The NAMSET/NAMSIT Teaching Method To Introduce Gym Exercises To Beginners For Fitness Instructors And Personal Trainers

Many beginners to resistance training are often unfamiliar with the workings of resistance exercise machines and free weights. A logical approach to resistance exercise introduction allows a fitness instructor to offer consistent delivery of the process of inducting individuals into the gym environment

The acronym NAMSET helps to offer this logical approach to introduce gym machines.

N= Name of the Exercise

A= Area of the body worked

M= Muscles used

S= Silent demonstration

E= Explanation of the exercise

T= Teach the exercise

Some training courses also teach this technique as NAMSIT. (Name, Area, Muscles, Silent demonstration, Instruct the exercise, Teach) There is little difference between the acronym NAMSET and NAMSIT, I therefore recommend you use whichever term feels more relvant and easier to remember.

This approach forms part of the CYQ (Central YMCA Qualifications) Gym Instructor Level 2 qualification.

N= Name of the Exercise

The fitness instructor advises the client the specific name of the resistance machine or free weight exercise.

Example. This exercise is the Squat

A= Area of the body worked

The fitness instructor must now explain the areas of the body the exercise works

The squat works primarily the legs and buttocks while utilising the stomach and lower back muscles for stability

M= Muscles used

The fitness instructor must now explain the specific muscles used and point out the specific muscles to the client.

The squat utilises the major muscles of the Quadraceps, Hamstrings, Gluteus Maximus, Erector Spinae and Abdominal Muscles

S= Silent demonstration

The fitness instructor now must give a silent demonstration of the exercise to allow the client to visualise how the exercise is completed.

E= Explanation of the exercise

The fitness instructor now explains the aspects of the exercise

· Standing with feet shoulder width apart, standing upright in a neutral spinal position allowing the hands to drop down to the sides of the body

· Lower the body downwards by bending at the hips and knees down into a sitting position until the thighs are parallel to the floor

· Slowly return to your starting position

T= Teach the exercise

The fitness instructor now teaches the exercise as per the below video.

This approach can be used no matter what resistance machine or free weight exercise is being used. The emphasis should always be on good form and technique.

The highly visual natural of the demonstration provides a large amount of information for the client to take in. This should be supplemented with small amounts of verbal instruction

The instructor should always ensure the correct exercise intensity is maintained for the client’s fitness level.

Good look with your CYQ (Central YMCA Qualifications) Gym Instructor Level 2 qualification.

This technique can be used to demonstrate free weight exercises and introduce gym machines.

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