Cultural competence matters in this field. When novice personal trainers first begin their journey with clients, they soon find that many unspoken rules of engagement apply. This often comes into play when training members of the opposite gender, especially when male trainers work with women, specifically, how to correct body mechanics without crossing any personal/inappropriate boundaries. This issue gets even more complicated when a male trains Muslim or Orthodox Jewish females. In this article, we will explore the appropriate level of deference in these situations and how to build a comfortable working relationship that helps the client succeed in her fitness goals.
Creating an Inclusive Fitness Community
Many community centers and gyms today focus on creating as inclusive an environment as possible. This may include everything from providing ramps/elevators for wheelchair users to dedicating a bathroom for non-binary members. One demographic that might get overlooked is people from deeply religious communities.
Fitness can prove challenging for many Orthodox Jewish women as well as Muslimahs (women who practice Islam), not only because such cultures may not prioritize exercise, leading to a lack of motivation, but also because these individuals often do not know how or where to begin a fitness journey due to specific religious barriers.
Working Out with Modesty
Highly observant female clients typically must keep their bodies mostly or even exclusively covered when out in public, especially in the presence of men. Many women feel uncomfortable in a typical gym setting; exercising with purpose while wearing long, loose-fitting clothing and/or head coverings can be challenging, especially when workouts cause overheating and sweating.
In the everyday life of a Muslimah or an Orthodox Jewish woman, members of opposite genders must refrain from physical contact. How, then, might an attentive personal trainer best approach such clients, respecting their observances while still helping them achieve optimal body positioning during workouts?
Finding an instructor who resonates with them and their needs adds just one more barrier to this long list, which makes it even harder for them to reach their health and fitness goals.
The Rule of Negiah
Selecting a personal trainer for Muslim and Orthodox Jewish female clients involves navigating the religious practice of shomer negiah, which restricts physical touch between unrelated individuals of the opposite gender.
In some cases, however, Jewish law interpretations of professional touch typically allow functional, necessary care, as in physical therapy. There, the hands-on touch serves a specific and non-affectionate functional purpose.
Some modern Orthodox individuals feel that the laws of shomer negiah should not apply to a situation of a professional simply just doing a job, as long as the interaction remains impersonal. According to Rabbi Jack Abramowitz, educational correspondent for the organization Jew in the City, this prohibition does not include professional contact, though what that means can vary from person to person.
Gaining a Proper Perspective Through Communication
As we find in any religious group, perspectives and personal stringencies vary within the Orthodox/Muslim community. Some individuals might consider hands-on corrections by a personal trainer unnecessary, as compared to a doctor-patient interaction for a medical necessity. Others may feel comfortable with guidance if the professional maintains strict boundaries.
Often, seasoned trainers build relationships with clients after working together for years, to the point that a training session feels like working out with a workout buddy who also gives great guidance. In these situations, the notion of remaining impersonal can get clouded. Establishing clear boundaries and confirming comfort levels during an initial client meeting can help pave the way for a successful partnership while still respecting the client’s religious personal preferences.
During the consultation, a trainer can ask about a client’s comfort level with a simple, non-threatening question: “I practice a completely hands-off coaching style to respect your boundaries; is that your preference?” This can foster immediate trust.
Many Muslim and Orthodox Jewish women who observe strict touch boundaries also wear the hijab or modest clothing. They may appreciate the trainer securing a women-only corner of the gym where they can exercise comfortably without the presence of men.
Adapting the Training Approach
As we know, personal training requires considerable knowledge of human biomechanics. It also requires creativity in one’s approach, depending on the individual receiving the training. While some trainers use a hands-on approach to ensure proper exercise execution, with observant religious women, some outside-the-box thinking is required. With tactile spotting no longer an option, we present a comprehensive “toolkit” for successfully training clients with these boundaries:
- The Demonstration Method: Perform the movement from multiple angles (front and side) so the client can visually “map” the exercise
- Use Precise Verbal Cues: Replace physical touches with highly descriptive imagery. For example, instead of touching ta client’s shoulder blades to fix a rounded back, say: “Imagine trying to pinch a piece of paper between your shoulder blades.”
- Self-Correction Cues: Teach the client how to check her own alignment; suggest she place her own hand on a muscle (like the glutes or core) to sense when it contracts/engages properly.
- Use Target Objects: Instead of physically moving a client’s hips back during a squat, place a box or chair behind her; verbally guide the client to tap her glutes to the box. Use resistance bands to guide the client’s knees outward naturally to sidestep the need for hands-on spotting.
- Proxy Spotting: For exercises like the bench press or heavy squats, where safety must remain the trainer’s primary concern, rely on safety pins, Smith machines, or dumbbells that the client can safely dropped if necessary, eliminating the need for a physical catch.
- Modify Exercise Selection: Remain mindful of exercise selection when training these clients in a mixed-gender gym. Some observant females may feel uncomfortable performing hip thrusts or deep bending exercises directly facing a crowded room. Angle their bench or mat toward a wall, or select a quieter corner of the gym.
Ending the Session
At the end of a workout session, many trainers and clients exchange a “high five,” a fist bump, or even a cordial handshake to signal a job well done. Again, does this fall under the heading of professional and impersonal? For some Muslim and Orthodox Jewish clients, perhaps; yet for others, shunning any physical contact whatsoever feels more comfortable, and not a breach in any way of their religious laws. The trainer remains obligated to sense these subtleties and respond accordingly.
