Types of personal training

Personal trainers work with a wide range of clients, often providing a variety of options to suit different individuals. Some personal trainers may specialise in a particular area, while others focus on a specific group of people. We explore some of the different types of personal training to help you decide on the best option for your needs.
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One-to-one vs group training​​​​​​​
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First off is one-to-one vs group training. As the name suggests, one-to-one is where you work solely with the trainer. During your sessions, they give you their full attention to ensure a bespoke training environment that focuses on your training goals, requirements, or preferences.
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As such, the service you receive will be completely personalised to you. The trainer will also create a customised workout plan that is entirely dedicated to your needs, goals, and fitness level. This means every workout is optimised towards ensuring the best outcome for you.
In contrast, group training has a less personalised approach. Instead of working individually with a trainer, workouts are done in small to medium-sized groups. This usually means sessions are cheaper due to the shared cost, but there is less one-to-one attention.
Instead, workouts are designed to work for the group as a whole. Group sessions are more suited for those who enjoy social interaction and a sense of community. Some people prefer the collective energy or competition of training with others.
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One-to-one training advantages
There are several advantages and disadvantages to one-to-one training. First, we’ll cover the advantages:
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Personalised attention
As you work solely with a trainer during each session, you get their full attention. The trainer will focus on you and will provide customised guidance and feedback.
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Tailored programme
Alongside personalised attention, the plan a personal trainer creates is tailored exclusively to the individual. Every workout and training routine will be specifically adapted to the needs, goals, or progress of the client.
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Flexibility
One-to-one training also offers much greater flexibility. There is much greater flexibility to schedule sessions or adjust workout duration depending on the trainer's availability.
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Enhanced skill development
Direct and immediate feedback helps in addressing specific weaknesses or skills. Trainers are also able to focus more attention on guiding individuals to ensure better skill development.
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Confidentiality
Clients may feel more open to discussing things with their trainer, such as setbacks or challenges, as opposed to in group settings.
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One-to-one training disadvantages
Cost
While one-to-one training does a much greater degree of flexibility and personalisation, it does come with a higher cost compared to group training.
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Less motivation
Another downside to one-to-one training is that it can lack a competitive edge. Training alongside others can bring a sense of camaraderie or competition. A lack of this in individual training can be less motivating for some.
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Group session advantages
Cost-effective
Group training sessions are a more cost-effective option as the price of training sessions is shared among each group member.
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Motivation
Working out in groups also provides a unique dynamic that can encourage individuals to perform better or stay focused.
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Sense of team
Group training is also a good way for developing individuals teamworking skills through creating a stronger sense of community.
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Group session disadvantages
Less focused attention
As there are more people present during group sessions, it is not possible for a personal trainer to provide individual attention. As such, there is often less personalised guidance as a trainer divides their attention between each group member.
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Fixed paced
Group sessions will typically feature a fixed pace to ensure every group member stays focused or motivated. However, this pace may not be ideal for everyone resulting in some people feeling demotivated or slightly behind in terms of progress.
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Scheduling
With more individuals involved in group sessions, there can often be scheduling challenges. Finding a time that works for every group member, combined with the personal trainer's schedule, can be complicated. This may lead to longer gaps between each session.
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Varying skill levels
Everyone has different needs and will progress at different levels. While this isn’t a problem for individual sessions, it can create challenges in group sessions. This makes it difficult to maintain an effective learning environment.
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Speciality trainers​​​​​​​
Alongside choosing between individual or group training, it is possible to pick a personal trainer that specialises in a certain area. This can be strength training, weight loss, or multi-functional trainers that are more versatile.
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Strength training
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One type of trainer is a specialist in strength training. These are personal trainers who specialise in building muscle mass, improving overall strength, and enhancing body power.
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A variety of training methods are used during strength training to achieve improved strength. This can include training methods such as heavy resistance training, progressive overload, and compound movements like bench presses or deadlifts.
People who will often benefit from hiring a personal trainer focused on strength training include athletes, bodybuilders, or powerlifters. Anyone who wants to increase their physical strength may also benefit.
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Weight loss training​​​​​​​
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Weight loss training is another specialist training you can pick from. Unlike trainers specialising in strength, a personal trainer specialising in weight loss will help their clients to lose weight using a combination of exercise, lifestyle changes, and nutritional guidance.
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To achieve the goal of losing weight, the focus will revolve around increasing physical activity, high-intensity interval training, circuit training, resistance training and personalised diet plans. This makes it an ideal option for anyone who is looking to reduce body fat, improve their metabolic health, or maintain a healthy weight.
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Multi-functional training​​​​​​​
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Unlike the previous two types of training, multi-functional does not specialise in a certain area of fitness. Instead, personal trainers will be versatile in their approach tailored to different fitness goals.
This will typically focus on improving a person’s overall fitness, functional movements, mobility, and stability. As such, the exercises will try to mimic real-life movements, focusing on balance, coordination, strength, and flexibility.
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This makes multi-functional training an ideal option for people of any age who want to improve their overall fitness. This can be from athletes recovering from an injury to older adults wanting to keep active.
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Personal training for different needs​​​​​​​
Personal training is different for each individual as people will have differing needs and requirements. Some groups in particular that will have different needs include athletes, older adults, and pre or post-natal women. Here is a quick overview of how personal training differs for these groups:​​​​​​​​​
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Older adults
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Personal training for older adults will focus much more on enhancing mobility, strength, balance, and overall fitness. One of the biggest reasons why this group may opt for personal training is to maintain their independence and improve their quality of life.
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There are several considerations that personal trainers will be mindful of when working with older adults. This can include a limited range of motion due to joint stiffening, slower recovery times, and working around chronic conditions, such as arthritis.
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As such, the training methods primarily focused on for older adults include:
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Low-impact strength training to combat muscle loss.
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Balance and stability exercises to reduce fall risk.
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Flexibility and joint mobility routines.
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Cardiovascular workouts tailored to individual fitness levels.
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Athletes​​​​​​​
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Athletes looking to work with a personal trainer will focus more on improving their athletic performance. This can range from strength or endurance to agility and injury prevention specific to their relevant sporting focus.
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As athletes often have competitive schedules or specific sporting demands, personal trainers will design their programs to work around these considerations. The athlete’s current fitness level and goals will also be considered.
As such, the training methods primarily focused on athletes include:
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Sport-specific conditioning programs.
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Strength training, plyometrics, and agility drills.
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Recovery and rehabilitation exercises.
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Nutrition and hydration strategies.
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Pre and post-natal women​​​​​​​
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The focus and training methods of pre and post-natal women will also differ. One of the biggest challenges for pre and post-natal women is a safe yet effective exercise routine. The role of a personal trainer here is to support the health and fitness of pregnant and postpartum women.
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As such, there is a much stronger emphasis on safety and rebuilding pelvic floor and core strength. However, exercises that put undue pressure on the abdomen are avoided. There is also a need to accommodate changing energy levels and physical capabilities while ensuring proper posture.
The training methods primarily focus on pre and postnatal women include:
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Low-impact aerobic exercises to maintain cardiovascular health.
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Strength training with modifications to accommodate changes in balance and core strength.
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Pelvic floor strengthening and core stability exercises.
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Gentle stretching and relaxation techniques.​
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Online personal training
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One aspect of personal training that has grown in recent years is online personal training. As digital communication tools improve, so too has the potential to deliver personal training solely online.
This involves fitness coaching that is delivered remotely. This can include personalised workout plans, nutrition guidance, video demonstrations, and real-time feedback. Working with an online personal trainer will typically involve communication through video calls and email.
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There are some key features and benefits that set online personal training apart. Firstly, convenience is a big factor as there is no need for people to commute. Workouts can be carried out from the comfort of your home.
Compared to in-personal personal training, it is also a much more cost-effective and accessible option. Sessions are more affordable and can be accessed by people anywhere, including remote areas, providing you have a stable internet connection.
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You still receive the same personalised and tailored workout routines as in-personal training with the added benefit of greater flexibility. This makes it an ideal option for anyone with busy schedules or limited transport options.
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However, there is less supervision as trainers are not able to provide hands-on adjustments or feedback during exercises. You will also need to be highly motivated with good self-discipline to stick to your routine.
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Despite this, online personal training is ideal for anyone who has a busy schedule, individuals who prefer working out in a familiar environment, or those who want a more affordable fitness solution.
With the many different types of personal training options available, there is plenty of choice for you to find a trainer that works best for your needs. This ensures you can gain the most benefit from your workouts while prioritising your specific needs and requirements.​​
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