Embodiment: The True Role of a Fitness Professional

Craft based careers fail in this way often. It cannot simply be reduced to the craft. Period. The true expression of the role, especially in fitness, is a more complex, sometimes-frustratingly-inclusive question of embodiment. 

Knowledge doesn’t speak for itself. 

The way this often shows up is a trainer or coach who is willing to be a technician, but not willing to embody the other elements of inspiring, retaining, educating, and reaching their audience effectively. Instead, those soft skills are ignored for a doubled-down stance that their expertise should speak for itself. 

It doesn’t. 

That’s because it’s not what the customer wants. It could be (at most) part of what the customer wants, but coaches who think that the customer should have a similar obsession about the technicalities of this craft are missing the point and, ultimately, projecting their desires on the customer. 

Coaches are to be craft masters so their students don’t have to be.  

I like to say the mistake is thinking this job is like being a remarkable cook. It’s not. It’s most likely being a remarkable dinner party host. Surely, great food helps, but even incredible food with music that’s two clicks off or an ambiance that’s distracting or conversation that is abysmal will make any dish unforgiving. 

Fortunately or unfortunately, this role is one of embodiment. To be in leadership here, would mean to wrap your arms of responsibility around the entire experience, not just the technical elements of sport science.