Why You Need a Personal Trainer

The benefits are more than you realize. By Lisa Paull, Certified Personal Trainer, FAST Program Director at PneuThera in Sandpoint.

Next time you attend a sporting event or watch it on television, check and see if the teams you are watching have a coach present. When you find that coach (or coaches), observe their behavior. Are they quiet and complacent, or are they providing motivation and encouragement for their players? Watch as they instruct and direct throughout the contest. I bet that coach was at every practice session, expecting all his players to participate, setting up drills to increase skills, instructing players on where they can improve. Even the professional teams with the highest level athletes have coaches, and usually more than one.

So why do they need a coach? Couldn’t they put on their uniforms, get to the field or court, warm-up, and then play the game without a coach present? They could, but who would decide who’s starting, when substitutes come in, what strategies and plans will be in use? The coach brings the knowledge base and direction beneficial to the organization and flow of the team, providing a foundation for success.

You can put on your exercise clothes, get to the gym or fitness center, warm-up, and workout all on your own. But are you getting the most out of that workout? Are you lifting weights with proper form, preventing future injury to your body? Do you have a good understanding of how many repetitions and sets you need to execute for your specific goals? What about cardio exercise? Do you need to do it? How often and at what intensity? How did you prepare your body for exercise? And what about that day you just can’t get motivated to work out?

Perhaps you need to hire a coach? Personal Trainers are personal life coaches, helping you to successfully attain your exercise and weight loss goals. They help you to stay motivated through their encouragement and accountable through their dedication to you. A skilled and knowledgeable trainer will fully assess your needs and concerns, using their expertise to create a personalized exercise plan for you. Exercise benefits will be maximized in the allotted time with variety in exercises to alleviate boredom and continually challenge the muscles.

There are plenty of deterrents that will come to mind. Personal Trainers cost money. A good trainer will push you towards the top of your workout capabilities, challenging you to excel. Muscle soreness and fatigue may be a by-product of your work. You may worry about your level of competence and what to expect in a training session, fearing you may fail in your attempts to participate. Perhaps you have trainer trauma from a previous experience.

Many different forms of training are available, from private sessions to larger class sessions that may be less costly. Ask questions and make your desires and needs known. Your investment in a healthy body will correct your imbalances, keeping you from costly injury. You’re stronger than you think you are and it all gets easier with time and practice. Find your foundation for success! I support your journey!

#health