Buzz
A personal trainer offers more than just a workout plan or a friendly face in the gym. A skilled, certified trainer gives you the accountability to stay consistent with your fitness goals and revolutionizes the way you approach exercise and training. Here’s what we’re referring to.
With the internet, it’s possible to learn almost anything on your own these days, including following pre-made workout routines. However, it’s important to understand that no amount of knowledge can replace the consistency and intensity required to make progress, especially if you don’t know how hard to push yourself (and it’s probably not to the point of exhaustion).
On this note, several studies, such as those published in the Journal of Strength Conditioning & Research and Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, have shown better strength gains with supervised training compared to unsupervised sessions. These findings suggest that people tend to see better results when they have a coach guiding them through their training (thanks to Reddit for sharing these studies).
Trainers don’t grant magical powers, but a knowledgeable and compassionate trainer tailors their instruction to your individual needs, helping you understand exercise safety, form, and technique based on your experience, age, and capabilities. For example, you wouldn’t jump straight into heavy deadlifts if you have strained hamstrings. A good trainer knows how to push you just enough to make progress while also recognizing when it’s time to back off.
These elements serve to instill a sense of responsibility for how you approach your exercises, reinforcing the importance of holding yourself accountable. However, keep in mind that your trainer is not there to do the work for you—you will only see results based on the effort you put in.
Image by stoermchen.
