Personal Training has been around for a long time now and most people know what it means to hire a Personal Trainer. For some it is an admission that you simply cannot do it alone, for others its the expertise that is required and some people would rather exercise with someone else who is fit.
There are many reasons for hiring a Personal Trainer but here are the most important:
1) Motivation
Having been a trainer for many years, one of the most common things a client would say is “I wouldn’t be doing this if you were not here!” Imagine waking up a 6am to do a training session and you look out the window and it is raining and windy. The chances of you doing a workout are very slim. Now imagine at the point you are thinking about rolling over for some more sleep and there is a knock on the door. Its your trainer and they are energetic and raring to go. You are going to train!
They will also make sure you are feeling motivated yourself with fun sessions and achieving milestones.
2) Expertise
If you have taken care to choose a well qualified and experienced PT then their expertise will be invaluable. Many people training by themselves often reach plateaus and find it hard to get to the next level of fitness. With knowledge and experience on their side and qualifications in Nutrition and Sports Science the trainer is equipped to guide you to the next level.
3) Goal Setting
Any Personal Trainer worth their salt will be excellent at setting goals that are, specific realistic, timed and achievable. They may also break it down into smaller goals to help motivate you as you get that sense of achievement is realised. Having a goal is one of the most important factors as you can work towards something that is really important to you to achieve. This keeps you focused.
4) Fun
Working out with someone else is much more fun than by yourself. When that someone is also an expert and is normally fitter or as fit as you it helps the sessions go quicker and you can discuss things throughout that will help the quality of the session. A trainer can also find ways to make your sessions fit with your interests, for example, doing some boxing or interval training may be more fun for you than running on a treadmill.
6) Intensity
If you are honest, how intense are your fitness sessions if you work out alone or with a friend. I can’t tell you the times I have been in a gym and seen two people chatting away next to each other walking on a treadmill. While this is good for lots of people, if you only have an hour to devote to exercise the trainer will guide you through a more intense session. This will help you reach your goal quicker.
7) Confident or Cousellor
During my many years of personal training I have often played the role of confident or counsellor. Helping clients through their personal issues is very rewarding and often just being an ear to listen is all that is required. Gaining fitness or losing weight often comes about due to other personal issues and the two things can go hand in hand. A sensitive and empathetic personal trainer can really help getting fit mentally and physically.
So if you are thinking of finding a personal trainer and haven’t quite taken the plunge then hopefully you have more reasons to pick up the phone and call your local trainers. Always remember to have an initial consultation and consult a doctor before starting a new exercise plan.
Tim Tavender is a Personal Trainer with ten years experience running his own businesses. He has written for National Newspapers, Magazines and has been the BBC Radio Fitness Expert in the South of England. His website is designed for Personal Trainers UK and clients and is a great resource for both professionals and clients.
