There are endless possibilities for how to workout, and everyone has a preference. You can workout alone. At the gym or at home. You can workout with friends or in a group fitness class. Alternatively, you can workout with a personal trainer. What’s the right workout for you?
Today I’m going to give you a run down on the positives, and possible negatives, of each workout option.
Solo Workouts
I personally prefer to workout alone. Exercise is my therapy, and I need to be by myself for that. I know I am not the only one. There are many people who use fitness as their escape from work, family, and life stress.
Solo workouts are great for me because I am self motivated. I also know how to create a structured workout, so I don’t need any guidance. Solo workouts are also tough if you aren’t comfortable creating a workout or executing exercises with proper form. If you want to workout alone but have these concerns, try following one of my home workout plans. I will be your virtual workout buddy and guide you through your workouts so you know how to do each exercise!
If you struggle to stay motivated during solo workouts, this may not be the right workout for you.
Buddy Workouts
Working out with a friend provides great motivation. When you have to meet someone for your workout, you are less likely to skip it. You don’t want to be “that friend” that cancels last minute, right? There is also an element of friendly competition with this option. Try to find a friend that will push you to work harder. Friends are your own personal cheerleaders. A good friend doesn’t want to see you fail, so they will cheer you on during your workouts.
The downfall to this option is, again, that you don’t have a professional around giving you a structured workout. Also, your friend is going to be a lot nicer to you and may tell you good job after everything even if you didn’t really try. If you want to workout with someone who will still inspire you but make you work really hard, it’s better to call a professional for some help.
Group Fitness
This option can be really good or really bad. It is good, because the energy is high, you meet new people, there’s that friendly competition again, the music is fun, and you have a professionally structured workout to do. There are also hundreds of different classes to choose from, so you can constantly try new things and challenge your body.
Group fitness can be bad because you don’t get much personal guidance in most classes. If the class is full, an instructor can’t stop the workout to focus on each individual. Yes, a good instructor will notice if you are struggling and help you. But, in a full class it’s nearly impossible for any professional to give you the exact help you need. This can result in confusion and injuries. You can also hide in the back during a group fitness class. It’s fine to stand in the back, but when you hide in the back and don’t work very hard it’s a waste of your time.
Depending on your fitness level and personality, this may or may not be the right workout for you.
Personal Training
Let’s talk about personal training. This is a one-on-one experience. Someone you don’t know is leading you through a workout customized for you and your goals. You are being led by someone who knows how to keep you safe but is still able to work you hard and hold you accountable.
This option is similar to working out with a buddy, the only difference is that buddy knows what he or she is talking about! You might experience fewer injuries with a trainer, and you will probably see faster results with one too.
In my experience, people who do not like personal training do not like the attention it puts on them. The energy in a one-on-one session is much different than the energy in a group. Personal training is also more of an investment, but it is important to invest in yourself sometimes.
I hope this helped you figure out what the right workout for you is. If you have further questions, do not hesitate to contact me!