Free vs. For Fee in the Virtual Fitness World

Photo by Mathieu Turle on Unsplash

In a world of social distancing and closed fitness facilities, there’s a plethora of free virtual training apps, online fitness classes, and 948,000,000 results  (that’s two commas folks) from a basic “home workouts” Google search. Some of us are still receiving paychecks and many of us were laid off or furloughed. A few of us will receive a stimulus check or unemployment benefits this year. Many of us might receive it next year…maybe…I think.

Basically, we now live in a world where FREE and FOR FEE services are tremendously magnified with limited budgets. We must purposefully discern our top priorities and invest our monies and time in them.

So, here are two lists of the types of fitness and wellness services and resources you and I may receive online for FREE versus for FEE.

What you get for FREE.

• Ideas. You receive a workout you don’t have to create for yourself.
• Less social anxiety and do workouts on your own without anyone knowing when and where you complete them. No perceived or actual judgment from others about your workouts.
• Flexibility. You can train on your schedule at your convenience in a location of your choice.
• Oftentimes, we get overwhelmed with too much information and not knowing what information is credible and appropriate for your body.
• Education. Learn more about anything and everything you desire. It’s out there to find.
• A new account with another log-in and password to remember. Oh, and periodic generic emails.
• Cookies! No, not like chocolate chip cookies, but more like the kind that track your internet crumbs and send your targeted ads everywhere! It’s super creepy, isn’t it?

What you get for FEE.

• Trained eyes and knowledge-FULL brain. You receive coaching, exercise modifications, and exercise form cues from a trained fitness professional.
• Flexibility. You can train on your schedule at your convenience in a location of your choice.
• Accountability. A certified personal trainer sets expectations and you learn to be responsible for your actions and behavior by truly committing to a program and becoming educated.
  
• Accessibility. An actual person to be connected to from any location and ask questions for ongoing coaching and long-term success.
• Customization and variety. Receive workouts customized to YOUR body, YOUR fitness levels, YOUR goals, YOUR lifestyle, and YOUR fitness equipment. Online training offers you a wide variety of options for activity and for mixing up workouts regardless of the training location; more variety equates to less burnout and boredom
• Lifestyle Change. You can learn new behaviors and how to eliminate obstacles and stay committed to your success
• Personalized correspondence addressed to YOU that addresses your interests.
• Satisfaction of financially supporting a small business owner and helping them pay their bills and take care of their families. 😉

And the reality is that oftentimes these lists crossover and for fee services don’t successfully deliver what is promised. Conversely, several free services over deliver with the hopes of you one day being a paying customer or at least you referring a paying customer to their services.

What else should I add to these lists?

Any who, please proceed with a critical eye, listen to your body, and move forward with what works best for you both short-term and long-term. One moment at a time. One day at a time. It literally adds up to weeks, months, years, and a lifetime!