Cost & coverage · reimbursement

Your company may
cover this.

More companies cover personal training than you'd think — one of my clients is reimbursed through Google's personal training benefit; others use wellness stipends. This page gives you the language and the paperwork details to make the ask easy.

Where it fits

Use a budget that already exists

Start with your benefits portal, not your manager. Search for “personal training,” “fitness,” or “wellness” and see what's already there. The usual routes:

A personal training or fitness benefit — some companies (Google among them) list personal training as a reimbursable expense outright. If yours does, you don't need anyone's blessing — just submit the receipt.
Wellness stipend — the most common route. General-purpose wellness money — whether it runs through a platform like Forma, Compt, or Benepass, or a simple reimbursement policy — usually covers personal training.
Learning & development or coaching — a longer shot, but worth asking if the budgets above don't exist. The honest case: this is one-on-one coaching, and what you're learning — how to train yourself — is a durable skill.
HSA or FSA, with a doctor's letter — if training addresses a specific condition — chronic pain, injury rehab, blood pressure — a Letter of Medical Necessity from your doctor can make pre-tax HSA/FSA money usable. The narrowest route, but a real one.

Can't tell what your company offers? Asking HR “do we have a wellness stipend or fitness reimbursement?” is a completely normal question.

The ask

Send your manager a short note

If your benefit runs through a portal, you may not need to ask anyone. If it takes a manager or HR sign-off, here's the note to send — fill in the brackets.

Subject: Budget for personal training?

Hi [manager's name],

I'd like to use my [wellness stipend / fitness benefit / L&D budget] for one-on-one personal training with Personal Training for Meditators (personaltrainingformeditators.com).

It's weekly training over video — strength, mobility, and posture work. I'd use it for [what you want — e.g., building an exercise practice I'll actually keep, undoing desk-work stiffness, more energy through the week].

Would it be okay to submit this for reimbursement? They provide itemized receipts and invoices, and can also bill the company directly.

Thanks,
[your name]

Paperwork

Receipts, invoices, direct billing

I provide itemized receipts and invoices — service description, session dates, amount, and business details — in whatever form your finance or HR team needs.

If reimbursement isn't the right path, I can bill your company directly. Point me to a manager, HR partner, or finance contact and we'll set it up.

Good to know

Common questions

Does my company actually cover personal training?

More often than you'd think. Some companies name it outright — one of my clients is reimbursed through Google's personal training benefit. Many more cover it under a wellness stipend. Search your benefits portal for “personal training,” “fitness,” or “wellness.”

Which budget should I name?

Whichever your company already has. Fitness and wellness money is the most direct fit; learning & development or coaching budgets can work where those don't exist. Use the name your company uses.

My company gives me ClassPass or a gym membership — does that count?

Not directly — subscription benefits like ClassPass or Wellhub only pay providers on their platforms. But it's a good sign: your company already spends money on your fitness. Ask HR whether there's a flexible wellness stipend alongside it, or whether the benefit can be pointed at one-on-one training instead.

Can my company pay you directly?

Yes. I can invoice a manager, HR partner, or finance contact directly — no reimbursement round-trip needed.

What documentation do I get?

An itemized receipt or invoice: service description, session dates, amount, and my business details. If your finance team has a specific form or format, I'm happy to work with it.

Will my employer see what we work on?

No. Your company gets billing paperwork, not session notes. What you share about your training is entirely up to you.

Can I use an HSA or FSA?

Sometimes. On its own, personal training isn't HSA/FSA-eligible — but if it addresses a specific health condition, like chronic pain, injury rehab, or high blood pressure, your doctor can write a Letter of Medical Necessity, and many plan administrators will accept it. Check with yours; I'll provide any documentation they need.

What if my company says no?

Ask me about scholarships — I offer reduced-rate sessions for students, academics, non-profit staff, and people between jobs. Tell me about your situation and we'll work it out. Details under Cost & coverage.

Covered or not —
start with a free call

You don't need your company's answer before we talk. Book the intro call, and I'll help you make the ask afterward — including anything your finance team needs.

Book a free call

Questions about receipts, invoices, or direct billing? .