Online Personal Training pt. 1

Welcome to the blog.

Education is a huge part of my passion for fitness. Educating myself and by extension translating that knowledge to my clients, prospective or otherwise, is an important prong of my business.

I’ve spent the last decade or so personal training in a live, one-on-one, format – but in reality, I’ve also been able to construct a commercial-gym friendly version of “online personal training” in a time where the infrastructure hadn’t quite existed yet. For almost two years I’ve been piloting the online personal training model that I’m currently building and using in my business today.

The main reason for this post is to introduce the topic of online personal training to those that may be interested but don’t quite understand the distinction between the online format and the more conventional in-person product. There are many pros and cons for either, and this post will serve to explain my particular product and if it’s right for you.

Historically, online personal training has taken a more sport specific (bodybuilding, powerlifting, Olympic lifting) “coaching” format. This is likely because of the shortcomings that an online model has for the average client relative to one-on-one in-person training. To bridge the gap, “lifestyle coaching” has emerged as an alternative online personal training model for the average person with goals that aren’t necessarily strength or physique sport.

The most successful online client of any type (strength or physique sport, lifestyle, etc.), is the one that can overcome the most common barriers to success that we all face. These barriers are often lack of time, financial, knowledge, motivation / accountability, available equipment, and so on.

Online and in-person training alike are designed to reduce these barriers and help the client grow through each of them until they reach a point of autonomy – the ability to carry on competently on their own. That said, both models require level of acceptance of personal responsibility on behalf of the client in order to mesh well with any coach, and ultimately see their goals achieved. The best plan, advice, coaching, or programming is moot if the client doesn’t develop an increased level of self-efficacy. Personal responsibility for their results.

This is where online personal training and live personal training begin to distinguish themselves in terms of strengths and weaknesses for each client. That is to say, that either product is not necessarily appropriate for everyone.

To keep each blog brief and digestible, I’ll be capping their length. Part two will include a direct comparison between my experience offering live one-on-one personal training and online personal training in order to help you clarify if this product is beneficial for you.

Best,

Eric