Different Options of Personal Training
If you’ve ever thought about seriously investing in your health and fitness but don’t know what the best choices are, this article is for you! There are many options to choose from; below is a breakdown of the available options focusing on the pros and cons of each one.
1 on 1 Training
1 on 1 training is the most standard type of personal training. It’s a length of time working out with a fitness professional or personal trainer for a training session. This style of training is beneficial as the individual will receive a customized workout program that will achieve results, along with having a fitness professional beside them to answer questions and ensure lifting form is done safely and correctly.
Pros
1) Customized workout program to get results: Programs are tailored to individual goals, fitness levels, and needs, ensuring effective and efficient progress.
2) 1 on 1 training to offer support when the client has questions: Direct guidance provides clarity, motivation, and immediate feedback on form and technique.
3) Learn more about exercising and fitness: Clients gain knowledge about proper training methods, safe practices, and healthy lifestyle habits.
4) Get better results: Personalized attention and structured programming help maximize performance and outcomes.
5) More accountability: Regular sessions and check-ins keep clients consistent, motivated, and committed to their fitness journey.
Cons
1) Price: Personal training can be expensive compared to group classes or independent workouts, making it less accessible for some individuals.
2) Locked-in training policy: Many trainers or gyms require contracts or packages, which may include cancellation fees if sessions are missed or terminated early.
3) Personality clashes: Not every client and trainer will connect well; differences in communication style, motivation approach, or personality can affect the training experience.
1 on 1 training is a great option for personal training and has an abundance of pros backing it. The biggest drawback, however, is the cost and locked-in policies. It’s the most expensive option of personal training by a significant amount, as well as having a locked-in contract over a long period of time. The contract also contains a cancellation policy that can be expensive. This leads to other drawbacks, which can be clashing personalities. It may not happen at the start of training but can develop later on, which can lead to a negative workout experience and a locked-in contract with a steep cancellation fee.
The big difference is that the individual will be getting great guidance and advice from a fitness professional to help them reach their goals, but it can be very expensive.
Online Coaching
With the internet available, fitness professionals have been able to reach a larger audience that could never train 1 on 1, as well as having new fitness enthusiasts looking for guidance with exercising and personal training. This style of training offers convenience and affordability.
Pros
1) Guidance: Provides expert advice, feedback, and structured direction to help clients stay on track with their fitness goals.
2) Offers tools and resources available to download and use: Access to workout guides, nutrition plans, progress trackers, and educational materials that can be used anytime.
3) Affordability: Online training is often more cost-effective than in-person sessions, with flexible subscription options to fit different budgets.
4) Convenience: Workouts can be done at home, in the gym, or while traveling, offering flexibility to train at any time and place.
5) Customized workout plans: Programs are tailored to individual goals, fitness levels, and available equipment, ensuring a personalized approach.
Cons
1) May not be the best guidance or training advice: The quality of coaching can vary, and without in-person supervision, there is a higher risk of receiving generic or less effective advice. Additionally, some trainers may present fake or unverified credentials, making it important to research and confirm their qualifications.
2) More individual accountability: Clients must take greater responsibility not only for filming themselves to receive feedback on form but also for actually performing the workouts consistently without the physical presence of a trainer to keep them on track.
There are many positives to training with a personal trainer online, like virtual 1 on 1 training where an individual can speak with them. Discussing their workout plan, routine, and nutrition, as well as lifting form for exercises. Subscription services are also available that offer advice, answers to questions, tools and resources, affordability, and even a customized workout routine. These personal training options are beneficial for their cost-effectiveness and guidance, but there are drawbacks. Sometimes following guidance from a fitness professional can lead to more harm than good. This can happen by getting injured from following the advised workout routine. This can lead to an individual becoming discouraged and demotivated because the advice they followed led to harm. This can also negatively impact their view on working out and exercising. This happens because the service provided is over the internet and online, which can lead to false credentials and credibility of the fitness “professional.” It is advised to look into an online coach’s background to ensure their credentials are up to date and have strong client success stories.
Group Training
Is exercising in a large group setting guided by a fitness instructor. These classes are usually high-energy and have a variety of different methods to choose from. They can come in a cardio-focused training style, high-intensity interval training (HIIT), and resistance training. This style of training is a very beneficial option for new individuals starting out in fitness and working out, individuals looking to achieve a healthier lifestyle, and seasoned fitness enthusiasts, as group training can add variety to their workout routine. This will help promote physical adaptations that will achieve fitness results.
Pros
1) Guided classes to correct form: Instructors provide real-time demonstrations and corrections, helping participants perform exercises safely and effectively while reducing the risk of injury.
2) Program and structure: Classes and programs are structured to promote physical adaptations and get results.
3) Cost-effective: classes are less expensive than 1 on 1 training sessions.
4) Accountability: committing to classes to help achieve consistency with a fitness routine.
5) Good energy: classes can be highly motivating with the fitness instructor and fellow participants who can offer encouragement and energy to get through the workout. This can also create a positive workout experience that can lead to an individual being motivated to attend future classes.
6) Socialization and networking: Classes can lead to making new friends and colleagues with common goals and interests.
7) Makes an individual feel welcomed: Can be a warm and friendly greeting from the fitness instructor or other participants to make a new participant feel welcomed. This is very beneficial for individuals that may be intimidated or uncomfortable in a gym environment or with exercising and working out.
Cons
1) Fitness instructor’s attention is divided: less one-on-one attention with the participant.
2) Working out in a large group setting: personal choice if people prefer their privacy or are shy/timid.
3) Classes may get boring: not a lot of variety and the same workouts.
4) Can be intimidating: Classes can be intimidating as trying something new in a public setting can be overwhelming.
5) Can be competitive: Other participants can be competitive. This can be amplified with testosterone and blood pumping from physical exertion.
Group classes are a resource for individuals that are new to exercising and seasoned individuals with fitness, as classes and consistency will achieve results. Group Training programs usually offer a variety of exercise options for classes and are cost-effective. They are also beneficial to learn proper form for exercises that will help develop confidence in training and autonomy to help an individual guide themselves when exercising. Classes and programs are also designed to promote physical adaptations that will help clients achieve results.
Buddy Training and Small Group Training
Training sessions with a small group of people guided by a fitness professional. This style of training is more cost-effective for the clients and more profitable for the trainer. Buddy Training and Small Group Training is offered at discounted rates compared to 1 on 1 training and is made up for with more people attending. This can create a larger profit margin for the fitness instructor, and discounted personal training rates make it more cost-effective for the client. Buddy Training differs from Small Group Training as there are usually fewer attendees in Buddy Training, but the same concept of discounted training rates and more attendees is applied. As well, Buddy Training sessions may be throughout the gym, similar to 1-on-1 personal training.
Pros
1) More cost-effective: Discounted training rates to make personal training more affordable.
2) Guided training sessions: Correcting form and a structured workout program to achieve client results.
3) More attention from trainer: Smaller classes create more opportunity to receive attention and guidance from the fitness instructor.
4) Accountability: Holding oneself or having others hold them accountable to attend training sessions. This can help create consistency to achieve better results.
5) Motivating: Can have other participants and the fitness instructor motivating the individual to push harder and accomplish a better workout.
6) Networking: Can lead to forming new relationships.
Cons
1) General workouts: Workouts may not be customized for an individual.
2) Can be competitive: Can be competitive with other class attendees, which can be discouraging to attend future training sessions depending as there may be personality clashes.
There are many training methods available and will come down to an individual’s preference. Experiencing different methods of personal training can provide an individual with perspective of their preferred method of training. Group Training is a beneficial starting point for anyone, and they also provide well-structured training classes as well as programs that can lead to great results and confidence in exercising and fitness. This also applies to buddy training or small group training. An individual will be getting guided instruction from fitness professionals, as well as the chosen training method will be more cost-effective. This can help an individual achieve their fitness goals as well as being affordable. 1-on-1 training is still incredibly beneficial with the guidance from the personal trainer and customized workouts to help reach fitness goals.
Sources
- International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA). ISSA Curriculum Materials
To learn more about different training methods please visit: https://dietfithealth.com/pages/different-methods-of-training
To learn more about resistance training please visit: https://dietfithealth.com/pages/principles-of-resistance-training