Blog 

Why going to the gym is a lazy and inefficient way to get fitter.

Clearly I don't think that you are lazy just because you go to the gym! But understanding your learning style and putting in place winning strategies will help you get fitter more effectively and enjoyably.

I've been learning about how we learn - the reason being that for the last four months I was home educating my child who is 8 years old and was too unwell to go to school. I understand how and why schools use the methods they use, they are efficient and low cost - for them. But this economy comes at a price - they don't teach children the things they really need to learn at a time when they need them and are receptive to learning. Why does an  8-year old need to know their times tables up to 12  and how to tell the time using an analog clock? Does anyone really care what a fronted adverbial really is? 

Adults, just like children learn best through play, it is more effective at building long term successful behaviour changes and learning outcomes. Most courses rely on memorising facts and tests are about how well those facts have been memorised and regurgitated. 

What is learning?

I wanted to know about the process of learning, why do we learn differently - why do we struggle to remember some information? Why can't we just remember all the information we have ever been taught?

I find reading long texts really hard going, which is a real annoyance as I read a bunch of scientific literature. I have to do it bitesize and when I am in the mood.  But what I have realised is that learning isn't the process of retaining information and repeating it back - it involves understanding what has just been remembered and why it is important.

Being a part of your learning is important.

Is it behaviour or learning?

A behaviour is a pattern of reactions in response to a change in external events - answer the phone or ignore? So if I want a client to really enjoy training with me, I am have to manipulate the external events in favour of the behaviour I want. Such as the environment, choice of exercises and feelings around the training.

Rewards and Punishments

Using just a behaviour based training program doesn't take into account how a person feels during and after the training. So if I get the behaviour I want but it was performed resentfully or angrily - in the long term, that client won't be returning if they wanted to feel happy and successful.

Is that enough to bring about a change in learning in the rest of their daily lives, or just when training with me? This is a form of conditioning and it's useful for in a session but only part of the process I use. 

Training can be all rewards, punishments are not needed - however sometimes I take the punishments (which is a kind of reward!)

Reading is like going to the gym, not the most effective way of learning (I like a lot of learning through doing, experimenting and experiencing). This model works for the gym.  Movements performed on machines are often repetitive and far removed from real life type movements shifting weights from here to there.  That doesn't mean they aren't useful but they don't teach a range of skills. Those movements if progressively loaded will lead to hypertrophy. You'll have seen reels or tiktoks where people are trying to perfect their form but in real life we only worry about that if it doesn't feel good.

A great training session feels amazing for both body and mind.  This is exactly how being a Faster Trainer works, I do not train people who just want to be fit. They want to be fit for a deep and personal reason that is very meaningful to them. This is what will motivate them through the peaks and troughs of their story.

Client centred learning rather than seeing me as a teacher, I am a knowledgeable facilitator. 

The ultimate goal is to design a program that equips clients with the knowledge, skills, and competencies needed to thrive outside of my studio sessions. Could this be just what you're looking for?

If you'd like to find out more about client centred learning in your fitness sessions with me online or at my personal studio - book a free discovery call here.