Online vs. In-Person Coaching: What Really Works
Published 2026-08-20
The most common objection to online coaching is some version of "how can you coach me if you're not in the room?" It's a fair question — here's what actually changes between the two formats, and what doesn't.
What changes: how feedback gets delivered
In person, I give live cues while you're lifting — a small adjustment on your setup, a cue mid-set. Online, that feedback comes from reviewing your training footage and adjusting the next session's programming based on what I see. It's asynchronous instead of live, but it's still individualized.
What doesn't change: the programming standard
The program itself — how volume, intensity, and progression are structured week to week — doesn't get watered down for online clients. If anything, online coaching forces better documentation, because you're sending footage and check-ins instead of relying on me remembering last week's session.
Where online coaching genuinely struggles
Online coaching is weaker for pure technique work with beginners who don't yet know what a correct rep feels like — that's where in-person time matters most. Once someone has a base of technique, online coaching holds up well for programming and progression.
Which one should you pick?
If you're in Sofia and new to lifting, in-person coaching gets you a faster start. If you're experienced, or you're not in Sofia at all, online coaching works the same way it would in person — you can read more about how both formats work, or apply directly.