Online Fitness vs Traditional Model of Fitness: Which Is Better?

Find the Best Fitness Plan for You: Fitness Begins with You

There’s no doubt that we live in a digital age, the fact that you’re reading this is evidence to that. Our digital lives that the internet has now penetrated every thinkable aspect of our lives. Whatever you want or need or can even imagine, there’s an app for that.

The world of fitness hasn’t been left unstained by this reality, or rather, virtual actuality. But what are the true advantages of this new age of online virtual fitness?

Now let’s jump right into it and break down the differences of online coaching vs the more traditional, hands-on approach.

As a client, it’s important to know what you’ll get out of each, and as an individual, with unique needs, you’ll find different reasons to approach each format of training and hopefully, we can help you figure out which is the best for you.

What Is Traditional Personal Training in Real Life?

In general, training set ups looks like this. You find a trainer at a local gym or from an online ad, brochure, word of mouth, or through a system of looking and booking.

Most personal trainers will have credentials such as higher learning qualification in the field of sports science, sports medicine, or fitness. Being able to connect with a human trainer forms a genuine connection as well as assess value and authenticity on an intrinsically human level.

Your real-life trainer-client relationship will help you make an in-depth assessment and monitor the progress in real-time. Your trainer will be able to get right into the issue with hands-on assessments such as a skinfold test for body fat, heart rate, blood pressure, coordination, balance, mobility, flexibility, and strength.

Now see, a real-world trainer, the one-on-one client-trainer relationship won’t always be available to offer the guidance you require. They most likely have a bunch of other deserving and paying clients who have come to expect the same level of care as you.

Online Fitness Trainers Ending the Fitness Lockout: Virtual Fitness

Now online fitness training is gathering momentum at a massive scale. People are conscious about their fitness and function through the internet more, if not predominantly. These two factors together make the recipe for today’s state of affairs regarding the rise of digital fitness.

The rise of modern applications, e-commerce, and an on-demand culture have catalyzed the advancement in health and fitness services. From workout trackers to calorie counters, and now digital fitness training. Not only individual personal trainers, services through e-commerce packages, and access trainers through portals on downloadable apps.

Virtual fitness training eliminates the obstacles such as getting some in-person training. Firstly, it’s hard to initially assess the validity and authenticity of a real-world trainer. Online Trainers have a slew of reviews to give you a good idea of what to expect credential wise. Virtual personal training is accessible at any time and at any place.

A user can easily engage with a trainer and work on goals anywhere and at any time you see fit. Because of this, online training tends to have a lower price point, widening the access of fitness to more population groups in diverse social settings.

Authenticity Can Only Be Determined in Reality

When meeting someone and interacting with them, the impression you gain sets the tone of what to expect, and what can be achieved. A trainer-client relationship is the same.

You can only know whether this is the right person to guide you through your fitness journey by getting to know what they can offer. Likewise, a trainer can only really understand the subtle needs and areas of focus when dealing with a would-be client face to face in a hands-on real-time manner.

One drawback of online coaching is that it's not only hard to know if the trainer you’re booking is right for you on a fundamental level, you also have no way of being 100% certain that their credentials are authentic or reliable.

This is more prevalent if all you’re getting is a sheet with exercises you must do. There is no interfacing between client and trainer beyond the transaction. It is very easy to present an over-inflated or even false representation of credentials behind the facade of an online-only presence when it comes to online fitness programs.

Before Goodbye

See, Online Personal Training vs Traditional Personal Training does have its own pros and cons. All have their benefits and disadvantages, but if you ask me, the most effective format for you as a client to achieve the best goals is with a real-life one-on-one trainer.

Communication is key, especially during the training session, that’s something you’re not going to get much of with an online coach and almost none with a fitness plan. Having said that, I’m not trying to knock online coaches or the many effective fitness plans out there. Some of them are really legit and offer valuable services with proven track records.

All I’m saying is the online options should always be to be an online personal trainer if health and fitness is a real priority.

It’s a good way to have a back-up reference and a great way to get some training in if you’re faced with some of the constraints I mentioned earlier in the article. If unrestrained, however, always book a trainer with the right certifications, working in a reputable facility.