Korean Job Discussion Forums

[bhd0107]

Where can I find one? How much can I expect to pay? I live near Yongsan/Itaewon.

Thanks!

[kalbi]

I too would lke info about an Englsih speaking personal trainer. WIll be keeping my eye on this link.

[venus]

Do you really need one?


You could join a gym and use the workouts in the beginners forum on

www.muscletalk.co.uk

And the exercise guide on www.exrx.net

Create a routine based around three days a week with some cardio (
swimming, jogging on sundays / running up and down the stairs in your apt block a few times a day)

Eat healthilly and moderately (you can truly eat whatever you like as long as you remember to keep portions moderate)

And stick to it

Save a lot of money.

If you have terribly weak motivation and will power though, a personal trainer could be a good start I guess....

If you want, pm me and I can post you a simple, basic, no fuss or frills routine that is easy to follow and works....

Don't be fooled or intimidated by all the crap these days that you can't get fit without all kinds of special eqpt, clothes, magic pills, potions and shakes etc and hours of hard graft doing fancy exercises...

It's all marketing bs to make money.

I've got in good shape before just doing dips / chins / curls for upper bod and squats, straight leg deads / hanging raises / sits and hyperextensions for lower bod.

All you need is cardio for 30 mins twice a week, a bodywieght or wieghts routine twice / 3 times a week for 45 mins and a moderate diet. And persevearance (sp?)

It really is quite simple and need not take much time at all.

[mashuu]

I'm not sure about other areas, such as Seoul, but at the gym where I work out here Bundang, I definitely don't rate the trainers very highly. My gym has 10 or so trainers and I think the main goal of these guys is to make sure none of their clients get to be as big or as fit as they are. They constantly move from place to place in the gym depending on what machines are open. To me, this shows a complete lack of planning and focus. Couple this with a complete lack of concentration on the main lifts (bench, squats, shoulder press, and lat pulls) and you've got a whole bunch of expensive time-wasting. I also see them neglecting compound movements such as dips and chin-ups.

I also have to add that if you're spotting someone and you never let them lift the weight unassisted, you have no business calling yourself a fitness professional. I know that not everyone wants to get huge, but if a person can't do one rep by themselves, it's too much weight. Sometimes I think they assist that much because they're afraid of looking like they're lazy.

Sorry, had to rant a bit. Just develop you're own plan. PT's here are a complete wasted of hard-earned (haha, well earned) cash.

[venus]

[kalbi]

Thank you all, especially Venus for really great food for thought.

Back to the original question.. does anyone know of an English Speaking personal trainer here in Korea?? Cost$$$?

Thanks a bunch.

[ella]

Personal training is a dodgy business even in the U.S. (I spent ten years in it). I can't begin to imagine the quality, or lack thereof, of a trainer here. As far as I know, none of the major certifying organizations offer their exams here so there's no certifying standard. Make sure you ask anyone who bills her or himself as a "personal trainer" a lot of questions about their education, training/certification, and experience (never work with a brand new trainer). Let us know what you find, I'd be interested in hearing about it.

[hogwonguy1979]

Calif Fitness in Myeong-dong has a couple I think as I see them working with foreigners on occaision. But man they are expensive, think around 50k/seesion if you sign up for 20 sessions plus the club fees

also I'm not impressed with them, I see them making people do things that are questionable plus they seem to be more interested in socializing than doing actual work

[Gideon]

I am looking for a training partner in the Sadang, Anyang, Gunpo area. I have a lot of experience working out in the gym but i really need a partner who can help me get my gains up.

any takers?

[fizban]

Gideon,

Too bad you don't live near Song Nae. I could use a good workout partner to push me on.

The most hilarious advice I got was when I was doing deadlifts. I complete the motion and set the bar back on the ground bringing it to a complete stop for half a second before beginning the next repetition, kills all momentum and makes you "deadlift". A trainer came by and told me I shouldn't let the bar touch the ground.

I told him I wanted to remove any momentum and it was harder because if you don't let the weight come to a complete stop, you transfer the energy bringing the weight down through your hamstrings/quads and get a "push up" effect. He looked completely clueless.

Ah well.

[in_seoul_2003]

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