Goals mean more when you put more into it.
Introduction
If someone were to follow you around for one week, would they say you are serious about your fitness goals? Have you ever considered hiring a personal trainer? What’s stopping you or the women you know from hiring one? Many reasons often prevent women from seeking out personal trainers. As a collegiate dual-sport female athlete myself, I can relate to why it may seem unnecessary to hire one. From the cost of hiring a trainer to not fully understanding their benefits, to concerns about the trainer not understanding their unique needs, many women are hesitant. The key question is: do the benefits of hiring a personal trainer outweigh the costs? This blog will discuss why many women shy away from hiring a personal trainer, while also highlighting how such an investment can help women reach their individual fitness goals. This isn’t just for elite athletes, but for women of all fitness levels. My interest in this topic began while thinking about my future career. I want to work in marketing and advertising for large gym corporations or fitness brands, and recently, I had the opportunity to interview for a sales consultant position at a gym. One of the interview questions asked how I would sell an expensive gym membership that includes access to personal trainers. This question really got me thinking about my own views on personal training and how I might connect with female clients on a deeper level.1. Already has Knowledge in Fitness
Like many women, I’ve been passionate about fitness for most of my life. For a long time, hiring a personal trainer (PT) never crossed my mind because I relied on sports knowledge and experience for my training in the gym. I always believed that it wasn’t worth it to hire a PT because I thought I had enough discipline and knowledge to train myself. I would certainly invest in a gym membership with various strength and conditioning classes, but my focus was always on finding a gym that offered plenty of space for body workouts, mobility work, free weights, and weight machines. After considering this, I realized that taking advantage of a gym’s classes is similar to working with a PT, but a personal trainer would be able to customize those classes to my needs. Moreover, there’s no point in using the open space for stretches and body workouts if I don’t have a PT pushing me to my limits and ensuring I maintain proper form. The reality is that to truly reach my fitness goals, I need a team that understands my individual needs as a female athlete.2. Individual Injuries
Injuries are one of the most common reasons why women hesitate to hire a PT. Many women experience life-changing events, such as pregnancy or chronic injuries, that affect their ability to train or move as they once did. Recovering and working a body back to full functionality requires not only physical effort but also mental toughness, making it harder to stay consistent in the process. This is especially true for women who may feel self-conscious or discouraged about getting back into shape. However, personal trainers are well-versed in kinesiology and the ways different body parts work, which makes them a crucial resource for female athletes or fitness enthusiasts. A skilled PT can accommodate injuries, customize workouts, and provide the guidance needed to help women recover and meet their goals. For women, a good PT can also provide invaluable support when it comes to navigating the unique physical changes and challenges they may face throughout their fitness journey.
3. Cost
A common thing that is stressed about in general is money. People don’t want to spend their hard earned money on things that aren’t personally aligned with their interests. And it doesn’t help that PTs can be very pricey. The cost of a personal trainer could simply just not be in someone’s budget. In this case, it is understandable that a person would skip out on personal training. However, hiring a PT is an investment that is worth the cost. Everyone has to pay bills for their house, car, and groceries. A PT is another bill that is an investment for the self. Spending a lot of money on our own health contributes to equivalent progress towards our fitness goals. Also, there are many gyms that offer more affordable PTs, which can be perfect for people who just want to stay in shape or stay active. These gyms may also offer packages and classes that make more for your money. Planet Fitness for instance, has tanning beds that come with a full membership package. By working with a PT at Planet Fitness, you can also take advantage of their other benefits such as tanning beds, and recovery Hydrobeds. You don’t have to be a bodybuilder to hire a PT and invest in your health.4. Lack of Discipline
I’ve also noticed that while a lot of people give reasonable excuses for skipping out on PTs, the bottom line for a lot of these people is that they just lack the discipline to stay consistent in working out. It’s completely fair for people to prioritize some parts of their lives over other parts. Some people need more motivation than others to consistently stay in the gym, which is an even better reason to work with a PT. They will definitely keep you consistent and help build that discipline. PTs will always ensure accountability and consistent goal achievements.5. Clash of Personalities
There are also situations where some clients and personal trainers are just not the right fit for each other. Some people work better with hard “coaches” to be tough and in your face, while others work better with more softly supportive people who give more positive reinforcements. It is the same as school teachers and mental health therapists. It is normal for people to have to hop around from therapist to therapist to find one that is best suited for them. This is also true for personal trainers because some PTs may have really hard and strict personalities, and while that may work for some athletes, others work better with more laid back PTs. I can understand that hiring a PT that clashes personalities with the client can make the client a little discouraged in finding a new PT that works for them. Fortunately, there are so many PTs out there and PTs are on the rise, so the possibilities of people to work with are endless.
6. Lack of Interest
Lastly, women are hesitant to hire PTs because they simply don’t have goals or any passion for working out and pushing themselves in the gym. Some people are completely content with going on daily walks or following along with online yoga videos, and don’t feel the need for a PT or any harder fitness goals. This is fair knowing that not everybody wants demanding exercises, but this may stem from a lack of desire for a challenge or the willingness to increase strength and physical ability. Sometimes being really fit just isn’t an interest. For some, they are fine with settling with light, enjoyable activity rather than consistent, hard workouts. These people are still considered athletes because light workouts are still fitness activities that help achieve goals. Although, if it is ever an interest to push physical limitations, just remember that it will be hard to switch to a higher intensity workout routine, and internal and external support is always key. So why hire a PT?Pros of a PT
Female athletes, whether they’re just starting out or already have experience in sports, often need specialized guidance to reach their full potential. PTs are also invaluable when unforeseen circumstances—like harsh weather preventing outdoor workouts or global events such as the COVID-19 pandemic—disrupt training routines. A PT can help women adapt to these challenges, creating workout routines that keep them progressing toward their goals. Additionally, they offer accountability and even help develop personalized nutritional plans, which are essential for achieving peak performance. Building a close relationship with a PT who truly cares about your fitness journey can have a powerful effect on both physical and mental health. The bond between a PT and their client helps encourage motivation, and as a female athlete becomes closer to reaching her goals, the shared excitement with her trainer enhances the overall experience. A good PT pushes their clients to challenge themselves consistently, something that can be especially important for women who might face societal pressures or physical barriers to achieving their fitness goals.Conclusion
Below are photos I took of a PT I know. The first photo shows poor form while performing the bench press, and the second shows proper form. Personally, I feel privileged to be friends with a female PT who can offer me valuable fitness advice whenever I need it.
Leave a Reply