"Do you get any breaks when you are working with the trainer"" asked a friend. "Only when they come in and put the paddles on my chest!" I quipped back.
Well, working with Karen one of the three fitness trainers at the YMCA wasn't quite that hard, but in one of the sessions my t-shirt was so soaked with sweat that I couldn't find a dry spot to dry my eyes with. This however was what I was paying her for. My singular goal is to cross-country ski faster and the only way to achieve that goal is to work hard and train smart. It is the latter area where Karen's expertise really came into play. I had given her a ski video that explained the Olympic style skating technique that we use in races. After watching this she designed a program that developed the specific muscles that needed to be strong with a lot of emphasis on core development and balance. It was doing lunges all the way around the outside of the gym that had me sweating so hard. I spend a lot of time in the weight room because my favorite sports (cross-country skiing and kayaking) require a lot of muscle. Going a different way than the bench press and the weight machines, Karen used light barbells with high repetitions to isolate muscles that I didn't know I had. Because skiing also requires great flexibility, one session was spent on stretching and yoga moves. Karen provided me with swimming tips and dietary advice as well, leading me to wonder if there was anything this lady didn't know!
Karen is one of three trainers at the YMCA and Ginny and Brianna are excellent as well. Just as Karen was helpful in reaching some specific fitness goals, the three trainers can help you reach your individual goals whether that be general fitness, weight loss, recovery from an injury or whatever. And, unless you specifically ask them to, they probably won't yell at you like the trainers on The Biggest Loser TV show.
Next: What I have learned so far......
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