There are many, many personal training options available to you, so if you are looking for a trainer to help you reach your strength, fitness and weight loss goals, read on to find the best personal training options for you.
From traditional, in person one-on-one personal training sessions, to the many online and remote variations, there is certainly a method of personal training that will suit your needs.
Some are heavy on motivation and accountability to train on your own. Others are designed to help you through the session, and all you have to do is show up and work hard.
One-on-One In-Person Personal Training
This is the old school, traditional model of personal training. It’s probably what you think of when you think of personal training. One-on-one allows your coach to give you the most individualized instruction and support possible. It’s a great combo, when the lifter and Coach/personal trainer are on a team working toward the lifters goals together.
This is the most time and energy intensive type of training so it will be the most expensive personal training option. It will be the most customized for you too.
In person training is great for every fitness and strength level; it offers beginners a great foundation to start and learn from, and it offers those beyond the beginner level another set of eyes on their training program and lifting style.
In-Person Personal Training in Austin and Round Rock
I offer one-on-one personal training in Austin at Big Tex Gym and in Round Rock at Iron Forge. Gym.
If you are looking for personal training in a great facility with specialized equipment in the Austin or Round Rock area, I’d be happy to do a consult with you to see if we are a good match.
Remote/Online Personal Training
Remote or online personal training is a fantastic option for the lifter who is motivated enough to do sessions on their own, or at least without the need to meet a trainer.
There are many, many benefits of online personal training, even if your trainer is local. For example, cutting that commute. Ahem, Austin traffic. Because of current technology, communication between coaches and clients has never been easier.
For my remote clients, I use the app called Train Heroic. I film and upload instructional videos, and add text instructions on how to do the exercises as well. You don’t have to watch these every time so your workout is not slowed down, but it is always there if you need a refresher.
After building a plan based on your goals, needs, equipment availability and schedule, I build your workout for you, set by set and rep by rep. I’ll input all the details in the app so you see videos of the exercises, and set, rep and weight guidance.
I’ll tell you exactly what to do!
From here, you log your workout and be in touch with me with any questions.
The summary of a finished workout is particularly satisfying. My clients and I love it!
Hybrid Personal Training
Hybrid programs involve meeting in person on a specific interval, and my client doing his or her own session in the meantime. These are still planned out and tracked in Train Heroic, so I can see the competed workout sessions.
For example, I might meet a client once a week, and they do 3 sessions on their own until we meet again.
This is a more budget friendly personal training option, but still customized and hands on.
We’ll be strategic about the workouts we do together, doing the technically difficult exercises when I am there to help. We’ll also do the exercises my client needs a spot for when we are meeting.
This works especially well if you have a home gym or garage gym, and will get your home training sessions there. I can help you plan and organize your home gym too!
Program Design
Program design is a one time customized program purchase. This is for the independent lifter who wants a plan to exercise on their own. With personal training, the lifter and I are in communication as often as every workout. In contrast, program design is when I take the particulars of a clients goals and write a customized plan, and they handle it from there.
Of course I am always an email away. This is just a bit less communication intensive, and the price reflects that.
Programs
Finally, programs and teams in Train Heroic are going to be the most affordable training options. These are not custom written programs, they are specifically written for certain groups.
For example, The Garage Squad is written for the intermediate lifter who wants to use barbells, and work on strength.
Square One is written for a brand new beginner who wants to start in the gym.
The Home Team is written for people who prefer to workout at home, and have a few curated pieces of equipment to get the job done.
Any Gym USA is made for people who might be at a gym that has limited equipment. This shows the lifter how to get a workout anywhere without specialty bars or uncommon machines.
I currently know almost everybody in my teams and programs, and I love to have feedback and be in touch. Many of these lifters are former clients who have moved, no longer want to fight Austin traffic, or are ready to fly on their own.
I am happy to still work with all of them, and to answer questions they have about their workout plans.
Where to Start to Find the Best Personal Training Option for You
First, identify your individual needs. Take the time to think about and answer a few questions, and this will lead you right to the answer about which personal training option is best for you.
Identify your thoughts and responses to the following questions.
What are your goals?
Be honest about what you want. You get one body; I want you to love it!
Physique goals, performance goals and procedural goals are all ok! By this I mean, a physique goal could be “I want to lose 15 pounds,” or 50 pounds. It could be, “I want to feel confident and hot in a bathing suit this summer.”
Performance goals are more along the lines of “I want to bench press 365 pounds” or “I want to run a 5k.”
Procedural goals look like, “I want to be the type of person who exercises 5 days a week and enjoys it.”
You are allowed to want what you want! You are not valid or vain or self absorbed to want a body that feels good and you feel comfortable in.
Here is a much more comprehensive article on how to find the best online personal trainer and what questions to ask.
What is your desired end result?
Think about short term and long term here. Applying those things you just pondered, think about what the long term looks like. I shared with you my goal of deadlifting 315. This is a medium-term goal. Shorten term, my goal is a performance goal: to exercise regularly.
Medium term to long term, I’d like to maintain a higher level of strength. In the extreme long term, I would just like to be independent. If I can build my strength now, then when I am old, I won’t be hindered by walking upstairs and I can live independently. Yeah I know that’s looong term, but if the Good Lord gives me that many years, I want them to be quality.
What kind of facility do you have, or equipment do you have?
Do you have what you need to reach those goals? Will you have to go to a gym or specific training sports facility? If you want to be healthier and get moderately stronger in a way that complements your life, you might be able to do everything you need at home with a few purchases.
If you want to compete in any kind of strength sport like powerlifting or Olympic lifting, you will either need to make a big purchase for home, or join a gym that has weights and barbells. Finally, if you’re competing for a specific sport such as track and field, Strongman, baseball or rugby, you’ll need a specific type training facility.
What are your proficiencies?
What are you great at? What are the things you do feel comfortable doing on your own?
What do you need help with?
Similarly, what do you need or want help with? Are there any particular lifts that you want more coaching on or need another set of eyes on you for?
How much accountability do you need?
This is a huge one! Some people thrive on having the accountability of a trainer meeting them in person. If this is you, that is ok! You’ve identified the need for accountability and there is a solution to it!
If you are regularly getting your training in without meeting someone at the gym, you might not need as much accountability.
Do you need a spotter, or need someone to be there with you?
If your biggest need is to have a strength coach who can spot you and help with your equipment, you’ll definitely need either training partners or an in-person coach.
Which Personal Training Option is Best for You?
The truth is, probably several of these personal training options would work for you! Go with your gut, and just try one! If it doesn’t work, you can switch. You will find what works for you.
If you are still stuck, reach out to me. I am happy to do a free consult and help with your current situation. Message me here!
About the author
Kathryn Alexander is a strength coach and personal trainer in Austin, Texas. She loves hiking, college football, and the feel of a perfectly knurled barbell. Read more about Kathryn here.
