Which Trainer Would You Pick?
I learned something unexpected from my choice
Today’s piece is short, easy-peasy, and invites participation.
Sometimes, our small decisions speak loudly, and this might be the case when it came to my picking a personal trainer. There were so many options, and how would I choose?
Before I reveal my decision, I will review the cast, and you, the reader, can guess my choice. Even better, you can consider which one you would have picked.
Maryanne: Roughly my age and near retirement, Maryanne is in excellent shape and a testament to what we can become if we persist. She has a soft, kind way as she encourages her clients. “That’s the way to do it,” she’ll say. Her clients span the gamut from the older, more feeble to the young “gunners” training for a triathlon. She is in everyone’s corner without ever raising her voice.
Jen: A mom in her late forties and completely adorable, Jen will work her clients hard, but also be willing to provide them emotional support as they unload about their family and work. This means her clients get one part exercise, and one part therapy. She elicits the most giggles in one session of all the trainers, so if the goal is fun, some exercise, and significant emotional support, no one does it better.
John: Larger-bodied, tattooed, and maybe 30, his music preference is heavy metal. He is the ultimate example of someone comfortable in his own skin, and he radiates a cool vibe. Many of his clients choose him for boxing lessons. Others choose him for heavy lifting. Whatever you might choose, you know that John will be very serious in giving you the most for your time and money. His graceful way of moving leaves people wishing they could move so effortlessly.
Alex: A competitive dancer who also likes to train people on the side, Alex has the fastest feet I have ever seen, and more fun exercises to get people moving. Alex is clear that he doesn’t do a lot of talking, and he explains that this is part of his being neurodivergent. Whatever he gives you is real and authentic, and he has a smile that wins people over, which is good because he is short on words.
Albert: As a kinesthetic trainer, Albert focuses on body alignment, joint stability, and neuromuscular control. His clients are often lying flat or, if standing, doing very small movements until they eventually progress to larger ones. Working with Albert, you might not sweat much, but your muscles will feel pushed and tested.
George: I call this trainer “Rough Rider” because he is tough and makes all his clients do very challenging sets — running up and down three flights of stairs, chin-ups, high step-ups with heavy weights, you name it. He knows how to entertain while he tortures, and he definitely builds client egos. Ten minutes with George and, if you survive and stay healthy, you believe you’ve become the little engine that could.
So which one would you pick?
I picked Alex.
The trainer I chose probably says less about Alex than it does about the kind of learner I am.
Why? I liked that he had a slightly more low-key approach. He would work me hard but not in any loud, ostentatious way. Also, after releasing my first novel, which featured a neurodivergent protagonist, I was curious about Alex’s self-declared neurodivergent label. Finally, on a practical level, I wanted my feet moving faster for my tennis game.
I knew that Alex would pay attention to details, not waste words, and quietly help me improve. That sounded like me.
It is true that I picked the trainer who would meet my needs, but I think I also learned something:
Our choices rarely reveal only what we want. They also reveal who we are.
Two years into our trainer-trainee relationship, I believe I picked well.
Funny how the smallest choices can tell us so much about ourselves. You chose someone who matched both your goals and your nature. Sounds like you trusted your instincts well.