The Benefits of Working Out Alone

The benefits of working out alone: training alone can be really fun, and I highly encourage you to exercise alone occasionally. Many people grow up training for team sports and are accustomed to that group training environment. This has so many positives, and can be a surprisingly good time! It can also bond you through shared misery of tough sessions! 

Others find that in adult life past youth sports, having a training partner brings a lot of benefits. This is true, too! 

Sometimes, though, the most peaceful and beneficial way to workout is alone. Here are some reasons to try exercising solo if you never have. 

Peace and Quiet 

Or not! You get to pick. Working out alone affords you the time to take a break form the world; away from the coworkers, the kids, and your overflowing inbox. You get to pick your music, or choose no music. You get to recharge and spend time without having to be “on” at work or serving others. This is about you! 

Working Out Alone is Meditative

Training done properly is not rocket science, but it is not simple! You should be paying attention to the nuances of form; your grip, hand and foot placement, angles of the body. Correct set up is a procedure in itself. From there, during and after the movement, you should be collecting feedback about the tempo, control, and speed of the rep. This feedback guides the decisions about the next set.

It is truly a misnomer to call meatheads “meatheads”. Again, not rocket science, but if you are paying attention to your training, it does not leave much room for consciously ruminating about your problems. The end result is a peaceful mind and a happily exhausted body.

Awareness of the Body

Since you are more attuned to your body without the distraction of working out with others, you become more aware of how you feel. You can feel illness before it truly sets in, potentially giving you the chance to head it off. I have often seen clients have an “off” day, only to discover that later they come down with a milder illness or realize allergies are about to flare up. 

This isn’t to say you can’t have this benefit while training with others, but training alone heightens your ability to focus on yourself.

You Get to Pick

You get to pick the exercises, the tempo, the intensity. I love this part of it. You can really just scratch the itch for how you want to train that day. I still encourage you to have a program you are following, but training alone allows you to drive the session how you choose.

What is the Best Way to Train: Alone or On a Team?

The bottom line is, the best way to train is the way you’ll get it done. There are benefits to training with a group or a partner, and there are benefits to training alone. Try them both and see which you prefer. 

A third option is to train with a trainer. Many of my clients train with me once or twice a week and once or twice on their own. It’s a nice little hybrid that allows for solo session and regular accountability. If you are looking for an Austin personal trainer or a remote training if you are not in Austin, message me here. I am happy to talk with you and set up a free consult to see if we are a good match to work on your goals!

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