Online Personal Training Removes Barriers

High level of accountability & support.

Be strong, be healthy - be well… from home!

Hello, readers! As a certified personal trainer and yoga instructor I see many different types of clients and in different settings. This is not by accident but by design. My mission with Exhalo Fortis is to make fitness and information about health accessible to as many people as possible. This is why I offer a wide variety of services - from training clients at a local park, meeting them at their homes, at the gym, or online. I do this all in an effort to remove as many barriers as possible. This is where online personal training comes in. Here are the top 5 barriers online personal training removes from your life!

Family Responsibilities #5

New borns and toddlers need constant supervision, meals need to be prepared for the family, and someone needs poster board immediately (I remember the times I’d sheepishly ask my mom for a late evening run to Hobby Lobby for this). Perhaps your local gym’s daycare hours do not coincide with your schedule. You have responsibilities that extend far beyond yourself and it could feel like the world is against your intent to be healthy. As a certified personal trainer, I’ve noted that many of my online clients cited childcare as a primary barrier. This is where virtual training sessions come in! Online personal training alleviates the pressure of finding someone to take care of the kids. I’ve had clients do virtual training sessions with their baby within eyesight. Mom OR dad could be working on strengthening their pelvic floor while Cocomelon is playing in the background.

While I highly encourage you to give yourself permission to take care of yourself wholly and without distraction during our 50 minutes sessions, some days that simply cannot happen. On those days, you’ll be glad this is a virtual session where you can put a pot on simmer between bent leg kickbacks and resistance band tricep extensions.

Health Concerns #4

Covid-19, the flu, unhygienic practices that we see in gyms are genuine concerns. Prior to doing personal training full-time, I did quality control for a food manufacturer and for a longer period of time, indoor air quality testing in residential, commercial, and industrial settings. Let me tell you, ventilation in spaces varies greatly, the concentration of chemicals used to disinfect equipment depends largely on the quality control program each facility utilizes. It’s a mixed bag! Yes, science and biology is my professional background so I’ll stop myself now before I mention e. coli concentrations on high touch surfaces, the improper use of masks (stop touching the front part of the mask-use the ear loops to remove and put it back on!), and how quality control is only as good as the individuals responsible for the program. Here’s where virtual training (and outdoor training by the way) comes in.

During our virtual sessions, you are using your own equipment, you are in your own house. You don’t have to concern yourself with others breathing in your space. Not to mention the privacy! You don’t have to wonder when someone washed their hands last or if the equipment was properly disinfected. You can simply be concerned with getting through the workout.

Also, don’t worry if you don’t have much or any equipment! We can certainly begin using bodyweight and depending on your level we can discuss purchasing low-cost equipment that you could directly benefit from (it could be a set of $15 glute bands, DIY concrete dumbbells, or a TRX suspension trainer - don’t worry, we will make your workouts challenging!).

Cost #3

As with anything, virtual training, meetings, classes, performances - you name it - hit different. There is a different feel with a virtual training session than an in-person session. With my in-person clients, I can physically correct their form (with their consent of course). In my opinion, this is the only limitation I find with virtual training - I cannot physically hold your shin in place or press your shoulders down. Funny enough, there are some in-person clients who prefer not to be touched because of health concerns and this is totally valid and respected. Besides this single limitation, the cost saving benefits far outweigh the lack of physical contact.

Costs are kept low because no one is driving to a session so we both save on gas, I save on cutting the gym into my costs for training in-person, you save on getting a gym membership which can range from $10-$120/month, plus you save on childcare. Also, please keep in mind the long-term healthcare costs you’re saving by nurturing a healthy body.

Currently, I have the capacity to save you even more money here by offering bundled sessions! To purchase and view virtual training options and other services I offer click here. The reason I bundled 8 sessions of this program is to help you adhere to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) guideline for healthy adults. It states that healthy adults need 150 minutes of exercise/week in which two days are devoted to strength training (Read about it here). My hope is that you will adhere to the recommendation of using 2 sessions/week and doing a 3rd 50 minute activity on your own (walking, jogging, dancing, yoga, strength training on your own using the skills you learned with me are all great options!). In case of sudden illness or other emergencies the expiration date for purchased sessions can be extended - we will have a working relationship, I am flexible.

Accountability #2

Yes, you can follow along free workouts on YouTube, use apps, follow a tailored PDF of workouts custom made for you from an elite trainer but what do all these programs lack? Accountability. No one is making sure you are finishing that YouTube workout until the end, no one is ensuring that your form looks safe, no one is there. This is where having a virtual training session is key. I am there for you. Since we have a set appointment, and I am watching, I can ensure that you are performing the exercises correctly, ensure that you are finishing the workout to the best of your ability, and hold you accountable to show up for the next session.

One major way Exhalo Fortis, is design to help improve accountability is by utilizing the EXFO app. This is where we can chat via the app, send video messages, schedule appointments, and I can check-in with you! This is a high level of support that many do not receive when training with a CPT in-person or virtually. Not to mention you have the added benefits of using the EXFO app which can help you track nutrition, integrate your FitBit or Apple Watch, log your own workouts or cardio activities (I will check to see if you got that 3rd weekly activity in!) and purchase additional single virtual sessions if desired!

Time #1

The biggest barrier I hear from parents, double-shift workers, and almost everyone else is TIME. “I don’t have time” to workout. Newsflash, no one does! This is the biggest benefit of training with an online personal trainer. You don’t have to find your car keys, sit in traffic, wait around to be checked-in at the front desk, only to be in a crowded gym and wait around for gym equipment. As soon as you start the live session in the comfort of your own living room, play room, or basement gym, we begin! As soon as the session is over, you are feet away from your own shower and towels!

I also want to stress that since you are working with me directly we can find a schedule that works best for you! This could mean hours outside of “non-traditional” working hours. I currently have an online client who is living in Kuwait and I am in the American Southwest in Tucson, AZ. Despite the major time-zone difference we make it work.

Conclusion

I hope you found this information helpful! To further pull the veil behind the curtain I want to reiterate that I offer virtual training at this low price point because I use my own app. This is also where you will make purchases, schedule appointments, enable communication and so much more! For peace of mind I want to mention that all sales are run through the EXFO app which uses Stripe Payments for added security. Additionally, I have a National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) Virtual Coaching Specialist certificate on top of my CPT (check out my other certifications and degrees here).

If your goal is to lose the baby weight, learn proper strength training techniques, gain muscle, lose body fat, tone up, improve flexibility, or simply be held accountable for your workouts, I strongly encourage you to reach out! You can begin by commenting below, send me an email ExhaloFortis@gmail.com or schedule a FREE virtual consult (hit the “Coaching + Scheduling ” tab at the top of this page). Anyone with proper training can do what I do, the EXFO difference is the level of support you will receive throughout this process. In fact, I offer free virtual check-ins to all of my clients to discuss their program, accountability, or to simply get feedback. I hope to hear from you soon. Thank you for reading and be well.