I had no idea what to expect for this workshop other than that we’d be doing some sort of exercise since they said to come dressed in workout clothes. I was nervous about whether I’d be way behind because I haven’t read the entire book yet, and whether I’d be very obviously the LEAST in-shape person in the room, and whether my workout clothes would look too uncool for a “real” trainer, and whether…you get my drift? I was stupid nervous, and I really had no reason to be.

There were about 60 people there, I think, and they were all ages, all levels of trainerdom, all types of “coolness”. Some people had been training for years and years; they were doing the workshop for continuing ed credits. Some were like me, still working a desk job and hoping to break into the fitness industry. A couple girls had their hair curled like they were going to prom (no joke), and a lot more actually looked ready to work up a sweat — no makeup, hair pulled back, not trying to get any hot dates.

Basically, once I saw that I fit in with at least some of the other people there, I wasn’t so nervous. I still kinda kept to myself for the most part, since I was sick and didn’t want to possibly infect anyone (but I probably did, anyway).

The format of the workshop was great. There were two instructors who kind of tag-teamed on presenting the material, based (apparently) on their individual areas of expertise or interest. They split up the day between lecture and hands-on activities, so I never felt bored or compelled to constantly check the clock to see how much time was left. They’d go over stuff on a PowerPoint presentation, then have us apply those concepts in an actual workout or stretching routine. They allowed for questions throughout the day, so there were a lot of open discussions where concepts could be clarified, or people could share ideas for practical application.

My favorite parts were when we got to do actual workouts based on the model that NASM follows. I love learning by doing, and I of course loved burning some calories so I didn’t feel like it was just another day of sitting on my butt for hours on end. The best part of those workouts for me was actually the pre- and post-workout foam rolling. If you’ve never done foam rolling for self-myofascial release (SMR), you are MISSING OUT. I had only ever done it once, in a yoga class or something, and I didn’t understand the point of it at the time. Now, I know that foam rolling (and other forms of SMR like using tennis balls) is incredibly helpful in releasing tension in the muscles, which improves flexibility and stability in preparation for a workout AND after a workout.

AND?! I did more pushups than I have ever been able to do, EVER in my life. Because I learned how to actually DO a pushup the right way, and it was way easier than whatever I’ve been trying to do. That was a big win for me this weekend.

The only negative things I got from this workshop weren’t really from the workshop at all. Firstly, I hated being sick the whole time, because I know I could have gotten even more out of it if I had been well, and I would’ve probably made more connections with people. Secondly, I sat next to someone who has been a trainer (certified by a couple other organizations) for 20 years and he kept complaining about how the instructors were doing things. He thought they were doing way too much foam rolling; they were beating a dead horse with concepts that “everyone already knows”; they were wasting his time, basically. And I guess I can see how that might be the case for someone who is already a seasoned trainer, but I wish he had kept those opinions to himself because they distracted me and made me question — only for a second — whether this really was the best organization to get certified through. (It is.) If I had been braver, I would have turned to him and said, “You need to realize that a lot of people in here, including me, are totally new to the fitness industry and therefore everything being presented here is fresh and exciting. So please keep your negativity to yourself, and try to take this workshop for what it is for you: a refresher on the things you already know.” Instead I kind of just half-heartedly nodded at his comments and stayed turned toward the instructors in the hopes that he’d read my body language and STFU. (But for the record, he was otherwise a really nice guy and I appreciated that he let me ask him questions about his experience as a trainer.)

It’s two days after the workshop, and I am still pretty sore from the workouts, which is surprising because all we had were resistance bands and our own body weight. It just goes to show that you can get a really great workout without ever lifting a dumbbell or stepping foot in a gym if you know how to do it right.

Oh, and speaking of workouts, one more thing. I was (and still am) a little overwhelmed by the tens of thousands of exercises I will have to choose from when creating a personalized workout for my clients. I mean, holy crap! There is so much. But, as the instructors kept reminding us, we now have the tools to know when each exercise is appropriate, and having SO MANY of them to choose from just means we can keep things interesting and exciting for as long as possible!

In other news, I found out that someone I used to nanny for just recently got certified through NASM too! So she has been kind enough to give me tips on studying for the exam, and I look forward to being able to bounce workout ideas off her in the future.

Now it’s time to crack down on reading the textbook and studying hard for my exam! I have until early April 2012, but my goal is to be ready to take the exam by the end of February, if not sooner.