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Category: Personal Training

Benefits of Personalized Training Programs

In the quest for optimal health and fitness, personalized training programs have emerged as a powerful tool for unlocking one’s full potential. Navigating the myriad of exercise routines and fitness advice can be overwhelming, leaving you needing guidance on where to begin or how to proceed. This is where a certified personal trainer and custom personalized training come into play. By combining the expertise of a professional with a tailored approach, you can significantly increase the likelihood of achieving your fitness goals. Tailoring exercise regimens to an individual’s unique needs, goals, abilities, and lifestyle will lead to more significant and lasting results than generic and one-size-fits-all workout routines or random workouts on social media.

Customization to Your Specific Needs and Goals

Personal trainers meet you where you are at.  Personalized training programs are designed for YOUR success and where you are starting. One of the most significant advantages of personalized training programs created by certified personal trainers is their ability to be customized to your unique needs and goals. A certified personal trainer will assess your current fitness level, medical history, fitness history, lifestyle and personal objectives to create a tailored workout plan to optimize your results. This individualized approach ensures that every aspect of your training program is geared towards helping you achieve your goals: strength, building muscle, improving mobility, increasing cardiovascular function, improving athletic performance, or enhancing overall health.

Greater Accountability and Motivation

Working with a certified personal trainer in a private gym setting provides a higher level of accountability and motivation. Knowing someone closely monitors your progress and expects you to attend your workouts can be a powerful motivator. Additionally, your trainer will provide ongoing encouragement and support, helping you stay on track and committed to your fitness journey.

Optimal Exercise Selection and Technique

Personalized training programs incorporate exercises specifically chosen to target your individual needs and goals. A certified personal trainer will ensure that your workout routines include the most effective exercises for your objectives and will teach you the proper technique to perform them safely and efficiently. This attention to detail maximizes the benefits of each workout and reduces the risk of injury.

Adaptability and Flexibility

Your needs and abilities may change as you progress through your fitness journey. Personalized training programs are designed to adapt to these changes, ensuring your workouts remain challenging and effective. Your personal trainer will continually assess your progress and adjust your schedule, helping you stay on track toward your goals and avoiding plateaus.

Time Efficiency

With busy lives and limited time, making the most of your time available for exercise is essential. Personalized training programs are designed to be time-efficient, ensuring that you get the maximum benefit from each workout. You can achieve better results in less time by focusing on exercises explicitly targeting your goals.

 

Ongoing Education and Support

Getting a personalized exercise program from a personal trainer allows for ongoing education and support throughout your fitness journey. Your trainer can teach you about healthier habits, exercise techniques, and other aspects of a healthy lifestyle. This knowledge can empower you to make informed decisions about your health and fitness, leading to lasting health and well-being.

Personalized exercise programs offer numerous benefits to help you unlock your full potential and achieve your fitness goals. By providing a customized approach, greater accountability, optimal exercise selection, adaptability, time efficiency, and ongoing education and support, these programs can lead to more significant and lasting results than cookie-cutter workout routines. So, if you’re ready to take your fitness journey to the next level, consider investing in a personalized training program from a certified personal trainer and experience the transformative power of tailored exercise regimens.

 

Shara Vigeant, BA, NSCA-CPT, CFSC

Hiring a Certified Personal Trainer This Fall

As summer’s carefree days wane and the disciplined rhythm of fall takes over, there’s a renewed emphasis on routines, especially regarding health and fitness. This transition offers a new opportunity to invest in a certified personal trainer. If you’re in south Edmonton, one name stands out: SVPT Fitness & Athletics. A locally owned and operated gem, SVPT has pioneered the personal training industry for 15 years, setting unparalleled standards.

Why Invest in a Certified Personal Trainer this Fall?

  1. Personalized Guidance: Every individual is unique — in terms of goals, fitness history, physical conditions, and motivations. A certified personal trainer recognizes these nuances and crafts workouts tailored just for you. Whether your summer was filled with indulgences or prolonged inactivity, they gauge where you are now and chart a path forward.  SVPT certified personal trainers meet you where you are at and will guide you to your fitness goals safely and effectively.
  2. Structured Return to Routine: While self-motivation can get you started, maintaining consistency can be challenging. With summer over, the structured approach of a personal trainer ensures you’re not only returning to fitness but also evolving in your journey. Regular sessions with a personal trainer ensure that you get started and stay committed by helping you establish a routine. Personal trainers can help you create a routine that will work for you and your lifestyle. Routine creates consistency, and consistency is the key to success.
  3. Safety First: After a summer hiatus from structured exercise or trying something new, there’s a risk of injury without proper guidance. Certified personal trainers ensure you perform activities correctly, use equipment safely, and progressively intensify workouts as needed.
  4. Accountability and Motivation: One of the critical challenges in maintaining a fitness routine is staying accountable. Scheduled sessions with a personal trainer ensure you show up, push your limits safely and effectively, and remain committed to your wellness journey even when the initial enthusiasm wanes.
  5. Expertise and Knowledge: SVPT’s certified personal trainer brings a wealth of expertise in anatomy, exercise physiology, and the latest in fitness trends.  Whether your goal is to increase strength, improve cardiovascular, and improve mobility and flexibility, this expertise translates to more effective and efficient training programs and a comprehensive understanding of your fitness journey.

 

Why Choose SVPT Fitness & Athletics?

With numerous fitness options in south Edmonton, why should SVPT Fitness & Athletics be your go-to destination this fall?

  1. 15 Years of Excellence: A decade and a half in the fitness industry is not just a number. It’s a testimony to consistent excellence, adaptability to fitness trends, and a commitment to client wellness. With SVPT, you’re not just getting a gym; you’re getting a legacy.
  2. Privacy Matters: Unlike crowded commercial gyms where you often wait for equipment or feel overwhelmed, SVPT offers a private gym experience. This privacy ensures personalized attention and a comfortable environment to improve your fitness and focus on your goals.
  3. Highly Qualified Trainers: At SVPT, certification is just the beginning. The trainers are seasoned professionals who undergo continuing education and training to stay updated with the latest in fitness and improve themselves as coaches. Their expertise ensures you’re in safe, knowledgeable hands.
  4. Mental Health: Fitness is not just about physical exercises. Research has shown that exercise can improve mental health and well-being.  Exercise stimulates the release of endorphins, chemicals in the brain that act as natural painkillers and mood elevators. They are often referred to as “happy hormones.” A personal trainer provides a structured routine, instilling a sense of discipline and purpose. Having a routine and sticking to it can be grounding and give a sense of stability.  Interacting with a personal trainer provides social engagement, which can help reduce feelings of loneliness or isolation. Regular social contact can benefit mental health, even if it’s just one person.
  5. Community Feel: While the gym offers a private experience, it also fosters a sense of community among its members. The environment is one of mutual encouragement, motivation, and shared goals.

As we transition from the free-spirited summer to the disciplined tones of fall, ensuring your fitness doesn’t get left behind is crucial. A certified personal trainer offers guidance, structure, and expertise in this transition. And in south Edmonton, SVPT Fitness & Athletics is the best choice for a private, personalized, and effective fitness experience. As the leaves change colour, let this season be the one where you transform, evolve, and achieve your fitness goals with SVPT by your side.

 

Shara Vigeant, BA, NSCA-CPT, CFSC

Click here to book your free assessment!

Exercising vs. Training

As summer winds down, and we approach ‘fall back to fitness’, many will be seeking the fitness routine they had before summer shenanigans. So as you get back into your routine, ask yourself – are you training or are you just exercising?

Exercise and training might often be used as synonymous terms, but there are a few important distinctions between the two. Exercise can best be thought of as physical activity that serves an immediate purpose and effect. It is done for its own sake, whether that is during the workout or immediately after. This “effect” or “purpose” can include burning calories, getting a pump on, getting sweaty, or as a way to blow off steam & de-stress. Training, on the other hand, is utilizing physical activity to achieve a definite performance objective, which is often long-term. The difference between exercise and training is a question of intention.

Training is a process designed to achieve a specific result. It is a pre-determined progression of activity designed to satisfy a long-term performance goal. Training is less about the workouts individually than it is about the process of utilizing the workouts to reach the ultimate training goal, or the cumulative effect of the individual workouts. The results are reached by progressing week after week, tracking progress and adjusting as needed. Training is about long-term improvement for a specific purpose, which often means displacing the immediate feeling of having achieved a goal until that goal is realized down the line.

The primary goal of exercise is, generally, to keep you healthy. Exercising can produce immediate results, and results over the long term even; however, training is deciding on a goal and using physical activity to achieve that goal. Long-term results from consistent exercise are a welcome by-product but are not the outcome of intentional physical activity. Any program that features exposure at random to various types of physical stress cannot produce a specific physical adaptation. Past a certain point the adaptation that occurs naturally with exercise will stop, a point that occurs relatively quickly.

Should we all be training? Not necessarily. It’s more about your specific goals. If the goal is to maintain health, exercising might be sufficient, and the most important thing would then be to choose exercise options that motivate you to continue and be consistent. Jumping from program to program or choosing random workouts can be a great way to exercise without getting bored. For those who have specific goals, a long-term training program with trackable results is more appropriate.

Kristen Hansen, BA, CSEP-CPT, PFT-NAIT, NASM-CES, FRCms
SVPT Fitness & Athletics

It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year?

Hustle and bustle! That’s usually what comes to mind with the holiday season and family obligations, work parties, and other social gatherings. This usually means less free time and lots of (tasty) foods and drinks. Maybe this is what sparks the desire in most people to start up a new exercise program in the New Year as a result of guilty feelings towards a month of poor eating and neglecting your healthy routines. Many gyms thrive on the unrealistic goals of the “resolutionists”, but the best ones remain steady throughout the year because they teach balance and not using shame to make you feel like you need to “exercise away” the holiday weight gain.

The #SVPTway isn’t about shame or guilt surrounding the holidays. True LONG TERM success is about recognizing the ebbs and flows of life and not feeling bad when you have less time to give to your healthy habits. The holidays are a time for maintenance, not for making gains in fitness. But hey, if you are making gains then keep it up. We are just saying that maintenance is AWESOME during this time of year. Just keep moving and get some exercise in where you can. Be attentive to what you’re putting in your body, but life is short (READ: eat the damn cake). While the New Year might inspire you to get back into routine and maybe work a bit harder, remember that getting back into things means that you’re going to need to ease in to avoid a burnout. Remember that setting sustainable goals will help you stick to your new routine. Hiring a certified, qualified trainer can help you learn how to set attainable goals and stay motivated as well as keep you accountable which usually means sticking to the plan for longer.

Tips for December training:
● Try to get in exercise where you can – not only will this help you keep your gains, but also relieve holiday stress, and give you a moment of YOU time
● Don’t be afraid to change it up if travel and time means you can’t do what you normally do – opt for outdoor activities, a new class, etc. – something is better than nothing
● Try to incorporate movement into family activities when you can – get everyone moving

Tips for January training:
● Ease into it – don’t go all out in the beginning
● Create SMART goals that are attainable and sustainable – just because its January 1st, doesn’t mean your life has miraculously changed and all of a sudden you can do more than what you could in 2019
● Stay away from trends and challenges
● Hire a trainer to keep you accountable and teach you how to be independent, after all, you don’t want to be making the SAME goals next year. Next year you should be hitting NEW ones!

What Makes a Good Personal Trainer?

A new year usually means health and fitness resolutions.  Many seek help from personal trainers, which is a great investment into accountability, motivation, technique, effectiveness, and efficiency.

The good news?  There are so many fantastic trainers out there.

The bad news?  The health and fitness industry is a billion dollar industry, making it easy for anyone to get ‘certified’ as a personal trainer.  Certifications are available to anyone over a weekend or online in hours and that means there are many bad personal trainers out there.

Trainers that lack proper and thorough education can potentially injure a client, or create a bad experience for the client, and this makes it bad for the good personal trainers out there.

So how do you find a good trainer?   Start with an interview.   You are investing a lot of money and should make sure the person guiding you on this journey is a good fit for you and most importantly, qualified.

Consider these key points in the interview:

Education.  Where did they receive education and/or certification?  Is it accredited?  Google is your friend — look into their certification and education to make sure it is legit.

Experience.  How much experience do they have? Minimal experience isn’t necessarily a bad thing (everyone has to start somewhere).  If they have a solid education and certification, experience might not be an issue for you (this leads to the next point).

References.  Ask for references from current or previous clients.  Even trainers with minimal experience will have references.  Talking to someone who has worked with the trainer can give you valuable information that you might not get directly from the trainer.

Continuing Education.  Since their initial education or certification have they continued to learn, grow, evolve?  A trainer that is always learning is one that that is passionate about their clients and career.  They are always seeking to add more tools to the toolbox and seeking to be better, so they can further help their clients.

Now that you have interviewed the trainer and have found a solid education and background, what characteristics in the trainer should you look for?

Honesty.  You are not hiring them to tell you what you want to hear; it’s about what you NEED to hear.  Sometimes you don’t want to hear what they have to say, but you have hired them to help you identify strengths and weaknesses in your body and lifestyle; and sometimes the truth hurts.

Positive Energy.  There is nothing worse than coming into a session after a tough day, and your trainer is a dull, sad panda.   Their energy should make you want to be there, to push and work harder (and have fun doing it!).

Humor.  Let’s face it, being able to smile and laugh in a challenging training session can make it a little less awful, especially when it comes to doing stuff you do not necessarily like (but need).  Exercise can be fun while working hard, maintaining proper form and focus!

Attention.  They learn about you, your lifestyle and goals and then create training around that, and not force you into a program that is unrealistic.  During the session, their focus is on you, not their cell phones, other people in the gym, or shiny objects passing by.   How can they help you if they don’t pay attention to you?

Professionalism.  They are on time, dress appropriately, follow up with emails/texts/calls regarding your sessions promptly, treat you with respect and talk to you like an adult.  Also, they leave their personal drama at home.

Approachability.  They are easy to approach with concerns or questions.  Nothing is worse than a trainer that is so scary and serious that you are scared to ask questions.

Open Mindedness.  Trainers should be open to other training protocols and what fits for YOU.  There is no ONE right way – it always depends on the client.

Problem Solvers.  They are good at solving problems or at least TRY to solve problems.  They are not scared to say ‘I don’t know’ but will look it up or ask a peer for the answer.  They refer out.  Trainers are not doctors – if they see a problem outside of the scope of our expertise, then they should urge you to see a professional.

Walk the Talk.   The best way for a trainer to relate to and coach a client is by experiencing it themselves.  They should practice what they preach and live a healthy, fit and balanced lifestyle that is consistent with what they are trying to get you to do.

At the end of the day, it comes down to BUYER BEWARE.  Take the trainer for a test drive before committing to 100 sessions.  Buy a few sessions first to make sure it’s a fit!

 

Shara Vigeant, BA, CPT, CFSC

Why Hire a Personal Trainer?

It’s simple — hiring an SVPT certified personal trainer can take out the confusion and guess work about proper training as well as reduce the risk of injury. In the long run personal training can help save you time and money all while getting you fitter and healthier, and living a fuller life.

  1. Assessment
    Many of you are doing exercises and programs that just aren’t suited for your body, fitness level, or goals. This is why many exercise and see no results.  Assessments can teach you about the imbalances, strengths and weaknesses in your body. Assessments help SVPT personal trainers create a program that is individually suited to you so you can train to your full potential, without wasting time and risking injury.
  2. Knowledge
    Hiring a personal trainer is an investment. During your sessions, you will learn the how and why to train effectively, efficiently, and safely. We educate you so you can take away as much knowledge as possible, so when the time comes you can train on your own, and do so with confidence. We expect you to leave the nest eventually, in fact that is our goal, is to have you feel so educated and confident, that you can train on your own. When you leave the nest it means we have done our jobs in teaching you how to train properly.
  3. Motivation
    We all struggle with training motivation at some point. A personal trainer can give you the extra little kick in the butt when you struggle. We can’t do the work for you and we can’t make you want it, but we can give you a little nudge in the right direction.
  4. Accountability
    Accountability is strongly tied to motivation. A personal trainer can keep you on track with your goals so you can get the results you seek. Life can get in the way, and usually the first thing to go is exercise. Consistency is the key to success, and having someone to hold you accountable can keep you consistent and on track.
  5. Goal Setting
    Sometimes we want everything all at once, but that is usually a little unrealistic and overwhelming. Our personal trainers can help you set realistic fitness goals that are achievable and in-line with your lifestyle, fitness level and budget.

So now that you know the WHY, learn what you should be looking for in a personal trainer and check out our blog from January 2018 – “What Makes a Good Personal Trainer?”

Shara Vigeant, BA, NSCA-CPT*D, CFSC

No Trends, No Fads, No Quick Fixes

Some might say what we do at SVPT is boring.  From a certain point of view that is true, as we aren’t sexy, we aren’t flashy, and maybe the cool kids don’t dig us.  But what we are great at is teaching you to master your movement and build fitness that will ultimately make you a bad-ass in life…….for the long term, not just for the next 2 months.

There is no screaming at you, making you puke, or trying to crush your soul.   We believe in building you up, not breaking you down.  I mean, isn’t that the reason you started exercising in the first place – to feel better physically, mentally, and emotionally? No one likes to walk away from a workout feeling worse than when they walked in.

It’s not about being flashy or sexy, cool or stylish – it’s about building fundamental movement skills through challenging fitness fun.  Mastering fundamentals reduces injuries, slows aging, and builds a body that allows you to live a fuller life. When you move better, you live better.  Isn’t that what fitness is supposed to be about? Living a better and more full life, because you are physically able to.

We frequently get asked, “Hey have you seen the latest fitness trend _______ on social media?”.  We see it.  We have cringed at it, and we don’t do it.  We don’t get caught up in the latest social media phenoms.   (And we won’t name any of the current trends/fads out there, because this is not about bashing them, it’s about explaining why we don’t buy into them.)

Training trends and fads are usually the ‘latest and greatest’ exercise, system, or concept to gain attention in the fitness industry or achieve notoriety on social media.  However, just as the latest diet and fashion trends die off, training fads and trends will fade.  And after they fade, you will see many coaches and trainers reverting back to tried and true ‘boring’ systems, because they work.

Boring works.  Simple is genius.  So yeah, we are kind of geniuses.

While we do continuously educate ourselves about the “new” fitness trends, we have found that the common themes of most good fitness systems in our industry involve simplicity.  As we continue our education, we continue adding more tools to our training toolbox.  But more importantly, we learn through experience when it is appropriate to use those tools.  This would include knowing when to use non-traditional or “fancy” implements such as kettlebells, bands, chains, TRX, stability balls, etc. We also know when and when not to use more advanced training methods such as eccentric training, tempo, volume, etc.

A lot of the trends and fads can be effective (for a time), but it comes down to understanding if these trends and fads serve the client’s purpose and goals LONG TERM, because we want to see you continue with your fitness, not blast a 30 day challenge twice a year.  Quick fixes in fitness are just that – quick.  Often not long lasting.  Building fitness is a skill and takes time, just like any other skill.  If you are jumping around from trend to trend, you are more than likely risking injury and not truly building a solid fitness foundation. A foundation is what you need to sustain fitness for the rest of your life.

Great coaching, efficient programming, and good results will never go out of style. More importantly, they will never stop being effective.  Mastering the basics and building a foundation will never be wasted time, and learning quality movement will always be important.  It’s a matter of understanding when the basics can be modified to make them more challenging and fun, but still effective and safe…not a circus act to post on Instagram that will eventually make the Gym Fails compilation.

So when a client vocalizes their disdain for a certain exercise due to boredom or simply because it is a hard exercise, we remind them of the why.  Something wonderful happens when you explain to a client why they are doing something. They become empowered.  All of a sudden they do that exercise just a little bit better.  Ultimately our job is for you to feel confident enough to leave our little gym nest……FLY BIRDIE FLY!   Our job is to have you not need us anymore, and if we are constantly bouncing from trend to trend, we aren’t giving you the foundations to understand fitness and do it on your own.

You will notice we do not sell anything or push anything flashy, sexy, or trendy on you except good old-fashioned hard work, consistency, and sound programming.  That is the secret, our “secret”.

 

Shara Vigeant, BA, NSCA-CPT*D, CFSC