Train the Trainers

"Does anyone have any injury or restricted movement that I should know about?"

A simple question, yet quite impactful. 

I'm someone who takes a minute (or ten!) to try a new form of exercise 🙋🏽‍♀️ especially in a group setting. It's mostly self consciousness about how I'll be seen faring. Over time, I’ve come to realize just how much trainers can influence here- their vibe and approachability, sets the tone.

One of my fav pilates studios in Amsterdam, has trainers who start every class by asking - "anyone with restricted movement I should know about?" It's a small gesture, which immediately sets the vibe, nips judgement in the bud, and becomes a more welcoming environment for all. It really is that simple. 

In a world where absolutely everyone is getting more conscious about their fitness journeys, 'training the trainers' to communicate more universally is no longer a nice to have, it's a must. Because designing for the 'default' consumer can be limiting. 

Scaling this principle to the business context- whether through brand messaging, frontline employees, after-sales service, UX - inclusive initiatives and voice can help expand consumer reach and build deeper loyalty. 

This is of course well known and global organizations are catching on. But smaller companies and business owners are seen to hold back, assuming it requires big budgets or infrastructure. However, building a service keeping everyone in mind doesn't need to be complex or expensive, in fact often it's a low hanging fruit 💥 Start by 'training the trainers'. 

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💭 Just some thoughts from my experiences, up for hearing yours!