Viktoria Hogan is a personal trainer and online nutrition coach who runs Tori Training, an online solution to your health and fitness goals. She lives in the U.S., but is originally from Sweden. She played soccer up through college and has always had a passion for training and nutrition.
Seeking out personal training can be hard because there are so many options. Perhaps you know that you need some extra help, but you have no idea of where to start, what to do, or even where to find help. In this article, I will go over a few different options for training and what the pros and cons are with all of them.
In-person training: 1-on-1
In-person one-on-one sessions are often what most people think of when they think of personal training. This is a session where you have a personal trainer who has a customized workout just for you. The sessions vary in length but usually range between 30-60 minutes. In-person sessions are great if you are starting out, are coming back from a longer break or an injury, or just want to better your form. In these sessions, you have the entire attention of the personal trainer and he or she can check your form for all exercises that you are doing, as well as push you when you need it.
As you might have guessed, this is also the type of training that costs the most. However, it is a great investment in your health and if you have the ability to train in person, I highly recommend it. In addition to the benefits I have already mentioned above, paying more money for a service and having an appointment to attend will make it more likely that you will do the workout. The risk of losing money tends to add an accountability factor that you don’t have if you are working out alone at home.
In-person training: Small or large group
Another form of in-person training is small or large group training. This is usually the most cost-effective alternative to 1-on-1 training, and although you get a trainer in person to help you with form, there will be less focus on every movement. This is especially true if the large group has a lot of participants.
The group sessions are also created for a group as a whole and even though most places will give you modifications if needed, the workout won’t be personalized for you. However, you still have the appointment to show up to, the human interaction, and the social encouragement from working out with other people.
Online training: 1-on-1
If you don’t want to pay for in-person training, but still want the benefit of a trainer focusing on you, an online 1-on-1 option might be best. Some people don’t want to go to a gym to workout but want to do it from the comfort of their own homes. Online 1-on-1 training is usually less expensive than in-person, but there is also no commute time or need to travel anywhere.
Your program will be personalized to you, and you will still get the benefits of someone checking your form and correcting you, just through a screen rather than in person. You are limited to whatever equipment you have at home as you can’t use all the stuff that a gym might have, but that is rarely an issue unless you have very specific strength goals.
Online training: Group or on-demand
Doing an online group training session or even training “on demand” are other less expensive options. Training with others, although through a screen, will have similar benefits to group training in person (depending on the size of the group). If the group is too big and everyone is muted, you might not get the same benefit of bonding with other like-minded individuals and there might be a limited number of corrections made.
Training “on demand” means following along to a video and doing whatever the coach in there is doing. This type of training is great for people who have more experience with working out, who know what good form is and how to perform exercises, as well as not having the need for the personal interaction of a coach. With that, of course, comes the fact that you don’t get any form correction or feedback for what you are doing.
There is no one there to push you if you slack off or skip a few repetitions. There is also no one to tell you to tweak it when you think that you are doing something right (which can be more common than you think). With that said, it is the cheapest option since the workouts are pre-recorded and some might even be free. A great option if you are looking for a cheaper possibility.
Online training: Personalized programming
An additional option for online personal training is personalized programming which entails that you are working with a personal trainer (could be an in-person meeting or virtual) and then you are given a program that is built just for you that you will do on your own (often in an app or some form of online platform). This is a great option for someone who doesn’t want to pay for 1-on-1 sessions but still wants the individualization of personal training.
It also fits people who are somewhat experienced with working out or perhaps have a very busy schedule where trying to fit in sessions with a coach might be impossible. Following a personalized program also allows you to do it from home or any gym (regular gym, apartment gym, hotel gym, etc.)
Depending on where you purchase your personalized program, the service might come with the option of filming yourself doing an exercise and then submitting that to your coach for feedback on your form. This is a great benefit because you get that individualized feedback you wouldn’t in a group setting. You also have the possibility to ask your coach questions even if it might not be in real time.
Conclusion
There are several different options to training and there are pros and cons to all of them. It comes down to what your needs are. Do you know how to perform exercises correctly and safely? Then you probably don’t need as much help. Are you new or unsure of what you are doing or should be doing? Then, an in-person option might be best, at least to start with.
If you are unsure of what to do or what you need, there are usually free trials for most options where you can try it out and see what you need. Don’t be discouraged by all the options, see them as an opportunity to find something that fits your needs. More options mean that more people can find what they love and need.
Viktoria Hogan, Personal Trainer and Online Nutrition Coach
Viktoria Hogan is a personal trainer and online nutrition coach who runs Tori Training, an online solution to your health and fitness goals. She lives in the U.S., but is originally from Sweden. She played soccer up through college and has always had a passion for training and nutrition. As a trainer since the beginning of 2020, she has trained a multitude of clients and gained several specialization certifications within her field. Her main mission is to improve people's quality of life.
