With the opening of the new Seibert gym, many students have gone and taken advantage of the state-of-the-art equipment and different studios. Another addition to the new gym is that of the personal trainers.
These trainers work with current students, faculty and staff members to create a balanced workout routine and help teach clients how to use the different types of equipment in a way that works for their body and goals.
To become a personal trainer, one must have a Certified Personal Trainer license. The course to earn this certificate is online and it takes you through material dealing with nutrition, physiology and programming. People taking the course must also take an exam and pass it to become an official trainer.
Another requirement is to be CPR certified. According to personal trainer Phoebe Greene, having prior experience in fields like exercise or sports doesn’t hurt.
Phoebe Greene, a senior exercise science major with a strength and conditioning minor, is one of the personal trainers on staff at the Rec Center.
She explained how she got her job at Seibert by speaking to Paul Anderton, Assistant Director of Fitness and Training for Campus Recreation.
He explained his passion for the personal training program, and she has “been lucky to be a part of it,” said Greene.
Most of Greene’s clients are professors, but she has also worked with a student who won a free session in a raffle that Seibert hosted to give students the opportunity to try it out.
Anna Beth Goodman, another personal trainer at the Seibert Gym and a freshman exercise science major, works as not only a personal trainer, but also as a teacher of Samford’s version of Zumba classes.
Goodman mentioned how she felt personal training offered an experience that created a more comfortable atmosphere with less pressure.
“They enjoy it now, and they want to come back, not even just to my class, but to other classes, because they want to see what they can do for themselves,” said Goodman.
Both Greene and Goodman walked through how they go about training different individuals and focused on the idea that how people are trained depends on the person and their goals.
Trainers evaluate the person they are training by asking them what their goals are and observing their movements. After this evaluation, the trainer is then able to build a sample workout and then later a plan depending on the success of the sample(s).
Greene and Goodman shared similar experiences and their love for their jobs.
“My favorite part about this job is not only meeting new people, but also helping these people reach their goals! It is so wonderful to watch people become a better version of themselves through their training,” said Greene.
This new addition to the Seibert Gym has allowed students and faculty alike to take advantage of the opportunity to get personal help to help them grow stronger in their physical health.
