Fitness is Getting Personal—in a Good Way

A couple of weeks ago, I met a prominent celebrity trainer. You would probably recognize a number of his clients.  I expected that our conversation would focus on the usual fitness and nutrition trends, but instead, we wound up talking about therapists. Among other things, he mentioned that he’s been connecting some of his clients to therapists. Many of them were starting to realize that getting physically fit was only part of the equation, that their bodies weren’t the only thing asking for attention.

It’s a shift that I’ve been watching unfold in the wellness world for a while now. The idea that personal training isn’t just about fitness anymore. That the job title has started to mean something else entirely. These days, the best trainers aren’t just helping people change their bodies. They’re opening other doors too—towards therapy, coaching, even spirituality. Trainers have started to recognize the fuller context of what their clients are carrying and, increasingly, they’re realizing that it’s not just about fitness or health. It’s about healing.

In a culture that tells us constantly to strive for more—more reps, more money, more likes—some people are starting to ask different, more honest questions. What if I already have enough? What if the thing I need isn’t more muscle, but less shame? Less pressure? More peace?

It might sound strange coming from the world of treadmills and barbells, but I see it happening all the time. I hear it in how often people ask about stress now and not just their tone or waistline. I feel it in the way some trainers, especially those who are doing what they do for the right reasons, are beginning to reimagine their role.

Personal trainers are trusted advisers. And sometimes, that trust comes with a dilemma: If you sense someone might benefit from something beyond what you typically offer—whether it’s a therapist or breath routine—do you speak up? Or do you only address what your clients have expressly asked you to deliver? It’s a delicate balance. No one wants to feel “handled.” But there’s a difference between pushing and gently offering. Sometimes it’s just a modest invitation: “If this ever feels like something you want to explore, I know someone who might be helpful.”

Of course, this new level of care requires a lot of a trainer, including humility, self-awareness, and a willingness to ask yourself: Am I in this to serve others, or just to sell services? Because the truth is that it’s easy to turn personal training into a hustle these days. So many do. But there’s another path, one that’s more comprehensive, more honest, and more spiritual. One that doesn’t treat the body as a product to perfect, but as one part of a whole person who needs guidance on how to feel healthier, more aligned, and more at ease. That’s the broader version of fitness and wellness that excites me most. The one that is not just about the weights we lift up, but about the burdens we lay down.

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