What is Personal Training?

Personal Training is among the fastest growing professions in the United States. A recent survey from IDEA Health and Fitness Association has noted a significant growth rate in the personal training industry. The industry is still maturing and only dates back a few decades. Personal Training is focused primarily on physical fitness, health, disease prevention and performance through the use of physical movement. Personal training should also include behavioral changes and depending on the qualifications of the Personal Trainer may also include a spiritual component.

Personal Training includes guiding a client through a safe and effective fitness program that brings the client the greatest physical and behavioral benefit with the least amount of risk. Is should incorporate all components of fitness including muscular strength, muscular endurance, aerobic endurance, flexibility, and body composition. It typically begins with gathering health information from the client followed by a fitness assessment, a detailed plan and then exercise sessions. Personal Training should also include a nutrition plan and guidance for positive behavioral changes.

Personal Training should not be painful or a grueling workout that leaves someone debilitated for days with excessive muscle soreness. The personal training program should match the participants goals and abilities and it should be progressive as the person adapts to greater fitness levels. Anyone can engage in personal training and see significant improvements.

Personal Training is a wonderful solution to the toll taken on America's health. Personal Training is a guaranteed answer for those facing obesity, heart disease, diabetes and other debilitating disease. Personal training is for anyone seeking to live longer, stronger more productive years.

What is the History of Personal Training?

By the 1970's it became an acceptable trend for both men and women to go to the gym. Prior to that it was primarily male body builders, Olympic lifters and power lifters who were gym goers. The gym brought year round fitness to all exercise enthusiasts including recreational athletes and former athletes. In the late 60's and early 70's people became more body conscious. People began to become more educated and interested in training and therefore the need for an expert emerged.

Initially that expert was the person in the gym who looked the best; however they did not necessarily have the expertise beyond basic sets and reps. The study of the personal training developed to include kinesiology, anatomy, physiology and nutrition along with assessing clients, establishing clear goals, writing up a plan, tracking progress, professionalism, safety, ethics and developing programs based on individual abilities.

Back in the 70's people were more physically fit than they are today due to automation, fast food nation and sedentary lifestyles. Today's consumer needs a personal trainer to manage the complex factors of the clients lifestyle, stressors, physiology, nutrition, goals and so on, in order to fast track their results using the most sound principles of training.

What to Expect from a Personal Trainer?

Just like you would expect professional treatment from a physician or therapist, you should come to expect the same level of professionalism from a personal trainer. Gone are the days of the gym rat who is seen as a number counter. Personal Trainers are available to empower you with information and techniques to change you from the most cellular level to your external appearance.

Once you secure a personal trainer, you should expect to have an initial consultation that includes gathering your health and exercise history as well as lifestyle information. You should expect to have your fitness assessed including muscular strength, muscular endurance, aerobic endurance, body composition, body measurements and flexibility.

Your initial visits should also include goal setting and a plan for your eating, behavior modification as well as your exercise schedule. Once the initial assessment period is over you should expect an exercise session or a series of them based on your goals, schedule and budget.

You may be with a trainer for as little as the first week just to get you started. After the first week when you have had a basic workout developed, you may check in with a trainer as little as once a month to review your progress, give you a new workout and providing you with coaching regarding what to focus on in the upcoming month.

Others chose to have a personal trainer several times weekly until a goal is reached. Some people prefer to work with trainers indefinitely to provide them with coaching and new information as well as to keep them safe and progressing towards goals. Even those looking to maintain goals have regular monthly sessions with a personal trainer for accountability.

Someone who participates in personal training should expect significant positive physical changes including reduced pain, improved posture, reduced body fat, enhanced flexibility, increased strength, enhanced aerobic endurance, boosted metabolism, increased performance, improved health and much more.

The Future of Personal Training

Americans are in a health crisis. Obesity is rising at epidemic proportions; our children are seeing lifestyle diseases at earlier ages. A majority of all deaths are caused by lifestyle related diseases. Personal Trainers are the ones who are primarily focused on making positive and healthful choices whose foundation stems from exercise. With doctor visits shortened to 7 minutes, with prescriptions relied upon to band aid and mask underlying issues, with people turning to surgery to combat obesity, with physical activity on the decline and automation on the rise, along with other detrimental realities of our current sick care system, personal trainers are going to be the ones to emerge in the future as a fantastic resource to providing individuals with the tools to live long, strong, healthy and fit years.

In the future, Personal Trainers are going to continue to expand their services beyond a physical fitness session to include coaching, behavior modification, nutrition counseling, goal setting, education, and more. Personal trainers will continue to have far reaching effects on their clients that go well beyond pounds lost and physical changes to include building confidence as well as mental muscle. Personal Trainers are going to be seen as physical and behavior coaches to provide clients with positive changes.