Tips On Teaching Others How To Workout (and On Learning From Others)

I had a great experience last night. My wife asked if she could work out with me. Due to her back issues, she hasn’t worked out for the past few years and has been staying in shape with horse back riding, low level physical activity and a healthy diet. Luckily, she’s had a few medical procedures in the past year that have made her much healthier and she’s now thinking about a little gym time. So yesterday, she asked me if I could show her a standard workout. Through this experience, I learned quite a bit about my own workout and how to teach others about working out.

Always Communicate

Good communication is obviously key. However, keep in mind that things that are obvious to you are not obvious to other people. One of the first things she asked me was “you don’t stretch first?” and “what are the injury risks? How come you’re not telling me the things I shouldn’t do?” I’ve been doing this for years now, so some things are obvious to me. However, they were not obvious to her. Specifically, she didn’t understand why I was doing things in a certain way.  That’s a very important lesson. When you’re trying to explain something, don’t just explain the what, also explain the why. Show them what to do and then explain why it should be done this way. Discuss why it shouldn’t be done another way.

This is an important for people on the other side of this discussion as well. If you’re just now starting out and you’re trying to learn how to workout, don’t just look for the what but make sure you understand the why as well. If someone tells you to do something, ask why. The more you understand, the better equipped you will be to make decisions in the future. For example, when I showed my wife my back workout, I was careful to explain which muscle group each one works. Now, if she ever wants to modify her workout in the future, she’s better equipped to pick out the right replacement exercise.

Expore Options

Yes, your workout is amazing, it works great, it’s made you incredibly fit and it’s really easy to do. However, all of these things apply to you, not to other people. Each person is different and what works for one may not work for another. We were working on back and abs yesterday and I showed her the routine I usually use. However, some of the back exercises I really like were making her neck hurt. I had a momentary urge to say “well, just work through it.” Then I kicked myself mentally and reminded myself that her back and neck injuries were the whole reason for her not working out in the first place. The back exercise that I liked so much may simply be wrong for her. A quick look around the gym revealed an exercise ball, and when she tried the same exercise on the ball her neck felt much better.

Again, this is a lesson for both the experienced and the inexperienced. If you’re learning from someone, keep in mind that their body is not your body. Their goals may not be the same as your goals. Don’t be afraid to ask them for alternatives or to explore different options yourself. There are a hundred different ways to do each exercise and a hundred different exercises for each part of your body. Find one that works for you.

Write Things Down

It’s unfair to expect someone to remember everything after one lesson. If you want to teach someone how to workout, give them some tools that will help them remember. For example, I have a little spreadsheet where I list all the exercises I do. Last time I started working out with someone who was inexperienced, I gave them this spreadsheet and I intend to do the same with my wife. She can modify it to her heart’s content, but at least she’ll have a starting point. If you’re going to the gym for the first time, bring a pen and paper with you. Write things down so you’ll remember them later.

Summary

Teaching someone else to workout can be a very rewarding experience. Just remember how difficult it was for you when you first started. Have patience and be willing to help them learn. Teach them, don’t just tell them what to do.

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