This afternoon, I went to the gym for about an hour before picking up the boys from school. Lately, I’ve not been wearing headphones when I’m there because I can focus a little bit better on what I’m meant to be doing but I suppose the downside to that is that I am privy to every grunt, gripe and conversation around me.
I was minding my own business in one corner as a ‘personal trainer’ was working with a client near me. The client was a new mother – as evidenced by the new baby in the car seat by her side – and because I heard her say “It’s my second baby”.
I watched out of the corner of my eye as the ‘personal trainer’ guided her through a sees of basic exercises but cringed inwardly at her terrible form. But, obviously, I said nothing.
Moments later, they pulled a mat to the floor and the client lay down, per the ‘trainer’s’ instructions, to do some ab work. I continued to watch surrepticiously. But here’s where I wonder if I should have piped up.
The client/new mom told her ‘trainer’ that her abs had split during her pregnancy. The ‘trainer’ looked confused and said “what do you mean?” The client then explained that there was now a sizeable gap in her abs. The ‘trainer’ bent down, touched her client’s stomach, squealed and then jumped back saying “Ew!” The client laughed awkwardly.
‘Trainerlady’ then proceeded the lead her through a series of exercises that she clearly couldn’t do. Her only advice was “make sure you do the same number of reps on each side”. Shortly after that, the ‘trainer’ signed off the day, telling her client to keep at it and that she’d see her Thursday.
Here’s my dilemma. I had the same “condition” after each kid. I have some pretty basic knowledge of what you can and can’t do in that situation. The fact that this ‘trainer’ had never heard of the condition, let alone what to do with it when training a new mother, made me uneasy and wondering if I should have pulled the client aside after the ‘trainer’ left and given her some friendly, albeit unsolicited, advice.
What would you have done?
The SMO's stories 
Amazing that you held your tongue! I also (still) have a split in my abdomen wall, and therefore (still) can’t do the ab work that most do. I would have been inclined to holler to the unsuspecting mother. She clearly needs a different trainer.
I agree with your gut feelings. You can be gentle with her but let her kow you had a similar issue and how you coped with it. She is obviously swayed by the trauner.