Gym not for you? Find a virtual trainer

FOR those in search of expert advice on how to get fit but not keen on hitting the gym, there is a new option: virtual training.

From custom ballet classes to 30-minute ‘high-intensity’ sessions, the internet is teeming with trainers vying to be your best cyber-friend.

US fitness guru Tracy Anderson, famed for getting Madonna and Gwyneth Paltrow into shape, is the latest name to enter the world of online training (tracyanderson.com).

A six-month subscription costs £305 and gives access to a weekly group workout class led by Tracy in her New York studio, and tutorials breaking down her choreography. Her workout method relies on working smaller muscle groups and avoiding bulking up with repetitive movements.

Those who want a virtual programme with the personal touch could opt for P4 Virtual Trainer (p4virtualtrainer.com) created by ex-Army physical training instructor Dylan Jones, who counts Game Of Thrones actor Kit Harington among his clients.

Memberships start at £9.99 a month for a personalised exercise plan and nutritional advice. The exercises are demonstrated by a 3D animated ‘trainer’, and users are given details of the muscle groups used and how many calories are burned.

If dance is your thing, you could sign up to Ballet Beautiful (balletb-eautiful. com), an online workout that combines the athleticism and grace of ballet with targeted exercises to help you achieve a dancer’s physique. Membership costs £26 a month.