What is Online Fitness Coaching?
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Online fitness coaching or online personal training is a rapidly growing element of the fitness industry that helps people from all walks of life improve their fitness, daily habits, diet, body composition and generally feel better about themselves.
14th March, 2021
Maybe you're reading this because you want to make some changes in your life and you maybe you have a health or fitness goal in mind but aren't sure whether you want to work with me or even if investing in online coaching is the right choice for you. Maybe you’re not actually sure what online coaching is and want to seek some clarity. Well, you’ve come to the right place.
Coaching online has been accelerated by the COVID-19 global pandemic, partly due to gyms and face-to-face personal training services being forced to close and also because people are becoming more aware of the importance of exercise and nutrition in improving health, longevity and quality of life. Due to increasing rates of obesity across the globe, there are huge demands on health and fitness services to deliver a preventative strategy in order to support and ease pressure on curative services like medicine and health care. Exercise is a healthy lifestyle factor that can - in some cases - prevent or delay the need for medical interventions.
The fitness industry is becoming increasingly flexible, innovative and resilient in order to meet these increasing demands - and one of the solutions is to deliver online.
What exactly is online fitness coaching?
Online coaching is about having someone join your team, who has your best interests at heart and who will help you achieve your fitness goals. Sounds much like a personal trainer at a gym right? Except there are disparities. Online coaching is remote in nature and although you’ll maybe never meet your coach in person, you’ll hopefully build a trusting and strong relationship with them. Investing in a good online coach is a sure fire way of setting yourself up for success, no matter your level of knowledge on the topics of fitness, nutrition and mindset. It’s a way to provide accountability, confidence, support, reassurance, expert opinion and unbiased advice.
So, why choose online fitness coaching?
The possibilities are endless, and in some ways, online coaching may suit you better than face-to-face. Let me explain the benefits of online coaching.
Flexibility – you can choose when to workout around your busy lifestyle and from literally anywhere in the world. You don’t have to join the specific gym your personal trainer works in, or a gym at all for that matter. You don’t have to be limited by clashing diaries or lose money on sessions you can’t make because for example your meeting at work ran over.
Accountability & routine – if your online coach truly cares about your progress, they will be a click or message away to help you with motivation. Any good online coach should check-in with you regularly and help you review progress. Online coaching can also help you with structure and routine and allows you to take ownership of your decisions.
Affordability – generally the cost of online coaching is less than paying per session with a face-to-face personal trainer at the gym.
Expert guidance – you’ll have access to expert knowledge, resources and support outside of your gym sessions. Usually, you’d only have access to your face-to-face personal trainer during the time you physically see them, and in that time you’re probably breathing out your backside on the treadmill, and not paying attention to the other important advice offered to you.
Connect – because you’re not confined to choosing a coach from your local area, you’re more likely to find the one who is the right fit for you, your needs and your values! The world is your oyster!
Every online coach operates slightly differently but there are some common tools and services that might be provided like: progressive training sessions, activity targets, nutrition targets, regular check-ins, structured goal setting, reviews, ongoing support and answers to your questions.
What do I deliver at Catherine Kerr Fitness?
It starts with a conversation about what you’d like help with, where you’re at just now, what and why you’d like to change, and whether we’re the right fit for each other.
I support my clients in identifying their long-term goals and from there we identify where their efforts are best focussed to get the results they want.
A mission of mine is to do this through a combination of:
Empowerment. Enjoyment. Education.
Training
My clients receive their personalised workouts, written by me, through an app called My PT Hub. The app allows my clients to view video demonstrations, read notes and technique tips and record reps and sets. I can even see when clients have completed their workouts and keep an eye on their progress or any problems they might be having.
Nutrition
I set my clients nutrition targets based on their goals and we may track these targets through MyFitnessPal (a popular food tracking app). Other clients may not wish to track their food and ultimately my approach to nutrition is client lead, educational and compassionate and I understand that every client will have different preferences. I’ll identify with my clients, the best approach to their nutrition with an appropriate level of guidance, support and flexibility.
Daily habits and targets
My clients are guided by daily targets that at first seem small but over a long period of time compound to bring amazing results. We can track these on the app or in any other way that works for them.
Weekly check-ins
I use written forms to check in with my clients at the same time every week and I aim to reply to check-ins within 24 hours. The written check-ins are a great way for clients to take time to reflect on their week and allow me to provide as much well thought out and detailed feedback as possible. Sometimes, client check ins will highlight adaptations we need to make to their plan and more often than not gives us a chance to celebrate progress and successes together.
Questions often come up in check ins and I will sometimes answer the less confidential questions in my podcasts or social media posts. If one client is asking, it’s likely other clients will want to know the same thing!
Regular touch points and direct contact
The app can also be used for clients to contact me directly in between check-ins. They may have questions or problems they come up against or need that extra bit of reassurance when struggling to find motivation for a workout. And as well as through the app, my clients can always get in touch through email and social media channels.
If this sounds like it’s for you, fill out the contact form below and we can discuss everything in more detail. If you know you’d like to work with me and you’re ready to make a change, then apply now.
If you just like being here to read and absorb the words in this blog, then welcome and thank you for showing an interest.