The Importance of Mental Health Awareness for Fitness Instructors

When someone trains to teach fitness, whatever style is may be, there are some obvious elements included within the training such as how to build muscle, how to increase fitness, how to manage weight etc. There is however one important element which is sometimes overlooked but is very important to consider as part of teaching to the community, and that is the work of improving one’s mental health. Fitness can be excellent vehicle to achieve improvement.

All Instructors should have in their toolkit an awareness of mental health and a knowledge of how exercise can be used as a vehicle to improve this. Research has shown that exercise can have a positive effect on mental health disorders such as anxiety and depression, and many GPs now actually prescribe exercise to treat such conditions. If it is identified that someone has a serious mental health disorder, they should always get consent from their GP first before undertaking work with a fitness professional. Once an instructor knows that their client has appropriate clearance from their GP, they can start to plan exercise sessions which are not just designed to improve physical health, but mental health as well.

What should a personal trainer take into consideration?

In order to plan a programme a personal trainer must consider various things such as what the client is going to enjoy. Enjoyment is a big part of relieving stress. The personal trainer must also plan out how they can specifically tailor their plans towards an individual client. For example, if the client is suffering from stress, then embedding some relaxation into the session is going to be useful. It is important for a personal trainer to adapt things according to their client’s needs. For example, if a client gets incredibly anxious in a crowded area, then perhaps exercising in an open space outdoors with the client is going to be more appropriate than within a gym. There are lots of aspects that a personal trainer can take into consideration when planning an exercise session for a client.

What should a group exercise instructor take into consideration

It is important to be aware that anyone in your class could be suffering with their mental health and to make them feel welcome and reassured in class.

Be sensitive to your clients and understanding whether they approach you to discuss this or not.

What should an instructor be aware of?

An instructor should be aware of signs of any kind of mental health problems and should then be able to signpost the client to support and help if needed. For example, if a personal trainer notes that one of their clients is showing some signs of depression, whilst the personal trainer is not able to advise medically on this or put any kind of treatment together, the personal trainer can take the time to check in with them – asking the client how they are, offering a friendly ear for a chat and perhaps even a cup of tea, and checking if they are feeling okay.

What can an Instructor do?

If the client discloses that they are suffering from mental health negative effects, or if this is spotted by the Fitness Professional, then they must be signposted to appropriate support. This could be the client’s GP or various mental health charities. Signposting can be a very important part.

What qualification do you need to offer this help and guidance?

The level 2 in Mental Health awareness is a fantastic qualification that will arm you with all the knowledge you need in supporting your clients.

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