 So you are looking to get in shape. Look up for options online and you are hit with so many advertisements and websites.
You try out a few gyms and you end up yo-yoing through your fitness goals all year around. Many people do that. It’s hard to stick to a plan and your fitness goals especially when you get busy. This is the approach I take when deciding my training regime. I realized people either opt for group classes or personal training. But frankly I think everyone should be doing group classes, personal training and some exercises on your own as well. Aim to exercise 3-4 times a week. Yes, your body needs it. Just play with the intensity according to your energy levels. Days when you are feeling tied, do a lighter session like cycling, slow jog or yoga. And on days when you are less tired, do more intense sessions like high interval training or resistance training. I think it is good to have a variety of training in a week instead of just sticking to yoga or lifting in the gym. Gives your body challenges and it gives you an opportunity to build a good relationship with your body by learning your strengths and weaknesses. Group Classes Use them for socializing, tapping on your competitive side and to burn calories. Group classes provide a great environment for these. You don’t have to stick to a particular gym or a particular group class either. You may switch them up as and when you please. If you particularly love a class, for example boxing, then do that as often as you like. Do what makes you happy and keeps you in a positive environment. Personal Training and Privates 1 to 1 sessions are great for a variety of reasons. Helps you correct you bad habits in terms of form. A good trainer will be able to pick up on your weaknesses quickly. For example, mobility issues or weak joints. These things affect your movements and posture and trainers have got an eye for such detail. I am a personal trainer and I still do privates for martial arts. It helps me fine tune my technique. You could do the same with resistance training. Exercising on your own This I feel is a form of meditation and self-care routine. Keeps you in a good relationship with your body and helps you wind down and analyses your lifestyle. If you overate, ask yourself why you did that. What emotions contributed to you losing control of your self-discipline. Being aware of how tired, tight or sore your body is helps you determine your next step in fitness. It could be something like a long slow jog, a hike, swimming, cycling, or a 30-minute stretch or bodyweight exercises at home. Add it to your weekly routine and you will know what I am talking about. I hope this approach helps. Remember not to run away from strength training. And high interval training does not constitute of strength training. Also don’t just do strength training and not do any cardio either. The heart is a muscle that needs to be trained too. All the best in your fitness endeavors!
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Labels, they are just labels. Everyone in the industry call it different names but basically there is 2 main distinctions from a consumer's perspective. To make things easier, let me define them for you and then go on elaborating the 2 main distinctions that you should be aware of as a consumer in the fitness industry.
A Coach (fitness or sport specific) A coach specializes in a sport or in fitness in general. Their job is to teach you and educate you about the sport or exercise which they are making you do. Execute training programs and conduct sessions. Their job responsibilities ends there. For an hour they do all they can to teach you as much as they can, give you feedback on your strength and weaknesses with relevance to fitness. A Personal Trainer As the name suggests, there is a more personal element to it. First of all personal trainers have relevant certifications regarding personal training, nutrition, strength and conditioning. That would cover the theoretical and scientific part of the training. However these are just paper qualifications, what these enable them to do is to gain knowledge and access to information that they may require when meeting a client with complex needs. Above training, a personal trainer customizes their approach in dealing with different clients. They motivate, guide, educate, look for solutions for arising problems, and even serve as therapists from time to time by counselling clients in order to keep them focused and driven towards their fitness goals. So here you go, hope this gives you a general idea of the main distinctions between the two. Some people switch the names around but overall the concept is the same. As for me, a lot of times I share my personal life and experiences with my clients because that enables them to gear motivation from my life and lifestyle choices in order to achieve their fitness goals. And a lot of times, in order for me to work with their schedule and get them motivated to stay disciplined to their training and nutrition, I do get to know them at a personal level too. Their lives, the daily struggles and challenges they go through. It does play an important role in my relationship with my clients. How does this information affect you? If you are starting out in your fitness journey, there are 2 main things to consider. Are you looking at group classes or a personalized and individually catered approach? A lot of people are able to attain their fitness goals just by attending group classes. Some gravitate towards picking up a sport and that keeps them motivated to stay in shape. And then there are some people who have injuries or who get injured when attempting group classes. Some have busy and unpredictable schedules that does not allow them to attend structured classes. Also, a lot of my clients find themselves cheating during group classes and blatantly quitting when they get tired or annoyed at certain exercises that are challenging to them in a group setting. So do consider all of these factors when deciding which approach to take, which fitness professional to approach with regards to your training and fitness goals. All the best in your fitness endeavors! Do feel free to contact me with any questions that you may have regarding the topics that i have discussed. :) Other readings: https://fitness.edu.au/15-benefits-personal-trainer/ |