Workshop Spotlight: Mountain View Evolution Trainers – A New Spin on Training and Education
October 24th 2011
Thanks to all the participants who attended yesterday’s IBBC Bulgarian Bag Workshop in Mountain View, California. This was a talented group and I hope everyone was able to walk away with a new appreciation for the vast benefits of this type of training. A big thanks to Evolution Trainers and Ashley Selman for hosting the event. We had plenty of hands-on training incorporating a number of different protocols stressing various energy system. Some of these protocols require intense physical demands, as the group will loudly tell you as they shake their fists in the air to get blood back into the rest of their bodies!
Because many of the participants are already certified trainers, I really appreciated everyone’s upbeat attitudes and taking a step back for a moment to be in the student seat for the day. When you’re used to being in control of the training situation, getting the opportunity to step into a subordinate position provides a chance to view from a different perspective how we might approach our training and continuing education. In many of these workshops, the experience levels vary greatly, from rookie trainers eager to try out everything, to seasoned coaches who have worked with professional athletes.
So how do you provide stimulation for everyone, from the beginner to the veteran trainer? Because of human nature, we often get wrapped around the axle with what we know, and what we do best. We become compartmentalized in our training methods and beliefs and think, “I know enough.” In my opinion, once you believe that your professional growth will stagnate, you will start to lose passion. You get caught of the continual loop of doing the same thing for client after client, over and over again. You get into a routine of complacency. This complacency often affects our attitudes, not only toward our profession, but unfortunately, toward our clients as well.
I’ve attended countless workshops and certifications and have gotten plenty of hands-on time with different modalities. However, most often very little, if any, attention is directed on how to apply this new information. Even worse, they don’t even mention or provide validation as to why you would want to learn their stuff anyway! Just a bunch of movements and variations on the same movements, with technique thrown in there every once in a while. So this brings me back to the question, “How do you stimulate the beginner and advanced trainer in the same venue?” My approach is to provide information and knowledge about training principles that apply not only to the Bulgarian Bag, but training in general, based in science and research and continually supported by real-life experience. This means that my lectures apply and are transferable to all modalities of training, but especially the Bulgarian Bag because of its unique shape that provides more benefits than almost any other training tool out there. (Yes, shameless plug.) I’ve received a tremendous amount of positive feedback from students who have attended my courses regarding my teaching style. Beginners tell me they walk away with new information, techniques and insight. Advanced trainers tell me that I helped them to start connecting the similarities of training techniques and protocols across different modalities and draw insight on how to use this new tool and information to transform or better his or her current training style, beliefs and attitudes.
Why do I approach my courses in this way? Why don’t I just talk about how cool Dynamic Load Based (DBL) training is and how it is the best solution for all your training needs and how no other tools can do what mine do? Frankly, whilst this may be true, I know it not best way to educate and share information.
People (i.e. our clients and athletes) come to us with a need. The need is often to stimulate some type of emotional response. Like, “When I lose all this weight I will feel better than ever.” Or, “It will be amazing when I finish my first triathlon.” So really, we are solution providers directed by the goals, objectives and desires of our clients or athletes. If we continually use only one or two tools in our tool box, then we are limited in what we can help them build or create. There needs to be a balanced solution which often requires the use of many types of varying modalities, driven by goals, objectives and a potential vast list of other considerations like age, current health, nutrition, physical limitations and lifestyle factors.
The format of my courses are ever changing; there probably will not be two that are exactly the same. As I continually grow and educate myself, I am passionate about sharing that knowledge, particularly as it relates to DLB training and training in general. I strive to be a mentor and pass this wisdom on to the students in my courses, and even the clients and athletes I work with on a day-to-day basis.
It is always my goal to exceed expectations for the participants of IBBC events. I am often shocked at how often some of the experienced trainers in the audience are not familiar with basic training principles that should be ingrained in their thoughts and put into daily application. Because I cannot make any assumptions as to the level of comprehension of these sometimes complex principles, I enjoy supplying new insights and providing refreshers on some basics. This allows many students to build on foundational elements and continue to expand the endless opportunities to provide outstanding service to their clients while adding a new tool to their kit.
Again, thanks to the talented group this weekend, I look forward to seeing you at a Certification level course!
- Sean Arnold
- Michelle, Caplan DC
- Queruvin Cruz
- Ryan Dantes
- Peter D’Epiro
- Greg Gaviola
- Maria Kyong
- Paige Pagni
- Yasuko Shiga
- Maimi Thomander
- Michael Stephenson
- Adam Baeckler
- BBS Coaches:
- Katy Jercich
- Maurizio Tangari
- Pinita Maberry
Check out some great photos from this event, and become our friend on Facebook.
If you’re interested in hosting an IBBC workshop or event at your location, please contact me.