The answer to the question in the title is very straightforward:
Of course Covid has changed personal training.
It has changed just about every aspect of the lives we lead and the process hasn’t stopped yet.
From a PT’s perspective, we had to pivot to Zoom sessions and build online platforms in the beginning.
Then, after coming out of lockdown, we had to adjust to coaching from 2m away and wearing masks whilst working.
It’s been a remarkably challenging time period – no doubt.
But I also believe a raft of positives have emerged for us PT’s.
Here are just a few:
1. Physical and mental health have never been more of a priority
We’ve always known that being fit and healthy is important. The general public have always also known that being fit and healthy is important.
But the pandemic has brought health to the forefront of everyone’s mind.
Hell, even the Prime Minister was quoted as saying his biggest lesson throughout this time period is:
“Don’t be a fatty in your fifties.”
Not particularly politically correct, but he got away with it after referring to himself as exactly that.
We certainly experienced a wave of interest when we reopened at the end of August, until restrictions tightened again.
And I believe that wave – much like Covid’s – is certain to repeat itself once restrictions are eased and the vaccine is rolled out en mass.
That’ll lead to more people than ever joining gyms, hiring trainers and making their health their number one prioirty so as they can live longer and fuller lives.
Good news for us!
2. The training world has opened up
Back when I first started working as a personal trainer, I was limited to the members training in the gym I chose to work in.
Social media was in its infancy and my sales and marketing knowledge/understanding were even younger.
As the years ticked by and social media’s popularity and usage skyrocketed, online coaching became popular path for PT’s.
Some trainers dabble a little bit with clients who move away but want to continue working with them.
Some use it as an opportity to supplement their ‘in-gym’ income – I certainly did.
Others simply prefer working from home and enjoy the scalability that comes with not swapping time for money.
During the force-closure of gyms during lockdown, online training became the only way to work with a trainer and Zoom rushed to the forefront of everyone’s consciousness.
Now, in the aftermath of the first lockdown, many individuals have chosen to ditch their gym memberships and continue training from home in order to cut down on their travel time and monetary costs.
This has created a huge market of people who still want support, accountability, and guidance, but don’t want to have to travel to the gym for it.
You’re going to be competing with global powerhouses; such as: Peloton and Apple. But – as has always been my belief – if you’re good enough, there’ll be a share of the market big enough for you.
3. People are finally beginning to understand the importance of NEAT
Any personal trainer worth their salt will implore their clients to move more in their daily lives; unless, of course, weight loss isn’t the goal.
The exercise nerds amongst us refer to this as ‘non-exercise activity thermogenesis’, or NEAT for short.
Increasing NEAT is one of the simplest and most effective methods of improving one’s chances of losing weight.
Pre-Covid, we’d hear the same excuses all of the time when we asked people if they could move more:
“I don’t have time.”; “I work all day.”, “The kids keep me too busy.”, etc.
However, as soon as we were told we could leave the house for one hour per day or to go to the supermarket once per week, NEAT became exeryone’s priority.
No one could go to the gym and many decided they didn’t like working out from home.
So walking – as well as running and cycling, for those who were already more active – became the nations’ main leisure activity.
Coming back in after lockdown, we’ve noticed a huge increase in the importance our clients place on their own NEAT, which makes their weight loss process, and therefore our jobs, a helluva lot easier.
4. Clients are becoming more autonomous
Many times, over the years, I’ve had clients and seen other trainers’ clients become too reliant on their coach for decision making during a session.
Trainer: “What weight did you use last week?”
Client: “I’ve no idea. I pay you so I don’t have to think when I’m in the gym.”
The client’s response is fair enough and understandable. But there does come a point when it’s problematic.
In order to continue to make progress – assuming the individual does want to continue to make progress; some are happy maintaining – an individual must become autonomous and take ownership of their own journey.
That doesn’t mean they no longer need your help.
But it does mean they need to become more aware of the process and think about what they’re doing when they’re in the gym.
Since coming back after lockdown, we can no longer pass people dumbbells or load plates onto their bars for them.
In plainer terms, PT’s can no longer do all of the thinking for their clients.
We have to ask leading questions, such as:
“What weight do you feel you’ll be appropriately challenged by?”
“What weight shall we start with on the bar for your warm up set?”
Granted, these questions should always be asked.
But any PT who has coached or does coach 1-to-1 is lying if they tell you they haven’t been guilty of making all of the decisions for their client in at least one session.
I know I certainly have.
Clients thinking about what they’re doing steepens their learning curve and leads to a quicker development of understanding.
The quicker – and the more – the client learns what’s required from them in the process, the easier it is for them to achieve their goals.
The quicker and more effectively your clients achieve results, the better your reputation – and therefore your career – will be.
Don’t get me wrong, there have certainly been negatives when we look at how Covid has impacted personal trainers.
Communicating effectively with a mask on from two meters away is hard.
Gym membership numbers are currently down as people are still working from home and cautious about being out and about.
Having to wipe everything down after anyone touches it and antibac your hands what feels like every 30 seconds is definitely not fun.
However, I believe, all things considered, the pandemic will lead to a boom in the fitness industry that will see personal trainers benefit over the next decade far more than they’ve been hindered over the past eight months.
It’ll take a while yet, of that I’m sure…
But 2021 will be a huge year for all of us.
If you’re between jobs, fancy a career change or want to add to your current income with a side-hustle, becoming a qualified personal trainer could be just the ticket.
Our first Level 3 Personal Training Diploma kicks off on the 9th of January and one of the few places we have available could be yours.
Head over to our Level 3 page to read more about what’s involved and be sure to drop your details down if you’re interested.
