Does Your Teen Need a Personal Trainer?
Many of us are feeling the effects of a more sedentary lifestyle during a pandemic – and we have seen how nearly a year at home affected the fitness of our children. During the summer sports camps and physical education classes, gymnastics lessons and team sports during the school year, our children had fewer opportunities to move the way they like.
When we begin to see the light at the end of the isolation tunnel, they may feel like it’s time to start moving again – and they may seek more targeted help than a few runs around the block. They may need a personal trainer. If so, here are some things to keep in mind.
Don’t suggest it yourself
Encouraging kids to stay active is great. It’s great to invite them to join you for a walk or hike. Better yet, find a physical activity that you enjoy doing together, like skiing or hoop shooting in your driveway. By suggesting this time they hire a personal trainer, especially without prompting from them, however, they are more likely to be humiliated or uncomfortable.
Nothing says, “I think you need to lose a little weight,” as unwelcome tips for getting in shape. Nothing good can come of it; however, if they come to you with the idea of getting a personal trainer, there are some things to keep in mind to help them decide if it makes sense for them and what type of trainer to look for.
Discuss their goals
Before you decide how – or whether to – continue with a personal trainer, you need to understand exactly what your teen hopes to get out of it. If they did a certain sport before everything turned off and they are about to resume it again, they may feel that their body is not in the right shape to return to it right away and may need a coach who knows exactly what exercises. run with them to get them back into the groove. If so, you might want to find out if an experienced high school coach in your area is on the sidelines, rather than a personal trainer at your local gym.
Another situation might be that they have decided to run their first 5K this spring and would like to get in better shape as part of their training. Or, they want to learn different exercises they can do at home to take their minds off the monotony of the treadmill. Or they have realized that regular exercise helps to minimize their anxiety, so they want to prioritize by creating some consistency and accountability. These are all good and understandable reasons for choosing a personal trainer.
However, be careful if you do not point out that the desire to hire a personal trainer is related to a body image problem or an eating disorder. While girls with eating disorders may focus on losing weight or maintaining low weight, boys’ eating disorders often include a desire to look slim and muscular, which can lead to over-exercising. Talk to them about their fitness goals to get a better understanding of what they hope to achieve along the way.
Remember we are still in a pandemic
Vaccines are (slowly) being introduced, but it will take at least a few more months before life becomes more normal. If your teen is considering a personal trainer, talk to him about how to do it in the safest way.
Precautions should already be taken by the trainer, such as an outdoor training area or a well-ventilated, non-crowded area. Discuss mask use and the importance of staying at least six feet away from the trainer, if possible, and washing your hands or using hand sanitizer before and after each session.
Consider an exercise machine for the whole family
It’s probably not just our teens who can benefit from a little extra movement. If you feel like your teen wants to stick to a more consistent exercise regimen but feels hesitant about taking the next step, or if you have young children who are struggling to stay physically active, you may want to consider hiring a coach. … for the whole family.
Look for personal trainers in your area who offer group packages – your whole family might just as well be in a group. Interview a couple of trainers (you can do this virtually for a start) to find someone who is well suited to work with people of different ages and fitness levels in your family. Your coach may meet with you once a week at your local park to teach you some stretching and warm-up exercises, and then arrange for you to relay or teach you how to play football. It doesn’t have to be just push-ups and running circles – look for someone who can keep the whole family entertained to get moving.