Looking for a coach for my 63 year old mother

[Xak]

I don't know if this is the right sub forum for this question. My mother lives about 20 miles north of Boston, MA. I checked the SSC directory, and there doesn't seem to be anyone closer than NY.

After several years and many conversations, I've talked her into the merits of training with weights. Honestly, the video of your 91 year old trainee benching and the occasional updates of her progress probably did as much of the convincing as anything I've said.

My mother is reasonably healthy, on no medications of which I am aware. She previously took a statin, but talked with her doctor and came off it. Occasional flare ups of bursitis in one hip. Osteoporosis. Her idea of physical exercise is mostly taking walks and gardening.

Is there any coach in Massachusetts or southern New Hampshire (maybe even southern Maine) that you can recommend? I live about an hour from my mother, and while I am sure I can keep her on track, I don't feel confident teaching her the lifts. She will be receiving a copy of SS 3rd edition soon. I am not convinced she is going to read it thoroughly, but I'll keep encouraging her.

Thanks for your time.

[Mark Rippetoe]

Everybody we have is in the directory. Sorry, but demand exceeds supply at this time.

[Adam Skillin]

demand exceeds supply at this time.

My experience since earning the certification supports this claim. If you live in an area devoid of SSC's and earn the credential, you will be contacted by people seeking out coaching, even if you do zero advertising outside of registering to be included in the directory.

[Sean Herbison]

If you live in an area devoid of SSC's and earn the credential, you will be contacted by people seeking out coaching, even if you do zero advertising outside of registering to be included in the directory.

I coached someone from Australia today because of that.

[Adam Skillin]

I coached someone from Australia today because of that.

There's another important point that I think should be elucidated here. People who go out of their way to seek out an SSC for coaching (in my admittedly very limited experience) tend to be people who already understand the value of squats, presses, deadlifts, bench presses, and power cleans, have some idea of the model, and may have even read the book at some point.

That is to say I'm not getting contacted by people who want to be told to spend hours on an elliptical hamster wheel or play on the Bosu balls with the big rubber bands. I'm getting contacted by people who want to fix up their LBBS and make sure that technical flaws don't prevent them from making the most of their novice linear progressions.

The level of experience and skill will vary from trainee to trainee, of course. But the SSC credential appears to attract people that are a little more ready to learn that which we're equipped to deliver. And that's something I personally consider very valuable.

[Michael Wolf]

I coached someone from Australia today because of that.

I coached an astro-physicist visiting NYC from Southhampton, UK last week, and was able to teach him the power clean that he couldn't get on his own. How did he find me? My SSC.

There's another important point that I think should be elucidated here. People who go out of their way to seek out an SSC for coaching (in my admittedly very limited experience) tend to be people who already understand the value of squats, presses, deadlifts, bench presses, and power cleans, have some idea of the model, and may have even read the book at some point.

That is to say I'm not getting contacted by people who want to be told to spend hours on an elliptical hamster wheel or play on the Bosu balls with the big rubber bands. I'm getting contacted by people who want to fix up their LBBS and make sure that technical flaws don't prevent them from making the most of their novice linear progressions.

The level of experience and skill will vary from trainee to trainee, of course. But the SSC credential appears to attract people that are a little more ready to learn that which we're equipped to deliver. And that's something I personally consider very valuable.

This is very, very true and has been a huge value of my SSC credential. My job satisfaction is so much higher over the past several years. Having people come ready to actually be coached and not cheerled (cheerleaded?) or coddled. People coming specifically to learn (or get corrected) in the barbell lifts, instead of having to be convinced why they should do them. People coming with good questions about their LPs, or the transition from Novice to Intermediate. All of those things were ones that, previously, I had spent much time learning, but could only use with about 25% of my clients. Now 80-90% of my business fits into that category, with the remaining 10-20% being holdovers who started with me 5+ years ago, and just happen to like me enough to stay on. Having 80-90% of your job be something you really enjoy and are passionate about is HUGE when it comes to job satisfaction.

We already have a lot of SSCs in NYC and suburbs. So for all of you reading this board in other cities around the country, especially personal trainers unhappy with your current deal: Study up, take the seminar, become an SSC. Obviously local markets may vary, but it may be the best thing you ever do for your career and job satisfaction.

[sidd]

So for all of you reading this board in other cities around the country, especially personal trainers unhappy with your current deal: Study up, take the seminar, become an SSC. Obviously local markets may vary, but it may be the best thing you ever do for your career and job satisfaction.

I know this is hard to say - but what is the average number of people that the succeful newbie SSCs have coached before taking the seminar and becoming an SSC? How much coaching experience do the successful participants usually have?

[Mark Rippetoe]

It varies widely, depending on talent, experience, intelligence, and temperament. Some people develop quite rapidly, some never develop.

[sidd]

I get that it varies. But are there guys who succeeded coaching e.g. only 5 other people? Or is that just too little experience?

[Mark Rippetoe]

To my knowledge, no one has become an effective coach having worked with only 5 people.