3 Ways a Personal Trainer Can Benefit You
By Brandon Hyatt, MS
Master Trainer
From gym newcomers to seasoned veterans, there's a multitude of ways a nationally certified, expert personal trainer can be a major boost to your fitness and health. A personal trainer — such as any member of the UC San Diego Recreation's extraordinary roster — can help you hone in on your technique, remove barriers to exercise, and partner with you for consistency and accountability.
With all the fitness information accessible today, you might wonder if hiring a personal trainer is worth it. After all, there is no shortage of fitness influencers with their workouts and apps, and even AI can scan the internet and pump out a workout program. Some of these resources can provide fun and effective workouts, but where they struggle is where a personal trainer can help.
So whether you're looking to jump-start your fitness journey, trying to work through plateaus, or just looking to get started, here are three reasons why YOU should consider working with a personal trainer.
1. You are concerned about exercising incorrectly
We all start as beginners at some point in any skill or experience. You may be contemplating beginning a gym routine but are concerned about exercising incorrectly, getting hurt, or looking silly to other, more experienced gymgoers.
A personal trainer will certainly teach you the fundamentals of lifting so that you can exercise correctly, but more than that, they can show you there is less to fear about exercise than you may have thought. We put up many barriers that delay a new healthy habit. Some of them can even be valid points.
However, it can be freeing to permit the experts to let you know what concerns are valid and which aren’t. Personal trainers teach their clients that their bodies are not broken but capable and resilient. In the experience of the most skilled trainers, there is a lot more right about beginner’s lifting technique than wrong. So don’t stress and allow a personal trainer to empower you.
2. You want to dial in your technique on a specific exercise
Chances are that if you’ve been lifting consistently for at least six months, you’ve probably got down the fundamental techniques to the most common lifts, such as deadlifts, squats, bench presses, and rows. Cues such as keeping your back straight, bending the bar, and keeping your feet flat may already be familiar and have helped you get stronger.
However, many advanced cues, techniques, and modifications can improve your lifts and take you to the next level. For example, have you ever thought of creating a co-contraction in your lats and pecs while deadlifting? This is done by imagining someone is trying to pull the barbell away from your body, and you try to resist. This technique increases tension and stability in the trunk and shoulders, leading to a more stable lift.
You may also feel a tightness or sticking point at some part of an upper body lift, and a personal trainer can help you adjust your grip width and elbow position to fit your body’s specific anatomy.
There are many more examples that most lifters haven’t thought of that empower them to overcome a lift they’re stuck with. You’d be surprised at how much a personal trainer can spot from your lifting technique and follow up with suggestions for improvement.
3. You are looking for consistency, accountability, and expertise
Some people have no problem working out smart and hard but struggle with consistency. This could be due to being extremely busy or finding it easy to skip a workout. Having a paid personal trainer waiting for them to show up can provide the needed accountability for these individuals. This type of person may not require advanced workout tips or fundamental training — they simply need someone to hold them accountable.
A personal trainer can support consistency by commuting to meet you for your workout, expecting your presence, and planning the entire session so you don't have to make any decisions. For those with busy schedules, having to decide on exercises, repetitions, and weights can add to their decision fatigue. A personal trainer can alleviate this by only requiring your presence.
Next steps
If you’re debating whether a personal trainer is worth it, it is if you’re looking to dial in your technique, concerned about exercising correctly or looking for consistency and accountability. Your investment in a personal trainer will go beyond the session you paid for and stay with you for the rest of your life.
If unsure, you can always schedule a fitness consultation with a UCSD Recreation personal trainer. These appointments are shorter and less expensive sit-down sessions where you can ask questions, share your goals and concerns with a personal trainer, and see if the vibe is what you’re looking for.
If you’re interested in personal training, you can go to UCSD Recreation Personal Training page and see which trainer looks like a good fit for you, or reach out to the coordinator, Vanessa — put "PERSONAL TRAINING" in the subject line — for her to help pair you up.
