Personal training Service agreement
Introduction
The purpose of this agreement is to:
Articulate the vision and purpose of Full Body Fitness.
Define my scope of work and practice as a Certified Personal Trainer.
Communicate my approach and what you can expect from my services.
Discuss appropriate gym conduct and safety.
Understand client expectations.
Please read this document thoroughly as it contains important information for how to be accountable to this community. Clear expectations help everyone stay happy and safe! I am available for questions and can be reached at hello@fullbodyfitnessllc.com.
This document works alongside my Personal Training Terms and Conditions and my Liability Waiver, which cover payment, liability, and cancellation policies.
The Vision Behind Full Body Fitness
I started Full Body Fitness because I noticed a gap in women’s health – especially in perinatal and menopause care, and most of all when it came to exercise guidance. Throughout my two painful pregnancies, postpartum recovery, and now as I navigate the menopause transition, I have experienced firsthand the lack of support and guidance during these major life transitions.
In addition, the fitness industry has convinced women, and many people socialized as girls, that their main goal should be to lose weight, and for decades has sold programs with that goal in mind. Fitness has largely been framed as a way to punish your body for eating too much, looking too big or for taking up too much space. These programs have ignored what you actually need for longevity, which is to build power, strength and muscle.
But Full Body Fitness isn’t just about fitness. It is also political. It's about pregnant, postpartum and peri/menopausal people reclaiming their power to be strong, feel confident and experience pleasure no matter their size or shape. My vision for this community is that we reject cultural messages about beauty, perfection and duty. Together we can choose to love and respect our bodies as we exist in them today.
Strength training is one tool to reclaim our power and change the conversation with our bodies. The model I've developed combines evidence-based research on pregnancy, postpartum, and menopause with what I've learned from my own body as I've moved through these stages. My program will help you develop your physical fitness, build muscle, expand your cardiovascular capacity, and nourish yourself, all while paying special attention to your core and pelvic floor function. You do not have to accept leaking, pain or discomfort in your pelvis or anywhere else. You can use exercise as a tool to address these symptoms and support your body through pregnancy and beyond.
In order to be strong you must adequately challenge your body, but it doesn’t need to be punishing. You can be strong during every life stage by training in a way that works with your body, not against it. Physical therapy along with a consistent strength training routine helped me recover from two vaginal births. But I have also built muscle through perimenopause even though many women experience a decline during this stage.
Along with the strength came a tremendous amount of self-confidence in my ability to do hard things and love myself in the process. Strength training is my daily love letter to my body. But don’t take my word for it. I invite you on a journey to experience this for yourself. There is nothing like leaving behind the way society made me feel about my body, and embracing a way of life that leaves me feeling powerful and strong instead. It’s a flex for sure.
Building an Inclusive Fitness Community
Full Body Fitness is a space where people who are pregnant, postpartum or in peri/menopause can explore exercise in a supportive space without the pressure to look or function a certain way regardless of size, race or gender identity. Your body size does not determine your health, and I do not hold a certain body type or aesthetic to be more valuable than another. All bodies are in fact good bodies, and no one is more deserving of love, respect or attention if they appear more fit or “aesthetically pleasing" than someone else. Fitness does not have a look, and you belong here no matter your size, shape, race, ability or gender expression.
Whether you are a woman, non-binary, trans, or gender nonconforming, you are welcome here. I use the words “women” and “female” when discussing research or the cultural messages many women receive. Pregnancy, postpartum, and menopause are experienced by people of diverse genders.
I want to nurture a culture where we can improve our relationship to fitness, and celebrate and love our bodies in the process. I recognize that stating such a bold vision means that we are all a work in progress. Every workout might not feel amazing, and we are all still learning to love ourselves every day. The purpose of this community is to start to unravel the messages we’ve been told about perfection, and create a more positive relationship with exercise and ourselves.
Feeling strong in your body, reclaiming your agency and power through fitness can change how you feel inside your body and ultimately your life. There is no greater gift we can offer ourselves and each other. I am proud to be the leader of this community, and please know that you have an important role to play in helping others realize this freedom. Never underestimate the influence you have with what you choose to believe about yourself and your self-expression. You are helping to make the vision for this community possible!
Personal Trainer Scope of Work
I am a NASM Certified Personal Trainer. This means I can assess clients, design individualized exercise programs, and provide instruction and coaching to help clients reach their fitness and health goals. My scope of practice covers resistance training, cardiovascular programming, flexibility/mobility work, and basic lifestyle coaching.
As a personal trainer, I can help you with form and function to perform exercises effectively. I can teach you skills about physical movement and exercise, as well as provide information about core and pelvic floor function and pelvic health. Certified Personal Trainers do not make medical diagnoses, offer physical therapy, or conduct clinical nutrition or mental health counseling.
My Approach to Training
My approach to training is shaped by my background as a yoga practitioner, runner, and weight lifter, along with my lived experience, certifications, and ongoing education. I also spent 13 years in nonprofit organizations serving vulnerable families, mostly moms and kids, and helping those organizations align their work with their vision. I now use my skills to help clients create lasting behavior change and meet their fitness goals. I bring particular focus to the benefits of strength training during pregnancy, postpartum, and the menopause transition.
Strength training helps build and preserve muscle, improve metabolic and cardiovascular health, reduce the risk of pregnancy complications, aid postpartum recovery, and supports healthy aging. It is estimated that women start losing muscle mass around age 35, and power also declines as we age. Because of this, my programs are built around two goals: increasing strength and power, and increasing muscle size (hypertrophy). Repeating exercises for several weeks in a row helps you achieve these results. It’s also how you will master weight lifting skills that transfer to activities of daily living.
While the science is clear on the methods that accomplish these goals, the result may vary by individual. Research shows that consistency, frequency, and progressive overload are the biggest drivers for building muscle.
For best results I recommend strength training a minimum of two days per week. If you are over forty, I recommend at least three days per week (sometimes four) to keep up with the strength loss that happens as we age. That said, do not feel pressure to achieve these goals all at once. Progressing slowly and giving the body time to adapt is key to sustainable fitness and avoiding injury, especially as we move through different life stages that might limit our ability to get to the gym. One day a week is better than no days!
Attendance and Lateness
By joining Full Body Fitness, you are committing to weekly training sessions. The more consistent you are in attending your sessions and following your program, the better your results will be. My role as your personal trainer is to help you stay accountable to your program.
Circumstances may arise from time to time that prevent you from attending your sessions on time or at all. That is understandable, and I ask that you let me know as soon as possible, even if it is less than 24 hours before your session. Frequent lateness or absences can interfere with your results. In addition, I have a waitlist and a session time that isn’t being used is one that someone else is hoping for. For these reasons, it is best that you show up for your session on time and ready to work.
In some cases life circumstances might arise that prevent you from completing your package. If this happens, or you start to fall behind on your sessions, please get in touch with me right away so we can try to find a solution. If you are frequently absent, I will initiate a conversation to make sure this commitment still fits into your life. If you are not able to complete your training package for any reason, I reserve the right to fill your training spot. Returning to training will be subject to availability on my schedule, and any remaining sessions must still be used within your package timeframe unless otherwise agreed upon. No refunds will be issued for unused sessions.
Please see the Personal Training Terms and Conditions for details about my cancellation policy and purchase agreement.
Exercise Selection and “Opting Out”
Whether I'm designing a custom program or a group class, I select exercises deliberately to create a well-rounded strength training program. All of my programs incorporate the main functional movement patterns, including squat, hinge, push, pull, and core-specific training.
Some exercises are better suited to different people/bodies. Sometimes it is reasonable to choose a different variation to work the same muscle group. The goal is to feel good, not to force our bodies into a particular exercise. If I notice an exercise isn't working, I will provide an alternative. You can also request a different exercise if what I have planned is too difficult or unenjoyable.
It's important, though, that we don't restrict certain movements or exercises long-term simply because you don't like them or they feel uncomfortable. Exercise is inherently uncomfortable, and building fitness requires moving past your current limits in a safe, structured, and progressive way. Choosing only comfortable exercises doesn't just limit your fitness, it reinforces imbalanced movement patterns. Ignoring muscle compensations and neglecting "weaker" muscles can lead to more pain and dysfunction over time.
Exercising should not cause pain, and I encourage you to speak up if you feel pain during your workout. I will always offer alternatives if something hurts or you're managing an injury, with the goal of finding a pain-free way to work. That said, pain is a common experience and it doesn’t always mean something is wrong. It is often your body’s way of telling you there is a strength imbalance, which can be resolved by getting stronger. If this is the case, unless your doctor or physical therapist has advised otherwise, you don't need to stop exercising. However, if pain, limited range of motion, or difficulty feeling the right muscles working persists and prevents you from completing your planned workouts, I will recommend a physical therapist, as described in Partnering With Your Care Team below.
Emotional Resilience and Support
Strength training builds emotional resilience as well as physical strength. Pushing against your limits can bring up strong emotions like frustration, sadness, or fear, especially if you have experienced trauma or are working through changes in your body. This is common, and is part of the work for some people.
If strong emotions come up during a session, I will pause and give you space. We can then reset and decide together how to continue. You always have the right to end a session based on your own needs, and I may also suggest ending a session early if it seems like the best choice.
I can empathize with this experience, and I believe a positive fitness environment can support healing. However, I am not a mental health professional. If strong emotions are getting in the way of your training, I will recommend that you consult a therapist or other mental health professional so you have the support you need.
Partnering With Your Care Team
Establishing care with key health providers helps ensure you’re in good condition to exercise, and it can support your long-term physical and mental health. Building a care team to support your broader health goals also means better results from our work together.
I often recommend establishing care with a Physical Therapist (PT), especially if you are new to lifting, experience persistent pain in your daily life or during exercise, or have pelvic floor symptoms including leaking urine or stool, uncontrolled gas, pelvic organ prolapse, bearing down or pressure in your pelvis during lifting, or pain during sex. Starting a well-rounded strength training routine often helps resolve aches and pains. Starting a well-rounded strength training routine often helps resolve aches and pains. If pain persists, it can be helpful to get a diagnosis from a qualified health professional.
Not all Physical Therapists are trained in the same content areas. I have found that clients who work with PTs who have weight lifting experience often resolve their issues faster because the treatment better aligns with the goals they are trying to achieve in the gym. I am happy to recommend PTs I trust upon request.
I see my role as a personal trainer as one important piece of your larger health and personal care network. With your permission, I am happy to collaborate with other professionals as we both feel it is helpful, to create more streamlined care. I do not charge you for the time I spend collaborating with your care providers.
Non-Diet Fitness and Weight Loss
The goal of non-diet fitness is to move away from the mentality that we need to shrink our bodies with restrictive diets and over training to be thin. We want to embrace a practice where we nourish our bodies with food, sustainable exercise and recovery to improve our overall health and wellness. To that end, I do not offer diet plans, nutrition advice or fitness programming with the goal of losing weight. The goal of my programs is to build your fitness capacity which requires adequate fueling. I do not hold moral judgments about food, rather all foods can fit into a healthy diet.
I want to create a space free of the pressure to lose weight. To that end, please be mindful when discussing nutrition or weight loss. Some clients I work with have histories of eating disorders, and talk of weight loss, food restriction/rules, or discussions of negative body image can be triggering. If you are struggling with your diet, body image, or anything else that impacts your ability to engage in training or get to the gym, it is always fine to let me know. If there is no space in the gym to speak privately, you can request a phone call or virtual meeting to discuss your concerns and I will work with you to find support.
Safely in the Gym
Knowing how to conduct yourself in the gym keeps you and other lifters safe. You are responsible for knowing the rules of the gym and following them. Please be mindful of others in the gym and leave enough space for them to safely bail out of a lift or drop their weight if they need to. Never walk behind a lifter, especially if they are lifting a barbell. Avoid distracting other lifters while they are mid-lift.
Please clean up your station before leaving the gym. All dumbbells should be returned to their original location and securely placed on the dumbbell racks. Please do not stack dumbbells on top of each other, as they can fall and cause injury. All barbells should be returned to the barbell racks, and all plates should be returned to the plate trees or storage posts, with nothing left leaning, balanced, or stacked where it could tip or roll. If you notice a weight that is unsecured or stacked, please let me know right away.
If you are pushing your strength limits, please ask me to spot you before your set begins. If you think you might need to bail out of a lift, make sure you have created space for this and understand how to do so for each lifting pattern. If you have safety concerns, please bring them to my attention right away.
Babies and Kids in Sessions
You are welcome to bring babies or children to your training session. I know that a lack of childcare can prevent parents from getting to the gym, and I want to help remove that barrier when possible. If you choose to bring your child, you maintain full responsibility for their care and safety while they are in the gym. You must ensure that any minors you bring to the gym are listed on the gym’s liability waiver.
Children who can walk must be able to stay out of the path of lifters or anyone carrying weights. Overall I trust parents with their kids in the gym. However, you do need to be able to maintain focus when lifting heavier weights. If your focus is pulled away mid-lift, it can be unsafe for you, your child and for others nearby. For this reason, children who are moving around the gym need to be able to follow directions without constant reminders or supervision.
When your child is present in the gym, it is reasonable that you might not get as much of your workout done. This is fine periodically. Kids who attend sessions regularly may need to stay occupied for longer stretches of time and manage themselves safely so you can maintain progress in your program.
I am available to hold babies or briefly engage with children when time allows, but I am not available to ensure their overall safety or care for them. However, if I see your child is in an unsafe situation, I will intervene directly. If having children in the gym becomes too much of a distraction or prevents you from making progress on your program, I will ask you to make other arrangements for their care.
Communicating with Me
I generally respond to text messages and emails within 48 hours, Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. You can text or email anytime. I set my phone to “do not disturb” in my off hours and during sessions. If you are late or can’t make your session, it is fine to text me. However, I am often in sessions with clients and might not respond to your message before seeing you.
My email is hello@fullbodyfitnessllc.com. My business phone number is (206) 317-4581. Both are available for your convenience.
What I ask of You
Attend your scheduled sessions on time. If you need to miss your session, let me know as soon as possible.
Maintain an open and honest dialogue about where you are with your training, how you are feeling about the individual workouts and the overall plan, as well as your goals. Your input helps me create a better program.
Respond to requests for information so I can adequately align your training program to your goals (e.g., surveys, emails).
Treat me and others in the gym with kindness and respect, including on hard days. If your emotional or physical capacity is limited, please tell me before or during the session so we can adjust the plan rather than push through.
Respect that we all come with different points of view and life experiences. The work of Full Body Fitness is also political, and disagreement is welcome when it comes with respect for other people’s bodies, identities, and dignity.
Please use the name and pronouns each person goes by. If you’re not sure, just ask.
Please avoid discussing nutrition or weight loss goals as discussed above. Some clients I work with have histories of eating disorders and talk of weight loss, food restriction, or negative body image can be triggering.
Please do not comment on other people’s bodies, including weight changes or assumptions about pregnancy, postpartum status, or age. Cheering each other on for strength, effort, and progress is welcome!
Let me know as soon as possible if life circumstances make it difficult for you to commit to weekly training sessions so I can work with you to find a solution.
If you have a concern about me, another client, or something that happened in the gym, please speak with me directly or submit it in writing to hello@fullbodyfitnessllc.com.