Anonymous
06/17/2019 11:37
Subject: Fitness studios with out of shape instructors
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:..."it is so demotivating working out with an instructor who I have zero interest in looking like."
Why does this matter so much to you? I would start from there.
NP here. It matters to me because I’m working out to improve my physical fitness. If the exercise class I’m taking will only result in a physique that’s 20 pounds overweight, well that’s not very motivating.
Most people take barre, Pilates, whatever class because they’re interested in having a toned fit body. The end goal is not to learn to do the perfect plié. People are doing the plié because it promises the end goal of a toned body. An out of shape instructor sends the message that the class doesn’t work. That no matter how well you master the class, you will not be toned and fit.
I don’t know about you, but it would be super demoralizing for me - especially since time is at a premium.
WHAT?! If you are working out to improve your physical fitness, then what does the BF % of the instructor matter? Is a class challenging you and thus improving your physical fitness? That's completely irrespective of your instructor's body shape, size, weight, or whatever. If you feel like the class isn't challenging b/c the instructor isn't fit enough to show you the correct movements or she get's winded and has the whole class stop after 10 reps or something, that's worth considering changing instructors.
You also don't know what she looked like 5 years ago, maybe the workout helped her lose 100 pounds and it's amazing for weight loss even if she isn't a size 4.
Anonymous
06/17/2019 11:31
Subject: Fitness studios with out of shape instructors
Anonymous wrote:Many people are posting on this thread that "you can be many body shapes and be fit." I agree, but I think what's good for you in a coach/trainer depends on your definition of "fit" and your goals.
My immediate goals right now are mostly related to strength. Lots of guys who hit the kinds of numbers have a lot more body fat than me. I know that they can teach me a lot about technique and load management, but I'm not comfortable eating like they do even if it would help me get to my strength goals faster. And those guys' answer to questions about gaining strength from guys who are thin is usually some variant of "just eat more" which isn't helpful. So I'd likely do better with a strength coach who has hit my strength goals while maintaining bodyfat in a similar range as my goal.
When I was a runner, my goals were a sub-3 hour marathon and a sub 19 5K. I could have gotten good coaching from somebody heavier than me (lots of great track coaches are), but it's hard to know which of those people really know there stuff. On the other hand, a coach who is running 15:XX 5Ks is likely somewhat genetically blessed but also likely knows a bit about training, so that's the kind of person I'd seek out. None of those people are heavy.
If someone's goal from barre is good posture or being good at barre, then I agree with PPs. If the person's goals include wanting lower bodyfat, then I agree with OP that a trainer who has accomplished that might be a better fit because the instructor's body composition acts as a proxy for what they know and their experience (as unfair as that may be for a whole variety of reasons).
But no one should be seeking that kind of detailed advice from a barre instructor, unless that barre instructor has specific training and certification in how to lower bodyfat. Boutique fitness instructors are not typically NASM-certified; they're trained in their specific method. That's the issue here. Their job is to teach a specific kind of class, not to provide holistic health advice (and I wouldn't trust them if they did). There's a world of difference between the kind of coaching you're describing and what these instructors do. OP is asking for something unrelated to the quality of instruction--and which is incredibly judgmental--and that's what a lot of us are pushing back on.