Personal Trainer

[beenee]

How can I change my trainer at the gym without causing offence and stressing everytime I go, as he's around everyday - bullying me into fitness doesn't work for me.

[andy hughes]

Assuming your relationship is purely on a professional basis, i.e. you are not personal friends, then you can change if you wish, and your trainer should be professional about it, in much the same way that hairdressers are. You are not obliged to use a service from any individual if it doesn't suit you, that is your perogative as a paying customer. If your trainer queries the change, which he or she may do to ensure that it's not a personal issue, then say something non-commital like 'I just fancied a change, thanks.', then smile, and walk away, and that should be the end of it. If your tainer mentions it to you again, this is being unprofessional, and you should mention it to his or her employers. Explain the circumstances, and say you regard the matter as closed, and don't want to deal with it again. That should be the end of the issue. If not, you are paying the wrong gym, and you should move - the option of telling the owners why is up to you, but it sounds like you;d be happier just walking away, although hopefully that won't be necessary. Don't worry, you are entitiled to your choice of trainer, putting up with things and saying nothing is a British disease, don't go along with it! Good luck.

[beenee]

Thank you Andy - I'm hoping I won't have to quit this gym since I really love it. I'll have to practice what I'm going to say to him though.

[woofgang]

beenee If you are feeling kind, it might be a kindness to tell him, part of being a good coach or trainer of anything is to be able to adjust your approach according to the needs of the person you ar training/coaching. The really good ones can pick up on this without needing to be told...of course he could just be a really nasty person who does the job beacause it allows him to bully people??

[IggyB]

just tell him you've re-evaluated your goals and want to adopt a more holistic approach to exercise encompassing the spiritual and ritualitic aspects of the group dynamic... watch him splutter before he recommends an aerobics instructor to you... JOB DONE. Alternatively you could just tell him the truth that you don't like his approach and wanted to have fun not torture, seems silly but as woofgang says he may be unsure what your really looking for in your exercise sessions.