How To Find A Personal Trainer That Will Help You Achieve Your Fitness Goals
Finding a personal trainer that is the right fit for you can be an overwhelming process.
A good personal trainer can play a gigantic role in how quickly you start making progress in the gym. Their main purpose is to help you skip over the errors that many people make when trying to navigate the world of fitness alone. They also keep you safe while enjoying the newfound, sometimes beautifully painful, path towards gains. However, as a mainstream profession, personal training is still relatively young.
This coupled with the fact that the entire fitness world has undergone an enormous evolution in the past few years, it can get confusing to know what to look for in a good personal trainer. With new services, delivery methods, qualifications, equipment, social media, and of course cost — deciphering the good from the bad can be quite daunting.
Here are nine factors to consider before hiring a personal trainer to get you heading in the right direction.
1. Figure Out Your Objectives
You can never find what you are looking for unless you figure out what you want. With that being said, it is impossible to find the “perfect” personal trainer if you have not decided which aspects you want to tackle yet.
For example, people who want to lose weight need different programs for those who want to gain muscle mass or simply achieve a toned body. Not all coaches are created equal since some have more experience in certain areas.
So, before you start looking for a fitness instructor, make a list of all the goals you want to achieve to be better able to find a trainer who can help you reach your desired milestones
2. Do Your Research
The internet has made searching for a coach a breeze. All you have to do now is to search for fitness trainers in your area. Furthermore, don’t ignore the importance of checking reviews before committing to a specific fitness instructor, as this can tell you a lot about the trainer’s unique style and coaching methods.
Asking for personal recommendations is also a tried-and-true method of finding a good coach. Therefore, in case your friends or relatives are also interested in fitness, you should ask them about the coaches they have previously worked with.
3. Are They Certified?
A certified personal trainer will be truly knowledgeable about the body, how to properly train it and the science behind what works and what doesn’t. Look for credentials from certifying organizations like the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) or the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM). These certifications, and others, are bestowed from accredited organizations that have ensured trainers know their stuff through coursework and examinations.
You also want to make sure the person you choose is not only certified but that their certifications are up to date. For example, I am a NASM-certified trainer, and every two years I have to complete a specific number of hours of continuing education classes as well as re-up my CPR/AED training to keep my certification.
Those who have degrees in movement science (think exercise physiology, physical therapy, etc.) could also be a good indicator of expertise. This doesn’t automatically make someone a good trainer, it is a signal that they have a command of the science.
4. Do They Have Actual Training Experience?
Certifications don’t really mean anything without practical, hands-on experience, meaning time in the gym actually training someone.
Think of it this way: If you needed a triple bypass, would you want the person in medical school who has only read about the procedure operating on you, or would you prefer the doctor who has actually performed the challenging procedure?
Experience will typically mean the trainer has amassed a cohort of clients. The goal is to find someone who doesn’t have a problem retaining clients.
5. Communication Style
You may learn from or take feedback in a very distinct way. With a personal trainer, the way you receive communication from emails, phone calls, training documents and programs, or in person coaching can have a dramatic effect on your progress.
Finding a personal trainer that has a compatible communication style with your own. It’s a great detail to find out about sooner rather than later. Cues are a tricky part of the game, and learning a physical skill can take time.
6. Are They Attentive?
I am not just talking about your form, though your trainer should actively be correcting yours, if needed. By attentive I mean they have taken an active interest in you and your progress. They have performed a personal assessment to see where you are physically. They are they taking into consideration your wants and needs. They are focused on you during your actual session, and not wandering around the gym or scrolling on their smart phone.
A big red flag is if you have communicated with your trainer places where you are prone to pain and injury and the trainer is steadily giving you exercises that aggravate those issues.
The trainer pretty much has to adapt to what your needs are with respect to still keeping programming and science in mind.
7. Network
All physical training comes with risks of injury — but even removed from the gym atmosphere, life is filled with annoying little tweaks, bumps, and bruises. Regardless of if injury happens on the playing field or an accident on your own, your personal trainer’s professional network can be a huge asset to you.
Over the years, a personal trainer may network with a registered dietician, massage therapist, physical therapist, or other overlapping professions to help serve you better.
8. Try A Session
Because you need to be fully comfortable with your coach, you may want to try out a session with them before you make any decision. Your first session with the trainer can function as a trial period since you will be able to decide if you work well together.
Luckily, if you do not want to pay for this session, many coaches offer it for free. Just be careful not to make any hasty decisions; you may need to work with the instructor for a few more sessions before you make up your mind.
9. What’s Your Budget?
Paying for a personal trainer isn’t inexpensive and can range upward of $100 a month. But, it can be a worthwhile investment. Regular strength training can bolster your bones, keep chronic health issues such as diabetes, heart disease and even depression in check and improve your overall quality of life.
Ask for rates up front so you can know if someone’s fee is outside of your budget. It’s also worth noting that price is often commensurate with experience. Some people look at the price and are like ‘Oh, I want to just get X trainer because they are cheaper’. But you may not actually be getting a better value if the lower price means an inexperienced trainer.
The Take-Away
There are a lot of aspects you need to consider when choosing a personal trainer. Make sure to ask about their certification, availability, and personality. Avoid personal trainers who use high-pressure sales tactics or guarantee results in a short period.
Most importantly, be sure that they are insured, in case of any accidents that may occur during your training sessions.
