Have you ever tried to stop yourself from correcting someone's form?

[Lynn M.]

Oh yes, do I struggle w/ not giving form pointers to people.. And, ITA about guys having way worse form than the women.

I love the guys who pick up 60 lb dumbbells for bicep curls and swing them so much that I'm afraid they are going to fall over! They are also so the same ones that say they can squat 500 lbs of weight and when they actually do, they only go down about 2 inches.

At the gym I go to, I know the trainers and staff well enough that they will correct me if they see I'm doing something incorrectly. I've always appreciated the advice they give me and have learned a ton from them on how to be more effective in my training.

What I find REALLY hard to take are the trainers who aren't paying close enough attention to their client on their form. People pay big $$ for personal training, and they should have 100% focus from their trainer during their session. I so want to tell that person being trained about how lame their trainer is.. My tongue has dents in it from biting so hard on those days!

Lynn M.

 

[library girl]

Oh just tonight, I went to a core class at the Y and the instructor had us doing deadlifts. The guy across from me had his knees locked, was bending from the waist and his shoulders were so rounded that I wanted to scream. Luckily, he was only using 3 lb weights, so I figured he couldn't hurt himself too much, but still.

 

[lcobb2]

Lynn--This is one of my biggest pet peeves. I see this all the time as well with trainers who tell their clients, "Do 3 sets for 12 reps at X weight" and then the trainer leaves the client to talk to someone else!!! Crazy!!! Or the trainer allows someone to interrupt a session with a client and hold a conversation. Nuts! I always tell the incoming person, "I'm with a client right now, but if you'd like to talk with me, I'll be available at X time. Now, if the client and another person strike up a conversation and the client doesn't stop it, I figure that's what the client wants to do.

What I find REALLY hard to take are the trainers who aren't paying close enough attention to their client on their form. People pay big $$ for personal training, and they should have 100% focus from their trainer during their session. I so want to tell that person being trained about how lame their trainer is.. My tongue has dents in it from biting so hard on those days!

Lynn M.

 

[ldy_solana]

i often wonder how the big tough guys in the weight room don't have back issues. they are the young ones too. you see them arching or rounding their back trying to lift heavier and heavier weights. i see them swinging the weights etc. now sure some of the old timers aren't lifting as heavy(but still pretty damn heavy so i give my props to them!!) and they are laughing under their grunts at how tough these guys try to look but they are so focused on the pretty girl on the elliptical that they aren't really paying to close attention.

i just keep to myself and blend with the crowd.

kassia

 

[syzygy314]

I think everyone with good training has this problem! I'm the same way. I try to imagine blinders on, so I can't see anything else going on around me! I run what they're doing through my head and think about later when the injuries start setting in and they start asking themselves "what did I do?" These guys may get huge, bulging muscles, but if you look closely, they can't straighten any of their limbs completely and usually have severe muscle imbalance - look for the hunch-back look with shoulders pulled forward from the super-tight chest, etc. They are paying for it already and just ignoring it! It's sad and it's difficult to watch. Hence, I quit going to co-ed gyms for that reason and the high-volume grunting! I decided it's more important to focus on what I'm doing than to butt in on other's workouts! Most people don't take suggestions or criticism well - even if you can back it up with solid facts!

 

[LauraMax]

???
Calf = baby cow or leg muscle (though some instructors incorrectly say "calve" for the singular)

Calves = plural of both

Thanks for the correction, but I'm pretty sure most people have more than one calf, hence my correction. (BTW, I've been meaning to share this w/you Kathryn, I think it might be helpful: http://gemstate.net/gemstate/netiquette.htm)

That's a huge pet peeve of mine too--I frequently see trainers who'll answer their cell phone in the middle of a training session & just walk away from clients without a word. I feel bad for the clients, I would be infuriated!

You know, if I was a professional trainer I probably wouldn't hesitate to correct someone's form, but I don't feel like I'm qualified, you know?

 

[meowracer]

When I worked out at a gym, I would gently go over to people and asked if they wanted my thoughts on their form. Usually, they were very receptive and appreciative. Sometimes, I would just ignore it b/c I was in no mood and sometimes, you can just tell that they don't want any part of listening to anything so I ignored those! It was usually young people and older people that I went to, who I could tell wanted to really try but just weren't doing it right. The people who went strictly to walk around and strut their stuff, well, that's what they were there to do so I left them to their task at hand

 

[hiitdogs]

Thanks for the correction, but I'm pretty sure most people have more than one calf, hence my correction. (BTW, I've been meaning to share this w/you Kathryn, I think it might be helpful: http://gemstate.net/gemstate/netiquette.htm)

?????

I don't think Kathryn was correcting you. She told you you were right.

 

[elliemom]

I wish I had someone to correct my form. I was at Cathe's a week ago and during the weight section I realized why my triceps NEVER hurt when I am finished. UMMMMMM- been doing them wrong for 2 years!!! Kickbacks, dips everything

I need tons of help. I am seriously considering a mirror so I can see what the heck I am doing!!! And maybe a trainer one day!!!

ellie

 

[megadoo]

Ellie, I just started doing weight wo's in my bedroom and there are mirrors on three different walls and WHAT a difference it has made. I watch every move I do and just figured out how to do rear flyes the right way, lol! Definately suggest a mirror!

 

[ldy_solana]

Ellie, I just started doing weight wo's in my bedroom and there are mirrors on three different walls and WHAT a difference it has made. I watch every move I do and just figured out how to do rear flyes the right way, lol! Definately suggest a mirror!

when i started doing weights at the gym OMG i notice a few exercises i was doing wrong. and never mind with the machines where you have to have it right(b/c it pretty much forces me LOL) a big difference. but that is the funny thing the gym is nothing but mirrors and these guys still arch their backs to lift a weight in a bicep curl. truly amazing, i get in pain just watching them do that LOL

kassia

 

[Timber99]

I do a lot of tongue biting, either at the gym or when I am having conversation with people about working out. The only time I really say something is when I think the person will be receptive to the input. If I have tried to tell someone something in the past and they've either explained it away or made an excuse, I don't try again. Or if I see that someone else might correct them and they don't care, I don't bother either.

As for a total stranger, if you are able to take the person aside and address it quietly, it might be a welcome piece of information for them. You obviously are fit and know what you are doing. A smart gym goer would at least listen to your input. And remember, a big burkly guy may tell you outright that you are wrong, but the following week he may not be doing squats on his toes anymore because he knew you were right

My favorite is when I see someone in my class (meaning where I am the instructor) doing something god awful, either dangerous or stupid, and when I tell them and give them a pointer to fix form or address the issue (even maybe by way of modification to another exercise), they either tell me that I am wrong "because..." or that "I do it that way" or make some strange excuse. I try only for so long and then just let them have horrible form. What to do!?

 

[nancy324]

Yup, I bite my tongue a lot. And I agree that it's almost always the guys who need the instruction. Lots of testosterone may be good for some things, but it's a liability for others. Like working out and financial investing. It's good for moving furniture though.

 

[elliemom]

Not me!!!
I would be thrilled if someone showed me the correct way to do different weight work. I am doing it to see results so I don't want to waste my time doing it wrong everytime. If an instructor approached me about my form, I would be very receptive.

And I'm getting a gigantic mirror!!!!

ellie

 

[kathryn]

Thanks for the correction, but I'm pretty sure most people have more than one calf, hence my correction. http://gemstate.net/gemstate/netiquette.htm)

See Carola's post above (and since I didn't see an editing note in your post, I assumed it was as originally posted).

(BTW, I've been meaning to share this w/you Kathryn, I think it might be helpful: http://gemstate.net/gemstate/netiquette.htm)

ROFLMAO! Ah..the irony!

 

[regina]

Mirrors are great for helping to improve your form! Cathe's form pointers that she is offering on Cathe TV are also very good for helping to improve form.