8 Benefits of Virtual Personal Training
Let’s be honest: Starting a fitness routine can be equal parts confusing and intimidating. Whether you’ve fallen into a workout rut or you’re totally new to exercise, it’s hard to know where to begin.
The beauty of having a personal trainer is that they take all the guesswork out of the equation, which means your only job is to show up for yourself. And when that personal trainer is virtual, it gets even easier…you just have to show up in your living room! You can even have two to three friends or family members join you, if you’d prefer a small group instead of a private session.
Virtual personal training at CA gives you flexibility without sacrificing the personalized and progressive programming of a traditional personal training session. Beyond that, you gain peace of mind that you’re not wasting your time with ineffective exercises, or, worse, putting yourself at the risk of injury.
Let’s take a look at the other unrivaled benefits virtual personal training offers.
1) Safety first
According to Leslie Flynn, Columbia Athletic Club General Manager, the safety aspect is the number one benefit of working with a personal trainer.
“I hear from people all the time that they need to get in shape before coming to the gym, but it’s exactly the opposite,” says Flynn. “It’s so invaluable to receive guidance on proper form and how to use equipment properly. Quality is always better than quantity.”
The safety aspect doesn’t just apply to senior citizens or those with certain conditions that might require modifications. CA personal trainer Darrell Gough said young athletes can benefit just as much from staying in shape during their off-seasons.
2) Start with a free consultation
Before diving into your personal training program, you’ll receive a complimentary consultation. This consists of a brief health/wellness history, goal setting discussion, and fitness screening, all to help match you with the right trainer to support your preferences and unique fitness goals. It’s a personalized experience from the start.
3) Achieve your goals faster
A personal trainer will maximize your time and make sure you’re spending the limited time you have on the most effective workouts for your goals. Your sessions are on your own schedule too, and you save time on getting ready and driving to the gym. It’s totally fine if you’re not exactly sure what your goals are, either — part of their job is to help you find your ‘why,’ which will keep you moving forward in the right direction.
Need some inspiration for your ‘why’? Consider the fact that exercise helps reverse aging, extend your independence, alleviate stress and anxiety, boost your brain health, strengthen your immune system and make you happier, for starters.
Membership Has Its Advantages!
Members can get access to our gyms, tennis courts, golf courses, pools, ice skating rink, pickleball courts, and much more! Use the form below to have a member advocate get in touch with you about becoming a member.
4) Increased accountability
When you’re flying solo, it’s all too tempting to skimp on your workouts. But when you have someone on your team rooting for you? That changes things.
With your personal trainer dedicating their time and energy to creating a personalized workout plan for you, you’re far more likely to stick with it. They’ll push you out of your comfort zone while cheering you on — and that encouragement makes all the difference in helping you follow through on your commitment to fitness.
5) Create a lifetime of wellness
By enlisting a personal trainer, you’ve already taken the first step to establishing fitness as a priority. From there, the sky’s the limit — and research shows that regular physical activity not only extends your life expectancy, but boosts your quality of life too. With an educated professional on your side, you gain confidence and a strong foundation for a lifetime of healthy habits. The ultimate goal of a personal trainer is to help you grow and become independent. Plus, in these uncertain times, it’s an empowering feeling to know you’re being proactive in taking care of your health.
6) Personalized attention
All of us have different bodies, backgrounds, histories, injuries, muscle lengths…the list goes on and on. Personal trainers specialize in offering regressions, modifications that make moves more gentle/accessible, and progressions, which are ways to make the workout more challenging.
It’s called personal training for a reason: The goal is to propel you toward your personal fitness goals (and no one else’s!) so you can become the strongest, healthiest version of yourself. Ultimately, their wealth of knowledge can help you unlock more effective ways of doing things for your unique body.
7) A mental & emotional boost
You likely already know that exercise releases feel-good endorphins, which means a consistent routine with a trainer is essentially setting yourself up for a better mood! Plus, you gain self-confidence and a greater feeling of overall well-being. With lots of variety and new moves to keep your routine fresh, you’re also less likely to get bored and fall into a plateau.
8) Put that quarantine equipment to use
If you invested in equipment for a home gym back in spring 2020, virtual personal training is the perfect way to make sure they don’t collect dust. A personal trainer gives you a push of accountability to put them to good use!
No worries if you have minimal equipment either. Your trainer will be able to suggest plenty of household items that work as great substitutes. Gough shared that even the wall can be used as a fitness tool.
Virtual personal training at CA
Ready to experience the benefits of personal training yourself? CA has more than 30 qualified trainers across three fitness clubs to provide the motivation, expertise and support you need to safely achieve your goals. Both members and non-members are welcome to participate.
The first step is to fill out our referral form, which gives our fitness training supervisors background on your goals and preferences so they can find the right fit. Once you fill out the form, either the fitness training supervisor or the personal trainer will contact you to discuss setting up a free consultation.
“There’s nothing random about the way we match clients and trainers,” said Flynn. “It’s all personalized to make the experience as great as possible.”
Learn more about CA’s virtual personal training program here.