The fitness industry has gone through big changes in the last few years. Here’s what
that’s looked like for me.
The fitness industry changed massively over the last year and a half. One day
we were all in the gym, doing our thing, banging out endless burpees in our group
fitness class and then bam! We were in the middle of a pandemic.
Lockdown happened before you could finish your sauna session next to the naked
locker room guy.
I was furloughed in March 2020 and like many other trainers I started crying
alone in my parked car while listening to Enya doing what I could to get by. I shot
Instagram Live workout videos from my living room. I recorded podcasts in my
bathroom. I onboarded new clients to online training. I absolutely did not hide in my
closet and shove junk food into my mouth.
It was quite the disruption and there were tough moments, but to be honest,
I loved it. It was exciting, fresh, and the opportunities were endless. Let me explain.
I’d always taken ownership of client-training within the walls of the gym, so
the transition to officially start my own business wasn’t a massive leap. Sure, there
were different costs I had to worry about, new paperwork, taxes, legal forms and the
uncertainty of starting out with fewer clients, but I leaned into what I always try to
do: provide great service to the individuals I am working with and let the value
exceed the price of the training.
As a byproduct of this mindset, the referrals, leads and opportunities began
flowing in. The demand for in-home training was high and so I was now the one
going from house to house, garage to garage, consulting individuals on what
equipment to buy and how and where to set it up.
It’s been almost a year since I started my own business. I am still training
people at home, but I’ve also built up an online clientele where I program individual
workouts based off of my clients’ workout location, goals, equipment, and lifestyle.
We stay in contact and maintain accountability with each other virtually through
phone calls and messaging. This new phenomenon is also known as online training
If you’d told me in 2019 that my clients would be training successfully
without actually seeing me in person, I might not have believed you. But I’ve learned
that tailoring training to match the needs of the individuals I work with can take
many forms. Some people benefit most from having a coach working right alongside
them in person, but for others, having a program to follow on their own terms has
been working very well. Some of my clients do best with a hybrid model where I
can alternate in-person training with the customized workouts I send online.
I think there are a couple reasons as to why my clients have seen success
with online training.
1. The accountability factor: I can see when clients complete or miss
workouts. What I’ve found is that when clients pay for a training
service, they’re more likely than not to follow through on it.
2. The convenience factor: Working out on your own time and in
your own space can be a huge advantage. It saves people from
waiting in line to do the booty blaster machine at the gym in front of
1,000 eyeballs. It also cuts out the commute time.
3. The self-confidence factor: The thrill in showing yourself what
you’re capable of makes you more likely to keep showing up. You
naturally get better at goblet squats when they are programmed in
on Mondays for four weeks straight. Seeing that improvement is its
own reward and motivation.
4. The effectiveness factor: When you’re following a well-designed
program that works for you, you spend less time thinking of what
exercise to do next and getting distracted on your phone while
searching for the next perfect set.
Some folks love the community aspect of going to the gym and training in a
group, some love working out on their own, and others fall somewhere in the
middle.
The last year and a half has changed the way we approach many aspects of
our life. I’ve seen that hybrid and online training are here to stay. Having the option
of training at home with a couple of adjustable dumbbells, a bench, and a stability
ball is an amazing option when you’re short on time but want to stick to your fitness
goals. On the other hand, for those who are able, going to a gym and experiencing a
change of scenery, even if it’s just to do some cardio, is a great option to have as
well.
Either way, following an exercise program that takes the guesswork out of the
equation is the most effective way to get results.
Training people in home and online has opened doors for me that I could
have never thought were possible just a year ago.
I have more time to spend with my family. I have the flexibility of working
from my computer for a couple hours a day instead of trying to squeeze in more in-
person clients. I also have the option to take on more projects.
For example, I recently started training the boys’ basketball team at a local high school twice a
week as their strength and conditioning coach. This has been an amazing experience so far that would not have been possible two years ago.
Although the challenges of the past few years have been hard to navigate, I’m grateful for the new
opportunities and learning experiences they’ve brought. I’ve gained far more than I
would have believed possible.
To quote Ted Lasso, my current favorite TV character, “Taking on a challenge
is like riding a horse, isn’t it? If you’re comfortable while you’re doing it, you’re
probably doing it wrong.”
