March 21, 2021: Coach vs. Trainer

My weekly Get Your Stuff Together Sunday email series gives you one actionable focus for the week that will make your life a little easier.

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There are trainers and there are coaches. What’s the difference? This week, we’re going to talk about why semantics can matter.

Personal trainers have a bad reputation. When most people think of personal trainers, at best, they think of a college kid who has a physique of a Greek God or Goddess, but who is probably just working their way through school before they move on to a “real career.” At worst, they think trainers are just a bunch of meatheads and dingbats. By the way, this is totally untrue. I did it with a Ph.D. and my fellow trainers tended to be true pros with graduate degrees!

Many of us have moved toward calling ourselves fitness coaches. So, why are many of us running away from the term personal trainer if that’s just a stereotype? Because words matter, and in addition to making sure you trust us with your bodies and safety, we want to assure you we’re professionals who didn’t get certified over a three-day weekend in the Sunset Room at a Holiday Inn Express (though I wish my certification came with free breakfast from 6-10am).

A fitness coach is a highly trained and highly educated expert, with vast amounts of knowledge on the human body, exercise, nutrition, and psychology. The coaching is important here, because it’s about a long-term relationship and lifestyle change. Training is really more appropriate for a concrete event, like running a marathon or entering a figure competition.

I know this is all semantics, but it matters.

When someone asks me what I do, I take great pride in saying I’m a coach. Coaches have the opportunity to change someone’s life for the better, and it’s their job to get you to be the best you possible; physically and mentally.

One of my favorite coaches of all time is John Wooden. He created his Pyramid of Success, which demonstrates that coaching is about developing many building blocks that lead to success. I’m committed to a holistic approach to your health that addresses the symptoms, causes, and prevention to give you the most energy, confidence, vitality, and to make you the best you yet.

Next Sunday, we’ll talk about how having a plan going into Easter and changing your mindset around any holiday is the key to successfully surviving it without derailing your health and fitness goals. Oh, and I have some fun recipes for you.

Want some expert help with reaching your health goals painlessly? Check out my programs! We’ll get everything taken care of in a way that fits into your current lifestyle so you never have to think about your health again.

Do you have a friend who could stand to G(her)ST? Feel free to forward this!

I hope you have a wonderful week,

Kelly

Kelly Morgan, Ph.D.

Tsirona - www.tsirona.com

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