Is There Any Value In Personal Training?

I think that it's safe to say many of us (especially us crossfitters), tend to have  preconceived notions about what personal training is, and the value that it holds for us.  

Now, I do think that some of this thinking is valid.  

Why do I need a personal trainer when I' m being personally trained all the time? This is the idea of CrossFit right? Of course it is. 

One of the biggest points of value in CrossFit is having the personal attention from the coach every time you're in the gym. And it sure as heck makes things better than trying to figure it all out on your own.  However, does this mean there there is absolutely no value in personal training? 

I'd like to discuss what seem to be some very common objections and ideas we as crossfitters seem to have about personal training: 

1. It's too expensive. 

I'm not going to lie to you and tell you that personal training is cheap.  It isn't. But, the old saying 'you get what you pay for' applies here.  We all have a general understanding that there is usually a correlation between cost and quality.  

Let me use an analogy that I think you can relate to.  

You're in the market for a new vehicle as you've just added a new member to your family (congrats! no more sleep for you!).  In your family's best interest, you set out looking for some specific qualities in that new vehicle.  Perhaps it's past track record, dependability, safety, maybe (more importantly these days) gas mileage.  Odds are, you're going to shell out a few more bucks for the car that has these qualities (as you should!).  

Well, the same can be said for a trainer.  It's in your best interest to look for a trainer who has an excellent track record, is dependable, and can train you safely (your trainer probably won't run on regular unleaded so you can skip that one). Point is, what besides family, is more important than the optimal function of your own body? Are you willing to 'cheap out' on something so vital?   Yes it can get pricey, but you can't put a price on a healthy, high performing body.

2. It's only for beginners.

Yes, personal training is great for beginners who have no clue where to begin.  

However, at what point do you decide you now know enough? I hope your answer is never!

I do this stuff for a living and I'm still learning new things every day (and I plan to continue learning everyday, forever!).  

Lets say there is a particular movement you seem to be having difficulty with and by chance you missed the last few classes when it was covered.  How valuable would it be for you to spend even one hour with the undivided attention of a trainer to really hammer down that movement?  

For example, I think it's safe to say we all struggle with some aspect of the Olympic Lifting.  When training an athlete with the sole purpose of competing as an Olympic Weightlifter, they are considered to be in the beginner phase of training for the first 2-3 years.  So don't feel bad if you haven't mastered it yet!

Let's say you're having trouble with your footwork on your split jerk, or with the transition from your first to second pull.  We can provide you with full video analysis and breakdown plus specific technique drills to address the issues that need correction.

There's no denying that there are infinite movements to master.  Chipping away at one or two in a personal training setting can make all the difference in helping you take that next step.

3. It's for rehab or injuries.

This is definitely true.  When coming off an injury it's vital to have a specific plan to address the weakness and correct it.  And, even if you're "functioning just fine", odds are you still have some weaknesses and underlying problems that need to be addressed. 

I'd go out on a limb and say that 99% of these are related to mobility. As one of our  trainers, and mobility master, Rick Boisvert stated in a previous post: 'true mobility takes hard work, it's not just spending five minutes on the foam roller or with a lacrosse ball'.   

Having trouble getting into a good front rack position?  Having issue's with that ankle mobility? Let's be honest this stuff is not always fun and can be difficult to commit to spending time on, working with a trainer 1 on 1 will help keep you accountable.  Not only this, but spending a full hour will allow for us take our time and dive deeper into specific mobility drills and exercises that you can then incorporate into your daily routine.   

Now unfortunately, many people have the 'if it ain't broke don't fix it' mentality and consider personal training as reactionary as opposed to preventive.  Spending even a few sessions working on those things that will keep us 'unbroken' will pay off in the long run.  

Just to clarify, I'm not suggesting everyone go out and commit to 3 years and 10 grand worth of personal training. Nor am I suggesting that every person needs personal training.  What I am suggesting is that you give some thought to the value personal training could hold for you.  

Many times we just need that extra little push, or that one little tip to help us push through a barrier and take that next step forward in our progress.