5 Tips: How to Have a Great Online Workout
I’ve been a personal trainer in San Francisco since 2011, and when Coronavirus hit, my whole business changed. I went from working in a gym with a packed schedule and all the exercise equipment I could ever want, to creating workouts that my clients could do with what they had in their home, which often, was only a yoga mat. I worried if I’d be able to give them quality workouts, if I’d be able to see and correct their form, if a virtual session would even be any fun. Thankfully, the answer is yes to all of them. Here’s what to expect from your online personal training session:
Find a good camera angle
Whether you’re using your phone, tablet, or laptop, a good camera angle makes all the difference in having a great virtual session. I want to be able to see your whole body, with your arms raised above your head, down to floor exercises.
Before your first virtual session, play around with different spots you can put your camera. Walk around the whole space you’re planning to work out in, because you might be surprised at what you can see from different angles. You might find that different spots allow better coverage of different exercises, which is great!, I also recommend getting a small phone tripod like this one, so that your phone doesn’t fall over during your session.
Make a list of your exercise equipment
That old resistance band in the back of your closet? I can use that! Hardwood floors or carpets? Good on both! Make sure to send your trainer a list of all the equipment you have BEFORE your session, because personal trainers can get pretty creative. Besides the obvious dumbbells, there’s lots in your house that we can use, like:
Photo by Delaney Van on Unsplash
Sturdy chairs
Paper plates
Towels
Socks
Foam Roller
Wall Space
Pillows
Textbooks
Hardwood or Carpet
Yes! I have done exercises with everything on this seemingly odd list. Include ANYTHING you think your trainer might be able to use.
Messy Hair, Don’t Care
Photo by Eduard Militaru on Unsplash
I always try to look professional and clean up my space before I have a session because it’s my business, but I honestly don’t care what your home looks like or if you are wearing your cutest outfit! You can be in your pajamas in your messy apartment, and as long as you show up, I’m happy to see you! If you’re doing a group class, talk to your instructor beforehand about using your image and what options there are to keep your privacy. As long as you are able to move safely, I could care less if there are dirty dishes in the background, or if you’re wearing pants from the dirty laundry. You showed up, that’s all I care about!
Put on some workout music!
Music makes a HUGE difference in the energy of online personal training. I recommend that you play music in your home at a volume where you can still hear your coach’s instructions, or even play it with one earbud in. Don’t know what to play? Here are three workout playlists I’ve made:
Wonderland Workout (I made this personalized playlist for my client who loves T-swift, Beyonce, Harry Styles, and Britney)
Give Feedback
Tell your personal trainer if you enjoyed the workout, how challenging it was, and if there’s anything you’d like to do differently. We want to accommodate you! I usually ask my clients to rate the difficulty of the workout on a scale of 1-10, and then to rate their joy level on a scale of 1-10. I also ask if there’s anything they wanted more or less of.
Photo by Jonas Vincent on Unsplash
Online Personal Training is still a relatively new experience. Make it unique to your needs and get creative. There’s no wrong answer!
Schedule your online personal training consultation with me here
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