I’ve been a personal trainer, group fitness instructor, and strength coach for over 20 years. I owned a CrossFit gym for 5 years and conducted thousands of hours of classes with thousands of people. There’s a lot of stuff I used to do that I don’t do anymore. Over time, as you train more people, you get to see how they respond to different things. This takes some time. The more people you train, the more you learn what works best for most people.
It goes without saying, but I’ll say it anyway. This learning process really only happens if you’re paying attention. When I see a fitness professional who’s providing the precise same fitness prescriptions as they were 10 or even 5 years ago, without a single update, that’s a bit of a head-scratcher. I would expect at least SOME modifications over time.
Of course, there’s a limit to this. By the same token, I’d also not expect someone to revamp their entire toolkit every year! Changes happen. But they happen rather slowly. When initial research comes out it’s best to take note and keep an eye on it. But don’t be hasty and rush to adopt new practices. Let the consensus grow. Certainly, experiment with new ideas from time, but do so in a limited way, not a full-scale overhaul! If I try something out and my clients respond well and it appears to be safe and reliable, I’ll stick with it until I hear differently.
As trainers, I believe we have an obligation to stay current. There are movements that we know are contra-indicated. There are methods and practices that fall out of favor because they are either dangerous or just ineffective. A consensus emerges among leading figures and gradually spreads throughout the industry. Again, this requires continuing education and a desire to deliver the best product for clients.
So here are a few things I either no longer do at all, or I prescribe them very sparingly and only in the proper context.
burpees (this is what people turn to when they run out of ideas)
tire flips (these aren’t horrible but why not just do deadlifts!)
battle ropes (very over-rated, but ok for occasional conditioning)
high rep Olympic lifts (too great a risk of injury for most people)
overhead squats (very very few possess the mobility)
kipping pullups (not necessary and too great a risk of injury)
high rep box jumps (high risk of injury, a small dose is better!)
Tabata intervals (other intervals are better, this is not enough rest)
foam rolling (it just doesn’t do anything, a dynamic warm-up is better)
stretching (no evidence of any lasting benefit, do it if you want!)
This is not an exhaustive list, there are many others I could add, but these are highlights that come to mind. It’s important to remember that everything comes down to context. A competitive CrossFit athlete accepts the risk that comes with the sport and so their training reflects that. Same for an Olympic weightlifter, or any other sport for that matter. But with reference to everyday folks who are seeking basic strength and conditioning and don’t plan to compete at CrossFit…it’s best to mitigate the risk!
I have taken many important lessons from the past 20 years. All of the training I’ve participated in has helped shape my ideas and ultimately made me a much better trainer. It may be slightly counter-intuitive to consider something that isn’t present. But there’s power in it and it can be very revealing. We are ultimately defined as people and professionals by what we DON’T do at least as much as we are by what we DO. Give that some thought!
