I work out at Planet Fitness in Parkway Parade. I am absolutely not impressed by the personal trainers. I’d observed:
1) Trainers watching TV during paid personal training sessions.
2) 8 out of 10 weight training sessions had more than 50% idle time between weight training sets. That means the so called Trainers don’t know how to programme an “efficient” training session. There are many alternate exercises they can have their clients do but they don’t!
3) I saw a Personal Trainer performing back press on a female client on the floor by… (I could not believe it myself) kneeling on the back of both her knees. His weight was probably near 200 pounds. She was middle age and weigh likely no more than 120 pounds. I don’t remember coming across this position as good for you when I took an exercise physiology course in the U.S. My overwhelming concern was the possible damaging effect on her knee points with over 200 pounds pivoted on 2 points, cutting off circulation, compressed on cartilages! What about the idea of paying to receive injury by so claimed professionals? That is, if he was not hired as a professional, she would not let him do this to her. I bet she would not let her husband kneel on her knee backs!
4) Occasionally, I see personal stretching (male trainers on female clients) sessions carried out privately in an un-occupied exercise room that the light has been dimmed, behind semi-transparent curtain, and in close contact and intimate proximity. In Fitness First where my colleagues go to, this trainer conduct is prohibited.
5) A trainee got on an Elliptical Machine (ski-like motion tracking). Within 5 minutes, the trainee was paddling so fast that the machine was making noise like a helicoptor about to take off. This was caused by the Trainer asked the trainee to paddle as hard and fast as he can to get the heart rate heart up. Everyone on cadio machines looked over with amazement. Didn’t the Trainer know that he could increase the “difficulty level” of the machine? If the Trainer had made the trainee do it on the treadmill, an planned accident would have happened. By the way, the “Trainer” was then called off by his other colleagues to have a side chat before continuing his deed. It looked to me that the “Trainer” was himself a trainee under-going some kind of in-house learn as you go freedom programme at the expense of misled customers. Yes, there is no law for this in Singapore yet!
6) Almost all Trainers chosed to certain kind of stretching exercises — the kind that makes you rely on a Trainer, as suppose to self-administered independent stretching exercises. I believe this is to creat reliance on a trainer to come back for the help. They arenot interested in teaching clients self-stretching exercises to enable them to do it anytime one wishes to produce sustainable motivation and results. I think that is not right.

There are other observations but I think the above give readers some ideas that the hired professionals by Planet Fitness, in my opinion, fall short of essential exercise physiology understanding, questionable competency in administering cardio machines to help clients who need proper guidance, choice of exercises for clients don’t always with clients’ full interest of safety and injury free first, then results that are sustainable at heart. In fact, if I were a personal trainer and know I have these shortcoming, I would be responsible enough to stick to what I know however limited it may be and not try to be what I am not. This is also being professional.

I never thought I will agree with this opinion, but you know… I agree partially now…

Most people are used to seeing ads and heavy marketing messages promising to do this and get you in top athletic shape. A more conventional, low- risk strategy is preferred for most people; it’ s safe and will let you build muscle fast, although not …