TFL Summer 2018 Interns are entering week 4!
It’s been a blast! We’ve met incredible members shadowed sessions and learned from the coaches. The first 3 weeks have been simple in the sense that we’ve been tasked with shadowing and taking in as much as possible. Every week we get another piece of the syllabus that covers more knowledge and builds on the previous week. These past weeks we’ve learned the importance of the warm-up both psychologically and physiologically, the why of programming certain movements as well as what to look for when curing movements. The members and staff have been super friendly and it’s delivered exactly what you look for in an internship, we’ve been pushed, listened to and challenged in our knowledge and philosophies. Stoked for all the knowledge hitting us in weeks to come!
-Summarized learning points-
· Cueing movements
· Why warm-ups are important
· Why we program functional movements
· How to progressively overload members over time
· The importance of demoing a lift or specific movement
- Kyle Cusson
I’ve been a member of TFL since 2016, but this summer when I came home from school I started my journey here as an intern. I loved my experience as a member and I’m already enjoying my internship here just as much. In the few short weeks since I’ve started as an intern along with Kyle and Connor, I’ve learned so much more than I ever could have anticipated. The focus of the internship so far has just been to observe and ask questions. What has become extremely obvious is that every coach and every member has something to teach me in some way or another; I’m very excited to soak up all of the information I can over the course of the summer! I’ve also learned a lot about why we do many of the movements we do at TFL, which is something I didn’t realize as much as a member. Along with being enlightening, I know that this internship will also be challenging. I’ve always been fairly soft spoken and shy, and those aren’t necessarily the first adjectives that come to mind when thinking of TFL’s other wonderfully energetic coaches. Many of the demands of coaching take me out of my comfort zone, but I’m happy that I get the opportunity to push myself. One of TFL’s core values is to always strive for improvement, and what better way is there to improve myself than to challenge myself? I know I’m going to grow tremendously through this internship.
-Summarized learning points-
· Setting goals (and how to help others set goals) in a way that makes them more likely to be accomplished.
· Different ways to go about explaining exercises so that members can better understand how to perform them.
· Every moment is a coachable moment
· Warming up is very important
-Sienna Caron
After finishing week 3 at Train for Life, I have to say that I have been nothing but impressed. From the research behind the scenes that goes into each program to the cleanliness of the gym day in and day out, it is safe to say that members are getting the most out of their experience every time they walk through the door.
The way that I break down my internship is into two different concentrations. One of those concentrations is the social aspect as an aspiring strength and conditioning coach. This includes the relationship I have with members, my presence on social media and getting my name out there, as well as learning how to be a better coach. What I find most motivating as an intern at TFL is my opportunity to be present in the moment when a member achieves one of their set goals.
The other concentration of this internship is the science and research in the strength and conditioning field. This ranges from learning new exercises and why we program them, to cueing specific movements so that we activate certain muscles. My biggest goal is to maintain an open mind and take in as much information as I can. I’m excited to see how some of the concepts that I am learning will come into play when I begin grad school for physical therapy. Next weekend, we will attend the Perform Better Summit, and I can’t wait to hear some of the top professionals in our field present.
-Summarized learning points-
· The warm up sequence of starting on the ground and then getting to the feet and why that is significant.
· Proper warm up and cues along with the importance of breathing
· Stick mobility sequence and importance of thoracic spine mobility.
· RNT-reactive neuromuscular trainingà “feeding the compensation”
· Use of new equipment such as the Inertia Wave and how they differ from the battle ropes.
- Connor Sheridan
