As January gives way to February, New Year’s resolutions have likely been kept. Some people continue to follow their new habits, while others return to their old, familiar ones. For new habits to become a way of life, motivation must continue even after the initial enthusiasm wears off. When that initial enthusiasm fades, the biggest question is: how do you stay motivated?
We asked Elina Kiuru this question. After a long coaching relationship, she went from being a trainee to studying to become a personal trainer herself. How did she stay motivated and keep going until she reached the point where she’ll soon be able to motivate others to exercise?
Elina Kiuru is a 40-year-old native of Kuopio who now lives in Helsinki; she first started going to the gym three years ago thanks to her mother-in-law. Before her gym routine became a regular part of her life, she was more interested in endurance sports and team sports; her visits to the gym were quite irregular.
Three years ago, Elina quickly got hooked on working out at the gym. What appealed to her about the gym was its convenience: “You can come anytime, and you can do a variety of different exercises.” In the beginning, group exercise classes, such as circuit training, also made it easier for her to work out.
Goal-Oriented Approach in a Small Group
After working out on her own at first, Elina became interested in small-group training. Several small groups were starting up at her local EasyFit fitness center, and one in particular sounded interesting. In the end, Elina ended up joining the Crosstraining small group through a drawing:
“I entered a raffle where you could win a spot in a small-group training session. I was most interested in Crosstraining, which sounded like a well-rounded program. I didn’t win, but the coach reached out and asked if I’d be interested in joining. If the coach hadn’t contacted me, I definitely wouldn’t have signed up. By the time I got the call, I’d already decided which group I wanted to join.”
Elina feels that small-group training suits her perfectly. She lists the group itself and the mild peer pressure as the best things about small-group training. Competing against herself—and, in a lighthearted way, against others as well—boosts her motivation and challenges her to give her absolute best every time, even though the goal isn’t to compete against others. Elina admits she’s extremely competitive: “The pressure from the group is encouraging. Compared to working out alone, I might easily slip into or stay in my comfort zone. Maybe that’s the whole point of a small group.”
In addition, encouraging others—and at the same time receiving encouragement from them—makes the group a close-knit team: “I’ve made lifelong friends in the group. I was in the group for two years, and except for the summer, we practiced together every week.”
Elina also encourages others to check out the small-group classes currently offered at her EasyFit fitness center: “If I think about people who might be interested in a small group, it’s an easy way to get started and is extremely motivating. It’s fun to work out in a group, and I’ve found that it’s great to see both others and myself making progress. As an individual client, you only see your own progress.”
Coaching ensured progress
Elina feels that, despite being part of a group, she has received personalized guidance from her trainer that’s tailored specifically to her needs. When asked what the best part of the training is, Elina puts it simply: “Everything is laid out for you: you get a ready-made program, you do what you’re told, you switch off your brain, and you just do it.”
Elina says that during her coaching relationship, she gained a lot of knowledge and learned a wide variety of movements and training methods. She also developed a deeper understanding of the subject thanks to her professional coach: “I learned movement techniques and muscle groups. We went through the different aspects of strength training and worked on them. The internet is flooded with all kinds of coaches, but here I received personalized and comprehensive guidance on training.”
In addition to motivation, the long-term coaching relationship also ensured progress and results. Elina says she’s seen the most improvement in her strength levels and muscle mass: “I’ve never been in as good shape in my entire life as I am now. I would never have tested my own limits in maximum strength on my own. I wouldn’t have dared, and besides, I wouldn’t have had the know-how or the motivation. One of the areas where I’ve improved the most is the squat; my best result so far is 6 reps at 110 kilograms.”
From Gym-Goer to Trainer
After spending two years in small-group training, Elina realized just how enjoyable and fun coaching could be. Her own trainer motivated her through her approach and helped Elina understand just how much knowledge a personal trainer possesses: “The field is really broad and demanding, after all. I had assumed it would be more limited. I decided to go back to school to gain more knowledge and skills. I’m surprised by just how much there is to learn.”
Elina’s studies to become a personal trainer are coming along nicely, and little by little she’s also motivating others to get active: “What motivates me the most is being on the front lines to see others’ successes and progress in their own fitness journeys. It’s the best when I’ve been training with my old group and see how they’ve improved, while also getting to practice my own skills.” Elina recognizes the current trend of hiring a coach for eight weeks and expecting the coach to come in and save the day: “My own progress has required several years of training several times a week. It hasn’t happened overnight.”
When you ask Elina how she plans to put her personal trainer certification to use, her answer might surprise you: “For my own personal development.” However, studying to become a personal trainer in order to improve one’s own workout routine is not an uncommon choice. Many exercisers, just like Elina, want to gain more knowledge and skills. She says, though, that she’s keeping an open mind: “I’d like to work as a personal trainer, but I’m not sure if I can do that until I’ve built up my own client base.”
Elina is on a study leave from her regular job. She’s interested in coaching, but getting started requires a lot of effort, because leaving her salaried job to become a coach isn’t a simple, easy, or quick process. Finding her niche takes time: what would she like to focus on, and what are her strengths? Competition in the field is fierce. A coach needs to stand out and find her own niche. However, nothing is off the table.
Motivation Can Be Found in the Little Things
So what motivates you to keep working on your personal development, and how do you stay motivated? “Staying motivated is challenging, but what motivates me is being able to stay in good shape. Even small things motivate me: having more energy, feeling refreshed and balanced in my daily life, seeing progress in my workouts, and feeling like I’m in good shape,” Elina lists.
Elina isn’t interested in competing in strength sports, even though she has plenty of competitive spirit. She’s more interested in varied training and trying out new things, like Skillbox. Plus, she’s found new workout buddies at school, which boosts her motivation even more; everyone has something to offer.
To get started with exercise, Elina suggests trying out workouts with a personal trainer and small group classes. Having your own workout buddy also makes it easier to get to the gym. To stay motivated, Elina suggests creating your own weekly workout plan: think about what’s a realistic amount of exercise for you and how many workouts a week you can realistically stick to. Start slowly and work at your own pace. Ask a professional for help if needed. She sees EasyFit as a gym for everyone: “No one is judged here, and it’s always nice to come here. There’s a great team spirit, and everyone is welcome.”
If you're looking for some motivation to work out, check out the small group classes starting soon or currently in session at your local EasyFit fitness center, or schedule a free fitness consultation.
Trainer4You is one of the organizations offering personal trainer training in Finland. Check out their training programs here.