What is periodization?
Do we need to build periodization into our training programs in the gym? Or is it just something for professional athletes to worry about?
First of all what is periodization?
Periodization is simply a fancy name given to the planning of a training program. It is the careful planning and control of training loads. Both the volume and intensity.
Over two years ago I initially wrote this blog. Now that I am a little older and wiser it was time to revisit some old thoughts.
I WAS WRONG
Initially I had said that periodization was not important.
What I had said initially was this:
“I personally don’t think we need any special periodization for the average gym member. They train 2 or 3 times a week maybe. Realistically they are only in the gym to get to where they want to be in life and feel a bit happier about themselves.”
Now while I still do agree with this to a certain extent. I don’t fully agree with it anymore.
I think I may have gotten the point I was trying to make confused. As a result of that I failed to get my point across properly.
Yes periodization is important. Furthermore anyone who says they do not implement periodization into their training program is wrong. They simply do not know enough about periodization to know they are implementing it or they have no idea what they are doing full stop.
The point I was trying to get across was in relation to deload sessions. I should have been more specific and clear on what I was trying to say. That is the benefit of hindsight and the ability to review and edit.
Deload days are something you don’t need to really think about as a P.T for the vast majority of general public trainees in the gym.
The gym is something people do to help them feel good about themselves. They look better, feel better, move better, sleep better and live better.
However the gym is not the be all and end all for these people. They have a life outside the doors of your gym. They have families, commitments and worries that do not include you.
The gym is not the number one priority
It is this reason exactly why deload sessions are not that important to factor into your training plan.
The people you train have lives and are going to miss days in the gym. Be it one of their two sessions a week or heaven forbid a full week.
It is for this reason why you can forget about deload days for the most part. These are naturally built into your training program by the trainees themselves. So it is one less thing for you to have to worry about.
You can spend the time you were spending coming up with fancy elaborate periodization programs educating yourself as a trainer. You can read some books and become the best trainer in your circle.
It is a win win for everyone. You become a better trainer and your clients get better results and you have more free time.