Take a look at Frank Bruni’s op-ed piece, "Our Pulchritudinous Priesthood,” which ran in the New York Times last Sunday. "What therapists were to the more cerebral New York of yesteryear, trainers are to the more superficial here and now: designated agents of self-actualization, florid expressions of self-indulgence, must-have accessories, must-cite authorities."
I agree with many of the author's points. Anyone and everyone can be a "certified" personal coach with a minimum of training nowadays and there are so many different certifications that no one—including those who certify—know the difference. "Certification mills" hits it right on the head, and I have yet to read anyone really going after that as a consumer rights issue. I've seen people on Facebook claiming to be personal coaches and they have four or even five certifications.
Why don't colleges and university's respect resistance training? I don't know except that you can't teach what you don't know.
It is especially appalling because when clients do not achieve a target goals, they internalize the failure as their fault. Or more likely, as confirmation of their lifelong suspicion: somehow they are inherently flawed. And another frequent self- diminishment: "It runs in the family…."
So here I go again (can't help myself): "If we didn't teach reading in our public schools and every adult who wanted to read had to hire a personal reading coach, would anyone be surprised if hucksters took advantage of the situation?"
I'll guarantee you that any kid who had me as their P.E. teacher or athletic coach knew more about resistance training than 99% of those receiving Ph.D.s in major universities in health and physical education. Why don't colleges and university's respect resistance training? I don't know except that you can't teach what you don't know. Oh, there's a great focus on muscle function, kinesiology, bio-mechanics, and their respective sciences, but the practical application of these sciences? Nada.
No kid should leave a public school without understanding the role of muscle mass in healthy living and, especially, its implication to the rate of resting caloric burn and adiposity.
Ask any adult if they are aware of this relationship. If yes, can they explain it? My experience is they will hesitate briefly, smile and ask if you’re joking. If they do answer sufficiently well, then asked them what kind of training they would do if they wanted to lose fat and build muscle mass in a healthy way. Maybe 5% will get that one, and I'm being generous.
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