Balancing AI with the Human Touch in Fitness Coaching

Kandace Dickson from CoachRx & OPEX Fitness discusses how coaches can leverage AI to enhance their services while preserving the personal element that sets them apart

Artificial intelligence (AI) is redefining the personal training landscape, offering unprecedented opportunities for efficiency. But in an industry where the human touch is essential, how can trainers assimilate its use, select the right tools, and truly leverage its potential?

To explore this, Athletech News spoke with Kandace Dickson, Chief Marketing Officer at CoachRx & OPEX Fitness , who provided insights into navigating this digital shift.

This conversation has been lightly edited for clarity and length.

Athletech News (ATN): Do you think a percentage of coaches are resisting the use of AI? Why or why not?

Kandace Dickson (KD): Yes. Many coaches worry that AI might make their roles obsolete or diminish the value of their expertise. There’s also concern about de-personalization. Most coaches pride themselves on their personal touch or style and worry that AI might make their services feel impersonal or that AI won’t be able to do things the way they prefer.

ATN: What do you say to a coach who thinks this way?

KD: I absolutely believe that AI is a tool to enhance, not replace, human coaches. It’s a powerful assistant that can handle repetitive and data-intensive tasks, freeing up coaches to focus on what they do best – building strong client relationships and providing personalized guidance and support.

In essence, AI can be used to enhance coaching efficiency, reduce repetitive tasks, and empower coaches to deliver impactful, customized programs with a human touch, rather than instead of.

ATN: How can AI tools like RxBot help coaches save time on program design and other repetitive tasks?

KD: RxBot is an AI Coaching Assistant designed to streamline coaching by automating many tasks. For program design, RxBot quickly generates personalized workout plans based on a client’s data, goals, fitness level, and available equipment. It manages exercise selection, progressions, and periodization, and adjusts programs according to client feedback, drastically reducing time spent on program creation.

The platform simplifies technology use by prompting coaches through a streamlined program design request form, leveraging stored client data such as program history, assessments, and training schedules. Coaches can refine the program by adding specific instructions, and RxBot uses this information to craft tailored, comprehensive plans that align with coaching philosophies and client objectives.

Beyond design, RxBot assists with drafting client communication, analyzing progress data, and serving as a comprehensive knowledge base. This allows coaches to focus on high-value activities like client interactions, consultations, and business growth.

RxBot’s unique strength lies in its expansive knowledge base, developed from over 25 years of OPEX Fitness education. It includes insights from energy system principles to advanced resistance training, nutrition, and relationship-building strategies. Additionally, RxBot accesses broader internet knowledge, providing a well-rounded AI assistant for all coaching needs.

ATN: What other benefits does AI have?

KD: AI offers numerous benefits, with enhanced personalization being one of the most impactful. It can process vast amounts of data to deliver highly personalized recommendations in seconds, learning a coach’s unique style and inspiring innovative design decisions they might not have considered.

AI also identifies client adherence trends and automates reminders and communication, which is extremely valuable for coaches handling large client loads while delivering high-quality services. Improved client adherence leads to better results, enhancing retention and referrals, which are critical for sustaining successful coaching businesses.

Additionally, AI serves as a valuable educational tool for continuous learning or a quick refresher on less familiar topics.

By integrating AI into coaching practices, coaches can overcome time management challenges, scale their businesses more effectively, improve client communication, and efficiently deliver tailored program designs in exercise, nutrition, and lifestyle coaching.

In essence, AI acts like a brilliant, 24/7 colleague, ready to brainstorm, provide insights, and solve complex coaching challenges.

ATN: How can AI impact a coach’s ability to stay relevant and competitive?

KD: Adopting AI is becoming crucial for staying competitive as a fitness coach. Coaches who leverage AI can offer more sophisticated, data-driven services. They can handle larger client loads without sacrificing quality and provide insights and personalization that would be challenging to achieve manually. As clients become more tech-savvy, they’re increasingly expecting the kind of 24/7 support and data-driven insights that AI-enhanced coaching can provide.

ATN: What benefits do the coach’s clients stand to gain?

KD: AI empowers the coach to provide a wider range of services, resources, and education to the client, potentially at a more affordable coaching fee due to increased coach efficiency if the coach decides to go that route. Alternatively, they could provide a more premium high-touch service at a higher price point.

ATN: What steps do you recommend for coaches new to AI?

KD: Here are some tips:

• Start with education. Take advantage of the free resources on our AI Coaching Hub to understand AI’s capabilities in fitness coaching. Begin with one aspect of your business, like program design or client check-ins, to start implementing AI.
• Use pre-built solutions. Platforms like CoachRx offer AI tools designed specifically for fitness coaches, reducing the learning curve.
• Take a look at CoachRx’s RxBot. Spend a few minutes testing it via a free trial . We’ve set up a few client profiles with “dummy data” to make testing RxBot possible without setting up a client profile.
• Stay updated. The field of AI is evolving rapidly. Regularly revisit the AI Coaching Hub for the latest insights and tips.
• Network with other AI-adopting coaches and share experiences and best practices.

And, check out this free six-day mini-course revealing the Six Most Common Mistakes Coaches Make Using (or Not Using) AI, Plus How To Fix Them !

Remember, the goal is to enhance, not replace, your unique coaching skills. AI should empower you to be an even better coach, not change who you are as a coach.

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