teafan wrote:
What would you charge for the monthly meeting? How would this translate from an "introduction" to a continual program? Would your model be based on charging for:
1: the introduction - one or two hours
2: the monthly meeting - one hour
3: (Optional) Assistance/form checking/etc - small supplement
I (personally) think this could become a very interesting and fun "micro" thread
This is exactly what i'm not sure about. I can easily spend a session just coaching one lift. I can easily spend a session just "assessing". For the beginner or someone with a lot of bad habbits one coaching session (even on one lift) just isn't enough. Also, technique "evolves". For example, when teaching bench, i'm all about stable scap and optimal bar bath, wrist and elbow position. Scap, wrists, and elbow issues are enough to overwhelm people. This needs honed first. Only after this can I start going on about leg drive, big air, pull the bar apart, etc. In other words, I find it really difficult to simplify into X amount of sessions. This is what i've been struggling with but, recently, it's kind of taking shape on it's own.
Example 1:
Ryan and Richard, reasonably well read, trained the big lifts, hit the ceiling of linear gains. Got told to speak to me. It went like this,
Consultation - No cost. This is to see if I can actually help you, and also to see if you actually want help (some people don't!). I also do a movement assessment here (this is gives me my exercise selection). Time permitting i'll fix squat mechanics to lessen some of the teaching time of the following session.
What I proposed - a Block of 4 sessions to coach the big lifts, followed by a program that could be followed and progressed for at least 6 months, maybe more (enter 5-3-1).
Basically, at this point, I couldn't trust them to lift safely and efficiently (which doesn't help their health OR strength).
Think of the elitefts "so you think can bench/squat" videos. This is pretty much it. Day 1 is squat. Start with an empty bar, fix technique, and load them gradually until it goes bad. This gives me 3 things - Starting weights, weaknesses that need addressed via accessory work, and 1-2 main technique points that they need to focus on more than others (almost universally Hips Back, Knees Out). Squat is always first because it helps in coaching the other lifts.
Day 2 is bench, day 3 is deadlift. Day 4, I have the program and we go through the exercises they don't know of, or aren't sure about, and I check things like Row form. I'll also explain the logic behind it. In this case it was all back and lats, "your bench sucks because your lats are so weak. Nail pull ups, get better at rows, and watch your bench go up" (now they know why there's so much pulling in the program and an emphasis on pull ups). That kind of thing.
Then I set them free. That was 6 months ago. Richard moved up north, and Ryan came up to chat last week, he's gained 15 lbs in b/w, swears he's leaner, and all his lifts has went up. He's tweaked the assistance stuff on his own, and with good reason. Worried that his bench is stalling now, looking for more advice. Still hits 10 reps in 5-3-1 day on his squat!! Says he needs to buy new jeans and shirts and all his t-shirts are much tighter! Also says his appetite has went through roof, can't stop eating (good - your body wants to grow, feed it!!!). Also says he feels more flexible, and actually ENJOYS single leg work now (this takes a while! Some people never get to this point!). He says the biggest improvement he's noticed is his traps, lats, legs, and - wait for it - ARMS.
Since I had time, I checked his bench form, suggested his grip was far too wide (it was) and he's happy enough carrying on.
I have a feeling he's going to come back. I was doing 5-3-1 the same time as him, but now i'm not. He keeps asking to see my training days, keeps asking questions, and I've told him this is how I "prefer" to train (it is) and i have a couple of people getting this monthly from me. Explained the whole monthly set up. He seemed interested, but I emphasised that what he is doing is working, and he should stay on it unless he either stops making progress or, gets bored. Don't "program hop". He said he's still loving it. Probably could of convinced him but i'm just being honest, and I think he'll be back. He's a good testimonial.
That's one example, i'll list a couple more.
KPj
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