If you're one of the many people who have never worked with a personal trainer, you may think one or all of the following. And to be honest until I became a personal trainer I probably would have agreed with some of these statements:
1) Why do I need to spend money to have somebody tell me to exercise? Well some people do, and it's not just about exercise it's about training your body in a planned and systematic way, taking into account strengths and weaknesses, in order to prevent injuries. It's also about teaching how to strength train which is important for your body and health. You may not have the equipment or knowledge to know how to do this
2) I can get a good sweat on on my own Sure you can- anyone can run up a hill, but see answer to 1) above
3)They will probably be like a sergeant major, barking orders at you. Ha! Only the bad ones will! The good ones will set you up for success, have your back and only push you within the realms that they know you can go
4)They will just put me through pain Training shouldn't be painful and you have definitely got the wrong one if it's painful. I always ask 'is it worky pain, or hurty pain?' There is a world of difference. Many of us don't use our body enough physically and so our pain threshold tends to be on the low side, but working your muscles and your body should feel good, not painful or leave you unable to walk or sit for days
5) They are just expensive and only for the rich and famous The amount that you spend on a personal trainer should mean that you are paying for a professional with years (hopefully) of experience and training, but you shouldnt need to be rich or famous. All PT's need to undertake continuing education to keep their qualifications valid (which costs money), many are self-employed which mean they pay their own taxes and if they don't work they don't get paid (think holidays) and need to pay own MPF or equivalent. They have likely invested in equipment, which is not cheap and needs to be constantly updated due to wear and tear. They also spend hours planning your programme and running the business, keeping the gym clean, not to mention gym rent, transport expenses etc etc. How much do you get paid per hour, taking into account all of the above? How much is your time worth in your job? Do you pay for all of the above?
6)They are only interested in building their IG followers. Yes, there are PTs like this. And these probably aren't the ones you want to work with.
Generally the profession of personal training unfortunately doesn't get much respect from the general public. PTs often get the reputation of being a bit frou frou, a bit fluffy and rarely are we known for what many of the good ones are, as true professionals in the field and the front lines of proactive, preventative HEALTH care.
The coaches who are working their asses off each and every day to better the lives of their clients as a service to clients, not themselves. Because they are on a mission, and they truly care.
Unfortunately, we can't do this charging HK$150 per session, handing out discounts and freebies all the time. When was the last time a lawyer gave you a discount? When did you expect it?
Should everyone have a PT? Yes! And I'm not just saying that because I am one! Everyone perfoms better with a coach.
It's much better to have a life long health professional working with you every week, but if you really can't re-appropriate funds accordingly, then just having a PT for a short term will pay dividends; having someone to teach you how to move with good form, (and often how to eat and live if you're lucky enough to have a PT with other health based qualifications), will be so important for your long term health, wellbeing and how you feel every day.
A good PT should never be cheap; you're getting personalised service and taking advantage of their years of experience and study, but before you ask the question, "How much do you charge?" I recommend finding out if they could be a good fit for you and how exactly they may help you achieve your own personal goals. You never know, your life may never be the same again.
Ally van de Pol is an integrated Health and Wellness Professional and has the qualifications: NASM-CPT, PPSC, Senior Exercise Specialist, Healing Diets Coach, Iridologist, Herbalist and Naturopath in Training