Why would you hire a personal trainer or a coach? Isn’t that for pros and wannabe athletes? Not necessarily – the benefits of personal training extend beyond super goal-oriented athletes.
Whether you’re someone who is just starting their fitness journey or a seasoned gym goer/recreational athlete with a solid fitness level, having a personal trainer or a coach can help you meet your fitness goals faster, safer and more effectively– or gain better results or simply learn to enjoy exercise more than you ever thought was possible.
The benefits of personal training can be endless but here I’ve broken down my top 7 reasons why hire a PT or a sports specific coach and how you can make the best of having one.
1. Individual expert advice
In a world diluted with influencers and fitness “pros”, you can’t beat expert advice from a qualified and experienced professional.
A qualified PT is the expert you need to provide you tailored advice and exercises, whether you’re goal is to:
- Complete your first marathon or triathlon
- Improve your sporting game
- Charge up your training
- Maximize your time and effort
The benefits of personal training and expert advice are unquestionable if you’re:
- Suffering or recovering from an injury
- Working out during pregnancy
- Getting back to exercising post natal
2. Safe, suitable & specific programming
Everyone’s goals differ which is why if you take two people and do the same online program you will likely get different results.
Investing in a PT means you get:
- Personalised training
- Encouragement and guidance on how to try new movements, and workouts
- A wider variety of exercise in your training routine
Safe and suitable programming is one of the top benefits of personal training and particularly important if you have any contraindications to exercise, injuries, pre/post natal or post menopausal.
3. Motivation & Accountability
When exercising on your own it can be easy to skip a session, snooze your alarm clock or cheat a set. A personal trainer will keep you accountable and push your workouts to the next level while providing motivation throughout each session and the duration of your program.
4. Fresh ideas & Inspiration
It can be easy to fall into the same workout habits and eventually get bored with your workout routine. In addition to affecting your mood and motivation, this is a common cause of training plateau and you may be left wondering why you’re not seeing results from working out.
And in case you ever run out of ideas, there are a variety of tools that provide with your workout suggestions, such as the FitSpark daily training guide.
A personal trainer can bring much-needed variety and a fresh perspective and new viewpoints to challenge both your body and mind. You can use these learnings and inspiration even after your PT program ends.
5. Efficiency
PT’s conduct a needs analysis and use their expertise to create a tailored and individual fitness plan to help you maximise results in a timely manner, increasing the efficiency of your exercise program.
This is especially beneficial if you have limited time to exercise – you know, nothing out of the ordinary, just the usual full-time job, family and social commitments – and you want to capitalize on the time you spend working out. Effective workouts with a personal trainer will make sure you’ll have time for other important things in your life.
6. Support
One of the perhaps less known benefits of personal training is that it’s much more than fitness. Personal trainers act as unofficial therapists and can provide a great source of connection. Sure, they’ll help you reach your fitness goals but they also care about your well-being and can assist in improving not only your physical, but mental health.
7. Results
Depending on your goals and budget, you may use a personal trainer once a week or once a month. If you’re not sure, just try it out once to see if it’s right for you.
Many great trainers also provide information, tools and resources on your nutrition and lifestyle habits to maximize your results. That is something you can take with you and incorporate in your journey to healthy, active living in the long term.
Before you go…
… booking a PT, it’s important to keep in mind that the benefits of personal training are not automatic – not all trainers are created equal.
Don’t go solely off someone’s following, online presence or physique – these are not indications of a great Trainer or Coach. Instead, check out their website (if they have one), look into their previous experience and qualifications to find out:
- How long have they been a PT?
- Do they have any other qualifications or training that is relevant for you and your goals?
Also look for client testimonials and check if they are a registered fitness professional to make sure you’re getting bang for your buck.
If you’re struggling to get the results you desire, lacking drive and motivation, feel you need to mix up your workout routine or someone to help you push your limits, then a personal trainer may be just what you need.
If it’s not possible for you to hire a PT right now, you can get some of the benefits of personal training with Polar Ignite – it’s like a PT on your wrist!
And no, that’s not meant to be taken too literally – of course, a fitness watch can’t fully replace a human PT (at least not yet). And vice versa, a PT or coach needs workout and recovery data to build you the optimal training plan, monitor progress, measure recovery etc. etc.
But, how exactly can and should a PT use fitness data to make personal training more effective? That’s another story… To not miss it, sign up for the Polar newsletter and stay tuned! To be continued…
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Please note that the information provided in the Polar Blog articles cannot replace individual advice from health professionals. Please consult your physician before starting a new fitness program.
