EP291: The Science and Art of Fitness Coaching with Eric D’Agati

Health Coach Conversations

In this episode of Health Coach Conversations, Cathy Sykora speaks with Eric D’Agati, a veteran coach and trainer with over 25 years of experience in the fitness industry. Eric shares his insights on blending the science and art of fitness coaching to create personalized, effective training programs and discusses how fitness professionals can elevate their practices by breaking free from their silos.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• Breaking Free from Silos: How fitness professionals can expand their skills by stepping out of narrowly defined niches.

• Key Questions for Program Success: Why asking the right questions during client consultations is critical to building trust and effective programs.

• Balancing Individualized and Scalable Programming: How to meet clients where they are and scale programs to their abilities.

• The 1% Difference: What separates the top fitness professionals from the rest of the industry.

• Holistic Coaching: Addressing movement, nutrition, recovery, and mindset for optimal results.

Memorable Quotes

• “The best assessment is a great conversation.”

• “If you're not addressing the big three—move, fuel, reset—then you're missing the full picture.”

• “You can’t just give workouts; you need to create programs that meet clients where they are and guide them to where they want to be.”

Bio

Eric D’Agati has spent the past 25+ years in the fitness industry as a coach, trainer, and instructor. Each year, Eric travels the globe teaching and speaking to trainers, coaches, and therapists as a lead instructor for Functional Movement Systems and guest speaker for prestigious organizations, including Mt. Sinai Hospital, New York University Medical, the Navy SEALS, The Mayo Clinic, and major universities. He has appeared in the New York Times bestseller The 4-Hour Body by Tim Ferriss.

Eric’s training clients include Olympic Gold Medalists, All-Americans, National Champions, World Series Champions, and Pro-Bowl athletes. He also works with high-level sports teams and serves on the advisory boards of On Base University, The Baseball Health Network, and Raritan Valley College’s Exercise Science Department. Eric is the creator of Principles of Program Design, an educational workshop series for trainers and clinicians, and hosts The Principles of Performance Podcast, where he interviews leaders in health, fitness, and performance.

Mentioned in This Episode:

• Principles of Program Design Website: principlesofprogramdesign.com

• The Principles of Performance Podcast: Available on YouTube and all major podcast platforms.

Links to Resources:

• Health Coach Group Website: thehealthcoachgroup.com

• Special Offer: Use code HCC50 to save $50 on the Health Coach Group website.

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