaviour change.
The consultation also offers the opportunity to discuss the centre’s other services and any additional information the member may need. Be prepared to go to additional sources of information if you can’t answer the member’s question(s) and get back to them.
All data handlers must maintain client confidentiality by keeping confidential information secure in a lockable file or on a password-protected computer. Maintaining client confidentiality is professional practice and complies with the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulations) 2018.
Maintain client confidentiality:
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GDPR protects people’s fundamental rights and freedoms and their right to privacy to personal data processing.
It provides a way for individuals to control information about themselves. Anyone holding personal data for other purposes is legally obliged to comply with this Act. See http://www.ico.gov.uk/what_we_cover/ data_protection.aspx for more information.
Collecting and sharing client information is necessary to provide safe and effective health and fitness service. As clients entrust you with their personal information, they will expect you to respect their privacy and handle their information appropriately. You have an ethical and legal duty (under the law) to keep client information confidential.
To ensure you maintain client confidentiality:
Fundamental to success is having a goal to channel focus and resources. Goals allow individuals to strive for success, generating a sense of purpose and ambition.
Goals should be personal to the client and geared towards areas of life, such as business and personal. Fitness professionals usually help people set health and physical fitness goals.
Barriers stop people from attempting or progressing towards their goals. Types of barriers include:
We all have 168 hours in the week and busy. It’s easy to say that you have no time. However, time could be being spent inefficiently. Ask the client to document how they are using their time and do this for a week. A time diary is an excellent way to identify any potential gaps for activity.
Hiring a personal trainer is the ideal strategy for demotivated clients to become motivated. Gym instructors can motivate clients by setting SMART goals and making exercise fun.
Physical barriers include obesity, soft tissue injury and diseases such as osteoporosis.
A strategy is to educate clients with physical barriers to regular exercise to improve their condition and enhance wellness. Send the client articles, videos and refer them to well-informed websites—design training session that exhilarates and not exacerbates existing conditions.
Use the SMART goal setting technique to motivate and increase the client’s focus and adherence.
You would think that having a poor body image would motivate people to do something about it. However, for many, it’s a barrier and often for psychological reasons. Aim to build confidence and educate at the same time. Regular exercise release feel-good chemicals in the brain called endorphins, which make you feel good. Regular exercise, of course, changes your body composition, so one will start thinking more positively about their body.
You can also help clients develop goals and rewards not related to weight loss. Also, please encourage them to recognise the qualities they like about themselves.
Discuss with clients their past experiences with exercise before starting a training program.
Consider each client’s past experiences in developing exercise programs to ensure that programs and goals support the development of self-efficacy and self-worth.
Be professional and do what you say you are going to do.
Social, personal, and work obligations play a significant factor in regular exercise adherence. People are busy and must work. Families demand attention, for example, looking after young children.
Discuss alternative environments for exercise, such as the home. Following exercise videos may be an option.
Busy people plan their diaries si proper planning is essential. Plan sessions into the week like other aspects of the client’s life and work.
Set SMART goals.
Encourage social support from a family member and use a time diary to highlight opportunities for exercise. Teach clients how to develop social support as a lack of support from the people around the client is a barrier in itself. A strategy could be to identify activities people can do together with family and friends.
Environmental barriers are physical barriers, often outside of the individual’s control. Examples and strategies include:
No access to gym facilities, including the cost of membership
Being active doesn’t always mean a gym workout. Explore with the client the local demographics and community activities such as the Park Run and outdoor spaces for exercise and activity. Other environments include the home. Home workout digital platforms such as Les Mills and Peloton have become popular. They usually involve a subscription, but the benefit is twenty-four-seven access.
When using alternative environments, perform a risk assessment first. Client safety must be the top priority.
Using goal setting techniques is essential for devising exercise strategies. Knowing the client’s reasons for training means you can focus on key words to motivate the client. Work with the client to set goals and use the SMART strategy. Remember that SMART goals contain three quantifiable figures.
Technology is playing a more significant role in everyday life, and it’s the same in fitness. There are activity trackers, health monitors and food scanners. Using technology can improve the exercise experience, making people accountable. A significant benefit of incorporating technology into the programme is real-time feedback and data comparison of time.
As mentioned in previous sections, conduct a consultation of some sort to screen and gather information such as reasons for training, training experience and time available to train. Programme activities around the client’s reason for training as well as their experience of exercise. It is the use of programme variables such as reps, sets, activities and rest time between sets that dictate the physiological changes and must be manipulated over time for continued progress. The FITT principle is a good place to start in designing a basic programme structure.
The fitness instructor’s primary role (and duty of care) is to plan and deliver exercise specific to the client’s needs. Planned activities must be within the client’s physical capacity and performed in a safe environment.
Main responsibilities:
It helps if the fitness instructor likes people and outgoing in personality, friendly and inspirational, and has a passion for passing on their knowledge about the correct use of the equipment and a willingness to help others. Fitness instructors must not step outside of their professional scope of practice by giving specific advice or activities beyond their qualification level.
Fitness instructors are perfectly positioned to support a member or client’s exercise journey by empowering them to adhere to regular exercise, such as the following:
Other qualities deemed professional include:
The consultation is an essential aspect of the planning of exercise. The information gained means taking a client-centred approach and doing what’s essential to the member or client. The consultation is also the perfect opportunity to develop a professional relationship.
By the end of the consultation, you should know the following:
The consultation doesn’t necessarily need to be face-to-face. Other methods can work just as well and may even be more suitable, such as ZOOM or Skype calls, Facetime or just a simple phone call. Also, be prepared with the questioning as consultation don’t need to be overly long.
Screen the client by checking their readiness to start an exercise programme. There are two primary industry forms to use with new clients:
This simple questionnaire includes a series of simple health-related questions requiring a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ answer to check the client’s readiness and ensure they are in good health to participate in an exercise programme. Failure to meet the criteria typically results in referring the client to their GP.
The informed consent form is the document that clients must sign before participating in a training session or fitness test. It is an ethical requirement that clients receive sufficient information about the requirements, outcomes, and risks of entering an activity or program and enable them to make an informed choice about whether or not to participate. If the client is happy with the process, they must sign the document to say they agree. Informed consent provides a degree of protection between the trainer and client.
Gathering client information directly relating to designing a training programme. There are several methods available and listed below:
Make client’s feel special and that they are being heard. Watch your body language and use active listening techniques (small gestures such as nodding your head) to get the client’s buy-in to you. Always remain non-judgemental manner and be clear in your communication.
Collect the following information:
The consultation is also the ideal time to discuss other relevant things, such as other products and services (i.e. personal training, group exercise classes and treatments).