The Movement As Medicine Podcast - Episode 13: What does it mean to “Meet someone where they’re at?”

Show Notes:What brought them here? What are their goals? What do they want out of the experience? Ask the 5 whys. Do not assume or take their first answer and run with it. Dive deeper.What equipment do they have access to? And what logistics may you have to plan around?What is a realistic commitment? Do their and your expectations align?History review, Previous experience and current experience with exercise and a physical assessmentWrite the first rough draft of the programRefine the program based on their feedback and what you learn while going through the rough draft program together.Creating a plan for your clients that they do for two weeks and then quit because it was too difficult is not a good plan. You may not have trouble getting clients, but you’ll struggle to keep them.Ask your clients and athletes to tell you about their needs, values and concerns. Use this information to connect and communicate with them. If they’re timid to begin training with you, you’re better off recognizing that from the beginning and easing them in through a few phone calls and a gym walk-through or inviting them to watch you coach a session.The more you can involve people in developing a plan that fits into their schedule, challenges them just above their current physical and mental abilities, and is sound in its principles, the more enjoyable and sustainable your training will be.People will buy in if they have a say in the process.Some may view this as coddling, but it’s not; it’s understanding. Your client is a human being, not just your next project.Exercise, for whatever reason it’s being pursued, is a lifelong endeavor. Set yourself up to be a long-term partner not a short-term fix.Book Club recommendation:Kevin: Exercised: Why Something We Never Evolved to Do Is Healthy and Rewarding by Daniel LiebermanBrendon: InSideOut Coaching: How Sports Can Transform Lives by Joe EhrmannWhere you can find us next:Lots Upcoming Level 2 CFSC events!Contact UsWebsite: http://movement-as-medicine.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/MovementAsMedicine/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/MovementAsMedicine