In-Home training vs. Gym Training

In-Home Training vs Gym Training

So you’ve finally decided that you need to get into shape and exercise.  Now the decision is where do you train?  Train at the gym?  Or train at home?  Each one has their advantages and disadvantages.  And how can you overcome the disadvantages?

Gym Training

The typical gym has a large variety of equipment to utilize in training.  Also the group setting that a gym provides is a great motivator for some people.  When a large group of people are exercising, there’s an energy that people feed off of, aiding them in putting forth more effort in their workouts.

However, that same group of people that others feed off of can easily become a mass of humanity.  Many of the commercial gyms in the Silicon Valley can easily become overcrowded, especially during peak hours.  Waiting for machines and exercise equipment is commonplace.  Also, the fees to join a gym can be very expensive, reaching into the hundreds or even thousands of dollars each year.

In-Home Training

In-home training is ideal for various groups of people.  There are quite a few of those that work out of their homes in the San Francisco Bay Area however still need to be at the fingertips of their computers, blackberries, etc.  There are also the homemakers that may be busy with such things as taking care of their young children and don’t want to be away from them for an extended period of time.  There is yet another group of people that may be self conscience of their looks for whatever the reason and in-home training maybe more suited for them.  There is no travel time to and from the gym.  Convenience is the main draw.

The disadvantage to most in-home training is the general lack of equipment.  Some have home gyms, but most lack any equipment.  Purchasing equipment can be costly.   Becoming knowledgeable in various exercises such as bodyweight training, medicine ball training, etc can be daunting for some people.  Also making the workouts fun and creative can be a challenge.  Many people eventually find that their familiar routine of exercises become stale and boring and hence quit working out.

Another big disadvantage is the many potential distractions around the house.  The TV, couch, phone, computer all can lead to an unfinished and unfulfilling workout.  Also motivation, or the lack of it, can easily set in when a person trains alone at home.

The Advantages of Hiring a Personal Trainer

Many of the disadvantages of both training at the gym and in-home training can be overcome by hiring a qualified personal trainer.  If the gym is crowded and equipment is all used up, a creative personal trainer can easily devise a workout plan by utilizing unconventional forms for training such as bodyweight training and plyometric exercises.  The same holds true for in-home training.  There’s no need to buy expensive home gyms if a person hires a personal trainer that specializes in in-home training.  The trainer will have portable fitness equipment such as kettlebells, medicine balls and TRX suspension straps.  And lack of motivation will not be an issue.  The personal trainer will make sure that the client is pushed to get a full workout.