Virtual personal training has become one of the most lucrative ways for individuals in the fitness industry to make the most profit.
Opening a gym is costly, and many people like the idea of working out with a trainer in the comfort of their own home. The key to training someone virtually is to make the workouts easy to replicate and the instruction as clear and simple as possible for the client. Complicated workouts that require intricate detail should be left for in-person clientele to prevent injury and maximize safety.
Once the client has mastered jumping jacks, squats, and push-ups, however, virtual training has the potential to become boring and repetitive without the use of some equipment or changes in design.
This article will give you some things to ask your client to purchase and that you should have on hand to spice things up and shake up the monotony. Clients will feel accomplished knowing how to utilize the equipment. And you build up your toolkit as a professional in the field.
1. Dumbbells:
These classic weights will easily kick any strength training workout up a notch. Dumbbells vary in price based on their weight, but a 5-15 lb. pair of dumbbells is affordable for the client and the trainer. Trainers can do a variety of workouts with these fitness instruments and show how to use them properly on screen.
2. Exercise Sliders:
Exercise Sliders are a great addition to your personal training equipment stash because they are easy-to-use, cheap, and easy-to-store. The small discs can be used for lower body, upper body, and core work. These can also easily be slid in a gym bag when training on the go. Clients will appreciate the price of the sliders and the change to their everyday routine.
3. Slam Ball:
This weighted ball can be used for upper body and strength workouts. The price varies based on the size of this ball, but this is also an affordable option for both trainer and client. The Slam Ball is perfect for the client who loves to put some force into their workout.
4. Kettlebell:
The kettlebell is an easy-to-use weight typically used for squats, lunges, and endurance exercises. An alternative to dumbbells, kettlebells give a different spin to weighted exercises and strength training. Similar to the slam ball, kettlebells vary in price based on weight, but these are an affordable addition to the fitness closet.
5. Resistance Bands
Resistance bands are versatile and have many uses including muscle building, calorie burning, and stretching. You can use bands to increase the intensity of many exercises, and clients can keep these handy when more resistance is necessary. Resistance bands are cheap, and clients will appreciate the ability to increase intensity simply by adding a band to their lower thighs or around the arms and back during pushups.
6. Jump rope:
Bring out the inner child in your client and some nostalgia with the jump rope. Clients may already have one on hand and will be quick to get one if they don’t have one. Jump ropes are affordable and you can find them at just about any major retail location. Clients will have the opportunity to switch up their cardio routine and can even easily use the jump rope off the camera when working out alone. Trainers can show advanced workouts like double-unders to those who master this concept quickly.
7. Agility Ladder:
You can use this one for various cardio exercises and agility-style training. Lying on the floor, the ladder is a guide for clients to follow and mirror trainers jumping and hopping between the rungs. Another affordable option, this ladder is easy to store, use, and ready to go with very little assembly and effort.
Bonus: Foam Rollers:
While typically used for preparing for warm-ups and cool-downs, this piece of equipment is great for muscle rehabilitation and loosening muscles for further training. As a very affordable fitness instrument, you can use the foam roller to relieve stress and teach clients proper form when stretching and soothing aching muscles.
Trainers will be able to show their clients that self-care and overall wellness are the main goal of their training when using this tool.
