Strength Training Complements an Active Lifestyle
Walking several miles around Philadelphia is great physical activity. So is running along the Schuylkill, cycling, playing tennis, or spending a weekend on the golf course.
But those activities don’t necessarily provide everything you need from a strength training program.
Progressive resistance training gives your muscles a different challenge.
A structured strength program can target areas that may not receive enough stimulus from your normal activities and can be progressed as you become stronger.
You don’t have to replace the activities you enjoy with more time in a gym.
The goal is to use strength training to complement them.
Train for What You Actually Do
Exercise becomes more meaningful when there’s a reason behind it.
If you play tennis, your program might place additional emphasis on lower body strength, rotational control, shoulder function, and lateral movement.
If you run or walk regularly, developing stronger legs, hips, and core may be an important part of your program.
If you golf, strength and mobility can be developed alongside the movement demands of your game.
If you travel frequently, you may simply want to feel strong enough to walk all day, handle luggage, climb stairs, and enjoy your trip without worrying about your fitness.
Your personal training program doesn’t have to exist separately from the rest of your life.
It can be designed to support it.
The Missing Piece May Not Be More Cardio
Many active people naturally accumulate plenty of cardiovascular exercise.
They walk frequently. They run. They cycle. They use cardio equipment. They spend time outdoors.
But they may spend significantly less time challenging their muscles against resistance.
If that sounds familiar, adding structured strength training may provide a different type of stimulus than simply adding another walk, run, or cardio session.
At The Summit, your trainer can develop a strength program around the physical activity you’re already doing rather than simply adding more exercise for the sake of exercising.
Your program can also be adjusted based on how frequently you run, play sports, travel, or participate in other activities.
Build Strength Without Giving Up Mobility
Some people worry that strength training will make them stiff or interfere with activities they already enjoy.
A well designed program doesn’t have to choose between strength and mobility.
Your workouts can include both.
Exercise selection and range of motion can be used to develop strength while mobility work can address areas where additional movement may be beneficial.
For an active person, the goal is not simply to become stronger in the gym. It’s to develop strength you can use while continuing to move well.
Personal Training for Tennis and Golf
Living near One Riverside puts you close to recreational opportunities throughout the Schuylkill River and Fitler Square area, including tennis courts at Schuylkill River Park.
For clients who play tennis or golf, strength training can be structured with the demands of those sports in mind.
That doesn’t mean trying to recreate a tennis swing or golf swing with weights.
Instead, training can focus on physical qualities such as strength, stability, mobility, balance, and control that support athletic movement.
Your program can also take your playing schedule into account so your gym training complements rather than competes with the activities you enjoy.
Strength Training for Runners and Walkers
The Schuylkill River Trail makes it easy for One Riverside residents to accumulate plenty of miles on foot.
Running and walking are valuable forms of exercise, but neither necessarily develops strength throughout the entire body.
A resistance training program can provide additional work for the legs, hips, back, upper body, and core.
For runners, your trainer can also structure training around your running schedule rather than treating each workout independently.
For regular walkers, strength training can provide a progressive challenge that walking alone may not provide.
Training Around Previous Injuries
Staying active sometimes comes with a history of aches, injuries, or physical limitations.
Maybe it’s an old knee issue that affects running. A shoulder that bothers you during tennis. A back that becomes uncomfortable after golf. Or an injury that has made you hesitant to return to strength training.
Your program should take those factors into account.
Every personal trainer at The Summit holds a college degree in Exercise Science. Your trainer can consider your exercise history, current abilities, and previous injuries when selecting and progressing exercises.
When appropriate, training can also incorporate recommendations provided by your physician or physical therapist.
Make Your Strength Training Efficient
If you’re already active outside the gym, you may not want to spend another five or six hours each week working out indoors.
You may not need to.
The Summit offers both 30 minute and 60 minute personal training sessions.
Your trainer plans the workout in advance, allowing your training time to focus on the exercises that matter rather than wandering around a gym deciding what to do next.
This can make it easier to add consistent strength training without having it take over the rest of your fitness routine.
Know Whether You’re Maintaining Muscle
Someone can remain active and still experience changes in body composition over time.
That’s one reason we don’t rely exclusively on body weight to evaluate progress.
Our Rittenhouse studio offers InBody body composition analysis, which can provide measurements including muscle mass and body fat.
For someone whose primary goal is maintaining muscle while staying lean and active, these measurements can provide information that a bathroom scale cannot.
One on One Training Near One Riverside
At The Summit, you work directly with your personal trainer rather than following a group workout.
Your program is developed around your goals, exercise history, current fitness level, and the other physical activities you already perform.
That means someone who runs several times per week shouldn’t automatically receive the same program as someone who plays tennis, golfs, or primarily wants to improve overall strength.
Your trainer can determine where your training time is most valuable and adjust your program as you progress.
From One Riverside to The Summit
If you live at One Riverside, you don’t have to travel outside the Rittenhouse and Fitler Square area to work with a personal trainer.
The Summit Personal Training Studios is located at:
255 S. 17th Street, 2nd Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Our location is convenient for clients living throughout Rittenhouse Square, Fitler Square, and the western side of Center City.
Personal Training That Supports Life Outside the Studio
You don’t have to choose between enjoying an active lifestyle and following a structured strength program.
The two can work together.
If you live at One Riverside, your training at The Summit can be designed around what you’re already doing and what you want to continue doing.
That might mean becoming stronger for tennis, supplementing your running or walking, improving mobility for golf, maintaining muscle as you get older, or simply making sure your body can keep up with an active life.
Schedule a Free Consultation
If you’re looking for a personal trainer near One Riverside in Philadelphia, schedule a free consultation at The Summit Personal Training Studios.
We’ll discuss your current activities, exercise history, goals, schedule, and any previous injuries or limitations. From there, we can develop a training approach that complements the things you already enjoy doing.
Schedule your free consultation at our Rittenhouse location today.