Are online trainers traitors?

Christina · Joined: 14 Apr 2006 Posts: 851

Do you guys think that personal trainers who market online programs to the general population are putting fellow trainers out of business? I was just looking at a newly launched website by a personal training marketing guru and I found myself getting irritated. The program takes the user through a warm up, allows them to choose exercises, music, etc.

Do you think these types of trainers are traitors? As technology advances do you think the need for personal trainers will diminish? Just curious how others view this.

Christina

muscletrainerdh-NSCA CPT · Joined: 21 Apr 2006 Posts: 394 Location: New Castle, PA

Not at all.

There are people who will take to "On Line" training and there are people who need someone there in person barking at them rep by rep.

Now, that being said, I don't feel betrayed as much as I feel ENVY as to "Why Didn't I Think of That?" and I fully admit I'm a tad jealous.

I mean take Joey Atlas, his new book is out today. And I bought it, but I bet you dollars to donuts that there is nothing in his book that I already don't know and couldn't have written myself. (No offense to Joey, he seems like a great knowledgable guy) But he's got a Masters in Exercise Science, has trained about a million clients, and was one of the front runners on the Personal training INternet Marketing wave when it first started.

But at this point there are so many Fitness E-books out there by legitimate and not so legitimate trainers I just throw my hands in the air and say "Whatever". I mean truthfully if we did a study, printed out all the ebooks from so Called "Experts" in the fitness field, how many of them would actually have "new" "groundbreaking" material? I'm guessing fewer than 10%. So until I've uncovered something that is truly groundbreak that I think the general population can benefit from, I will avoid recycling old ideas and methods via an ebook.

Okay, I'm off my little soap box.

Dave

Christina · Joined: 14 Apr 2006 Posts: 851

Yeah, you're right, Dave. But for some reason I get really annoyed by some of this stuff. Especially when these fellow trainers give the impression that people no longer need a trainer. How can that be good for the industry as a whole?

megfit · Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2008 2:27 pm Post subject:

Hi Christina,

I actually think the online training idea is a great one! Although I still have my 'coaching gym' on my megfit site, I'm not taking new clients, but the few I still have really like the concept. Granted, it's combined with a lot of life coaching, too, though. Plus, they are all in different areas of the country. In fact, ONE of those clients, her husband is also using a trainer online!

I seriously doubt that anyone who would otherwise call you would consider an online training program, though. AND, I think it could increase the number of people who might at least try it to see if they like exercising, first, which could then lead them to move to the next step, which might be to find a local trainer to get more specific.

I see two scenarios for people who would consider an online trainer:
1 - They travel a lot and can't set any routine schedule at a consistent location,
2 - They wouldn't ever hire someone to work with them live, to begin with (maybe too self-conscious, but comfortable with the online concept).

As an example of #2, a colleague and I have been discussing the online concept and he decided to try it with a couple of his clients. He said they LOVED it!

The clients I have are at no risk of injury, because most were already fit before I started working with them, and one is GRADUALLY progressing her activity level. However, this definitely is an issue that any trainer would need to be concerned with in taking clients they have never worked with/evaluated, first. So, this guy may not even be around long if he hasn't set up safety protections for his clients (and himself). And, we all know that quick promises for an 'online' solution are just gimmicks that will eventually die off.

For you, I could see you adding this as a service to your current clients for when they leave town. Then the lost income would be minimalized!

But, I'm wondering what was it about the site that bothered you? There must have been something else there?

Margie

Christina · Joined: 14 Apr 2006 Posts: 851

Hi Margie!

You are 100% right. And I do offer what I call "independent training" for my clients. But it's stuff like Ryan Lee's new site that gets me fired up. Here are some comments taken from this site:

"Many personal trainers make exercise and weight loss more complicated than it has to be."

"After all, spending just one session with even an average personal trainer will set you back anywhere from $80 to $120. And that’s just for one session. And Ryan is the most expensive fitness coach in the world (he charges $1,000.00 per session)"

How can these types of comments be good for the industry? Why would he "slam" personal trainers when we're the ones putting cash in his pocket? I'm confused.

I think there is nothing wrong with online training but there's no need to put down other trainers, especially when you have deep pockets and the ability to reach the masses. I don't know... it just seems kind of unethical to me.

Christina

megfit · Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2008 3:36 pm Post subject:

Ah. Yes.

Unfortunately, this is what will sell his services, though. I do agree it's questionable ethics.

And, see; he's been effective with his selling tactics even among professionals!

But here's the thing; those who do not agree with his ethics and values will look elsewhere.

Will it impact training as a whole, what he's doing? Probably not. If he can deliver, great, but not all styles work for everyone, so some will drop out and look for what fits better for them.

Margie

standAPART · Guest

I am really glad I stand apart. Envious

kaiserS · Joined: 31 Dec 1969 Posts: 65

standAPART · Guest

Christina · Joined: 14 Apr 2006 Posts: 851

standAPART · Guest

Christina, It is all about one thing....

$$$$

I want to make active income (hand on training at my facility) and I want to make passive income (selling products trough my online ventures). In either case, I feel unscathed by this marketing crap because I actually do what I sell.

kaiserS · Joined: 31 Dec 1969 Posts: 65

standAPART · Guest

Kaiser,
That was a good intro to Jason and a great interview you conducted. I truly believe that anyone in this field that spends less and less time actually in front of people, really shouldn't be in the field or really don't want to be in it.

kaiserS · Joined: 31 Dec 1969 Posts: 65

C Lenart · Joined: 22 Aug 2006 Posts: 53 Location: Ventura, CA

One of the things that troubles me the most about online training is the fact that the trainer is not there to "supervise" the client. Whose to say if the client is performing an exercise with proper technigue and form? Anyone can put a one size fits all canned Powerpoint presentation together on a website but that doesn't make up for personal attention from a trained instructor.

One key item that comes to mind with "online training" is what happens if the client gets injured while performing exercises that he or she learned during an "online" exercise presentation. Yesterday, I was working out in the weight room at my health club and I noticed several people performing resistance exercises in such a manner that could easily have led to injury. Here are just a few common examples. One guy was doing arm curls while heavily arching his back, another person was snapping his knees while performing leg extension, and the list goes on.

If I stop and ask myself if I would set these people loose without supervising them personally, the answer is no. Not to mention the potential legal complications if someone were to get injured and possibly sue me if something happened to them after performing an exercise on one of my videos. One of the things that comes to mind is did I exercise reasonable care by allowing clients to perform exercises without some kind of supervision? I wrote a piece on legal liability issues for trainers a year or so ago detailing the need for supervision as well as other issues.

http://www.fitnessthinktank.com/forum/legal-liability-issues-for-personal-trainers-vt221.html

Frankly, I can see a lot of possibilities for online marketing and sales when it comes to following up with clients. I could see how clients could keep up with their trainer by keeping an online log of their foods that they have eaten so that the trainer knows if they are meeting their nutritional needs. In other words, online training is used as an adjunct to on site personal training sessions.

Just my thoughts...

Curt
ACSM Health/Fitness Instructor

kaiserS · Joined: 31 Dec 1969 Posts: 65

that was a great article -

Yeah, in my overzealousness to serve these clients, I totally overlooked the legal/professional responsibility aspect - oh, well, I can just correct course -

Thanks for the heads-up -