When you go to the gym you are usually confronted with a couple of options: Do your own thing, take a classs or hire a Personal Trainer....
So what are the differences...?
Doin your own fitness routine is a hit or miss project. Why? Well, the most important thing about working out is a) consistency and b) doing the things that will get you to your goals most effectively.
When you do things on your own you have to base your decisions on what you know about the body, fitness, body fat loss and the pieces of equipment put before you. The hardest part about that is that most people have never taken an anatomy lesson, don't know about the neural element of movement and have no idea if that movement is condusive to their goals. All in all my personal belief is that if you want to wire a home you talk to an electrician, if you want to put in a toilet you talk to a plumber.... OR you read a LOT of books on the subject. Most people don't do this with their health, they run towards a goal they have set without knowing which twists and turns they need to take as they rush down that road.
Another option is to take a class. Many people don't realize that classes are a GREAT way of learning how to propel yourself towards your fitness goals. Although classes are often seen as sissy or only for the ladies. Some of the best workouts you can have are in a class because there is an element (often unsaid) of competition. This is human nature. Classes afford you the opportunity to be shown movement properly by someone trained to do so. The downside to a class is that the instructors are typically minimally trained, cannot watch each person closely as they are often doing the class themselves (as a means for them to stay in shape) or the class is too large for individual attention. Classes also do not take into account what your individual goals are. Classes assume you are all there for the same purpose, which most often is not the case.
The last option is to hire a personal trainer. Personal trainers vary in caliber but all have to have undergone some training in anatomy, physiology and exercise prescription. Personal trainers can make sure you stick tightly to your path so that you can acheive your individual goal. Goals of seeing your abs again, tightening up the waist or adding bulk to your upper body are reached much quicker. Your goal is the main focus within a personal training mindset because a good trainer needs to be establishing a routine and promoting adherence to particular elements of lifestyle over-and-above the movements you do with them in the gym/studio. Although personal training is often a sizeable expense it is an investment into yourself. People spend more on the upkeep of their vehicles and homes than they do on themselves. This seems an odd priority list. Classes will help you along the way but are often not the most direct route, and paying 10-20$ per class for the years that it often takes will add up!
If you are looking for a personal trainer, look for someone who is well versed in not only exercise but also injuries. They are typically better at knowing when is too much and how to help you through episodic injuries that come from being active. Another good idea is also to find out what type of education they have. If they have only taken a 3 month personal training course vs. spent 4 yrs on a degree the choice of who will be better should be obvious. A good trainer will usually charge between 60 and 100 dollars/hr depending on where they are training and their level of expertise. If you can work with a trainer ongoing AND have them set you up a program for you to do on your own, your goals will be much more easily attainable.
We're HERE if you want to ask us questions or would like to learn something new! :)
So what are the differences...?
Doin your own fitness routine is a hit or miss project. Why? Well, the most important thing about working out is a) consistency and b) doing the things that will get you to your goals most effectively.
When you do things on your own you have to base your decisions on what you know about the body, fitness, body fat loss and the pieces of equipment put before you. The hardest part about that is that most people have never taken an anatomy lesson, don't know about the neural element of movement and have no idea if that movement is condusive to their goals. All in all my personal belief is that if you want to wire a home you talk to an electrician, if you want to put in a toilet you talk to a plumber.... OR you read a LOT of books on the subject. Most people don't do this with their health, they run towards a goal they have set without knowing which twists and turns they need to take as they rush down that road.
Another option is to take a class. Many people don't realize that classes are a GREAT way of learning how to propel yourself towards your fitness goals. Although classes are often seen as sissy or only for the ladies. Some of the best workouts you can have are in a class because there is an element (often unsaid) of competition. This is human nature. Classes afford you the opportunity to be shown movement properly by someone trained to do so. The downside to a class is that the instructors are typically minimally trained, cannot watch each person closely as they are often doing the class themselves (as a means for them to stay in shape) or the class is too large for individual attention. Classes also do not take into account what your individual goals are. Classes assume you are all there for the same purpose, which most often is not the case.
The last option is to hire a personal trainer. Personal trainers vary in caliber but all have to have undergone some training in anatomy, physiology and exercise prescription. Personal trainers can make sure you stick tightly to your path so that you can acheive your individual goal. Goals of seeing your abs again, tightening up the waist or adding bulk to your upper body are reached much quicker. Your goal is the main focus within a personal training mindset because a good trainer needs to be establishing a routine and promoting adherence to particular elements of lifestyle over-and-above the movements you do with them in the gym/studio. Although personal training is often a sizeable expense it is an investment into yourself. People spend more on the upkeep of their vehicles and homes than they do on themselves. This seems an odd priority list. Classes will help you along the way but are often not the most direct route, and paying 10-20$ per class for the years that it often takes will add up!
If you are looking for a personal trainer, look for someone who is well versed in not only exercise but also injuries. They are typically better at knowing when is too much and how to help you through episodic injuries that come from being active. Another good idea is also to find out what type of education they have. If they have only taken a 3 month personal training course vs. spent 4 yrs on a degree the choice of who will be better should be obvious. A good trainer will usually charge between 60 and 100 dollars/hr depending on where they are training and their level of expertise. If you can work with a trainer ongoing AND have them set you up a program for you to do on your own, your goals will be much more easily attainable.
We're HERE if you want to ask us questions or would like to learn something new! :)
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