What Is Personal Training?
Personal training is a fitness service that provides effective exercise plans that are catered to the specific needs of an individual. Personal trainers are trained in various fields such as nutrition, health screening, exercise science and fitness assessment to help the client achieve their fitness goals rather than just experience a workout. They also provide instruction, guidance and motivation.
How Does Personal Training Work?
Personal training is a one-on-one fitness program delivered by a personal trainer. Personal trainers are fitness experts who design specific, step-by-step programs to help clients achieve their fitness goals gradually without sustaining injuries. Several athletes often seek help from personal trainers to assist them with sport-specific programs, while there are other people who would hire a personal trainer to help them lose weight, build muscle strength or improve stamina and flexibility.
In each program, lower-body and upper-body strength training and stretching exercises are used, including core stability and aerobic exercises. The trainers will teach their clients the correct and proper way of performing exercises and using various kinds of exercise equipment.
Personal trainers follow the following pillars of fitness to get their clients in top condition:
- Posture - helps in reducing strain and stress in the body. Additionally, the person can stand taller, move better and feel less fatigue.
- Mobility - allows the body to move pain free and with a good range of motion
- Core - helps stabilize the body to make moving more efficient and safer
- Strength - helps develop strong bones, manage weight and perform daily activities easier and better
- Cardio - helps in strengthening stamina and endurance which allows burning more calories
To chart the client's progress, measurements may be taken regularly such as:
- Weight
- Cardiovascular improvements
- Percentage of body fat and other body measurements
- Level of muscle strength
- Level of flexibility
- Level of endurance
What are the Benefits of Personal Training?
Whether you're new to exercise or tired of doing the same old routine that doesn't produce any results, working with a personal trainer will help you reach your goals. Following a workout plan based on your fitness needs, and with the assistance and support of a personal trainer, provides several benefits which include:
- Improved physical appearance
- More energy and stamina
- Lower or increased body weight
- Lower body fat
- Decreased risk of diseases
- More positive self-esteem
- Better sleeping patterns
- Prevents injuries during workout
- Relieves pain
- Helps people with chronic conditions
What Can You Expect From Personal Training?
A personal training program can run for three months or beyond, depending on the client's fitness goals. Each session lasts an hour and consists of a series of exercises for strengthening the core muscles, improving balance and flexibility and building muscles, among others.
In your initial training session, your personal trainer will take your health history, ask you what you wish to achieve from the program and assess your fitness level by asking you to perform basic movements like jumping or knee lifts. Because you'll be doing a lot of physical exercises, wear comfortable clothes that are neither too loose nor too tight. Don't forget to bring a bottle of water to keep yourself hydrated throughout your workout session.
A personal trainer does more than just design exercise programs. You can rely on them for other helpful tips, such as diet and lifestyle modifications, for maximising your personal training program. A personal training session can be done in a face-to-face setting or remotely through a videoconferencing platform like Zoom.
Is Personal Training Safe?
Personal training is a safe way to achieve one's fitness goals as it employs exercises that are tailored to the individual needs of each client. Personal trainers work with all kinds of people, not just the healthy ones. They are also trained to develop exercise programs for individuals with an injury or a specific condition, helping them reach their goals without disregarding their injury or illness. It would be best for people with a medical condition to consult their doctor before working with a personal trainer.
