Why one-to-one workouts can help you stay committed
Back in 2009, a report found that “nearly 40% of people surveyed said they used their home exercise machines far less than they had planned”. And despite there being 9.7 million gym members in the UK, many feel their commitment start to wane because of a lack of time or motivation.
Whether you’re working out in the gym or at home, you’re generally doing it on your own. For those who lack direction, need supervision, or just want a well-meaning kick up the backside, one-to-one workouts are essential.
You will never waste a workout
It’s been estimated that 55% of gym-goers are wasting their workout time. Harpers Fitness asked 1000 gym members what they do in the gym between exercises and found “only 39% of every hour is spent on exercise”. Considering the amount many gym memberships cost, and how much effort it takes for some to get to the cross trainer in the first place, it’s a fairly significant waste of money and time.
With a one-to-one workout, an hour of exercise really is an hour of exercise. No time is wasted waiting for machines and you’ve made the most of the session.
Being supervised stops procrastination in its tracks
When we put things off, we generally do it because the thing we need to do isn’t much fun. The long-term rewards might be worth it, but if it’s not appealing in the short-term, we’re much more likely to drag our feet.
The guidance and expectations of a real person standing right in front of us kills procrastination quite quickly. For many, the impulse to not let someone down is far stronger than the impulse to stay on the sofa.
Support = more motivation
The psychology of motivation is really complex, but a few simple things can improve it. Being directed by someone else prevents ‘analysis paralysis’, where indecision and uncertainty stops you from doing what you need to do. Being too hard on yourself can actually be counter-productive, rather than motivating, so positive encouragement and reinforcement is also essential.
Don’t look to Instagram for advice
If we believed the advice of every single fitness Instagram model, our workouts would last all day and our diet would be a complete contradiction.
A recent Guardian article highlighted that many fitness celebrities don’t have personal training qualifications, are highly paid to promote specific products, and sometimes recommend workouts that are particularly bad for those with existing injuries. One interviewee damaged her sciatic nerve “doing an online squats challenge”.
Fitness information can be unreliable when you don’t check the source, so be aware that the DIY approach is a risk.
Total Sports Rehab provide one-to-one personal training sessions in central Manchester in a specialised, purpose-built studio. You’ll work through structured exercise plans, sport specific sessions, and benefit from unlimited email, text and phone support.
Find out more about prices and sessions on our personal training page.
