Why Personal Training?

Not my usual post, but, like this one on virtual classes, felt it an important one.

We are all busy. Overworked, overwhelmed, all the things. Getting your health goals on track can add to the stressors.  But isn’t getting healthier supposed to coincide with less stress??
Yes. It is.
So why does it sometimes not feel that way?

Without getting into the part we all already know-- our own self battling as though there were an angel on one shoulder and a devil on the other just trying to convince us of whether or not we should get off the couch-- there are stressors in not feeling like you are maximizing the time you are giving yourself to workout, stressors in not seeing results, stressors in feeling like you are hurting rather than helping your body, stressors in trying to figure out just what the heck you should do to begin with…

It doesn’t have to be like that, and that is a huge benefit of utilizing a personal trainer.  
With a trainer, you have a coach in your corner helping you along the way. Do pro athletes dive into games on their own? No way. There are coaches and medical staff there to guide them along every step of the journey.  Top executives in corporations hire coaches to help them better utilize time and decrease stress.  Broadway dancers are amazing, but they have choreographers, dance captains, and physical therapists helping them fine tune, keeping a watch on their health, and making sure they are doing everything ‘right’.  

See where I am going with this? We don’t have to do this on our own, and in all sorts of industries and subject matters people have coaches and trainers, no matter their level.

So instead of trying to figure out everything regarding your health and fitness on your own, you have an opportunity to ‘team up’ with a certified personal trainer whose purpose is to guide, educate, and motivate you, while keeping your overall health and goals in mind every moment.  (NB: I am focusing on personal training here, but sometimes what a person needs most is a nutritionist, a therapist, or other medical professional.)

Now take a deep breath, really deep....and let it out.  Feel a bit better with the thought that you don’t have to try to become an expert on working out in your nonexistent spare time?  Good :)

Personal training is an investment, I know. But I would like you to think about the big picture: If you have a reputable, dedicated trainer, he or she will work with you to build a strong fitness foundation (or to build upon former knowledge), educate you on how to maximum your time efficiency while prioritizing safety over everything else, and set you on a course of success-- not just for this year, but with fundamentals that you can put into practice for your whole life. Who doesn’t want to be able to go out dancing when they are 85??  The best investment you can make is in yourself.

You have a plethora of options in front of you for exercise at any given time: from classes to YouTube videos to whatever you recall from that one time you took an aerobics class in 1999.  What makes having a personal trainer such a stronger option, however, is one, having your whole fitness program in mind at all times, two, safety, and three, meeting you where YOU are and going from there.

A personal trainer notes if you have been working a muscle group too hard and may be breaking down the muscle too much. He or she will identify if you are missing a muscle group.  In a class, an instructor may not know what you are doing outside that class nor notice if you are doing something wrong because either there are too many people in class to catch it or the instructor is not certified to pick out these details (the certifications for personal training and group fitness are both great, provided the program is indeed reputable, but they are different).  While he or she is probably giving an awesome class, if you are not very sure of your own form and background, a lot can get missed in a class.  A personal trainer will be focused just on you, and one worth their salt will ensure that every part of your body is working in the most healthful way possible. While classes may be cheaper, and some videos may be free, not having someone caring about your overall program and not having someone watching for safety and efficiency, you end up spending more in the long-term and seeing less results (wasting time, feeling confused at what to do when, potential short- or long-term injury, not having consistency...)  I love classes and absolutely believe they are a great addition to a fitness program-- but it is important to have a base first, as well as noting how the class plays into your overarching health goals.  Also, read this before taking virtual classes.

Doing what you know or what you read in a magazine can also be beneficial, but not if your form is not keeping you safe and/or you are not keeping an eye on how each additional exercise plays into your overall goals.  “Do rows to tone your back.”  Well that is all you are doing, you will be unbalanced and without noting cardio and nutrition may lose no weight to then let those back muscles show through.  See what I mean with honing in on only one or two things you read? 

A personal trainer with a strong background of both experience and credentials will shape your overall health. You want to be your best self, right?  

Don’t waste time, keep yourself safe, and reach your goals working with someone reputable in your corner.  There are reputable out there, and it is your job to vet them.  If you want to talk more about this in any way, reach out.

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