Think??

There have been so many blogs, stories, and videos pertaining to fitness and qualified/under-qualified coaches and trainers.  My response is simply...do your damn homework!  Try it out before you commit and use some common sense...all of it if you are lacking in that area.  And for the love of all things...ask questions.  In my opinion, if you fail to do these things, then you are responsible for what happens.  And if you choose to continue in that environment, and get injured...that is also your responsibility.

A CrossFit L1 certification is just an expensive piece of paper.  The same can be said for the certifications held by globo gym trainers.  That piece of paper doesn't mean they know jack about teaching specific movements, nutrition, or even how to use the equipment in their own gym.  I will be the first to tell you that I am not the best choice for nutrition advice...unless you want to know about cookies and Big Red.  And I can definitely help you pick out a good cigar.  Oh, and did I mention that I have a CrossFit nutrition certification.  Did I make my point?!

Here is a solid piece of advise...if you are new to training or a specific sport, and you walk away after one session having learned absolutely nothing...move on.  If you walk away with a whole bunch of questions, then you missed a key part of the first paragraph above.  If you happen to be the person that joins a gym because your friends think it is cool, then you are on your own...you have other problems to worry about.  But if you leave wanting to learn more, then you probably found what you are looking for.

As far as injuries go, guess what, shit happens.  You could break your toe walking to the bathroom in the middle of the night.  You could injure your rotator cuff in a battle over cheap socks on Black Friday.  Hell, something could fall out of the sky and crack you on the head.  So don't be surprised or point fingers at someone else, for that matter, when you pull a muscle exercising.  No one ever wants to get injured, but if you are serious about working out or fitness in general...the bottom line is, it is going to happen.  If you pull your hamstring on the way to the fridge during a commercial of your favorite television program, who are you going to blame for that...the people on tv?

Summary:  If a trainer or coach is good at what they do, they will show you...they will teach you.