-->My Jillian Michaels (and other Celebs) Rant
Jillian Michaels is a smart marketer, not a yoga expert
I was surfing over to one of my favorite fitness sites, FitSugar, when their banner ad poked me in the eye. A picture of Jillian Michaels with a yoga mat tucked under her arm, pushing her latest product a Yoga DVD. Really? The Yoga mat looked like the plastic sleeve had just been removed and it hadn’t even been unrolled once. I’m sure that’s the way it’ll remain.
Jillian Michaels is not a yoga expert, she is not a nutritionist, her credentials for personal training barely qualify her to work in the industry. Why do you want to take any advice that she dishes out? Yup, she’s cute, she’s sassy, she has a drop-dead gorgeous body but c’mon now she’s doing yoga?
I’d like to let you all in on a little secret. The fitness industry is about 95% marketing! It’s some guys in suits sitting around figuring out how they can tap into this billion dollar industry. You know what the easiest way to make money in the fitness industry is? Throw a celebrity’s face on the cover of whatever gizmo/gimmick you’re selling and sit back and wait.
Because of that we get the Susan Lucci Malibu Chair, the Kim Kardashian diet (I don’t even know what the real name of it is, I just see it plastered all over the place) and Jillian Michaels diet pills. It’s appalling.
To give you context, Brad Pitt walks up to you and says,” Hi there!” (flash big toothy grin). I’ve had surgery 5 or 6 times in my life and I’m pretty sure I can remove your gall bladder no problem. Just lie down on my magic pillow and when you wake up you’ll be good as new. Would you lie down on the table, with Brad Pitt holding a scalpel and happily let him cut you open? (If the answer is yes, you need to see a therapist …)
A good yoga instructor has hundreds of hours of certification training before they begin teaching. Someone like Rodney Yee or Baron Baptiste know how to guide people fluidly, even on a video, to keep them safe and ensure an effective workout.
Please ~ I beseech you ~ consider the source of your fitness information before you swallow it all, hook, line and sinker. The goal, should always be to make you a healthier, more fit person, not to give some marketing dude the opportunity to buy another Armani suit.
Comments welcome.
Lisa
Popularity: 9% [?]
Nice one! There are way too many good fitness experts out there that nobody knows about. We as fitness professionals need to take an active role to better educate the consumer. I’m trying my best to do my part.
Peace,
Mike
Jilian is a clown!
Bravo!! Well said. I don’t know why celebrities allow themselves to be so overexposed. At some point don’t they respond, ‘Ya that is a great idea, I love (whatever it is you are suggesting I should do) but I don’t know anything about it. Maybe someone with some knowledge of that should make that video… oh, they already have… perfect, then I don’t need to make it’.
Well said Mike … it’s important to focus on a fitness pro’s credentials, not just their looks … the looks are the least important part of their expertise!
Mark, the overexposure thing I always wonder about too … Is it because they think they need to grab all the money now … do they sign a contract somewhere that just feeds them into the machine and they have no choice … I don’t know …
I actually bought this DVD. Its pretty freaking awesome. Im pretty fit and it was difficult at times and I was really sore. I find that all of Jillians work out DVDs are incredible. She has tons of them that she has done. Shes not just a celebrity, she is in fact a trainer and has many certifications. Thats how she got her job on The Biggest Loser, from being a kick ass trainer. Your entitled to your opinion but maybe do some research on her before you think she is just a face on the cover of a DVD for marketing and financial purposes.
When Jillian first appeared on the scene I thought she was pretty cool. Now she seems like someone who’s trying to hop on every fitness gravy train she can find. It’s disingenuous of her to pretend she’s qualified to teach yoga or train kettlebells (her KB form is absolutely atrocious), etc. I’m not surprised she’s being sued. I predict more lawsuits to come for her.
Hi Cherrie,
Actually if you go to Jillian’s twitter feed and read back a day or two you’ll see a comment where she says “@adocking I have 2 I keep current. I really like affa.”
From an article written in IDEA Fit last fall (a professional only access site ~ I’m a member) it researches both her and Bob’s credentials and they found only two online certifications for both of them.
AFFA is considered a basic, low-level entry certification for personal trainers. You can also now do it completely on-line with no practical hands on experience. That means that you can “learn” how to be a personal trainer without picking up a weight or stepping foot in a gym.
Again to use my analogy of being a doctor, would you want a surgeon to read about a procedure and then pick up a scalpel and just start cutting? I would hope not.
If you’d like to compare the levels of certifications that are out there. Here’s Jillian’s http://www.afaa.com/103.afa and here’s what most gyms prefer to hire, the NSCA’s program …
http://www.nsca-cc.org/nsca-cpt/about.html
You might notice that … the NSCA requires you to have hands on experience before beginning their certification … specifically …
“Must have a hands-on training component (certification through a course completed entirely online will not be accepted)
Must include a skills performance evaluation”
I did get my facts straight before I wrote the post. I’m glad you enjoyed the workout DVDs, but there is a lot to being a fitness professional … the most important thing is having enough knowledge to give your clients a safe, effective workout.
Thanks for your comments,
Lisa
It’s amazing how they seem to insist that Jillian is a big time certified trainer – though I will still like cause she is hot!
But would never actually buy a product from her as I am not high on celebrity endorsements gearing towards health
I am the world’s biggest Jillian fan, and find it funny that she has some issues with balance in showing some of these off. Mostly (from clips I’ve seen) she is instructing two people behind her through the moves.
Hey honey! Just found your great blog here. I didn’t know that about Jillian, all I knew is that something just rubbed me wrong about her. She’s kinda’ mean and vulgar. Anywho, glad I found a nice, honest place for fitness!
thanks for the great post, I like denise austin with her pilates alot of people find her constat chatter annoying but when i did her workouts i liked her litle pep talks she would give me
Okay, Cherrie is obviously a plant and a shill for Jillian, because anyone with a clue knows Jillian is a joke. If you want a real laugh, go to youtube and check out the vids of her demonstrating her kettlebell technique. It looks like she picked one up for the first time about 5 minutes before the camera started rolling.
~Dave
Thanks for the comments Dave :-) I think I responded to Cherrie with some more facts. She demonstrates that as a lay person it’s really hard to judge when you’re getting good, thoughtful instruction and when you’re not …
:-)
Lisa
Lisa:
I too see folks like Jillian Michaels being considered “experts” and yet folks still flock to them. You wouldn’t see people hire a lawyer, doctor, dentist, etc… if their life depending on it, would you? HELL NO !!!!
I have one word: REGULATED
The fitness industry needs to be regulated the same way general contractors have to jump thru hoops to be licensed and experienced to work on your house doing electrical, plumbing, etc…
For example: Trainers should have a degree in exercise physiology, exercise science, kinesiology, etc…, then sit for the test for ACSM, NASM, NSCA, or ACE which are the top four highly accredited certs for PT according to NCCA.
Then, if you want to be given the title EXPERT, you would need to show proof, like the PMP in Project Management, that you have 10yrs or 10,000 hours before you get the label EXPERT.
According to wikipedia and many other defition sites, an expert in any field usually has the 10yrs or 10,000 hours in their particular field.
Jillian has the background in martial arts, I give her that. She has studied for many years on health and fitness, but you are all right……….AFAA or NESTA are no the top of the food chain or highly accredited with the NCCA.
Also, she was working in hollywood and then decided one day to become a trainer……….it’s not like she went to college for health science, studied, took the PT exam, then started training.
She was or is partners with that Jackie Warner from the Bravo show WORKOUT. That lady too only has a cert from ISSA and no degree…..it’s all a big biz of sales, marketing, etc….for more money.
So to folks out there………..CAVEAT EMPTOR……do your research and lets hope the fitness industry gets regulated before more people get hurt, sick, or die in the hands of uneducated, unprofessional, and inexperienced trainers.
Tom, you seem very well versed in the credentials for the fitness industry and I agree with almost everything you say. There are actually degrees now in Personal Training and I think that’s a step in the right direction. It is so easy to take money from someone with low self-esteem and poor body image. There should be standards, that are quite high, that professionals need to achieve to work with people in a health club setting.
The bottom line is we’re putting our hands on people and making them strain their bodies. We should know what we’re doing or we shouldn’t be doing it.
One small quibble. I have a 500 hour certification with Stott Pilates. I have studied extensively and I do have over 10,000 hours training clients at this point in my career. Actually I think I’m about 13,000 or so (rough guess). I do not have a degree though. I have a Bachelor’s of Science with a strong emphasis on pre-med classes but not a kinesiology or physiology degree (although I wish I did). I would respectfully request that people of my caliber but without the diploma be grandfathered in as long as they can pass the test and show a high degree of professionalism in their careers.
Thanks for stopping by and leaving your comment.
Lisa
I completely agree! As a trainer myself (NASM), I can no longer watch the Biggest Loser. So many of the things they have the contestants do are just not safe!
And Jillian used to say in the earlier seasons, “there is no magic pill” yet now she seems to be selling it? She has sold out for the almighty dollar. (sigh)
I have quite a few complaints about JM of my own. I have never watched the entire show but I have seen enough to know that it still shocks me that NBC continues to run the crap she tapes. I feel there are real liability concerns for them.
On the other hand, she has helped create kettlebell awareness and I am certified Russian Kettlebell Challenge (RKC) certified instructor so she has helped drive clients my way and for that I thank her.
Train with purpose,
Sandy Sommer RKC
NBC just may have a reality show for sure, when an obese contestant
“REALLY DIES”! – from one of the different overly strenuous exercises s(he) should not be attempting to do & for the length of time required to do them! An obese person’s heart may just give out to sure death – ESPECIALLY WITH JILLIAN SCREAMING AT HIM OR HER LIKE SHE DOES! DOES A MEDICAL DOCTOR CHECK THESE PEOPLE TO SEE IF
IT’S OKAY FOR THEM TO BE A CONTESTANT? When an obese person starts sweating, s(he) must stop exercising! Losing weight should be done gradually, losing only a few pounds a week! It is really a miracle nobody has died to date! Why hasn’t somebody clued-in NBC of this possibility during all these years they have aired this REALITY PROGRAM! I, myself, just saw the program on July 6, 2010. That Jillian is a loud-mouth uncouth wannabe Drill Sargent! She has only 2 credentials requiring very little instruction for each! Websites state SHE’S A COLLEGE DROPOUT, another that she graduated, & yet another where she, herself, states she “graduated”. Other sites state she has no credentials except the 2: NESTA & AFAA, AGAIN, REQUIRING LITTLE TRAINING TO OBTAIN. On research, no degree from a University or college, no academic studies, including any classes in nutrition or training that enable her to say she’s an “EXPERT” WHO CAN GIVE ADVICE AS A DIETITION OR NUTRITIONIST on what people
can eat or should not eat, no yoga training, etc.etc.etc! She is a
product of a Hollywood agent who probably frequented her fitness
studio & decided HE COULD PROMOTE/MARKET HER AND THEY COULD MAKE TONS OF MONEY together – with all their LIES! AND, THEY’RE DOING IT!
(Kerri)
Hi Kerri,
Thanks for your comments. I would disagree with one small thing. Sweating is ok, as long as the person has been cleared for exercise by a doctor. Starting a cardiovascular program which starts small and works up is healthy and even a good thing to do!
Other than that, I know what you mean. I would prefer to see trainers with college degrees in exercise physiology and kinesiology working the contestants through the show. It would be entirely different!
Thanks again,
Lisa
It is nice to know that not everyone is a fan of the Biggest Loser or the “wonderful” Jillian Michaels.
I work for a cosmetic line and sat in a training session yesterday that was geared toward building confidence in our expert ability in both makeup and skin care knowledge, application, etc. Our trainer decided to show us some video clips of another “expert” in her field and, somehow, I knew it would be of Jillian Michaels. I simply detest The Biggest Loser and am appalled by the methods she uses to train clients. I can never get back those sixty seconds I was forced to listen to her screaming “The only way you will get off this treadmill is if you puke,” or “you’re going to have to die before I let you get off.” Identifying Jillian as an “expert” simply reinforces the ignorance of mainstream Americans, even those with education levels greater than high school.
It is truly unfortunate that your face and body and a lot of screaming can make you tons of money in the fitness world. I agree with all of the previous posts about the need for regulation and accountability in the world of personal training. My boyfriend has both his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in exercise physiology and more than a decade of experience in personal training and he cannot survive–due in part, mostly, to trainers like Jillian and others of her ilk who preach poor technique, unrealistic, unsafe diets and excessive exercise that cannot be maintained as a true lifestyle change that we know is required to truly be fit for life.
How unfortunate it is that our society’s need for everything right now supercedes a sound and balanced approach to healthy living.
Very well put Cynthia, thank you :-)
I agree with most of what is said EXCEPT that AFAA is just as credible as ACE. They are recognized by ACSM and require much more training than people seem to think. They now (didn’t in the past) do offer an online option for the test but it is done via video and very difficult to pass. They do require CPR certification, a good knowledge of anatomy and physiology, kinesiology and risk factors. They also require you to demonstrate your knowledge and have hands on experience. NESTA is not the same thing, they do not require continuing ed units or re-certification as does AFAA, ACE and every other legit agency. Not sure how she can be current when they require re-certification every two years and the PT certification is separate from the Group Certification and both require ongoing study to keep current. I imagine AFAA gave her an honorary certification if she did not re-test.
Meg, I don’t put AFAA at the same level as ACE, I do put it below, I put ACE between AFAA and ACSM. (As you noted ACSM recognizes it but they do have a higher level cert available.) I wasn’t aware of the video exam portion so thank you for clarifying that for me. That does make me feel a lot better. Still I prefer a hands on practical exam so the examiner can better judge nerves, how they handle themselves in a gym environment (from the time they walk in the door) etc. Of course you need an organization that keeps the certification current. Stuff is changing all the time in our field. We’re not teaching the same way we did five years ago, even two years ago. So you’ve got to stay on top of it if you’re going to keep bringing the best back to your clients.
Thanks for stopping by. I appreciate the input and the clarifications :-)
L–
Lisa,
I enjoyed reading the posts and certainly wish more individuals shared the sentiment for an elevated level of education and professionalism in our industry. The time has come where degrees, accepted criteria, or disclosure is required. A few states are working on such legislation. Unless this occurs, our industry will never be taken seriously, enjoy the benefits of insurance companies paying for training, or the removal of the negative connotation associated with us. No other field is so lax with requirements for professionalism. I recently started a fitness company and partnered with a non industry businessman. This was a terrible decision and I’m removing the company, as result. Compromising the field for more money was not on my to do list with this endeavor. I am an assistant professor/coordinator of an exercise science program at a local college and member of NSCA and ACSM. Hopefully, professionals such as ourselves, can successfully advance the field with our knowledge base and professionalism. Everyone can help by looking at ACSM’s website and joining the movement. http://www.exerciseismedicine.org.
Sincerely,
Shane
Lisa, I have JM books and I have to say they are sound. I am a NASM and ISSA trainer. I don’t think trainers should have to have a degree but perhaps more indepth on the job training. 20 years ago, people were not asking for college degrees to do jobs like medical records, CNA, police dispatch, etc. Now to do entry level jobs its required. Like you perhaps 500 hours shadowing a Master Trainer would be better. I also, know NESTA requires you to renew your CEU’s every 4 years instead of the 2 year industry standard. In order to keep your certification you have to continue to progress and get CEU’s. If your for more government regulation then do the NBFE. It is a test that the founders of ISSA wanted to make sure that Personal Trainers across the board were following the same safety protcol. But for trainers, they should not brand their name to anything unless they really believe in that product, not just market it. Great article:)
Lana, thanks for your comments. I’m sure you know that I don’t totally agree with them. I don’t care about medical record standards for 20 years ago. The problem is that we have our hands on people daily & they trust us to keep them safe. I think we need pretty high standards so that people looking for personal trainers can get the best possible workout for them. Yes, of course years of experience will season a trainer, but I just wish they weren’t so green when they stepped onto the floor the first time. I’m sure you know what I mean and I’m sure you’ve seen trainers in your gym that you cringe at when you see them with clients. The clients, of course, are clueless that they are flirting with disaster.
Thanks again for stopping by, I appreciate it. Good luck with your career. :)
Not sure why there is so much whining from the folks on this blog. Just because she doesn’t have a degree doesn’t mean much. Ever heard of Michael Dell, Steve Jobs, Mark Z., etc. (folks who didn’t graduate college but only a FOOL would doubt their credibility). If you know what you’re doing and have proven success that can be much better than a degree. I know many PTs that have lots of knowledge and a degree but bottom line…do you want a trainer that doesn’t look the part. Maybe you do, but I’m much more motivated by someone I aspire to be like. Michael Dell motivates me. If I were overweight JM (as annoying as she is would motivate me.) Although I would much prefer Kim Lyons of course…
As for Lisa…I’m not even sure what your degree is in :-)
I have a bachelor’s of science and was a Pre-Med major … then switched to journalism after organic chemistry plowed me into the ground. (That was a bad semester!) Your point about becoming adept on your own is duly noted, what you’re missing though is that real trainers have seen Jillian train and her cueing and sense of form is, shall we say, less than ideal. We’re critiquing her on what we can see, the “best” of what the show edits her doing … who knows what they don’t put on camera. Trust me she’s no Steve Jobs, or a fitness trainer savant … not even close.
L–
Hi Lisa,
I am just home from taking a yoga 1 class at my local community college. First of all the instructor of the class is not a certified yoga instructor and she told us that the first day. Today was day 3. I was very suprised that the college would allow someone to teach a class that they are not certified in but who am I to question, right, I am just the student. I do know however than none of the three gyms local to me will allow anyone to instuct a yoga class unless they are certified.
I am saying this all just as backgroud to that in the class we are supposed to be doing these “videos” instead of an actually instruction time, very dissapointing, and today it was the “famed” Jillian Michaels. I was a bit worried when I came into class and saw her smirking face on the screen in front of the room and must admit I was in tear after about the first 5 min and had to leave the room for a while to just compose myself. I am home now researching her credentials and that is what lead me to this blog.
I will be the first to say that I am not an athletic person on any level. I am 42 and overweight and in the past several years have had several health crisis including Hodgkins Disease for which I am now in remission. I am taking this class FOR ME. The first two classes were also video….Yoga for Dummies…and altough I dont care for the title the instruction was very clear and easy to follow and yet I felt I was not only learning I was definately getting a workout.
I have taking many yoga classes before and have had mixed results so I know to go in with a cautious attitude of what to expect. Needless to say I am disapointed in this class and will drop it….I can do videos at home and pick the ones that I want to do in the mean time.
My comments here, after that long rant is this. Jillian Michaels is full of crap!! I am not an expert on any level, and although I greatly appreciate the comments above from all the experts please take a moment to look at it from the students perspective. This video, and I do not know what the exact title wast, was WAAAAAAAY to fast, there was NO, ABSOLUTE NO instruction on safety or “go at your own pace”…for that matter there was no instruction on how to even do the poses. NONE. How are you supposed to watch the video and see what she is doing and be in downward dog (with your head upside down!!) moving into another pose in a split second transition with no instruction on how to get there?
I have very limited knowledge of her only the bits I have seen on TV and that was enough to turn me off and now that I have actually seen one of her videos I am scared for people who buy it thinking this is how Yoga is supposed do be. She was using words like “rip yourself up” and “force yourself to stay here”….really? Since when do phrases like this pertain to yoga? And at the end she was saying this phrase “let your heart touch the sun” which she had half heartely said a few times before and then she said “that is just mumbo jumbo for stretch”….and then she said “forget all that lets just speak English”. HOW COMPLETLEY DISRESPECTFUL!!!!!!!
I agree that you have to, just in any circumstance, find an instructor that you blend well with. But please if you are reading this as a new person to Yoga PLEASE DO NOT under any circumstance take Jillian Michaels as the standard for the profession no matter what her credentials are. She will have you discouraged and feeling bad about yourself and that is the very last thing that Yoga is about. Yoga is to bring harmony to the body, spirit and mind. It is ment to be challenging but not a contest of endurance or a marathon.
I agree completely with some of the comments before, she is just on the gravy train. Yes she has a great body, but there is alot to be said for genetics and no doubt she has a marketable image and all. However for the person just off the street looking for a place to start and hoping for some support and motivation on the way…don’t expect that from her. She does not have it to offer. Why? Because she is not a professional in this field, and anyone who has ever experienced a yoga class from a true profesional would know this in the first 5 seconds of this video where she is telling you to do these deep breaths that at the pace she is doing them would cause a person to hyperventilate. She is a quack!!
Lisa A. thanks for taking the time to comment and I can understand your concern! I have not seen the Jillian Yoga video personally (mostly cuz I flat refuse to buy anything from Jillian) but I know there was a ruckus when it came out and a lot of Yoga people were appalled by her work. As far as I know she’s not a certified Yoga instructor in anyway, shape or form, it’s just marketing for her to get more $$. (If I’m wrong, someone please correct me.)
But, the bigger issue is the “class” you’re taking. It’s not a class to turn a button on and then let people watch a video! I’d ask for your money back and go elsewhere. It’s just ridiculous to pay for something you can do at home (as you said).
Good luck, cheers,
Lisa