title: Personal Trainers: Motivating and Moderating Client Exercise Behaviour

authors: Sweet, Wendy Gaylene

subjects: Personal Trainer

abstract: First established in the 1990's, the personal training industry in New Zealand has experienced unprecedented growth. Over 80% of New Zealand health clubs market the services of Personal Trainers and there are now over 1500 registered Personal Trainers working in a range of settings. Their primary professional role is one whereby they promote and support individuals to attain desired 'results' in relation to their physical fitness and particularly, to adopt a more physically active lifestyle. But despite the growth of this industry, little is known about how Personal Trainers actually go about supporting
the clients who purchase their service to find a way into, as well as stay committed to a physically activity lifestyle. To date there has been no research in New Zealand exploring
how Personal Trainers operate as agents of behaviour change. Furthermore, there appears
only anecdotal evidence about how the intervention strategies used by Personal Trainers
reflect those recommended in the 'behaviour-change' literature.

This thesis focused on the daily, working experiences of ten Personal Trainers. Inspired
by the interpretive paradigm, in-depth interviews were conducted and analysis of the data, guided by the tenets of grounded theory, allowed the story about the way each participant went about her/his work to emerge. The study highlights a variety of issues that these Trainers recognise as significantly influencing their ability to succeed in an increasingly competitive and demanding business. Specific reference was also given to the behavioural intervention strategies that each participant believed were the most
beneficial in nurturing client lifestyle behaviour-change.

The study outcomes reveal that although the Trainers worked independently of each other
there was considerable commonality in the approaches they had developed. All agreed on
the importance of presenting themselves as confident, competent professionals who
modelled healthy life-styles to their clients. Some of the strategies they used were similar
in some regards to those described in the intervention literature, but others were not. A
salient point made by all was that, despite some of their practices lying outside the
professional boundaries defined by their professional registration organisation, the
provision of services to clients often went beyond the 'physical'. Nutritional counselling
especially had become an integral part of the service they provided for clients and was, in
fact, an area which clients 'expected' them to be experts in. Each acknowledged the challenge of devising strategies to keep their clients committed, motivated and returning to them. The study highlighted two distinct phases of intervention as the Trainers used different motivational approaches to firstly, initiate change and then maintain their client's progress. As the clients began to see results all of the trainers agreed that their relationship with their long-term clients became more collegial. As time progressed, and in order to facilitate and foster client belief in the inherent value of physical activity 'for life', the Trainers became their client's Life Coach. The Personal Trainers in this study described a multitude of roles that each believed they needed to fulfil in order that they achieved on-going success as a Trainer. This emphasises the need for a more expansive
education programme for Personal Trainers. Programmes which move beyond a traditional fitness discourse and better reflect the complexities of what it truly means to
be a one-on-one 'Trainer'.

text: Personal Trainers: Motivating and Moderating Client Exercise Behaviour First established in the 1990's, the personal training industry in New Zealand has experienced unprecedented growth. Over 80% of New Zealand health clubs market the services of Personal Trainers and there are now over 1500 registered Personal Trainers working in a range of settings. Their primary professional role is one whereby they promote and support individuals to attain desired 'results' in relation to their physical fitness and particularly, to adopt a more physically active lifestyle. But despite the growth of this industry, little is known about how Personal Trainers actually go about supporting
the clients who purchase their service to find a way into, as well as stay committed to a physically activity lifestyle. To date there has been no research in New Zealand exploring
how Personal Trainers operate as agents of behaviour change. Furthermore, there appears
only anecdotal evidence about how the intervention strategies used by Personal Trainers
reflect those recommended in the 'behaviour-change' literature.

This thesis focused on the daily, working experiences of ten Personal Trainers. Inspired
by the interpretive paradigm, in-depth interviews were conducted and analysis of the data, guided by the tenets of grounded theory, allowed the story about the way each participant went about her/his work to emerge. The study highlights a variety of issues that these Trainers recognise as significantly influencing their ability to succeed in an increasingly competitive and demanding business. Specific reference was also given to the behavioural intervention strategies that each participant believed were the most
beneficial in nurturing client lifestyle behaviour-change.

The study outcomes reveal that although the Trainers worked independently of each other
there was considerable commonality in the approaches they had developed. All agreed on
the importance of presenting themselves as confident, competent professionals who
modelled healthy life-styles to their clients. Some of the strategies they used were similar
in some regards to those described in the intervention literature, but others were not. A
salient point made by all was that, despite some of their practices lying outside the
professional boundaries defined by their professional registration organisation, the
provision of services to clients often went beyond the 'physical'. Nutritional counselling
especially had become an integral part of the service they provided for clients and was, in
fact, an area which clients 'expected' them to be experts in. Each acknowledged the challenge of devising strategies to keep their clients committed, motivated and returning to them. The study highlighted two distinct phases of intervention as the Trainers used different motivational approaches to firstly, initiate change and then maintain their client's progress. As the clients began to see results all of the trainers agreed that their relationship with their long-term clients became more collegial. As time progressed, and in order to facilitate and foster client belief in the inherent value of physical activity 'for life', the Trainers became their client's Life Coach. The Personal Trainers in this study described a multitude of roles that each believed they needed to fulfil in order that they achieved on-going success as a Trainer. This emphasises the need for a more expansive
education programme for Personal Trainers. Programmes which move beyond a traditional fitness discourse and better reflect the complexities of what it truly means to
be a one-on-one 'Trainer'.

year: 2008

title: Bringing the real world into economic analyses of land use value: Incorporating spatial complexity

authors: Bateman, Ian J.

subjects: modelling

abstract: The paper reviews recent developments in the incorporation of real-world spatial issues into the economic appraisal of land use change. The opening discussion introduces non-economists to the concepts underpinning the approach. The remainder of the paper uses a case study approach (concerning potential conversions from agriculture into multi-purpose woodland) to illustrate the quantification and valuation of land use change. The application of geographical information system (GIS) routines allows spatial complexity to be incorporated within the analysis. Key concepts are introduced such as making allowance for subsidies, the marginal value concept, and the valuation of non-market externalities such as carbon storage of open-access recreation. The case study also shows that, if issues such as spatial variation and externalities are ignored, sole reliance upon market prices can lead to perverse outcomes which are actually to the detriment of society.

text: Bringing the real world into economic analyses of land use value: Incorporating spatial complexity The paper reviews recent developments in the incorporation of real-world spatial issues into the economic appraisal of land use change. The opening discussion introduces non-economists to the concepts underpinning the approach. The remainder of the paper uses a case study approach (concerning potential conversions from agriculture into multi-purpose woodland) to illustrate the quantification and valuation of land use change. The application of geographical information system (GIS) routines allows spatial complexity to be incorporated within the analysis. Key concepts are introduced such as making allowance for subsidies, the marginal value concept, and the valuation of non-market externalities such as carbon storage of open-access recreation. The case study also shows that, if issues such as spatial variation and externalities are ignored, sole reliance upon market prices can lead to perverse outcomes which are actually to the detriment of society.

year: 2009

title: Kai whakakitenga-nui te whakatōhea: Whenua planning for kai security

authors: Maxwell, Te Kahautu

abstract: To exercise Tino Rangatiratanga in our pursuit to define our local food systems through the traditional knowledge and practice of growing kai that will inspire and transform the health and well-being of all Whakatōhea, Whānau, Hapū, Iwi.

text: Kai whakakitenga-nui te whakatōhea: Whenua planning for kai security To exercise Tino Rangatiratanga in our pursuit to define our local food systems through the traditional knowledge and practice of growing kai that will inspire and transform the health and well-being of all Whakatōhea, Whānau, Hapū, Iwi.

year: 2025