Ah, the world of personal training, where every rep counts and every smile matters. As fitness professionals, we know the drill: it’s not just about the muscle gains; it’s about the journey. But let’s face it – keeping clients motivated can be as challenging as that final set of burpees. This is where the art of inspiration, sprinkled with a dash of humor, plays a pivotal role.
You’re not just trainers; you’re the architects of confidence, the engineers of motivation. And sometimes, what your clients need isn’t just a fitness plan but a laugh, a word of encouragement, and a belief that they can do it.
In this guide, we’ll explore one of my favorite motivational strategies for setting the tone and motivating clients – motivational (and the odd humorous) quotes. This method will help you, with my step-by-step blueprint, to maintain positivity and motivation and keep your clients coming back for more.
“It’s not about perfect. It’s about effort. And when you bring that effort every single day, that’s where transformation happens.”- Jillian Michaels(1)
The Art of Inspiration: Personal Trainer Quotes
“It’s Not About The Weight You Lose, It’s About The Life You Gain.” – Kristen Seiff(2)
In my experience, inspiring clients comes down to two simple things: understanding their motivations and being a positive force, both empathic and supportive.
Understanding Client Motivation
“Do your best and forget the rest.” – Tony Hornton(3)
Intrinsic motivation comes from deep within. It’s a type of motivation driven by personal satisfaction and the joy of the activity itself. It’s the client who trains for the sheer love of fitness or the inner peace that comes after a great workout. On the other hand, extrinsic motivation is fueled by external rewards, whether it’s the desire for a toned body, the accolades from winning a race, or even social recognition. As a personal trainer, the key to unlocking your client’s potential lies in recognizing and harnessing these motivational drivers.
Role of Humor and Positivity
“My grandmother started walking five miles a day when she was sixty. She’s ninety-seven now, and we don’t know where the heck she is.” – Ellen Degeneres(4)
Humor is a powerful tool in the personal trainer’s arsenal, one that goes beyond just lightening the mood. It’s a bridge-builder, a barrier-breaker. When trainers infuse humor into their sessions, they’re doing more than just cracking jokes – they’re signaling approachability and relatability. A well-timed, light-hearted comment can diffuse tension, especially when clients are facing tough challenges or feeling self-conscious about their abilities.
Moreover, humor has the unique ability to foster an environment of trust and openness. It encourages clients to let down their guard and be more communicative about their struggles and successes.
Motivational Strategy for Personal Trainers
“It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.” – Confucius(5)
One of my favorite strategies with clients is to bring a few quotes with me to training sessions. It’s a unique signature, and clients look forward to hearing their daily/weekly dose of motivation. Here are a few of my favorites:
- “Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection, we can catch excellence.” – Vince Lombardi(6)
- “Don’t count the days, make the days count.” – Muhammad Ali(7)
- “Exercise is king. Nutrition is queen. Put them together and you’ve got a kingdom.” – Jack LaLanne(8)
- “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts.” – Winston Churchill(9)
Building Long-Term Relationships
Try finding some funny quotes that align with your client’s values. When you tap into the positive side of people, they tend to connect. When you connect with people, you build long-term relationships, and those are the best kind to have with your clients because as long as you help them achieve their goals and stay positive, they’re more likely to keep paying for your services.
Speaking of building long-term client loyalty, here’s a collection of some funny anonymous exercise quotes to get you started:
- “I have to exercise in the morning before my brain figures out what I’m doing.”(10)
- “Dear fat, prepare to die! Sincerely, Me.”(11)
- “I wear black to the gym because it’s like a funeral for my fat.”(12)
- “I do yoga to relieve stress. Just kidding, I drink wine in yoga pants.”(13)
- “My favorite machine at the gym is the vending machine.” – Caroline Rhea(14)
Introducing Elite Trainr – A Platform To Build and Manage Fitness Client Relationships
Elite Trainr is an all-in-one solution for personal trainers, gym owners, and fitness professionals. It’s got everything you need to keep your clients motivated with a built-in private forum and messaging system. Furthermore, the 3,000+ animated GIFs are easy to follow, so you can build custom workouts and send them directly to your client’s dashboard. Speaking of dashboards, the platform lets you put your logo in the dashboard, so your clients get a branded, clean, and intuitive dashboard to experience. Try Elite Trainr today and start sharing your favorite quotes to set the tone with your clients and build great client-trainer relationships.
Article Sources
- Roberts, Taylor. 2022. “500 Motivational Fitness Quotes for Women Who Workout.” Sarah Scoop. August 5, 2022. https://sarahscoop.com/500-motivational-fitness-quotes-for-women-who-workout/.
- “LinkedIn.” 2024. Linkedin.com. 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/isnt-weight-you-lose-its-life-gain-kristen-seiff/.
- www.facebook.com/profc. 2019. “Ethics.Blog.” Ethics Blog. December 22, 2019. https://ethics.blog/perfection/#:~:text=I’ve%20learned%20that%20Tony,and%20body%20will%20allow%20you..
- “BrainyQuote.” 2024. BrainyQuote. BrainyQuote. 2024. https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/ellen_degeneres_131597.
- Daily Reflections. 2023. “‘It Does Not Matter How Slowly You Go as Long as You Do Not Stop.’-Confucius.” Medium. Medium. March 14, 2023. https://medium.com/@officialprpatel002/it-does-not-matter-how-slowly-you-go-as-long-as-you-do-not-stop-confucius-77e3030ed326.
- “A Quote by Vince Lombardi Jr.” 2024. Goodreads.com. 2024. https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/392543-perfection-is-not-attainable-but-if-we-chase-perfection-we.
- “‘Don’t Count the Days. Make the Days Count.’ —Muhammad Ali.” 2019. The Foundation for a Better Life. 2019. https://www.passiton.com/inspirational-quotes/4005-dont-count-the-days-make-the-days-count.
- Orchard. 2022. “Learn Why Exercise Is King | Shipley Living.” Shipley Living. July 18, 2022. https://shipleyliving.com/blog/2022/07/18/exercise-is-king-2/#:~:text=Jack%20Lalanne%2C%20the%20original%20celebrity,’ve%20got%20a%20kingdom.%E2%80%9D.
- Pixelstorm. 2013. “Media Matters.” International Churchill Society. July 4, 2013. https://winstonchurchill.org/publications/finest-hour/finest-hour-136/media-matters/.
- “Quote | I Have to Exercise Early in the Morning…” 2014. Quotery.com. 2014. https://www.quotery.com/quotes/exercise-early-morning-brain-figures.
- 2024. X (Formerly Twitter). 2024. https://twitter.com/RubenSubramani1/status/1560482918291877889.
- “Video.” 2015. Facebook.com. 2015. https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=480289016083701.
- “I Do Yoga to Relieve Stress… Just Kidding I Drink Wine in Yoga Pants.” 2014. Someecards. Someecards. 2014. https://www.someecards.com/usercards/viewcard/i-do-yoga-to-relieve-stress-just-kidding-i-drink-wine-in-yoga-pants–3eac0/.
- “Caroline Rhea Quote: ‘My Favorite Machine at the Gym Is the Vending Machine.’” 2024. Quotefancy.com. 2024. https://quotefancy.com/quote/1382329/Caroline-Rhea-My-favorite-machine-at-the-gym-is-the-vending-machine#:~:text=Caroline%20Rhea%20Quote%3A%20%E2%80%9CMy%20favorite,gym%20is%20the%20vending%20machine.%E2%80%9D.