After 30 years in the fitness industry, I’ve seen the same assessment mistakes repeated again and again. Many personal trainers overcomplicate the process with endless screens and diagnostics. In this article, I explain the most common assessment mistakes and how trainers can simplify their approach while still gathering the information they need.
In 2026, I celebrate 30 years in business as a personal trainer. That milestone didn’t come from chasing trends, copying what everyone else was doing, or overcomplicating the process. It came from blending education with experience—and learning, sometimes the hard way, what actually works in the real world. Book smarts matter. I have the formal…
One of the first seminars I ever delivered was at the 2002 Canadian Personal Trainers Network (CPTN) Conference at Ryerson University in Toronto. Titled Strength Training Parameters and Program Design, the lecture was a great success. Many trainers approached me afterward for consultations and eagerly attended my upcoming workshops. The CPTN even invited me back…