Online Training - Pro's & Con's

The world of the internet, apps and advancing technology are enhancing further options and opportunities for health, fitness and online training programs. I feel this is a good thing, providing more access to people worldwide.

The world of the internet, apps and advancing technology are enhancing further options and opportunities for health, fitness and online training programs. I feel this is a good thing, providing more access to people worldwide. Especially as fitness, nutrition and overall health is needed in today’s society where obesity is becoming a significant health issue combined with many other illnesses and diseases that healthy lifestyles can manage, cure or prevent.

Like anything though, there are pros and cons of this type of training.

So, what are the pros?

There are many pros to online training, especially with the implementation of apps, videos, real-time communication and AI.

Firstly, online training in many instances, you can do in your own time. If you have your own program, or programs are on demand, you can do them at a time that suits you.

Next, many aspects of health can be implemented into an online program such as exercise, nutrition coaching, mindset strategies, and lifestyle coaching. This allows many components to be offered through the one space.

Potentially too, online training may be cheaper financially, due to primarily paying for access to the program and the knowledge that is portrayed to the client. It may save costs in needing to access multiple areas of health and pay for separate consultations or sessions, such as nutritionist, personal trainer, and mindset/lifestyle coach. Separate sessions with each of those can become a costly weekly expense.

Online training may also save time, especially for those who have busy lifestyles and don’t have the time or opportunity to attend a gym or other face-to-face fitness sessions. Being able to perform sessions at home, without the need to travel can cut down on time and expenses.

Finally, it can be great for those who lack the confidence to attend gyms or train in public areasand prefer to do their own thing in private.

And, the cons…?

As with anything, there are cons and not every style of program is suited to everyone. Since delivering online programs myself, I am aware of the few limitations and downsides of this style of training. However, I do feel the pros outweigh the cons.

Firstly, from a trainer’s perspective, I can’t monitor technique like I can with face-to-face clients to ensure the exercise is being performed correctly. For this reason, I tend to program a little more conservatively to reduce the risk of injuries occurring. This means the client may not be training at a level they are truly capable of, and small movements that ideally should be identified can go overlooked.

Secondly, the social interaction and those who thrive from others is limited. Yes, there are opportunities to create groups for support and community, but it isn’t quite the same as the social gatherings that can occur in group environments or attending an actual location.

So, there are pros and cons of the above, with online training not ideally suitable for those who are looking for a vibrant group environment and the social aspect of training. There are, however, many other benefits.

I work primarily with rural women, who are busy, time-poor and typically don’t have access to a gym or fitness facilities.

Despite the distance, locations and various demographics, I have found it is certainly possible to form quality relationships with clients and create a healthy group environment in an online space.

Having all the data, results, programs, nutrition, habits and lifestyle coaching in one place makes it very easy to demonstrate results, communicate and form quality professional relationships online. I have found it a lovely experience to meet many Australian rural women and become part of their lives and journey towards better health.

So, if you’re contemplating if an online program may work for you, I would suggest looking into it. There can be many benefits.

As a side note, I don’t have any joining fees or lock-in contracts. Others may call me crazy, but I understand what rural life can be like; the struggles that can be faced, how income can be destroyed in a matter of days and all can change in a short period of time.