When making considerations for a health and wellness journey, choosing a personal training is a key decision that must be made carefully. In addition to who you select to guide your journey, a moment should be taken to consider if in-person or virtual training will suit your schedule and lifestyle. Due to COVID-19, the need for alternative methods for training rose exponentially and virtual training, along with asynchronous training programs became a vital part of life.
My personal experience with virtual training started as a weekly Saturday Zoom call during isolation with my extended family members out of town with intentions of remaining connected. It was a blessing two-fold – I was able to see my family AND able to hone my virtual training skills. The lessons that I learned while working out with family helped me fully understand the responsibility of a virtual trainer as well as the ins and outs of creating an effective and engaging virtual session. As it turns out, with proper planning, a virtual session can produce great results if properly structured to utilize the space that is available and a limited amount of equipment.
In my experience, the most effective virtual sessions are high energy and tempo and include multiple bodyweight exercises that are easy to duplicate. For self-starters and individuals who are comfortable getting themselves motivated, virtual sessions are a great way to connect to a trainer who is not in their local area but offer the specific help that is needed. For individuals who might need a bit more motivation, there might be a bit of an adjustment to get the most from a virtual training setup. I will tell you this, unlike in-person training where you get a hands-on experience, virtual training will challenge you to focus on form and corrections without a physical trainer present to put you into proper position.
To wrap it up, I recommend at least trying a virtual training setup because the benefits can be seen in schedule flexibility and results!
If you are interested in following along with my journey or contacting my company, I can be found on social media platforms:
Website – Total Camo Fitness
Facebook – Total Camo Fitness
YouTube – Total Camo Fitness
Feel free to chime in with your opinions on virtual training!
I started an online yoga class recently and I love it! It compliments my running and fits in around the kids.
Hi Amanda, that is awesome that you’ve incorporated more fitness into your life. Keep up the great work!
I like virtual training too. I find it just as effective, but time-sparing. You don’t have to drive to a gym, which can take considerable time. Motivation can be difficult, as it is easier to make excuses. But if you commit to it, it’s great.
Hey Patricia! You hit the nail on the head with the time saved by going virtual and working out at home. Motivation is the toughest element and I strongly suggest that anyone going virtual join an accountability group so they don’t have to just rely on their trainer to keep them going.
Love this. I am a firm believer in virtual sessions. My virtual sessions are DVD training videos that have helped me significantly. The bottom line, though, is regardless of the method you choose, what produces results is our ability to remain consistent.
Training DVDs are a fitness staple and are so beneficial when you can find the right trainer. And yes, consistency is key!
i like virtual training sometimes but lately i am sick of it because right now everything i do is virtual and i need a mix of in person.
Jimmy, it sounds like you’ve hit a bit of a wall and that can be caused by many things but too much virtual sounds like the main issue. A tip to help shake the funk would be to switch up your workout days and times and change the location, specifically heading to a park or public place and do your workouts. It’ll feel like you’re more connected to the people around you!
I loved taking live classes pre-COVID, but never stuck with any of it once things were shut down and adopted a puppy to take me on walks instead. You’ve convinced me to look into virtual training.
I’m glad I was able to help get you interested in virtual training as an option!
I like what you did with your family to stay healthy and connected. I haven’t had a virtual trainer yet, but I do all my workouts from home using an app and they are very effective for me. It would be nice to try a virtual trainer, thanks for sharing this.
That connection we all kept going was irreplaceable! I have heard of several home-based training apps that offer great support for those who can’t get to the gym regularly. Feel free to contact me for a demo to check out virtual training, you’ll be surprised how much fun it can be.
we did virtual training too with some friends, it was fun and tiring lol. Also a good way to catch up
It can be very fun ad offers a great way to stay connected over distance.
Thank you for sharing! I did a few virtual trainings over the pandemic and enjoyed them
Hi Shea! That’s awesome, the isolation period really brought virtual to the forefront.
Great post!! Virtual training is a great resource especially at these times.
Kara, that is a fact!
Virtual training has been an amazing experience for me for sure. I get to help so many more people!
Great motivation, I need to try some virtual classes!
Hi Kristina, feel free to contact me for a complimentary virtual training session. It’s 15 minutes of uptempo cardio fun!
Great insight! I have found joy since the pandemic from exercising at home and at my convenience.
Tracy, thank you for reading. It is amazingly convenient to workout at home and get in and out of a session without much fanfare!
Doing virtual workouts can be a great way to vary our workout schedule and approach. I find that it’s good to mix up types of workouts to keep motivated! When there’s variety, there’s more anticipation and fun too!
Skye, it is very important to inject variety into your workout. It helps with focus and motivation.
I recently discovered my son’s Oculus and the Supernatural game. It really offers me an excellent alternative to going to the gym for working out. I can get fit in my own living room and that’s a game changer for me!
The Oculus is a great tool to get moving, similar to the experience with the Nintendo Wii in the early 2000s.
As a coach, I can understand how easy it is to connect with somebody over video chat. It’s so doable! I know there are many fitness coaches that have been doing online lessons and sessions. I’ve even considered doing a few classes! Great tips on getting motivated to work with one! 🙂
The virtual fitness industry has exploded! Thi is great for the consumer because now there are many affordable options to get going with a virtual experience.
I think virtual training is a great option. I’ve done some virtual yoga classes in the winter and loved not having to go out in the cold to get to a class 🙂
Avoiding the elements is always a great reason to tap into virtual training!
I don’t think I have the discipline to stick to my workout routine at home. I tried following a YouTuber’s workout session and stopped after a few weeks. It’s definitely more convenient and flexible but I still can’t seem to keep at it. Thanks for sharing!
Hi Kimberley, an accountability coach could be the missing ingredient to your consistency. Be proud that you at least start working out, its important that you begin and eventually, you’ll find that groove. Feel free to contact me directly if you’d like to find out about how coaching accountability can help you.
For me, I need the high energy to be able to get really into it!
I’m an energy person as well. I can get pretty pumped up when I’m flying solo because I love training. But in a group setting, I absolutely need the energy to be high and a bit intense. I think that was fostered by my sports background.
My experience with virtual has been very positive. I’m thankful for the way to connect when I otherwise wouldn’t be able to! Thanks for sharing!
Hi Courtney, I loved virtual so much when covid kept us all apart.
I have actually never done training virtually. I may give it a try now, thanks to you!
Hi Victoria, thanks for reading. Virtual training is awesome and I have had some very successful clients virtually, its all about consistency and effort, just like in-person training.