10 Benefits of hiring a PT
The thought of a personal trainer screaming and pushing his clients to near collapse may scare some people away from hiring a trainer, but the benefits of using a personal trainer should be considered carefully. While some in the business provide "tough love" motivation, personally my preference is to work with clients in a non-threatening way, helping them to achieve specific fitness goals. Understanding the potential benefits of a personal trainer can help you decide if the financial investment is worthwhile.
1. Motivation
Maintaining motivation can be challenging when you exercise on your own. Regular sessions with a personal trainer help to increase your motivation and continue with a workout program. Even if you aren't using a personal trainer for every session, knowing that you'll meet with your trainer soon will motivate you during workouts. You'll also get a sense of pride and satisfaction when showing your trainer the improvement you've made as your exercise program proceeds.
2. Knowing where to start
Knowing how to set up a complete exercise schedule that includes all the activities you need to do - cardio, weight training, and flexibility - can be overwhelming. Add the time and knowledge it takes to choose exercises, weights, reps, and sets and you may quit before you even start.
This is where a personal trainer can be the biggest help. They can help you to maximise your time while keeping you within your own limits so you don't overdo it. They can also help you set goals and map out a specific schedule so you know when, how and where you'll fit in your workouts.
3. Professional Instruction
Professional trainers teach you the correct way to perform each exercise in your routine. They often demonstrates the movement and watch you perform it, correcting any problems with your technique or posture. Learning how to correctly perform exercises reduces your risk of injury and you will also be able to do the exercises on your own at home or at the gym after getting professional fitness instruction.
4. Personally Tailored Workouts
Personal trainers create a specific workout plan designed for you and what you want to achieve. A personalised routine will always give you better results than a generic workout plan because your trainer knows your physical condition, your exercise preferences and medical background. From this information they are able to make a tailored program to fit your needs.
5. Target Achievement
A personal trainer will help you to define your fitness targets. They will account for your current fitness level and decide with you specifically what you want to achieve through your workouts. Most people have an idea of the targets they want to set, a trainer is able to help you break them down into smaller goals that are specific and realistic. A personal trainer also helps assess your progress toward those goals.
6. Exercise Variety
Experienced trainers will teaches you a variety of exercises which will prevent you from getting bored. If a certain exercise isn't working for you, the trainer can replace it with something that suits you and provides the same physical benefits. A trainer will also help you to make adjustments to your routine as your fitness level improves ensuring continuous progress.
7. Time Efficiency
A professional trainer will fully utilise your workout time to increase the effectiveness of your exercise program. This is particularly beneficial when you have a limited amount of time to exercise. For example, if you have to cut your 1-hour training session short one day, your trainer can complete a routine with you that burns the same number of calories and provides the same physical benefits in half the time.
8. Accountability
A common problem when exercising can be lack of commitment to a regular exercise program. Exercising by yourself makes it far easier to skip a session or fall off the wagon completely since there's no one to hold you accountable for you actions. Working with a trainer keeps you accountable, making it far more likely that you'll stick with your training program.
9. Needing to be challenged
It's a fact that many people tend to slack off on their workouts sometimes, especially when things get tough. A trainer can motivate you to push past those self-imposed limits, encouraging you to lift heavier, go longer and challenge yourself more than you would on your own. You'll find it's very hard to slack off with a trainer standing over you, telling you to do just...one...more...rep! You may even find hidden strengths you never knew you had, which can motivate you even more.
10. Injuries & Special needs
Specific issues such as heart disease, arthritis, old injuries, etc. require a very carefully designed routine, working with an experienced trainer (who works with your doctor, of course) can help you find a program to help heal injuries and avoid any further problems. It's also a great idea to work with a trainer if you're pregnant or trying to get pregnant and want a safe, effective workout to keep you healthy and fit.