Why Trainers Should Have Clients Stretch After A Workout
As a trainer, I’ve noticed there is an increased emphasis on what flexibility and mobility can do for our clients. There are numerous benefits to stretching, not only to go with a workout but also to help our clients with their daily activities.
In the fitness world, exercising trends come and go, but the one constant in any physical activity is the importance of stretching, and as a trainer, there is an obligation to explain to our clientele the why behind stretching and how to do it properly.
Stretching Helps Clients Feel Better and Perform Better
All trainees want to get results in the fastest way possible; whether that means being able to visually see the difference or simply feel better mentally. However, keep in mind that the best results come from how your client feels when they are done working out with you.
If you are working with a new client, focusing on post-workout stretching is one of the quickest ways for them to feel better, physically and mentally. Clients who are new to consistent exercise may encounter stiffness or immobility and a lack of range of motion. Simple stretching routines after a workout can greatly increase their range of motion in a short amount of time and will result in them being more flexible and better able to perform new exercises.
Here are some important ways that post-workout stretching can help clients:
- Decrease risk of injury
- Decreased fatigue
- Better blood flow
- Increased energy levels
- Improved posture
- Improved balance
- Decreased soreness
How to Incorporate Post-Workout Stretching into a Workout
Each trainer and individual has their own routine that they stick to during a workout, but when you work closely with your client you should emphasize the different options they have for pre- and post-workout stretching.
Most trainers and clients already know the two more common types of stretching: static stretching and dynamic stretching. While these methods are still effective, these stretches are best suited for pre-workout stretching. Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation (PNF) stretching is the type of stretching better suited for the body after a workout.
PNF stretching is a more advanced form of flexibility training that involves both the stretching and contraction of the muscle group being targeted. Sometimes, us trainers do not have enough time in the day to personally stretch every client and PNF stretches are more time consuming, but the TRUE Stretch is a piece of equipment that comes in handy.
The TRUE Stretch will help assist your clients during a post-workout stretching so you can go to the next client and help them improve their flexibility too. Not only is the TRUE Stretch easy to use with its instructional placard on the piece of equipment, but it will keep your clients engaged and excited about cooling down after a workout so they feel better.
Being a trainer, it goes without saying that our clients expect a lot from us and we want to give the best we can. With pieces of fitness equipment like the TRUE Stretch, we can do exactly that. The TRUE Stretch will help both you and your client appreciate the importance of post-workout stretching in an easy-to-use way.
Just remember, every client works out at a different level, so some will notice a difference even after the first time while others it may take a few sessions before their mobility improves. Consistency and progression are still key here, just as it is with any other workout routine or program you do with a client.