On the surface, very few people actually NEED a personal trainer. I know that is a crazy thing to write considering that I quit my job 2 years ago to retrain as a PT but hear me out… For the majority of people, unless you are training for a specific goal / sporting event (triathlons, Ironman, climbing Kilimanjaro, marathons, ultramarathon, physique modelling etc), you most likely do not *need* a personal trainer. You can get a decent level of fitness attending fitness classes (so many types of fitness classes available, there will definitely be something to suit your interests). And with the absolute wealth of information out there on the internet, you have everything you need at your fingertips to understand basic fitness and train yourself at home or using basic equipment at the gym. Most gyms will provide you with the knowledge you need to be able to use all of their equipment safely so no excuses there.
BUT….
*Fitness classes only run at certain times and at certain venues. Perhaps the class you are interested in isn’t on when you want it to be, or maybe you love the class but it runs at a venue miles away and is a real pain to get to. Or maybe the class is super awesome but too many people attend and you get very little attention from the person running it - who knows if you are doing it all correctly? Or maybe you have done the same class over and over for years and you don’t feel like you get the most out of it anymore (I did body pump 3x a week for the best part of 8 years and it was only when I stopped doing it and tried new things that I found things I loved even more (hello PROPER weights!!)
*The internet does contain a wealth of information but where do you start? And what if said information contradicts something else you have read or been told - what do you do then? And the advice given online can be great but won’t necessarily take into consideration your own circumstances, experience, available facilities / equipment, motivation levels and training times.
*The gym can be an intimidating place where everyone else seems to know what they are doing and it is easy to fall into using the “easy“ equipment - mostly the cardio machines, a few of the free weights and perhaps the Swiss balls because they are fun and bouncy and a decent resting place while you consider what you should be doing next…
*The weights section of the gym can be scary too (for both men and women), with heavy weights being lobbed around, lots of grunting, and standing around while others do their sets. This is made even more intimidating when you don’t have a fitness plan to follow - what on earth would you do with those weights anyway, even if you were brave enough to go over and try to use them?
And this guys and gals is why sometimes, taking on a personal trainer could be the best decision you will ever make for your fitness and progression in this area. A decent PT will spend time with you understanding your background and current fitness, your goals and expectations and will work with you to help you to progress. They will give you guidance, accountability, motivation, advice and workouts that will challenge and push you but will also be enjoyable and fun. They will help to manage your expectations, give you realistic goals and help you to achieve them. Most PTs can also help you with nutrition and general lifestyle advice that goes hand in hand with fitness to help you better achieve your overall wellbeing goals.
For a free consultation to discuss how I might be able to help you, either on a 121 basis or in a small groups click here