Top 7 Benefits of Working Out with a Certified Personal Trainer
Exercising is one of the greatest things you can do for your body and your mind and it’s often possible to get motivated and stay motivated on a fitness journey. But getting started or staying on track is not always easy. Enter a certified personal trainer. A trainer is more than someone to count your reps or show you how to use the various machines at the gym. A trainer is a guide, an advocate, and a motivator for your fitness journey!
7 Important Benefits of Working out with a Personal Trainer
Let’s explore 7 unique and important benefits of working out with a certified personal trainer (especially benefits that you don’t hear about often).
1. They Recognize Your Lifestyle, Not Just Your Body
A good trainer does not only consider your weight or level of fitness. They take the time to know your daily routine, job demands, sleep, eating habits, and mood swings. They will use this information to create a workout that is about your lifestyle, not just your body. If you sit at a desk all day, for instance, your trainer may want to focus more time on back and posture-reinforcing activities. If you are a new parent, your trainer might be willing to create a shorter workout but have it be more meaningful. The trainer’s touch makes your regimen personal, realistic, and achievable.
2. They Spot Small Problems Before They Become Bigger Problems
You may think you are doing a squat or push up correctly, but those minor errors in your squat posture or how you move your body will lead to over time injuries. Certified personal trainers are experts at examining the details of your exercises – how do your knees bend, what position is your back in, how does your breathing change? They are able to see those tiny errors and fix them early before they create movement pain or injury. Having a trainer is kind of like having a safety officer with you every time you workout.
3. They Provide Both Physical and Emotional Strength
Personal training focuses on muscle, but it also includes mental and emotional fitness. Personal trainers also provide emotional support. On days when you are physically tired, emotionally low, or simply unmotivated, your trainer reminds you of your goals, cheers on your small successes, and gently nudges you to keep practicing—your trainer does not want to let you stop mid-set. All of this encouragement builds both your confidence and your emotional strength. With the onboarding of personal training you learn consistency, even when life gets a little rough!
4. They Help You Stop Comparing Yourself to Others
It is easy to compare bodies and physicality in (or out!) of a gym or fitness center. Most of the time, those feelings bring either discouragement or frustration. A certified personal trainer helps you concentrate on “how you are improving” instead of “how others look” or “what someone else is doing.” A personal trainer identifies your personalized fitness goals for you. Whether it be better stamina, flexibility, or energy level, your personal trainer reminds you of the gift of your story and engagement with wellness and they help map your value in a way which is personal to you.
5. They Turn Workouts From a Chore to a Decision
Let’s be honest, many people start out with a sense of excitement regarding fitness and end up quitting because it feels boring or too hard. Trainer creativity allows for variations in your workout by introducing a variety of different styles- strength training, cardio, flexibility/stretching, and challenges- to create a different experience every time. Trainers may also provide the workout with music, games, or challenges to keep you entertained and keep your heart rate pumping. All of these options keep your excitement about working out greater than your dread for working out.
6. They Teach You to Listen to Your Body
A lot of us are not trained to pay attention to the stimuli of the body. We either push too hard or don’t push our limits as far as we should. A certified personal trainer teaches you the signs of the body, taking breaks when your muscles need to rest from activity, when you need to drink more water because you are just dehydrated, and knowing when you need a break because you’re simply tired. Over time you will be able to cultivate a strong connection with your body that will not only help you stay safe and healthy when you workout, but in your daily life too.
7. They Develop a Habit, Not a Just Spray Chance Workout
It takes time to create a habit of exercising. Many people give up after a few weeks because they don’t have a system in place to continue. A personal trainer helps you develop a habit that lasts. They book your appointments, track your progress on a week-to-week basis, and build your discipline gradually. The most important thing is accountability. If you know someone is keeping track of your efforts you will find the motivation to show up when you are feeling lazy. Habit development is one of the best values a trainer can provide.
Takeaways
Hiring a personal trainer might seem like a big step, but it’s one of the best investments you can make for your long-term health. A personal trainer is not there solely to help you lose weight or build muscles, but rather to assist you in becoming stronger from the inside out. Personal trainers act as your partner in fitness who exercise a duty of care, knowledge and optimism.
If you have ever found yourself puzzled about where to begin your journey, lost your motivation halfway through or have trouble keeping a routine, perhaps a personal trainer is just what you need. With the right person working with you, not only do you get fit, but you learn how to achieve long-term fitness.
