Why Hire a Personal Trainer

If you’ve been looking to get back into a fitness routine, you’re faced with the challenge of where to go. There’s so many options to choose from. From group classes, to yoga, to pilates, spin, to the big box commercial gyms on every corner.

But what about personal training? Should you hire a trainer at your local big box gym? Are they any good? Are they affordable?

You could skip the personal trainer and go right into free group classes at your big box gym…

But is that the BEST option for you?

I would argue that the MAJORITY of people should start their training journey with a personal trainer.

Keep reading, I’ll share the 6 top reasons why I think this below…

1. Joint pain/dysfunction

Most people, even high performing athletes, have some form of joint pain or dysfunction. Whether you’re an athlete that overreaches and pushes yourself too hard, or a 65 year old who’s dealing with joint degeneration, most of us have something. If you are dealing with joint pain or other physical limitations, personal training is an ideal starting point. Group classes may not provide the tailored modifications you need, and jumping into intense workouts can be frustrating. With personal training, every session is built around your current abilities and limitations, ensuring that you move safely and effectively.

A great personal trainer understands your body’s needs and works with you to improve strength, mobility, and overall health without risking injury. Whether you’re looking to reduce pain, ease back into exercise, or establish a fitness routine, personal training offers a customized approach that meets you where you are.

2. Group classes are too intense

If you’ve ever hopped into a random group class before, oftentimes you’ll sign a waiver then you’re thrown straight into a high intensity workout of the day, with little regard to your exercise history, prior injuries, current capacity, and what would be “best” for you to do on day 1 of a program.

This is poor judgement on the gym. To allow anyone to just hop into your program and send it, is very foolish, not to mention risky. I’ll be completely honest. I’ve done this with clients in the past. I never intended to overdo it with them, but it happened. But I’ve since fixed that and have a new method of doing things.

Having clients start a new workout routine with a personal trainer, start slow, assess them for their mobility and imbalances, and show you that they can perform various movements and intensities is the healthy and professional way to do things.

Then, when they’ve shown you that they’re capable, then they can transition into group classes or a more intense program that pushes them when they’re ready for that.

3. Some people don’t like people

Let’s be honest. Some people don’t want to socialize and be super extroverted when they workout. For some, working out is the one time when they can clear their head, and escape the noise. Even for these types of people, personal training can be great. As long as the coach knows what communication is expected, they can deliver an excellent session with the appropriate dosage of communication and connection.

I get that not everyone wants to be in a group training environment. That’s completely okay. However, research has clearly shown that those who workout under the supervision of a coach, get far better results than those that don’t. Look at the best bodybuilders and athletes all over the planet. Men and women with unbelievable physiques and athletic abilities who train extremely hard. They all have one thing in common. A COACH. All of them hire a coach. You get better results when you have a great coach.

Even if you’re more introverted and see your workouts as an opportunity to tune the world out, you still could benefit from some form of coaching. Many people who want to workout alone could benefit from having their program written by a coach, and then having some form of check in with that coach.

4. Social Pressure to Perform

This ties a bit into my point above, but specifically, some people don’t like the pressure to compete and race against others in their workouts. They’d rather compete against themselves. They don’t want to be compared to everyone in the class, on a leaderboard, or pushed in a certain way by people they may or may not like. Don’t get me wrong, I LIKE group training environments. But I can understand that not everyone is wired to be around others, especially when the gym can be an intimidating place and just showing up is a huge victory.

Then to do tough movements, put yourself in awkward positions, sweat uncontrollably, and try and push your body hard without farting or making too odd of noises can be a lot! Personal training is a great fit for these folks. Your coach will push you, but without the social pressure. It’s just you and coach winning that day, and getting better than you were prior.

5. What the heck are we doing?!

Every coach knows the type of client who stands there staring at you during your athlete briefing (when you explain the workout to the class) and at the end when you ask, “does anyone have any questions”, and not a single hand is raised, you make eye contact with that one person in class who has zero clue what you just said. You know they’re going to ask you 37 questions 5 minutes later.

These clients don’t pay attention and they’re consistently lost. They need help. These clients need a personal trainer to literally watch them for 60 minutes straight. These clients have a funny way of inventing new movements and demonstrating what NOT to do. Of course, a coach, or coaches are present during group classes, but their attention is split in a class. They can’t watch every single person the entire time all at once.

For the client who has no clue what they’re doing, constantly asks questions, and has trouble following the flow of class, they could highly benefit from a personal trainer. This doesn’t have to be a permanent decision, sometimes it’s for a few weeks or months to get caught up and learn technique and focus on their weaknesses, so they can re-enter into a group setting and thrive.

6. The client needs A LOT of technique or nutrition coaching

For clients that are very new to fitness, or have a tremendous amount of weight to lose, personal training is the best fit. Group classes can be very intimidating to someone who’s never worked out before. Not only can the class be physically demanding, but there’s a lot to learn. It’s a mental sweat too! Learning the names of movements, abbreviations, (AMRAP’s, EMOM’s, DB, KB, SB, SA, TTB, HLR, TABATA) just to name a few, can be a lot to take in. Coaches are always explaining and correcting, and teaching, but there’s a steep learning curve for someone who’s new to all this.

Clients that have never deadlifted, squatted, pressed, etc, will have a tough time jumping into a group and catching on quickly and safely. Starting with personal training gives the client time to learn proper form, then build the confidence over time. Additionally, for clients that have high nutritional needs, personal training sessions offer the time and intimacy to discuss their nutritional habits throughout the week during those sessions. This cannot be done during group training sessions with larger groups.

If you want to learn how to do things correctly, and want to dive deep into nutrition, personal training is the best place to start!

Conclusion

The goal of all coaching is to get the client the best results. Everyone is at a different starting point in their fitness journey. Personal training meets each individual where they’re at, gives them the time and attention that they deserve to learn, grow and adapt to what the program entails.

Great personal trainers challenge their clients, hold them accountable, are patient, and encourage them to stay the course. Their results matter.

If you’ve been struggling to achieve your fitness goals on your own, personal training offers the professional guidance you need to succeed. A coach creates a plan tailored specifically to your goals, fitness level, and lifestyle, taking the guesswork out of exercise and nutrition. They’ll teach you proper form and technique, ensuring that every movement is safe and effective. With their expertise, you’ll make steady progress while avoiding setbacks or injury.

At Journey Training, we specialize in providing exceptional personal training that delivers real results. Our private gym environment ensures a focused and disciplined space where you can work closely with your coach to meet your fitness goals. Whether you’re looking get out of pain, regain strength, lose weight, or build healthy habits, our trainers will guide you every step of the way with personalized programs, direct communication, and unwavering support.

Don’t let excuses hold you back. You want results and we’re here to help you get them. Commit to personal training at Journey Training and see how expert coaching can transform your health and fitness. Schedule a FREE consultation and get started on your fitness Journey with us!

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