What to Expect from Your First Personal Training Session

You’ve always wanted to run a marathon, but you’re unsure how to build up your strength and endurance. A fitness professional, such as a personal trainer, can help, says Cathy Osipow, certified personal trainer, senior fitness specialist, stretch specialist, and certified functional nutritionist at High Quality Home Therapy. Our team boasts extensive experience, including Ernie Bojorquez, a certified personal trainer, and Sara Florio, an occupational therapist, certified personal trainer and nutritional consultant.

We see personal training as much more than taking your fitness to the next level. In this blog, we share our insights on what personal training is and what to expect from your first personal training session.

What is a personal trainer?

Let’s get started by defining what a personal trainer is. Many of us are familiar with athletic trainers in professional sports, the healthcare professionals who help our favorite players heal and regain mobility after an injury on the field. Or perhaps you or someone you know did physical therapy to regain mobility or strength after surgery or an injury.

A personal trainer may perform some of the same tasks as other professionals; however, personal trainers have expertise in a much broader scope of wellness and overall health, including fitness, nutrition, and exercise. But that’s not all. Personal trainers are skilled communicators with well-developed motivational and interpersonal skills.

Think of personal training as a plan to help you become the best version of you with the best and most empathic coach leading you every step of the way.

Personalized wellness plans suited for you

If you ever jumped on the weight loss bandwagon for the trendy new diet plan that includes exercise, you are aware that a majority of these plans pretend that everyone is alike and will react the same. Tell that to the person eating a healthy salad and struggling to lose weight, dining with her super-thin best friend, devouring a plate of greasy French fries.

The inconvenient truth is that every person has a unique set of factors, such as metabolism and lifestyle, which determine how their body burns fuel. You need to incorporate these factors into any wellness plan — that’s where a professional trainer comes in.

Begins with a 60-90 minute first personal training session

The typical personal training session lasts about 45 minutes to an hour, but your first training session takes a little longer. Think of it as a get-to-know-each other session with time allotted for a consultation, data collection, a fitness assessment, and a light workout.

 Come prepared by wearing comfortable workout clothes and bringing a list of questions to ask.  

The session begins with a consultation to learn more about your wellness goals and lifestyle. During the consultation, your personal trainer also reviews your medical and family medical history. 

The next step involves a fitness assessment, where your trainer determines a baseline on your current fitness level by having you perform specific movements to screen for strength and flexibility.  

With this initial data, your personal trainer guides you through a light 30 to 40-minute workout. This introductory workout centers on technique and form. Your personal trainer uses this part of your first training session to evaluate your fitness level.

The session closes with feedback and an opportunity for you to ask questions. Your personal trainer then shares recommendations on what your personalized wellness plan would look like and how that translates into future scheduling and frequency of sessions.

At High Quality Home Therapy, our personal trainers are part of a multidisciplinary team of occupational therapists, physical therapists, and massage therapists, providing a comprehensive approach to your wellness.

For added convenience, we can work with you in our gym, your gym, home, or one of our locations in Connecticut and Westchester, New York.

If you are ready to embark on a journey to your best fitness and overall wellness, call High Quality Home Therapy in Stamford, Connecticut, today or use our online feature to schedule an appointment.