Working to Keep Students and Community Members Fit and Healthy

With sweat dripping down your face, your heart pounding through your chest, and every muscle in your body is aching, all you would want to do is fall to the floor. Now, many people will be thinking to themselves "Wow that sounds just like me!" Almost everyone has gone to the gym or has done some kind of workout, where all they want to do is give up. To give up is to fail, and failure is never attained when you have your own personal trainer.

Travis Bouchard, a junior at the University of Maine, majoring in Kinesioliogy and Physical Education, has been a personal training at the University's Rec Center, since last February.

Bouchard became a personal trainer as a student at the University of Maine by enrolling in the ACE course (American Council of Exercise), which was two hours a week for a whole semester. This was taken at the Rec Center. Once Bouchard finished the ACE course, he explained that he was hired based on his knowledge within the field of fitness, and than shadowed other trainers of the University's Rec Center, until he was ready to work on his own.

When asked why he wanted to become a personal trainer, Bouchard replied, "“Through years of participating in athletics, I became fond of training myself as well as others. I decided to turn this hobby into a career.”

Most personal trainers would have to be certified before being hired by a gym. Bouchard said that he was able to be hired because since he is a student enrolled in the exercise science program at the University of Maine, he was able to go through an apprenticeship with the Rec Center. Although, if Bouchard wanted to work at a different gym, he would have to be certified.

The overall process of training someone at the University's Rec Center starts with a fitness assessment, which tests both muscular strength and cardiovascular endurance. Next, Bouchard said that he sits down with his clients to develop attainable goals. He will then tailor the workout to achieve the client's specific goals and by concentrating on their safety.

For the actual work out, Bouchard quotes, “ As a trainer I am constantly seeking out the newest and most up to date scientific information in the field of fitness. I implement “functional training” where I design exercises to mimic daily activities. I train the body in its three natural planes to insure a full body workout.”

Bouchard will put his clients through challenging workouts weekly, and then once a month re-assess their workout to see how far they have come. Bouchard said excitedly, "Seeing the progress a client can make is my favorite part about the job!"

To be able to see a person achieve their goals is one great aspect of the job, but Bouchard also explained that he has learned valuable life lessons from working as a personal trainer, and it has made him grow as a person and student.

Bouchard strives to help the students and community members of the University of Maine maintain a healthy lifestyle through fitness but also through their diets. Bouchard ended with stating, “A common misconception to people's individual health, is that a workout regime is its foundation. Although, it is very important, balanced nutrition plays a much larger role."

Surely, if you ever are looking for a way to tone up and live a healthy lifestyle, personal trainer Travis Bouchard would be able to help you achieve these goals through hard work, commitment, and diet.

Jessica Currier