A Phenomenological Study on the Personal Training Experience of Fitness Center Users in Daejeon

This study aimed to phenomenologically explore the subjective experiences and meaning-making processes of adults participating in PT in Daejeon. 12 participants with at least 6 months of PT experience were recruited from Daejeon's 7 districts. Data were collected through semi-structured in- depth interviews and participant observations, then analyzed using descriptive phenomenological method. The analysis yielded five essential themes: ‘Encountering an Unfamiliar Body,’ ‘Relational Solidarity with the Trainer,’ ‘Re-signification of Pain,’ ‘Permeation into Everyday Life,’ and ‘Construction of a New Self-Narrative.’ Notably, Daejeon’s unique context—characterized by a high concentration of knowledge workers in research institutes, a close-knit academic culture, and relatively lower fitness infrastructure—distinctly shaped participants’ motivations and experiences. The findings illuminated PT as a holistic life-restructuring process extending beyond physical transformation, providing critical implications for region-specific PT service design and sports welfare policy in Daejeon.