What is this?
Exercise notes are text annotations you can attach to individual exercises within the Workout Builder. These notes appear alongside the exercise in the client's mobile app, providing additional context, instructions, or cues that go beyond what the standard columns (sets, reps, weight) can convey.
Why is it useful?
Training is more than just numbers. Clients often need cueing reminders, tempo descriptions, technique modifications, or special instructions for specific exercises. Exercise notes let you communicate these details directly within the workout, eliminating the need for separate messages or documents. This is particularly valuable for remote coaching where you cannot give real-time verbal cues.
Step-by-Step Guide
Adding a Note to an Exercise
- Open the Workout Builder and locate the exercise you want to annotate.
- Click on the exercise card to expand its options, or look for the Notes field directly below the set rows.
- Click on the notes field and type your instructions.
- The note is saved as part of the exercise configuration within the workout.
- There is no strict character limit, but keep notes concise and actionable for best results.
[Screenshot: Notes field below an exercise's set rows with sample text]
Viewing Notes in the Mobile App
When a client opens the workout in the mobile app:
- The exercise notes appear directly with the exercise, typically below the exercise name or in an expandable section.
- The client can read the notes before starting the exercise.
- Notes remain visible throughout the set logging process for easy reference.
[Screenshot: Client view in mobile app showing exercise notes]
Common Use Cases for Exercise Notes
Here are practical examples of how to use exercise notes effectively:
- Cueing: "Drive through your heels and squeeze glutes at the top."
- Tempo instructions: "Use a 3-second eccentric on every rep."
- Modifications: "If shoulders are bothering you, use a neutral grip instead."
- Special instructions: "Use the cable machine on the far wall, set to position 5."
- Progression guidance: "Add 2.5 kg if you hit all reps at the top of the range last week."
- Superset context: "Go straight into the next exercise with no rest."
- Safety reminders: "Use a spotter for sets 3 and 4."
Things to Note
- Notes are per-exercise, per-workout. The same exercise in a different workout can have different notes.
- Keep notes concise. Clients typically glance at notes between sets, so long paragraphs may be overlooked.
- Notes support plain text. Formatting like bold or bullet points may not render in all versions of the mobile app.
- You can update notes at any time by editing the workout. Updated notes are visible to the client the next time they open the workout.
- Notes do not replace exercise demo videos. Use videos for movement demonstrations and notes for textual instructions.
- Consider using the Notes column (a trackable field) for per-set notes versus exercise-level notes for general instructions.
FAQs
Can clients see notes before starting the workout? Yes. Notes are visible when the client opens the workout and reviews the exercises, not just during active logging.
Can clients add their own notes? Clients can typically log personal notes during their workout session, separate from the coach's prescribed notes.
Is there a character limit for notes? There is no strict character limit, but keeping notes under a few sentences ensures they are read and useful.
Can I copy notes between exercises? You can manually copy and paste note text. There is no dedicated copy-notes feature, but duplicating an exercise carries its notes along.
Do notes sync in real time? Notes are part of the workout data. They sync when the workout is saved and the client refreshes or opens the workout.