Difficult Client Who Doesn’t Want to Get on Floor to Do Core Work
Hi, I have a 69-year-old female client whom I’ve just started working with. She wants to lose about 20 pounds, and tone and strengthen. While I understand that our hormone profile changes as we age, especially after menopause (and she’s had a hysterectomy), and the trim silhouette we had when we were younger, if at an ideal weight, can be more challenging to maintain. I get it.
Nonetheless, my client doesn’t want to do planks, push-ups, Russian twists or really anything on the floor to tighten her core. She also doesn’t want to do squats or lunges because she doesn’t want to aggravate her hip bursitis.
I’m a bit frustrated coming up with exercises to strengthen her core and back. She also says she knows what she needs to do to lose weight — it’s a portion control issue, she says — but have a feeling that she’s not up for problem solving her weight issue. Any suggestions for exercises or how to deal with her to maintain a positive client relationship. Thanks.
Hi Jayne,
I think you’ve gotten some good suggestions already. Sounds like she may have valid concerns for not wanting to do certain exercises, or she simply may not be ready to change. I’d like to add that sometimes we need to respect the client’s wishes to avoid certain exercises, even if we feel those exercises would be beneficial to them. It pushes us to think outside the box and get creative.
Your client may appreciate some alternatives for core off the floor–such as resistance bands or cables, or even TRX (I use this a lot with that age group since you can adjust their feet so easily to make the exercise easier or more challenging). For legs, perhaps the stability ball against the wall. Or, even having her sit down on a bench or chair and standing up–she may not realize that that functional move is really a squat. Try to find something she likes, and then perhaps as you build your connection with her she may try the things you want her to do.
Sometimes I find a little give and take is necessary. Good luck with her–I would give it some time and see if it works out.
Christine