New trainer & the Dreaded Smith Machine

Leadfoot_Lewis

I would find a new trainer. Sorry but if she knows anything about Compound lifting then she should know better than to use a Smith Machine. That said, is she knowledgable enough to show you proper form on these lifts? Obviously I don't know the girl but my guess would be no.

dixiewhiskey

Wow, I would get a new trainer.. straight up!!!

CoachDreesTraining

So how would everyone recommend that a person learn to squat? Grab a barbell and start squatting till the client figures it out?

"Chest up"
"Weight on your heels"

The body does not learn a motor pattern well from coaching cues, it learns best from doing. This can be done with a smith machine, a stability ball, a deloaded squat with a resistance band, or any other form of assisted squat. Once the body learns the pattern, then you can start loading the squat with a counterweight squat (goblet/front squat), and eventually transition to a back squat. This process could take one session, or it could take one month, all depends on the client.

OP's trainer may or may not be a complete idiot, but using the smith machine to learn the motor pattern does not make them that.

In all honesty, I'm sure most people on this thread have never performed a squat to parallel.

ninerbuff

Addendum to my above post:

It was one of THESE THINGS:

This ISN'T like the Smith Machine though since it planes of motion can change. I'd prefer this much more than a Smith machine.

As for a Smith machine, they have their place. Lots of people train alone and don't ask for spotting help, so the machine helps with safety.


A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

SusanB148

If I was to hire a personal trainer, one of my requirements would be that they listen to what I did and didn't want in a workout.

If your trainer does not respect your wishes, fire them and find one that does!

pamelak5

I have seen a lot of terrible trainers. I have myself had two that were stellar, and both of them had degrees in sports physiology/kinesiology. Neither of them had me use machines, except for rehab purposes (I did some single leg extensions following an injury when I was just getting back into strength training). A very good friend of mine was a trainer and I learned a lot from her!

LongIsland27itl

It's fine to put a newb on the smith machine IMO.
I've been training for years and I get the best DOMS after I hit a smith machine workout

SteveJWatson

My gym only has a Smith - no barbells at all. I live miles from anywhere so getting another gym isn't really an option.

I was told on here to do hack squats instead if I had to squat on a machine, and they do seem not to put pressure on my knees like attempting to squat properly in the Smith did. Also do split-squats and goblet squats with a kettlebell.

I now also use the smith for rowing - I used to just do dumbbell rows, but my gums dumbells only go up to 20KG (about 45lbs) and so I progressed past them pretty quick.