Tell me if this sounds familiar. You wake up, scrounge up some breakfast while getting ready for work, then sit through a lengthy and frustrating commute. You’re slammed at work, so you eat lunch at your desk or snag something from the break room. By the time you’re clocking out, it’s rush hour and you’re drained. You get home with just enough time to eat dinner, zone out in front of the tv, shower, and crawl into bed, only to restart the cycle all over again tomorrow. The last thing on your mind when you’re on this grind is carving out time to get to the gym.
No judgment from me! I see you, and I’ve been there. According to a 2019 survey administered by H&R Block, the average American has just 4 hours and 26 minutes of free time each day. This lack of time leads many to put off cleaning (48%), car maintenance (40%), and even going to the doctor (27%). For this pool of busy survey respondents, regular daily exercise didn’t even make the list. Luckily, working with a virtual personal trainer can help alleviate some of the time crunch and help you keep on top of your physical and mental health. Let’s dive in.
First, how do you work with a virtual personal trainer?
While the specifics vary from trainer to trainer, in general you’ll be working with a trained fitness professional who understands your goals and can design exercise programs to help you meet them. Some trainers specialize in live, 1:1 coaching sessions while others will provide written or pre-recorded workouts complemented by regular virtual check-ins. Some will even sell pre-written workouts based on broadly defined goals (ex. mobility training or a Couch to 5K guide).
Benefits of working with a virtual personal trainer
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Accountability and accessibility
When you’re flying solo, it can feel more difficult to commit to regular movement sessions. Paying for a scheduled session with a virtual personal trainer provides accountability and can help you stay on track. Virtual training also improves accessibility because you don’t have to drive to the gym to get your workout in. You can complete your scheduled session from anywhere, at your convenience.
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Say goodbye to decision fatigue
Sometimes, you’ve got the motivation to exercise but don’t know where to start. You did legs yesterday, so maybe you should do upper body today? But should you start with flies or pushups? And what’s the right number of reps and sets? What order should you do each movement in? When you work with a personal trainer, you don’t have to make those decisions. All you need to know is your fitness goals and your trainer will design an appropriate program to help you reach them!
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Personalized guidance on form and safety
Speaking of appropriate program design… Not only will a virtual personal trainer make sure you’re doing exercises that are appropriate for your goals, fitness level, and experience. They’ll also help you focus on form to make sure you’re moving efficiently and safely. During coaching sessions, your trainer will watch how you’re performing each movement and provide cues to correct your form as needed. Plus, they’re often more available for form checks and questions than a trainer you meet with in-person.
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Flexible scheduling
Again, because there’s no commute time, virtual personal training tends to fit into most schedules a lot better. When all you have to do is change and log in for a Zoom session, you might have time for a workout over your lunch break. Or you can decide to wait out rush hour traffic for an after-work session. If you’re using pre-recorded or pre-written workouts, you can complete your personalized workout anytime, from anywhere.
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No gymtimidation
Gym anxiety—or gymtimidation—is anxiety that a person feels when going to the gym. According to a survey by Fitness First, as many as 2 out of 5 adults avoid going to the gym because of gymtimidation. This could be linked to feeling self-conscious about how they look, not knowing which weights or machines to use, or worrying about others judging their fitness level. By working with a virtual personal trainer, you can create a regular fitness practice from the comfort of your own home.
Choosing a Virtual Personal Trainer
The right trainer for you will depend on your goals, communication preferences, and how much support you want or need. First, make sure you’re a good personality match! If you prefer gentle coaching, you’re not going to get the best results from a trainer who shouts like a drill sergeant.
Second, make sure the trainer can help you with your specific goals. For example, as a body neutral personal trainer, I don’t take on clients who have specific weight loss or aesthetic goals. Instead, I work best with clients who have function and performance goals, or general lifestyle and fitness level goals. If you’re training for a specific event or sport, consider looking for a specialized trainer (ex. a running coach for your next marathon or experience barbell coach for your new interest in powerlifting).
Finally, figure out what type of training will work best for you. Do you have the motivation to follow along with pre-recorded workouts or do a written program on your own time? Or could you benefit from the accountability and real-time guidance that comes with live 1:1 sessions? Your answer could change over time and with experience, so start with an honest assessment of where you’re at right now.
Want to see if we’re the right fit? I’m a NASM-certified personal trainer and Virtual Training Specialist. Get in touch to learn more about what we can accomplish together!
