How to Choose the Right Level of Exercise Guidance
The fitness industry is exploding with a variety of exercise formats to reach more people. In addition to the ever present “big box gyms,” there are now small boutique studios that specialize in different forms of exercise such as barre, yoga, cycle, and other exercise combinations. Technology is allowing people to stream workouts online and exercise at home. Here at AIM, we offer only one on one training. But if you have an exercise or health goal, how do you know which option is best for helping you reach this goal? Each of the formats mentioned offers some level of exercise guidance. Depending on your goal, current health status, and past health history one of these options may be the right fit. To help you make that decision, we’ve laid out the pros and cons of the most popular exercise formats on the market today.
To simplify the matter, we are grouping the various exercise formats into two categories:
1. Group & Online Training. This includes bootcamp style workouts and group exercise classes found at both a large gym and a small boutique studio. This also includes online workouts performed at home, such as Peloton or videos on YouTube, and exercise DVDs.
2. Personal Training. Exercise performed by one person under the guidance of an exercise professional. Could be inside a large gym or a small boutique studio.
There are a lot of positives about group and online training which is why it is the fastest growing exercise format. It’s fun and can be entertaining! There’s a community or social component. If you attend a group class there are other “team members” to participate with or if you exercise online, you can connect with other participants on social media. This community can help with consistency, accountability, and provide a social network.
One of the biggest pros of group and online training is the low cost to participate. Group classes can be $20 or less whether you’re meeting in person or paying for a streaming service online. If you’re working out at home, the equipment required is generally inexpensive such as a mat, a light dumbbell, and a band. Even if you attend a bootcamp style class, the equipment is minimal which keeps the cost low.
The at home option offers a high level of convenience. The ability to workout whenever your schedule allows can lead to a high level of consistency which is key to reaching your health goals. If a group class is located near your home or work and at a time that fits with your schedule, the convenience factor can make it easier to be consistent.
Finally, group and online training provides a pre-determined, structured plan. An instructor already has the day’s workout planned (WOD) or you can choose from a list of pre-made workouts (hills, fat burn, intervals). There’s often also a built-in timeline such as an 8-week series that can guide you for several weeks’ worth of exercise.
Group and online training does however come with some negatives that you may want to consider before joining. The biggest concern is the lack of personalization. Whether you are young or old, healthy or injured, energized or tired; everyone is given the same exercises. No matter how skilled the instructor is, a group setting does not allow for exercise to be customized for your body, current issues, and exact goals. If you are currently healthy with no injuries or issues and your goals are broad, the group or online option would be a good fit. If you have an injury, diagnosed disease (such as cardiovascular or metabolic disease), or have a very specific goal, the lack of customization may frustrate you, or worse, may exacerbate your health issues.
Which leads to another concern about this format; safety. How you perform an exercise is important for safety and effectiveness. With lots of individuals to observe in a group setting, it can be hard for an instructor to make sure your form is correct. With a video, no one is there to watch and correct imbalances or poor form issues that you may not even know about. Additionally, the limited variety of equipment can offer only a small selection of exercises; some of which may not be the best for you. More equipment can lead to a larger variety of exercises, some of which may be a safer alternative.
Finally, the last negative of group and online training can be instructor education. The education for group instructor training has simply consisted of choreography. Instructors are taught a sequence of steps, movements, and exercises. There is generally no instruction on anatomy, physiology, injuries and diseases, proper progression, forces, equipment analysis, etc. This again leads back to the issue of safety.
If you are currently dealing with an injury, disease, are concerned about safety and proper form, or have a specific goal personal training may be a better fit. Let’s discuss the pros of choosing this format over the group or online training format. The biggest positive about personal training is the high level of personalization. An exercise professional can tailor exercise specifically to your body, how you are uniquely built, and navigate any past injuries or current health issues. They can also adjust the workout to how you are currently feeling that day or even adjust minute by minute within the exercise session. An exercise can be stopped when necessary or can be challenged even more when appropriate. Working one on one means you receive undivided attention.
This constant attention also leads to another positive which is increased safety. Under the guidance of an exercise professional, proper form can not only be taught, but their watchful eye can make sure that proper form is executed with each repetition leading to greater safety and exercise effectiveness. A good exercise professional will also be able to help you mentally engage in the exercise, cuing you to focus on the correct internal sensations and effort levels.
Most personal trainers work within a large gym or a boutique studio, both of which can offer a large variety of exercise equipment. This large selection of equipment means there are a lot of choices when it comes to choosing an exercise that fits you. We view exercise equipment as tools that help us do our job. Imagine being asked to build a custom house with only a hammer, screwdriver, and saw. You might be able to get it done, but it wouldn’t be pretty, and it would take a lot longer. If you have very specific issues going on (knee issue for example) a large variety of tools will make it easier, more pleasant, and more time effective
than a limited number of tools.
The increased customization, safety, and equipment that comes with personal training is a direct result of a much higher level of exercise education. Personal trainers take classes in anatomy, physiology, physics, engineering, nutrition, recovery, etc. They understand the various systems within the body and have studied injuries and diseases. A good personal trainer also has the ability and drive to further their education by pursuing continuing education courses.
Finally, not everyone is comfortable working out in a setting where others can watch. This can make exercise intimidating and discourage participation. Some large gyms have separate areas dedicated to personal training or boutique studios may only allow a small number of participants inside at any one time. This private setting means no one watching and judging, no cameras, no one trying to pick up a date. If you’ve never worked out before and are intimidated by the gym culture or you just prefer your own space, personal training or the at home option, may be a good fit.
This isolation can be one of the negatives about personal training. If you thrive in a social environment and need the competition and accountability of other participants, a group setting may be better for you. The biggest concern with personal training can be the cost. Hour long sessions can cost anywhere from $75/hour to $300/hour depending on the level of education and expertise, location, equipment, etc. Convenience can also be a concern if the location is not near your work or home, of if the times available do not meet with your schedule.
Here at AIM Human Performance, we are partial to personal training because it allows us to truly take care of the individuals we work with, constantly monitoring their safety and tailoring exercise to fit with every aspect of their life. But we also understand that it may not be affordable or desirable for everyone. The most important point is that you are participating in some form of exercise. Whatever option above fits for you and gets you exercising is a win! We hope the information above will help you make the best decision about choosing an exercise format that gets you exercising and on the way to reaching your health goals.