The world is changing at an almost alarming rate and I am not talking about global warming. I’m talking about how technology is now infiltrating everything that we do. You might think that the only time you are away from all this technology is when you are by yourself on a run or cycle. Not anymore. Smartphones are used for music and Nike+ style applications for recording factors such as distance and speed to share on social media. Over the last decade technology has also infiltrated education, including the education of personal trainers.

The web has made it possible to share considerable amounts of information without having a physical presence. i.e you no longer have to be sat in a classroom to learn something. Believe it or not, you can now complete the majority of a personal trainer course online with companies such as Be A Better You. Traditionally, courses would involve a lot of time in a classroom with practical sessions requiring constant travel. The hours of studying are inescapable, that is simply the nature of the beast. But what online learning has done is create flexibility. No longer are there set hours during which you absolutely have to be at a set location, otherwise you simply missed the lesson. Remote or online learning has meant that you can now access these lessons at any time of day (or night!) and in any location as long as you have an internet connection or had previously downloaded the material. It has genuinely transformed people’s lives.

Becoming a personal trainer used to be reasonably expensive. Teacher’s time, classrooms and gym space costs money, and these costs are naturally passed on to the consumer. With online courses the costs can be significantly reduced without reducing the quality of the content. If anything it produces more knowledgeable trainers. Think about it, we have probably all been sitting in a classroom at some point in our lives trying to keep our eyes open. The lesson finishes and you look at your notepad to see 2 hastily scribbled sentences that make very little sense. Remote learning allows students to learn when they choose thus increasing productivity.

Many people do not realise the amount of theory that is required to get qualified as a personal trainer. It is a genuine skill set and as such, trainees spend more time in the classroom than in the gym. The majority of courses at Be A Better You do require you to travel to their HQ in London for practical sessions but again these can be arranged in order to suit your availability and are usually the final hurdle in getting qualified. This makes such a change from getting qualified as a personal trainer in the days before e-learning. Taking night classes is painful and can reduce motivation significantly – you may still be taking the classes at night but at least you can do it in the comfort of your own home!

Be a better you,