In these do-it-yourself times, when many of us keep track of our calorie intake, heart rate and cholesterol alongside our stock investments and tax returns, I believe in paying professionals to deal with areas in which we’re not the experts. I get paid for what I do best; why not give other professionals the chance to do what they do best — for me?
Fitness training is one of those areas where I prefer to let someone else be the boss — there’s so much science and technology out there; it’s hard to keep track of it all on my own. Or even put it to good use in my own fitness regimen without some guidance.
I may be moving my body, but I know I would not have the balance, strength and coordination I now have if I went to the gym on my own. My trainer has me using equipment I have never seen in a typical gym, and he watches to make sure my form brings the most efficient results. Now, when I do a workout alone, I can gauge myself by his training.
My trainer makes it fun for me and all I have to do is enjoy my workouts! He changes up the routine so I never get bored and often presents me with different challenges to make it fresh and entertaining. Every few weeks he pulls out new and colorful equipment that sparks my curiosity and tests me in ways I never thought of. My workouts go by quickly because of the great variety of physical training, and he takes responsibility for setting a pace appropriate for my physiology.
We forget what “trainer” means. A fitness trainer is a teacher. They are training you so you can do it on your own. I believe it’s a great investment and saves you money in the long run. You learn how to work out without causing injury, saving on doctor bills, and you learn what you need to do for the most efficient results. You can hire a trainer for just enough sessions to go on your own safely and efficiently. All the skills they teach you are yours for the rest of your life. I find reading about workouts does not stay in my memory; my body memory kicks in when I am actually doing the exercises with a skilled instructor.
One to three sessions with a trainer would create a strong foundation, and then a refresher session a few times a year can make a huge impact on the success of your workouts. Safety should not be underrated. Injury can cause great expense and be a huge setback on your fitness goals. We take classes for everything else in life, why not fitness? It’s your body — the one thing you are guaranteed to have the rest of your life.
My trainer, Vadim Vilensky, and I recently filmed a boot-camp workout video. We have had sessions on a tri-weekly basis for two years. Even so, training for this video was hard work! I was very impressed by the results. You can see the trailer on YouTube or purchase the video on Amazon.com.
Now I’m able to work out at home with the video when I can’t make it to the gym — and it only takes 20 minutes!
