The most critical thing when choosing a personal trainer is that he/she will help in keeping up your fitness goals. Such a trainer will offer you motivation, expertise, and personalized training that keeps you moving toward your goals and getting the best from the workouts.
Recently, I visited one of the private places to celebrate birthday in Bangalore for couples. So, here I met a friend who was working as a personal trainer. So here, in this article, I share all that I learnt about considering while choosing a personal trainer:
1. Know your fitness goals
First and foremost, one needs to identify why one even needs a personal trainer in the first place. Are you trying to shed off those extra pounds, develop your muscles, increase your cardio, or just prepare for some kind of event? Knowing what you want will give you an idea of what kind of trainer you need—a weight-loss specialist, a bodybuilder, a cardiovascular expert, or even somebody who is training you to perform in some certain kind of competition.
Questions to Ask:
– What are my fitness goals?
– Am I having any kind of health problems or injuries that a trainer needs to know about?
– How often am I going to train?
2. Qualifications and Experience Research
A personal trainer should be qualified by getting the right certification and experience. Seek trainers with NASM, ACE, or NSCA certification. The certifications show that a trainer has received adequate background study in exercise sciences as they apply to safe training practices.
Key Points:
– Whether he/she has a certification issued by any known or reputable body.
– How experienced he is with your specific goals.
Whether they have other specialties, such as in nutrition or rehab.
3. Training Style
Each trainer is different in style: some are high-intensity training, some low-impact; others mix both. You want to find a trainer who will train you within your comfort zone and at your level of fitness.
Considerations:
Do you like someone who will be hard-nosed and tough, or maybe you want a type that will be softer and more gentle?
Are you looking for someone who is going to include as many different workout types as possible?
Maybe you are looking for someone who’s style can adjust to your evolving fitness needs?
4. Find Someone You Can Work With
You’re going to spend many hours with your trainer, so you’ll want to find a person you get along well with. Good rapport is going to get you through some of the more dreaded training sessions and help in keeping focused on your fitness regime.
Tips:
If possible, see the trainer in advance to make sure you are comfortable with him.
Note the kind of man he is–his manner of talking and if he truly listens to your problems.
Notice the kind of person he is and if it can blend well with your own.
5. Availability and Location
Note how available he is and where he is based. A trainer hard to book or too far away from where you live and work can be quite inconveniencing with the frequency of workout sessions.
Questions to Ask:
– What are their available hours, and do they correspond to your schedule?
– Where are their training sessions held? Is this convenient for you?
– Do they offer online or virtual classes?
6. Review comments and testimonials
You have to focus on the comments and testimonials of other clients so that you can know if any trainer is effective and reliable. Note especially whether they are punctual, professional, and really capable of helping you reach your goals.
Sources of reviews:
– Online review sites: Yelp, Google Reviews
– Word-of-mouth from friends or family.
7. Check the Price
Of course, personal training is pretty expensive. So you should always take regard for the price and exactly what you’ll get for that price. You will find extreme price ranges depending on experience, location, session length, and frequency.
Things to Consider:
– Find out if they have packages or discounts that are awarded if one books many sessions.
– Check out what value you will get from a given trainer as against the money you pay
8. Make Sure That They Are Able to Offer You Tailor-Made Programmes
The right personal trainer is one who can make customized fitness programmes suitable for your needs. Run from one-size-fits-all trainers because this approach may not be suitable for your case.
What to Look For:
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Has he assessed your fitness level and obtained your health history before designing a plan?
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Does he help you set real, measurable goals?
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Will they be willing to change the plan whenever necessary, depending on your progress?
9. Look for Continuous Learning and Development
The fitness industry itself changes almost daily. With new research and techniques being brought out all of the time, a trainer who works towards learning and developing will better be able to guide you.
Indicators of Continuous Learning:
Workshop attendance and continuing education from fitness conferences
Advanced certifications or specializations
Stay updated with the latest exercise researches and trends
10. Note Their Professionalism
Professionalism is one of the inherent characteristics of a personal trainer. He will mean being punctual, well-prepared, and respectful. A professional trainer will treat your goals seriously and put in a lot of effort to really help you achieve those goals.
Signs of Professionalism:
– He is always on time and well-prepared for the sessions.
– The cleanliness in the training area should be a must.
– The respectful attitude, proper boundaries are maintained.
Conclusion
Getting the right personal trainer makes all the difference in the fitness regime. Considering various factors like the person’s fitness goals, credentials, experience of the trainer, and training style allows one to get the full potential of the personal trainer.
Other factors you could consider include compatibility, availability, location, reviews, cost, personalization, commitment to lifelong learning, and professionalism. Keeping these factors in mind, you should have a very good chance of finding somebody who is going to train you safely in the best way toward your goals. You want a trainer who is going to leave you motivated, supported, and confident moving forward in your journey toward health and fitness.
