I once received the comment from a player that I was the most committed of all their trainers - including their sport specific trainer.

That commitment and passion has always come naturally for me. It is one of the reasons that I know I am supposed to be a strength coach.

However, some specific - and simple - strategies I use, help to nurture this passion:

1. Be prepared.

Before going to the gym, I always review the program of each athlete. I pinpoint 1 or 2 exercises that I know this athlete needs special attention on. This is part of a 2 page preparation procedure that tunes me in mentally to the upcoming session.

2. Don't look for what is wrong - look for what can be improved.

If you work with anybody, beyond beginners, for more than a few weeks, their exercises will look fine. Nothing is wrong, but it does not mean that the execution cannot be improved.

If you don't look for what can be improved - you lose the "edge". You get sloppy. You stop REALLY watching that person doing that exercise and if his/her form deteriorates one day, most likely you will not pick up on it.

How I pinpoint what can be improved upon in exercises that LOOK okay and how I teach it, is way beyond a short newsletter. Suffice it to say that a key is to "see" the muscle contractions and the flow of energy in the body - particularly where in the body the movement begins.

3. Be positive.

Don't get frustrated, irritated or mad at anybody, ever. See everything as a challenge. If the client has not understood you yet, you did not explain it properly - it is that simple.

Beyond any specific strategies, the source of my passion is simple - I love being in the gym teaching other people to lift weights!!

The above reason is why I have hestitated, for a long time, in launching an online training program.  However, with today's technology I now see a way to "connect" with you as a client even though you are in Brazil or Denmark
and I am in Canada.

This program will be ready shortly and I would love to hear your feedback!

Move With Passion,
Karsten Jensen