Just my personal preference, but I wouldn't use the word "easy", only because you don't want to slow them down, you don't want to loose speed. however you do want good /safe obstacle performance as well.
Targeting is just that, I'll try to be brief,,Have you tried using a clicker? To teach targeting, I use a clicker,,take a plastic lid, (small size will do like off cool whip container?) First get your clicker, click/treat click / treat, get the dog associating the click with a reward (treat). (I also use only REALLY HIGH VALUE, extra special treats when training)
as the dog sees you, put the treat ON the lid, as soon as he goes for the treat, click/he gets the treat. You have be pretty good with your timing on clicking just prior to him getting the treat,,the treat is the reward/clicking is marking the behavior thus the reward.
I then start teaching the dog to "touch" the target(lid) either with a foot(preferably) or with the nose. I'll use my pointer finger, and keep touching the lid, using the word "touch",,I'll tap the lid,,you can even hide the "reward" in your closed fist, and touch the lid, as soon as the dog touches the lid with nose/foot whatever, CLICK/treat..Dogs aren't stupid, if you practice, and use the clicker they pick up "touching" (which is targeting) pretty darn fast.
You can then use your "lid" for targeting,,place it at the bottom of your contact obstacles, with a treat,,they do get the treat when performing the obstacle correctly, you can use the word TOUCH/TARGET, whatever,
I think teaching "touch it" can carry over onto soooooo many things, once they start "touching" that target(your lid), you will end up with a touching fool..LOL..ALWAYS ALWAYS , reward for "touching" correctly, the clicker really helps speed things up in training for your contact obstacles as well.
Ok I got lengthy and probably haven't explained it very well, but hopefully you got the gist of what I'm saying..
A good book is Clicking with your Dog by Peggy Tillman, very basic, has hundreds of behaviors you can teach with a clicker.
I'm actually very surprised your agility trainer hasn't mentioned teaching with targets..
Diane