ABSTRACT
When we design an exercise programme we face a series of problems. The principle of progression, as discussed in Chapter 2, states that we have to make exercise progressively more challenging in order to achieve results, but we also have to ensure adequate rest and recovery. The principle of specificity says that we have to make exercises specific to our needs; at the same time the principle of variation says we have to change exercises in order to achieve continuing results (see Chapter 2). These contradictions pose a great challenge to the personal trainer looking to achieve long-term results for their clients. Periodization is one way to balance these different training demands in order to achieve best ongoing results. In this chapter we identify how we can design periodized programmes to balance these opposing principles of exercise. We shall see why rest and recovery are so important in achieving training gains and why the process of periodization is essential to maximize our clients’ results.
