A closer look at Personal Training

Written by Annie Set

At Mobilus, we take pride in offering a range of classes to complement our CrossFit focus– each providing its own specific focus. Our programs cater to all of our clients– from beginners to advanced athletes, and our coaches are skilled in delivering their instructions with clarity. 

That said– there is only so much personalisation that can happen in a class environment, and some of us would perhaps benefit from a more tailored approach.

Whether to target personal goals or adapt to specific needs, a one-on-one learning environment could be the crucial piece that keeps us from plateauing in our fitness journey.  

We had a chat with a few of our Personal Training clients to learn more about why they chose to work more closely with our coaches. 

Trainer Shawn Yong with clients Miko and Wei Xiong.

When Miko and Wei Xiong first started training at Mobilus Clarke Quay, they quickly realised that in spite of their previous experience with other HIIT gyms and training programs, there were certain movements and skills involved in MobFit classes that were difficult to pick up on their own. 

Wei Xiong recalled how intimidating the first few classes could be for anyone,

Wei Xiong: I feel like when you enter for the first time, especially alone, it can be very daunting. There’ll be people busting out butterfly pull-ups, or a snatch and you could be way off.

With a “desire for progression and safety”, the couple sought out coach Shawn Yong for a trial PT session,

Miko: (After) a few classes with Shawn- we found him really good. He’s able to observe and give you a simple fix, clear improvement and better movement. Even from just a short time together he could point out lots of things we never noticed. Stuff I never realised I didn’t know.

Similarly, when Jamie joined Mobilus, she enjoyed classes, but found them “a little overwhelming”.

Jamie with trainer Edwin Tan

Jamie: There were a lot of things that were new and difficult. My friends were doing the CrossFit Open and I wanted to join them, but I didn’t know how to do anything. Going for a class and learning is useful. But sometimes you learn at a different pace from other people. It’s very apparent to me that I need to do some homework.

Jamie wasn’t entirely sure what she needed to work on, but found the guidance she needed to help her in shaping her fitness goals. 

Jamie: At the start…I didn’t know what exactly I needed…the first time we met he had a plan for me, he sat me down and asked me about things I wanted to learn and it got a bit clearer then…

After a quick crash course to prepare her for the CrossFit Open, Jamie found that she enjoyed working with Edwin and has continued training with him. 

Jamie: When we come in, we just do the work. I think it works well for people who are a little bit more busy as well.. I kind of like that… He plans weeks ahead and he will send me what we are going to do…the day before I look at it and know what is going to happen, I feel that it’s a good use of everyone’s time. 

Personal Training Client - Jess Barnes

Working closely with a coach in personal training has proven helpful to more experienced athletes as well. Jess, a member of Mobilus Chinatown has been working closely with coach Sammy Ventrice on her gymnastic movements; 

Jess: I got to a point in CrossFit where I could do basic movements, but I couldn’t do the high level skills. Classes got me to a certain point but to be able to do the higher level gymnastic skills, personal training was the way to do that. 

It’s time that you can spend focusing on one thing, and you don’t have any other distractions and it’s very very focused on the skills you need to do. She records it sometimes and you get to watch it back and it’s very helpful to get that feedback as well.

Even after finding her initial goals met, Jess finds the focused attention that she gets in personal training sessions to be a vital part of her continued progress, 

Jess: When I first started with Sammy compared to where I am now, they’re completely different worlds. I got my first Ring Muscle-Up, string my Toes-to-Bars – but I want to do more. I needed to keep doing this to get better at those skills. Not just be satisfied that I have the skill and then forget about it and hope I can do more, but to get better, more technical and keep progressing. 

Client - Bystrik with Trainer Samuel Low.

Similarly, Bystrik from Mobilus Chinatown found himself keen on developing the skills needed to be a more competitive athlete, and started working with coach Samuel Low.

Bystrik: I wanted to get better, and I guess you could try to progress on your own. There are so many videos on Instagram, but it’s very important– you need someone on the spot to give you the cues, to tell you what is wrong, what is good, what is bad. I wanted to progress and make it to competition level.

Since starting personal training, Bystrik has participated in two competitions and finds that he no longer struggles with movements that he used to, “because of the training he gives me and the cues, things I have covered. Now we’re back to gymnastics and preparing for the next competitions.”

Who should consider personalised training?

With training that is personalised and specific to the athlete, personal training can be beneficial for anyone, 

Jess: (Personal training) can be applicable to everyone and whatever specific goals you have. Your PT will be able to tailor your sessions to what you want to do. 

If you want to do high level skill or you feel that you’re at a roadblock of “I’m still doing the same things in class and I’m not progressing”, your personal trainer can advise on what you need, and advise on the sessions that you need.

Miko:  On your own it’s hard to structure learning for yourself, but with someone to guide you and help you set progressive goals, you’re always learning what comes next. It will help you not give up and understand there are different steps to go. 

Wei Xiong: Personal training puts you in a safe space to take your time to learn, it’s less intimidating. 

–but would be of most value to those ready to seriously commit to their improvement. 

Jamie: Someone who is looking to level up their fitness game, somebody who is committed and serious about learning new things as well, otherwise it will be a waste of both people’s time and money. 

Bystrik: Depends on what you want - to lose weight, look better, go for a competition, maybe for bodybuilding, or you’re going for a wedding. It depends on what you’re looking for, but if you make a kind of commitment, you need somebody else to help you with that.

While most personal training involves building towards specific goals, there are other benefits to dedicated training. With a baby on the way and competitive hopes on (brief) hold, Miko and Wei Xiong shared how training with coach Shawn has been constantly engaging for them;

Miko: Even though we’ve gone (for PT) for a year and a half, each time there’s still something to work on and improve on. We are always learning something new. It translates over to class, things he tells us in PT help us in our workouts. I can come to class and feel confident. 

Trainer Shawn Yong with client Miko Tan.

Wei Xiong: It has been a really good chance to bond as a couple. Our sessions give us something to talk about, both during and outside of the gym. You never feel stagnant, there’s a great ways to go, so much to learn. You see progression and there’s always a next step.

What makes our coaches special?

When asked about their coaches, our athletes spoke highly of their technical knowledge, instructional clarity, as well as the relationships that they have built over time.  

Miko: Shawn is very articulate in expressing the technical portions of any movement. He really breaks it down and quite often it will be able to resonate with people who don’t fully understand the concept. 

The way he sees movement and wants to explain it and wants you to understand different aspects of movements is what makes him unique. The ability to break down something that seems very simple into different parts. Before I joined, I never realised how complex a squat can be. With these small details, he changes your whole squat from basic movements correction which translates into the bigger movements— how you clean, how you wallball. It goes a long way. 

Bystrik: I like that way that he’s not too serious. He’s able to make fun of himself.  I remembered him from my first class here, and we clicked.

If he sees that I struggle with something, or we cannot progress because maybe we overlooked something, we go back to that, and we make an adjustment and correct it. 

When I get frustrated about my progress, and is tempted to give up, he remains cheerful. He has the kind of personality that helps you just carry on with it. He’s a happy person, and it helps me to feel at ease. I know he cares and how much effort he puts in.

Jamie: I like that when he shows up for the session, it’s all about trying to make the best of the time we have, rather than just trying to clock the hours. Goals are set, but even if goals aren’t met, he’s always very encouraging.

Jess: Sammy is very bubbly, very friendly– a very positive person to have in your corner. She’s someone I look up to as well, you see her compete and do all of those skills and you see your coach doing that and you’re like– ‘yeah, I want to do that as well.’ Everything we do, there’s a reason behind it. If I ask a question, she’ll give me the answer– what it’s working towards, what sort of skill it’s going to transition into.

I trust her. She tells me to do anything, I know I can do it. I trust her that she’s coached me and she knows me, and if she says I can do it, I can do it. 

From the 1st to the 30th of April,  buy 4 sessions of Personal Training sessions with your preferred trainer and get the 5th session free, or book a Group Personal Training session for up to 4 people at $200. For more information, please visit here.

At Mobilus, we believe in our coaches’ abilities to connect with, guide and develop people who are committed to growing in their fitness journey, across a range of goals and needs. If you’re interested in finding out more about a particular coach or have any questions about personal training, please visit here or contact us for more information.