Inside The OPEX Method Mentorship Week 2: Dr. David Skolnik’s Takeaways on Onboarding, Testing, and Coaching Clarity
This blog series will document the 10 week experience of Dr. David Skolnik as he goes through the OPEX Method Mentorship. Follow along as we add to this blog each week.
Week 2: Onboarding, Testing, and Coaching Clarity
How do you turn a new client’s story into a clear, effective plan? That question sat at the heart of this week’s mentorship work, and it all came back to onboarding, objective testing, and honest timelines.
Here’s a practical breakdown of how the OPEX approach ties subjective insight to measurable data so coaches can build programs that make sense for real people and real goals.
Understanding the OPEX Mentorship Structure
This mentorship pairs a cohort of roughly 40 coaches with four or five mentors in a group mentorship format.
The week splits into two parts. Tuesday brings everyone together for high-level teaching, then Thursday shifts into smaller mentorship groups for hands-on work. That rhythm blends education with real application so coaches build systems they can actually use. Want more context on the curriculum and format?
Check out the full overview of the OPEX Method coaching education.
The Role of Tuesday Group Lectures
Tuesday is the big group lecture. Everyone learns the same frameworks and language, which sets up Thursday’s practice. It’s the time to align on definitions, standards, and best practices before getting into real client cases and software setup.
Thursday Breakout Mentorship Groups
On Thursday, coaches meet in smaller mentorship groups to put the Tuesday lesson to work.
This is where ideas turn into systems using CoachRx and mentor feedback.
Building forms in CoachRx
Conducting assessments
Having one-on-one discussions
Curious about the software used in this process? You can start a free Coach RX trial.
Recapping Tuesday’s Lesson on Onboarding
This week’s focus was onboarding, especially day two of the intake flow. Day one sets the stage with a deep conversation about goals, values, preferences, and expectations. Day two shifts to objective testing. Put together, these create a clear starting point and a program path that matches the client’s needs. This order matters. The story shapes the data you collect, and the data shapes the program you deliver.
The Flow from Day One to Day Two
Day one is a subjective conversation, and day two is about objective measures. The first centers on who the client is. The second shows where they are right now. The sequence keeps the client at the center while giving you the facts you need to design well.
Day One: Gathering Subjective Insights
Day one discovers what drives the client and what will keep them returning. It is simple, but rich.
Client goals
Pleasure and pain paradox
Core values
Coach expectations
That clarity sets you up to choose the right tests and to guide behavior change with empathy and precision.
Day Two: Objective Measurements for Balanced Programming
Day two collects data that pairs with day one’s story to map out short-term, medium-term, and long-term plans. You are not guessing. You are tracking facts against aims. This gives you a balanced outline that informs starting volume, intensity, movement choices, and program phases. It also sets the baseline for progress reviews, so you and the client speak the same language when you adjust training or set new targets.
Why Objective Data Matters in Coaching
Objective data sets a baseline, then the subjective context explains why it matters. Together they guide the training plan and the timeline. You get accuracy without losing the human side.
The OPEX Body Assessment Basics
One part of day two is a basic body assessment. Keep it simple and consistent.
Body weight
Body fat percentage
Muscle mass
Use these to spark useful education and planning. For templates and tools that support these systems, grab the free coaching guides from OPEX.
Diving into Movement Assessments
Another core piece of day two is movement assessment. These checks reveal mobility limits, control issues, and pattern quality. They also highlight what the client can do safely right now. When you assess early, you can choose movements that fit, scale correctly, and build confidence.
Key Movement Checks to Perform
Here are practical checks that cover a lot of ground without overcomplicating the process.
Shoulder mobility
Squat form
Hinge mechanics
Straight leg raise
Front plank
Each one gives you insight into joint function, trunk control, and pattern stability.
Personal Insights from a Physical Therapist
From a clinician’s view, movement assessment is the bread and butter of smart program design. It moves you from guessing to choosing. If you see how someone squats and hinges, you can pick the right version of those patterns and avoid early setbacks.
Enhancing Assessments with Body Composition Scans
When possible, add a body composition scan such as an InBody scan. It offers easy-to-understand visuals and numbers that make for strong client education. It also keeps check-ins objective. You are not just saying progress looks good, you are showing it. This adds more meaningful data to your long-term planning and helps the client see how training and nutrition shape outcomes.
Benefits of Trackable Body Comp Data
More educational opportunities
Trackable data points
Clear start and end visuals
For more tools to track client data in one place, explore the free resources in CoachRx.
When to Incorporate Body Comp Scans
Use scans when the context fits, such as body recomposition goals or when a client wants clear metrics beyond the mirror. If you cannot scan, still track core measures like weight and girth, then pair that with honest progress talks.
Exploring OPEX Work Capacity Assessments
A standout from this week was OPEX work testing, especially the 10-minute bike test. Work capacity offers a snapshot of effort, output, and pacing in one tidy package. It shows how hard a client can push, and how they manage discomfort over time. In many cases, this test reveals more about readiness and mindset than any one movement screen.
The Standard 10-Minute Work Test
The go-to test is a 10-minute assault bike or Airdyne effort, measuring total calories. Calories give an easy apples-to-apples look at output. You could use distance or RPM, but calories keep it simple, consistent, and clear for repeat testing.
What the Work Test Reveals About Clients
Total output in calories
Baseline for progress
Effort sustainability
You also catch clues about breathing, pacing, and mental toughness you would not see in a simple strength test.
Insights from Work Capacity on Client Effort
This test pairs nicely with rate of perceived exertion. You can ask for a target RPE and see if the output lines up. Some clients say a nine but ride like a six. Others have no feel for pace and fade early. These insights help you coach pacing, breathing, and effort distribution so they can express better work without burning out.
Understanding Client Strategy in Tests
Pacing patterns tell a story that shapes programming choices.
Out-of-the-gate sprint
End-saving approach
Balanced pacing
Each style has pros and cons. Your job is to teach the client how to manage energy so their best work shows up when it counts.
Why Work Capacity Tests Are Smart Additions
A simple work test is smart because it blends physiology, psychology, and strategy. It builds awareness, gives a clean number to beat next time, and helps you set intensity targets in training. Many coaches will benefit from adding it where safe and appropriate.
Building Client Transparency and Awareness
Clients need honest baselines to buy into a plan. Solid assessments create transparency. You can point to numbers and patterns, then explain what they mean and what happens next. It shifts the conversation from hopes to a clear picture of where they stand and how to move forward.
Creating a Clear Picture of Starting Points
Clients leave the intake knowing where they are today, not where they hope they are. That clarity makes goals feel attainable and timelines feel sane.
Relating Assessments to Goals and Timelines
Current fitness level
Goal alignment
Timeline realism
With that, expectations line up with what is possible, not just what sounds exciting.
Educating Clients on Program Phases
Once the baseline is set, explain the path ahead in phases. Start with Phase One, where you build foundations and fix gaps. Then move to Phase Two, where you drive more volume or intensity based on capacity and skill. Keep the scope tight. Show how today’s work sets up the next block.
The Importance of Phase-Based Planning
Phases help clients stay focused. You are not promising the moon in week one. You are outlining what needs to happen first, then second, so progress compounds.
Sales and Expectation Management in Coaching
These assessments do more than guide training. They also help with expectation management during sales. If a client lists ten goals for 12 weeks, and your testing points to a longer path, you can flag it as unrealistic. That honest talk saves stress later, protects trust, and keeps results front and center.
Avoiding Disappointment Through Honest Timelines
Sometimes the right answer is a bold one, like calling out an 18-month timeline instead of three. Confidence here matters. Clients respect clarity when it is grounded in data and experience.
Building Confidence in Program Design
When your advice is backed by tests and clear logic, clients trust the plan. Trust fuels adherence, and adherence drives results.
Excitement for Practical Implementation
The best part comes next, putting it into practice with the Thursday mentorship call. The focus is on setup and reps, not theory. That means turning ideas into forms, tests, and templates that will be used with real clients. It is hard to beat getting feedback while you build. That is why this structure has coaches genuinely excited.
Applying Lessons in the Mentorship Call
Drafting assessment forms in CoachRx
Setting up work tests and progress logs
Mapping Phase One based on test outcomes
Integrating Changes into CoachRx
Expect to see these upgrades baked into CoachRx for current and future clients. The goal is a cleaner intake, better baselines, and clearer phase plans. If you want to see how the education fits into coaching systems, take a look at OPEX Fitness coaching education.
Conclusion
The big takeaway is simple, clarity wins. Pair a sharp day one conversation with clean day two data. Add a work capacity test to see how effort and pacing show up. Then set honest timelines and phase your plan. That mix helps clients understand where they are, where they are going, and what it will take to get there. Ready to upgrade your onboarding so it actually drives results?
Next Steps
Become A Professional Coach.
Wherever you are on your coaching journey, learn a repeatable and proven system to simplify program design and build a sustainable career. See how the OPEX Method Mentorship can help you find your version of success as a professional coach.
Elevate Your Coaching Business
CoachRx empowers fitness coaches to excel in program design, nurture client relationships, and scale their businesses with unparalleled efficiency and insight. Discover why CoachRx is the preferred choice for fitness coaches seeking to differentiate and deliver exceptional services.
Continue To Learn & Grow
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