Got a random fact for you today…

Did you know this is actually my SECOND iteration of the Program Design Mentorship?

I ran the first Program Design Mentorship back in the Fall of 2017, but at the time, I called it a “Masters in Program Design.”

I’m not an official accredited college, so I figured I better tweak the name so I don’t get in trouble!

So I ran those for a handful of years, and I’d like to think I helped a ton of coaches level up their process.

Then life got busy, I took a break, and decided to step back and re-evaluate everything about the mentorship.

How I ran the groups.

The content that I covered.

And most importantly, I wanted to figure how I could ensure that the Program Design Mentorship helped everyone who joined take their program design to the next level.

So I went back to the drawing board.

Got serious about figuring out what people needed to learn.

And I re-built the entire program for scratch!

But easily the most intriguing thing I figured out over the last 10 years is what real coaches are struggling with.

So today, I’m going to cover the 10 most common issues that people who join the mentorship are dealing with.

Let’s dive in!

 

#1 – They Wanted to Build Their Own Training Philosophy

If you train people long enough, this is a really common theme.

After all, why should you train people the way someone else does?

You have your own unique thoughts and beliefs.

You train a unique set of clients.

And ultimately, I think you should want to put your own personal stamp on your programming.

Why wouldn’t you want to train in a way that feels authentic to you?

So this is literally your first piece of homework in the mentorship: To write down YOUR training and coaching philosophy.

Because once you’re crystal clear on this, you now have a “North Star” to help guide you in writing all your programs.

 

#2 – To Truly Understand Movement

So many great coaches see the same movement presentations time after time.

The client with a huge curve in their lower back and anterior pelvic tilt.

Stiff, kyphotic shoulders.

Or a bootie to so tight they could crush a piece of coal into a diamond!

Btu what many coaches lack is an understanding as to WHY people end up moving the way they do.

And that’s the real goal – to truly understand movement, and why clients fall into the same predictable patterns.

This is a crucial piece of the puzzle, because if you can keep your clients moving and feeling great, you can keep them coming back for months (or years) on end.

 

#3 – To Create a Step-by-Step Program Design Process

Program design can be incredibly frustrating if you don’t have systems and processes in place.

For instance, if every time you sit down to write a program you do it just a little bit differently, you’re making it harder than it needs to be.

One time it’s the sets and reps.

The next time, it’s the exercises.

And then a third, you’re thinking about the tempos you want to incorporate.

But trust me when I tell you, that’s a trap!

The best program designers on the planet have a step-by-step and proven system they use to ensure they get repeatable results.

And in this mentorship, I’ll take you step-by-step through my process.

Even if you don’t use my exact system and structure, if you take the time to develop your own system, it’ll save you hours every week writing programs.

 

#4 – Prescribing the Right Resets

Resets are one of – if not the biggest – ROI activities you can use in the gym.

Now I know a lot of people like to poo-poo them, but I find these are often one of two types of coaches:

1. The kind that really doesn’t understand resets (and doesn’t want to take the time to learn), and/or
2. The kind who only believes that “Strong things don’t break.”

And if that sounds like you, by all means, keep doing you.

But in many cases, programming and coaching the right resets could be the difference between a client being able to train pain-free during their workout, or not being able to train at all!

Plus, there’s something incredibly satisfying about taking someone who’s dealing with a cranky knee, back or shoulder, and helping them feel better immediately.

So if you want to learn more about resets, why they work, and how to apply them correctly, I’ve got an entire module designed just around this topic

 

#5 – Programming Speed and Power Development

If you train athletes, the speed and power piece may come easy to you.

But many of the coaches I’ve worked with that focus on gen pop clients have told me they have no idea how to incorporate power work into their programs.

They don’t know what exercises to use.

They’re unsure of what set/rep schemes work best.

And most importantly, they’re worried about someone getting hurt.

And trust me, I get it.

There’s nothing worse than someone getting injured during a workout.

But we also know that speed and power are the first physical qualities to decline with age, so we can’t stick our heads in the sand – we have to find a way to train it safely and effectively.

So if you’re stuck or confused, I promise I’ve got you covered here.

I give you my favorite speed and power activities, and even examples of what we’ve done with clients as old as 87!

 

#6 – Why Balancing Pushes and Pulls is a Myth

One of the first things I “learned” as an up-and-coming coach was that you had to balance your pushes and pulls.

Gonna do some chest?

Cool – but you better pair it with some rows to balance out the shoulders and keep them healthy.

And while balancing pressing and pulling might seem like common sense, I can assure you, it doesn’t play out like that in real life!

I’ve evaluated guys who were doing twice (or even three times) as many pulls as pushes and their shoulders were still trashed.

So what gives?

Quite simply, the old model doesn’t work.

Or at the very least, it needs to be refined.

If you want to help clients unlock their shoulders and why balancing pushes/pulls isn’t getting the job done, the mentorship can definitely help.

 

#7 – How to Modify Exercises So That They Will Work for Anyone

Have you ever heard someone tell a client they should “never” squat?

Or deadlift?

Or maybe worse, have you ever been guilty of that?

I know I have – so I’m not throwing stones here, promise.

But instead of telling people what they can’t do, our job as coaches is to give them activities they CAN DO pain-free.

Okay so maybe someone can’t back squat, so what?

Does that mean they can’t front squat?

Or goblet squat?

Or even if those variations are out, what happens if we elevate their heels?

Or have them squat to a box?

Do you see where I’m going with this???

Too often it’s not the exercise that’s the problem – it’s the variation of the exercise that’s the real problem!

So I created an entire module on how to modify exercises to make sure they work for anyone.

While your 22-year-old powerlifting client might hit heavy back squats, your 80-year-old grandma can squat with TRX support to a box and still get better.

If you meet them where they’re at, I guarantee you’ll get better results!

 

#8 – Energy System Training that Actually IMPROVES FITNESS

I’m not going to belabor this point, but too many coaches I talked to still aren’t comfortable programming conditioning.

For many, it’s either:

1. Take a brisk walk on your off days, and/or
2. I’m going to crush you and steal your soul at the end of your workout.

And while there’s a time and place for both, I know we can do better than that.

One of the biggest things I want people to understand is that putting conditioning into your clients workouts doesn’t require you to have a Ph.D. in biochemistry or bioenergetics.

It simply takes a real-world and practical understanding of how the body produces energy, and how exercise impacts that.

If you can give me 30 minutes, I promise I can teach you basic physiology and how it applies to energy system training.

 

#9 – How to Put ALL the Pieces Together

When it comes to programming, I’m a big believer you try and learn from the best.

For me, I learned about strength from the guys at Westside Barbell and Elite FTS.

For speed, I learned from Lee Taft and Derek Hansen.

For conditioning, I learned from Joel Jamieson.

But here’s the problem: Too often people learn about one specific physical quality, and then it starts to dominate their programming.

Next thing you know, they’re spending 30-45 minutes on speed training.

45-60 minutes on strength.

And then another 20-30 minutes conditioning at the end.

And while that program may get you great results, I can assure you – most clients don’t have 2.5-3 hours to work out every day!

So this is something I really tried to address in the mentorship.

I want you to see exactly how I write programs, and how I put all the pieces together in a seamless way.

Because most clients kind want it all in their programs – but it’s up to you to build a program that covers all those bases!

 

#10 – The Biggest Mistakes I’ve Made Along the Way

You know one thing I GUARANTEE you learn after 26+ years in the game?

Humility.

I can assure you, I’ve taken more than my fair share of L’s along the way.

But that’s part of why I created the mentorship: To share both my wins and my losses, so hopefully, you don’t make the same mistakes I did. 

In no way, shape or form am I perfect.

Never claimed to be.

But if I can share with you my experiences, I’m hoping I can save you some heartaches (and headaches) along the way when it comes to your programming.

All the best,
MR

PS – Interested in learning more about the Program Design Mentorship? Just click here.

This is the LAST TIME I’ll be running the group, and applications are due Friday by midnight – so please don’t delay!