Training at home with or without a personal trainer:

There's No Place Like Home (most of the time :))


My specialty as a personal trainer is providing In-Home training.



There are many reasons I’m really passionate about this.



Not only can I provide my services to folks who may be uncomfortable going to a gym or don’t have the time to spend traveling back and forth, but it helps folks realize that they can have a successful fitness program without needing a gym. They can take what I teach them and also work out on their own at home (or on the road if they travel for work).



At home you don’t have to wait around for sweaty equipment that someone else is using (unless your spouse or kids are monopolizing the stability ball :)). 


I personally workout 7 days a week and 6 of those days are done at my home. Once a week I like to "pump some heavier iron" which I do at a local rec center gym each Saturday morning. I try to get there as soon as it opens when it's fairly empty so it's not too bad.


However, I would go crazy if I had to do all of my workouts in a gym because so much time can be wasted if it's crowded and I had to stand around waiting for equipment to become available.


In spite of what most of us were taught as children, some people still don't like to share, and this is not uncommon in gyms where some folks act like they own whatever piece of equipment they are using. What's even more frustrating is that often they are just sitting on the piece of equipment between sets while you are waiting for your chance as they refuse to budge ("I only have a few more sets" is something I've heard more than I care to think about!).


But even if that isn't an issue, the clients I used to train at a state of the art facility actually got their best workouts when I would set up circuits on the basketball court using minimal equipment (stability balls, elastic resistance, Yoga mat, Medicine Balls, BOSU trainer). So even in that environment I did the same thing I do with people at their homes where often we have minimal space.



By not having to wait around for the equipment, you not only save time, but you can add considerably to the level of intensity by reducing your rest intervals. This creates a greater metabolic demand on the body which creates more caloric expenditure and a higher overall level of overall fitness.



In Summary:



You don’t need much equipment at all to get fit, in fact technically you could get a great workout using just bodyweight exercises. The nice thing about getting some simple equipment such as resistance tubing and stability balls (aka “Swiss” or “Balance” balls) among other pieces, is that you add a tremendous amount of variety which makes working out much more fun and enjoyable.



Think of all the time you can save driving to and from a gym, and because there’s no waiting around for equipment it’s extremely time efficient. You can also more easily get in a workout before you shower in the morning before starting your day. This makes it much easier to maintain a fitness program long term.



One final thought: Ideally, if you are new to exercise I would advise at least getting some training from a qualified fitness trainer so you can learn basic exercise technique and program design. This will add not only to the safety of your training but to making sure you are using your time in the most productive manner by maximizing the effectiveness of each exercise.