Wednesday, August 15, 2018 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon Health & Fitness
Getting
out there
and on
the run
By Charlie Kanzig
Correspondent
How does someone get
started as a runner if they
have never taken part in this
magical activity?
If you are overweight or
have simply not been very
active for a long stretch of
time, it is advised that you
have a medical check-up
before beginning a vigorous
exercise program.
To get started, go to a run-
ning store like FootZone in
Bend and tell them you are
just getting started as a run-
ner. They will help you find a
pair of quality shoes to begin
your venture into running.
Additionally, they sponsor
training groups throughout
the year.
Once you have the shoes,
walking is a good way to start
for the first week or two. Find
ways to make it a little chal-
lenging either by pace, dura-
tion, or finding some hills.
Weave in some short spurts of
running/jogging to your walks
and, over time, increase the
running amounts. You may be
surprised how quickly your
body begins to adapt to this
new physical movement, but
be patient about your prog-
ress. This will help you avoid
injury.
The track at the high
school is a good place to do
some of the beginning running
since it is level and some-
what cushioned as opposed
to pavement. Of course, there
are plenty of trails and dirt
roads to explore in our area as
well.
There is a plethora of infor-
mation on the subject of how
to get started with running.
A recommended article from
Runner’s World can be found
at https://www.runnersworld.
com/training/a20845020/
h o w- to- get- s tarted-as-a-
runner.
Fit For
Sisters
Andrew Loscutoff
Columnist
What does it take
to be a fitness
professional?
While the career ladder
in many professions is pretty
structured and rigid, a health
and fitness professional can
choose their own journey. It
can be a gig, job, or career
with a good amount of vari-
ability and a wide spectrum
of styles.
A fitness professional
can work in a variety of dif-
ferent environments: As a
trainer at a gym, as a spe-
cialist in rehab centers, as a
consultant for businesses —
or as a writer.
Acquiring the skills
required can be done in a
number of ways. A college
education is the gold stan-
dard for a starting point.
Studying kinesiology, bio-
mechanics, physiology, and
even psychology are all part
of what many college pro-
grams require. Depending
on the school, pedagogy,
motor development, and
coaching will also be on the
list of requisite courses.
If fitness is more of a
passion than an area of
study, they too can become
a very good fitness profes-
sional. Many of the trainers
who work in gyms, or that
are seen on TV, have no for-
mal college training. They
got into the career because
they love it, or they related
to others and wanted to
spread the joys of exercise.
They are different from the
studious technician, but
these people often are good
at motivating and develop-
ing camaraderie and enthu-
siasm. They’ll need to take
a course and pass an accred-
ited test to be licensed as a
personal trainer.
Once someone gains
the knowledge, it is impor-
tant to realize that they will
struggle to gain traction in
their first months, and the
building process takes a
long time. Gym-goers are
skeptical and often judge
someone’s ability to work
with them based on their
appearance. A young man,
with rippling muscles, wear-
ing a too-tight shirt will not
get a chance with a timid
first-timer who has some
extra pounds to lose. This
kind of perception problem
is just one of the obstacles
a new professional will face.
A fitness professional
must be a master of organi-
zation and diligence. Often,
the bulk of business is done
while other people are not at
work. The 6 to 10 a.m. and 3
to 6 p.m. hotspots make the
work challenging for those
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not committed. Those who
stay motivated and cultivate
a large clientele will estab-
lish a lifestyle around these
unorthodox working hours.
The best way to over-
come the challenges of the
initial months is to work
on people skills, approach
gym-goers with inquisitive
questions about their work-
out goals, and offer a tip to
them. Teach a workshop on
an area of knowledge and
passion. Be helpful to oth-
ers and let them know that
this trainer is approachable
and helpful to them.
Next, consider continu-
ing education. Like any
craftsman, a fitness pro-
fessional isn’t showing
up and doing a job. Their
whole world is about learn-
ing more about the body,
people, and how to con-
tinue to help others. There
are so many opportunities:
Read, practice, and apply
fervently. In a career where
there is so much turnover
(because many cannot make
it past the first struggles) the
professional who isn’t con-
stantly learning and adopt-
ing new ideas will quickly
be left behind.
On the path to making it
in the fitness professional
career it is wise to adopt a
specific area one is passion-
ate about and promote this
as a specialty. A generalist
will often be overshadowed
and overlooked. People
have specific problems that
they need specific answers
for. Is this trainer an expert
in weight-loss? Will they
help kids learn that weight
training can improve their
21
abilities in sports, play, and
life? Perhaps someone who
was injured and still strug-
gles with loss of function
can count on a trainer to
help them?
It is vital in an age where
anyone can research the web
and proclaim themselves
knowledgeable to know
where your position stands
in the continuum of care.
Nutrition prescription is the
job of a dietician; a trainer
can give a meal plan or
advice, but they should not
tell a client that they ought
to be eating more oranges
to cure their scurvy, or that
they saw on Dr. Oz that this
pill will help stoke their
metabolism.
While it is fairly obvious
to diagnose a muscle strain,
always refer bigger, more
painful problems to a quali-
fied professional. Referring
to a client’s doctor not only
shows the client that the fit-
ness professional is part of
their personal healthcare
team but it will also show
the doctor that the fitness
professional is looking out
for their patients.
Working in the fitness
profession is a wonderful
way to bring purpose and
joy into a career. Days spent
helping people in a variety
of different ways physi-
cally and mentally are very
rewarding. While “fitness
professional” isn’t on any-
one’s top career aspirations
when money is the motive,
it isn’t all about BMWs and
the square footage of liv-
ing space. It’s about passion
and the reward of helping
others.
Dr. Thomas R. Rheuben
General, Cosmetic, Implant
and Family Dentistry
~ Your Dentist in Sisters Since 1993 ~
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