in person or online training?
When you first think of personal training, likely you are thinking of working with a trainer, in a gym, in-person for each session.
However, when Covid hit and gyms closed down, the rise of Online Trainers became a big thing.
Training apps become widely available and many clients built their own home gyms.
When it comes to training with a trainer, which is more valuable - In-person or online trainers? Both can actually be really good and as you would expect a lot of the success in either comes down not only to the trainer, but to the client as well. Mostly it comes down to the clients preference of their experience in the gym prior to working with a trainer - basically do they already understand the movements patterns and form needed? Do they prefer to go to a gym or would they rather train at their home? Do they need the accountability of a trainer with them during the session or can they be accountable on their own?
Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of each. Note, I have made some comments in the Online Training section of how I work with my clients.
IN-PERSON TRAINING
Pros:
Hands-on guidance. You have a trainer, in-person, to correct your form and technique as well as spot you if needed.
Immediate feedback. You will get immediate feedback on an exercise.
Personalized attention. You should get a customized program that can be adjusted on the fly if needed (for example, in a busy gym and a piece of equipment is being used that you need … a trainer can pivot to an alternative)
Motivation. Have an in-person trainer can provide motivation and more energy for the client.
Social Interaction. Essentially you have a workout partner to speak and laugh with.
Cons:
Costs. In-person can be more expensive as the trainer has a location that they travel too, might have to pay for, etc and these costs can often drive up the in-person costs. If they come to your home to train you there might be an additional fee for travel.
Schedule dependence. You have to coordinate schedules with the trainer, which may or may not always be available or convenient.
Location limitations. You might be limited to a specific location to do the training.
Less flexibility. You might have less flexibility if you need to cancel or reschedule sessions. You may also have to pay for missed sessions or lose them.
ONLINE TRAINING
Pros:
Convenience. You can train from just about anywhere. Your home if you have a home gym, a hotel gym if traveling or your main gym if you belong to one.
Cost-Effective. Since you aren’t paying for a “session” with a trainer it can be more affordable.
Flexibility. You can workout anytime it fits your schedule without being constrained by the trainers schedule.
Privacy. If you don’t like a big box corporate gym, you can train out of your own home or a smaller private gym.
Cons:
Program Personalization. Many online trainers offer a “one size fits all” programming model. Others (myself included) create custom plans based on the client.
Limited Feedback. Much of the feedback in not as personal (text, email, etc). With my online programs, the majority is done that way, but also through a private community as well as 1:1 call availability.
Self-motivation. The accountability is all on you. With my online clients, I monitor their progress via my app and if I see a client falling off in terms of compliancy they are contacted asap. I also help in building you a habit tracker to help facilitate the motivation / accountability on your end.
Not understanding the workouts or instructions. This can be an issue for some, but with my online clients I go over the programming with them prior to the start of the program so they understand everything being asked.
Equipment or space requirements (if in a home gym). This can be an issue with a home gym for anyone, but as part of the onboarding process with my clients, we go over everything they have available including the space to build the program around their set-up.