Following on from last week’s post about things that surprise people about personal training, I thought I’d share the answers to some frequently asked questions.
As with all services, there are some questions that crop up regularly, so let’s talk about them!
“I think I’m too unfit to have personal training…”
Forgive me for being blunt: your perceived lack of fitness is kind of the entire point in coming to train. Whilst some trainers do have a niche in terms of the performance level they work with, or conduct regular fitness assessments of their clients, neither of these things applies to me.
I really enjoy working with people who are just getting started on their journeys, and showing them that it can be a safe experience that works at their pace. I often hear that people are intimidated by the idea of training for a full hour with me, and I ask them what they think that hour looks like. Because the reality doesn’t involve the effort level being high throughout the session. We take breaks and chat. We work to an appropriate point for each person, using the time we have efficiently.
“How many personal training sessions should I have?”
With me, it’s up to you. I’m not here to sell you on a certain number or frequency. I do understand that budgets are a thing, so I do my best to work with you so that you get a programme that can help meet your needs, including the financial ones.
Some people like to have an appointment booked in order to hold them accountable to train. Others are comfortable being more independent. If you are somewhere between the two and would like to be more confident, I am very happy to help you.
I see clients on varying basis of time, from twice-weekly or weekly, to fortnightly or monthly – whatever works with your schedule is something that I will do my best to work around. I aim to keep your preference for training times in mind, but those who train less frequently will benefit from being more flexible, as my weekly standing bookings are commitments I stick to.
“Do you only train women?”
No! I work with people of all genders and identities. The majority of my current clients are women, and I understand why how I communicate appeals to them. It’s great to be chosen by those who are a good fit with my training style – it’s how you have the most positive and effective working relationship – but I’ve never excluded anyone on the basis of gender. As long as you are medically able to train, and are interested in the way I work, I’m happy for us to train together.
The differences required to coach individuals aren’t things that are factors because of their gender. I tailor my sessions around personalities and practical needs, and whilst bodies are different shapes and move in different ways, that means I cue differently for everyone, it’s not about how you identify.
I share my own gender identity freely – I use she/her pronouns – partly because feedback I’ve received is that some people do search for a specific gender of trainer. I’m in no way offended as to your choice there – if there is something that makes you feel more comfortable in order to train with a coach, I think that’s perfectly understandable, and so I will share what’s needed in order for my ideal clients to easily find me.
“Do you work at weekends?”
At the moment, I personal train in Horsham on Tuesdays and Fridays. I have another job that fills my other weekdays, so I keep weekends as personal time. Most of my training slots are in the morning and at lunchtime – I start work at 7:00am! – and I prefer not to be at the gym in the evenings, so if you’re looking for daytime sessions, we’re likely to be a good fit.
Want to know more about training with me and have a chat? Get in touch!