Tips for personal training

Why a personal trainer will get you to your goal more quickly?

Running a marathon, building up your strength and stamina, or simply losing a few kilos: Having a personal trainer means that you receive targeted personal instruction. Whether it's personal training or coaching by phone or app – SWICA contributes up to 600 francs (find out more) per year towards your personal commitment under its supplementary insurance plans.

The Swiss as a nation are keen on sport. According to a study from the Federal Office of Sport, almost 70% of Swiss people between the ages of 15 and 74 do some kind of sport. Personal trainers help everyone to reach their goals, regardless of whether they love sport or hate it. A personal trainer responds to his customers' individual requirements and advises them not only about sport, but also about nutritional and psychological aspects.

Find out more

What are the advantages of having a personal trainer?

Professional assistance:
Whether you're a beginner, an expert or a professional athlete, your personal coach will know how to approach your training. Under his expert eye you will learn the right techniques with the right loads. This professional and personalised support reduces your risk of injury and increases your chances of success.

Targeted training:
Everyone has a set objective for his training programme. A personal coach helps you to focus on this, which in turn will enable you to see and measure your success. And those who see that they are making progress are keener to start and continue with their training.

No excuses:
When you make an appointment, you feel obliged. It's like a contract. A personal trainer isn't interested in excuses, so a lack of motivation isn't an option. This makes the training consistent and allows it to develop its full effect.

Training where it suits you:
At the gym or out of doors? You decide where you train, and your personal coach adapts your training to suit you.

Nutritional advice:
Personal trainers know about exercise, but they also know about nutrition. Because fitness and nutrition go hand in hand. That's why personal trainers give their customers tips on how they can become even healthier and fitter through nutrition that is right for them and their sport.

Fun thanks to teamwork:
Going to the gym by yourself or running alone in the forest has its charms. But training which involves personal contact is a lot more fun. A personal trainer brings motivation and variety.

Three personal trainers share their experience

The three SWICA-approved personal trainers – Linda Bürki, Steve Husistein and Carla Bereiter – give interesting insights into their work and explain why training with them is worthwhile.

Short interview with Linda Bürki


My work is strongly health-oriented. I look after people who are going through rehabilitation or have restricted movement. But of course I also have customers who simply want to keep healthy by taking exercise. My focus is mainly on outdoor sports. If possible, I want to exercise outside with my customers – no matter what the weather is like. Because we already spend enough time sitting around indoors, and fresh air is good for body and soul.
Personal coaching is suitable for everyone – young or old, beginner or expert. Some people lack the drive or motivation to exercise by themselves. A personal coach motivates them to get going and grow beyond their limits. He can also respond individually to the requirements and goals of customers.
Personal trainers help customers to reach their goals, experience the joy of exercise and achieve a heightened sense of wellbeing. They respond to individual needs and can motivate their customers to keep going. In my work with my customers, it's important to me that they understand how exercise can be integrated into their everyday life. What should never be missing during a training session is laughing together and having fun.


Find more about Linda Bürki

Linda Bürki

Linda Bürki

«A personal trainer can be an important motivation, especially for people who don't enjoy exercise.»

Short interview with Steve Husistein


I started out as a primary school teacher and went on to become a sports teacher and then a personal trainer and transformation coach. I had a 20-year career in martial arts and have become a passionate endurance athlete over the past few years. I take part in Xtreme triathlons. I find these experiences valuable in dealing with my customers. As well as exercise, I also focus on nutritional and psychological aspects. I use hypnotherapy, for example.
For anyone who wants individual attention, a lot of flexibility and high quality in their training. If you don't know how to reach your goals or shape your body, if you want help to lose weight or are constantly tired and jaded, if you're looking for motivation or don't know what to believe, then a personal trainer is a good choice for you.
Everyone is different and everyone has their own schedule. That's why working with my customers is like doing a jigsaw puzzle. I register the customer's requirements, review their situation and work out an individual programme that includes not only exercise, but also nutritional and psychological aspects. So in the end there's nothing to stop customers reaching their goals.


Find more about Steve Husistein

Heiko Jitterbugs

Steve Husistein

«Working as a personal trainer is like a jigsaw puzzle.»

Short interview with Carla Bereiter


At «richtig bewegen» we focus on medical training. All four of our personal trainers have a background in sports science. We generally train with people who have a handicap of some kind – whether it's obesity, an orthopaedic problem or an illness.
For everyone who wants to invest in their own health. The main focus for one third of our customers is chronic pain. For another third it's lifestyle. And the final third is a mixed bunch consisting of elite athletes, amateur sportsmen and -women, and individuals with exhaustion syndrome. For these people, taking exercise out of doors is extremely important as a stress buffer. However, nutritional and psychological aspects are just as important as exercise for all customers.
Exercise is like an insurance policy that you pay into. In the best-case scenario, payback in the form of good health will follow. In the worst case, at least you will have enjoyed your best possible self, with a significant increase in personal wellbeing in everyday life. The average age of our customers is between 40 and 55. A little external motivation and control helps most people to achieve their health goals safely. With others, their children are already independent at this stage and they have some time for themselves again.


Find more about Carla Bereiter

Heiko Jitterbugs

Carla Bereiter

«Exercise is like an insurance policy that you pay into.»

How do I find a qualified personal trainer?

The term «personal trainer» does not enjoy legal protection in Switzerland. Since the profession is not bound by any particular standards, the services provided by trainers can vary significantly. Training provided by poorly qualified personnel can lead to health problems.

The Swiss Personal Trainer Association (SPTV) addresses this problem and has been committed since 2007 to promoting the personal training profession in Switzerland. To this end, the association has launched a seal of quality for personal trainers, which helps those who are looking for a qualified personal trainer to find a true professional without difficulty.

You can find out which personal trainers are recognised by SWICA here.

Phone coaching: Take advantage of an exercise consultation


Kimberly Zwygart

«I'm a sports scientist and exercise specialist at santé24. For several years now I've been helping people to achieve their exercise goals.»
Maybe you want to exercise, but you don't want to hire a personal trainer straight away? SWICA offers its customers the chance to have an exercise consultation. The santé24 exercise specialist motivates them to engage in healthy exercise – even if they have physical limitations. She offers self-help solutions for dealing with tension and pain, helps to prevent falls, assists with exercise planning and post-injury recovery training, and offers advice on strength, ball and running sports.

To make an appointment, please call santé24 on 044 404 86 86. The offer is free of charge to all SWICA customers.

Online coaching by app

An app can also help you get to the finishing line more quickly in your running training. The running.COACH app is a training platform with interactive running coaching and training plans. Whether you want to improve your running style or get fit for the next marathon, running.COACH can help you along the way.

It's very simple: get your running shoes on and start running – no matter where you happen to be. SWICA supports its running customers by contributing up to 600 francs (find out more) per year under its supplementary insurance plans towards a silver or gold six-month or twelve-month subscription to running.COACH.

Further information about this offer
How your preventive healthcare contribution breaks down

SWICA covers 50% of the costs from your COMPLETA PRAEVENTA supplementary plan, up to 300 francs per calendar year. Furthermore, your OPTIMA supplementary plan covers 90% of the costs exceeding this amount, up to 300 francs per calendar year. This can result in prevention contributions of up to 600 francs per year.

Competition

Conscious breaks improve your wellbeing and are good for your health. SWICA is committed to your health and is giving away prizes for your next big or small adventures worth a total of over 9'000 francs.
Because health is everything

Physical fitness, a balanced diet and wellbeing are important elements in a healthy lifestyle. That's why SWICA supports your personal commitment in all areas of health with annual contributions of up to 800 francs under the COMPLETA PRAEVENTA and OPTIMA supplementary insurance plans (go to detailed information).

Incidentally, supplementary insurance always provides valuable additional benefits above and beyond those available under basic insurance. It can be taken out with SWICA at any time, regardless of which insurer currently provides your basic insurance. .

SWICA is there for you

The SWICA team would be happy to assist you online or by phone if you have questions about benefits or require personal advice. Call free of charge on 0800 80 90 80 or complete the form below:



Contact form

Please contact me by *

Calls are returned during business hours.

* Compulsory field

Corona

For your health at home

SWICA supports you with medical services and advice around the clock and has useful recommendations and products for promoting health and preventing illness. Here you can get valuable tips on staying in shape while at home and working from home. You can also discover the online courses and coaching sessions that SWICA supports.

All coronavirus offers 

Getting medical support and recommendations for symptoms

Staying fit and healthy at home: Tips and offers

Personal training: Why you will reach your goals more quickly

Nutrition: Tips for the immune system and offers for at home

Working from home: Setting up your workplace properly

Resilience: Strengthen your mental immune system

Back