How Personal Trainers Can Adapt To The Coronavirus Crisis

With states across the U.S. issuing shelter-in-place orders to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus, gyms and personal trainers have taken a hit. The six-feet distancing rule makes it hard for trainers to provide the hands-on assistance their clients pay for, even in states that haven't enacted strict restrictions. What can trainers do to adapt to these new restrictions while still providing services to clients? Learn more about a few of the ways personal trainers have revamped their regimens to accommodate the restrictions posed by the coronavirus crisis.

Why Is In-Person Training Discouraged? 

Even for trainers and clients who are healthy and haven't had any known exposure to the novel coronavirus, the virus can still pose risks. If an asymptomatic person comes to your training facility, they may leave germs behind, even with careful cleaning; some researchers have posited that virus particles can live, suspended in air, for hours after the infected individual has left the room.

And for those who live in states where gyms and training studios have been deemed "non-essential" services and closed to the public, the legal and PR backlash of continuing to operate amid a serious public health crisis, even on a limited basis, can be far more costly than a temporary shutdown.

What Should Fitness Professionals Do During This Time?

Personal trainers and other fitness professionals have a few options during these turbulent times.

First, those who don't want to train clients remotely can take advantage of this downtime by pursuing their own professional development, learning new training techniques and practicing them in the privacy of their own home or (empty) studio. Eliminating the hustle and bustle of a busy personal training schedule can open up plenty of time to put new techniques in play. Trainers will then be ready to expand their customer base once the crisis subsides and gyms and studios are able to reopen to the public. 

In other cases, trainers may want to create video training sessions or move current clients to a subscription program. While training via video doesn't offer the same opportunity to direct clients' motions and correct issues with posture or form as in-person sessions, they can still help trainers connect to their clients and provide them with workouts that are customized to their needs and goals. In addition to providing customized training videos to existing clients, trainers may also be able to market their skills by posting short, free clips online. Look online to see what other personal trainers have done. 

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