5 Benefits of Personal Training
When you want to take your fitness seriously, trust the education and experience of personal trainers. Beyond guidance and motivation, certified trainers have invaluable knowledge in biology, biomechanics, anatomy and physiology that will help you succeed.
Whether you’re a beginner or elite athlete, ask yourself:
- What do I wish to achieve?
- Who inspires me?
- Why take the long road or veer from the path, when you can take the highway?
Losing weight, building muscle or getting in peak physical condition requires hard work, focus and dedication. Challenges will arise along the way. If you leverage the power of a personal trainer to help set goals, create a plan and navigate through the challenges – you’ll find it’s well worth the investment.
From perfecting your form to deciding the best food to fuel your training, trainers are also life coaches, mentors, and friends. They will provide the framework that beginners need as well as the insider knowledge to take advanced athletes to the next level.
Wherever you are in your fitness journey, here are a few reasons anybody could benefit from a personal trainer.
Personal trainers are trained, educated, specialized
At Thrive Fitness, all of our personal trainers are certified, specialized and also skilled in creating the perfect program for each individual. Without an expert there to guide you, you may limit your progress or develop bad habits without ever knowing. Having a personal trainer by your side can keep you on track, help avoid injury from improper form or over training, and ensure you get the most out of each workout. In addition, training evolves over time just as your body does. Your trainer will outline a program and expertly guide you through each stage of your progress.
Personal trainers boost your confidence
Motivation is an invaluable part of getting and staying in shape. Personal trainers give you that extra push you need at the end of a challenging circuit. Through developing the right plans, they can show you what you’re really capable of. They can boost your ego just enough to help you tackle your goals by providing their unconditional support.
Personal trainers hold you accountable
We all know that feeling of wanting to skip out on the last few reps or just spend the entire day in bed (which sometimes, you need to). Having a trainer by your side is sometimes the only way to make sure you don’t cheat yourself out of an effective workout. By having a partner and sharing your goals – personal trainers leave you no choice but to stay on track.
Personal trainers tailor your workout
Thrive personal trainers take into account each athlete’s goals and personality to build an exercise plan that’s actually sustainable. With an extensive amount of equipment like cardio machines and every weighted prop you can think of – each workout is different for everyone. Not only that, but personal trainers can help you outside the walls of the gym to propel your nutritional needs. At Thrive Fitness, our on-staff nutritionist will help create a customized nutrition plan that perfectly compliments your workout plan.
Personal trainers are make your workouts exciting
At the end of the day, fitness shouldn’t be a chore. Personal trainers are always finding new ways to bring color to your workouts – because they know that people don’t respond to boring. Although exercise can be exhausting, it should never be dull. Training with the right personal trainer or even training in groups can make that five-mile run or 20-minute HIIT circuit fly by much faster than if you’re alone.
You can find out which one of Thrive Fitness’ multiple personal training options is more geared toward your goals by checking out our services here. See what our satisfied training clients have to say about Thrive’s enthusiastic, engaging personal trainers. Email info@thrivefitnessatlanta.com today to find out more information about out exercise and nutrition services.
The Importance of Rest and Recovery After Exercise
Some athletes live by the motto “no days off” – and they shouldn’t. Rest days are just as big a part of the fitness equation as the actual workout.
Rest days shouldn’t be equated with lack of progress – but rather a catalyst of progress. Without recovery, all types of problems detrimental to your health can arise. Your body is not as invincible as you think. By forcing too many results much too often, you may actually be pulling yourself away from the fitness goals you’ve been trying so hard to stay on top of.
It’s easy to feel guilty on rest days when you’re bombarded with pictures and videos online of everyone hitting the gym – but the reality is, nobody’s going to glorify their rest day. However, rest days should be glorified.
Here are just some of the things they can protect your body and health from:
Overtraining syndrome
It turns out, over-exercise should be avoided just as much as exercising too little. This sickness affects your muscles, hormones, and brain. At first, this may seem like an average day when you’re feeling blue – lethargy, headaches, soreness, etc. But if this is all piled up on emotional changes, severe pain, insomnia, and sickness – chances are, you’re overworking yourself. Unlike most things, the solution is rest. Taking a physical (and mental) break from exercise for a few days at a time will help you, not hurt you. If you want to avoid overtraining syndrome, (which basically feels like the flu on steroids), dedicate more days to rest and/or active recovery.
Sickness
It’s established that moderate exercise routines benefit your heart, bones, and more. But extreme exercise habits have the opposite effect on your immune system. Dr. Mark Jenkins of Rice University noted in a report that “two-thirds of [ultramarathon] participants developed upper respiratory tract infections shortly after.” This is because, after a single-session excessive workout, let alone consecutive ones, your body releases cortisol and adrenaline – which temporarily hinder your immune system. That’s where rest days come in yet again to save the day – your immune system needs time to recover after you exercise. That doesn’t mean lounging all day, every day will flex your immune systems’ muscles – it just means to take the frequency and intensity down a notch once in a while. In fact – regular, moderate, exercise actually boosts your immune system.
Injury
Overusing your muscles can plague them with strain and pain. Your muscle tissues actually tear apart when you exercise – but the good news is, they grow back bigger and better. However, tissue can’t repair itself if it’s being exhausted day after day. “When tissues break down faster than it can rebuild, injuries can occur,” according to Summit Medical Group. This is why rest days are a necessity – not just a guideline. Soreness and pain could be indicators that if you may be about to push your body over the edge – leading to an injury.
What to do on rest days
Everybody’s ideal rest day is different. If you want to spend it binge-watching Netflix (while getting up once in a while), go for it. But if you want to stay fairly active on a rest day, you definitely can (as long as it’s not as intense as your normal workout).
Here are some activity ideas for your next active rest day:
- Stretching
- Yoga
- Walking
- Jogging
- Swimming
- Massaging
- Foam rolling
Rest days are a necessity – and mastering the scheduling of them could be tricky. That’s why Thrive Fitness’ personal trainers are here to customize your workout plan. Contact us here today or email info@thrivefitnessatlanta.com.