A common misconception is that your child needs to be sweaty for a workout to be successful.
Generally speaking, a lot of sweat is a result of circuit training or cardio with little rest. There’s a time and a place for this, but a good trainer will always consider what their client needs are to increase their wellness in everyday life. For your child, this may not include high-intensity and sweaty workouts.
Here’s a few reasons your child may not be sweating:
1. Functional training to improve posture, flexibility, or strength requires specific exercises with a focus on form (not high-intensity).
Longer rest periods between sets are necessary to avoid overuse injuries. If the goal for your child is to increase their leg strength, you may see the trainer assign squats. They will likely perform 10-20 repetitions and rest 1-2 minutes in between. Due to the longer rest period, your child may not be sweating, but their muscles are certainly working and will experience some soreness afterwards.
2. Upper-body based workouts tend to be less intense, but are just as important for a balance of strength.
If your child is working on upper-body based exercises (such as pushups, bicep curls, shoulder presses, etc.), he or she may not sweat because the muscles they are working are smaller. For example, working out the muscles in your arms requires much less energy than legs, but they’re just as important!
3. Your child may not sweat because they’re in great shape!
It’s true- you expend less energy when your body is accustom to exercise. However, it’s very important for trainers to consider a child’s age when pushing them harder. Since children and teens’ bodies are still developing, the answer isn’t always “to push them harder.” The priority is to form healthy habits and to protect your child’s joints and muscles so they can continue growing stronger. Once they reach a certain age, adding weight and increasing intensity of strength training is great. Until then- it’s okay if they’re always not sweating!
What should we focus on?
As trainers, are goal is to build long-lasting health and strength, not to make your child sweaty (though it’s okay if it does!). The important thing to look at is how your child’s fitness level has increased over time- this is the true test of an effective fitness program.
By Paytra Gessler, Certified Youth Fitness Trainer, Certified ISSA Fitness Professional
For more great tips or to find out more about our services, contact Bonita@EnergeticJuniors.com, or call 212-879-1566.