Introduction
Working out on your own can be scary. Having a knowledgeable person to guide you can often make the difference between success and failure. A quality personal trainer will not only ensure that you do the movements the right way, but she will also be your motivator, your cheerleader and your coach.*
What a Trainer Should Be Able to Do For You
A good personal trainer will individualize your workout, rather than providing you with the off the shelf training routine that you’ll be given by your local gym instructor. You’ll be shown how to perform the exercises correctly. He or she will also motivate you to make each workout more productive than the last.
A good trainer can also advise you about the best way to set up your own home gym.
Finding the right personal trainer for you can be a challenge. Let’s find out how to choose the best trainer for you.
3 Key Questions
You should view finding a personal trainer like interviewing someone for a job. After all, you are putting your body in their hands, so you need to make sure that you’re getting the right person.
Here are three questions you should ask:
What was your academic preparation for personal training?
You should hear them talk about their training in exercise physiology, biomechanics, and nutrition. A degree in exercise science, exercise physiology, physical therapy, athletic training or physical education are preferred.
What certification credentials specifically related to personal training do you have?
You will want to hear about certifications that are accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies, such as the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and the American Council on Exercise (ACE).
How long have you been a personal trainer?
You want to work with a person who has been in business as a personal trainer for at least two years. You should be wary about working with an inexperienced trainer.
Take Them For a Test Drive
If you are happy with the answers that you receive from your prospective personal trainer, you should arrange to watch him working with one of his current clients. Observe the attention to detail that he displays, the relationship between him and the client and his manner of motivation (is he a sergeant major or a gentle cajoler?).
Does her manner fit with your temperament? Even if she has the best qualifications in the world, things are not going to work if she’s the gentle persuader type and you know that you operate best with a symbolic kick in the pants.
Even if everything looks great, don’t sign up until you’ve been through a complimentary session. And consider the cost – the average rate is between $50-$100 per session. You should also expect a discount for multiple sessions.
Conclusion
A good personal trainer can propel you to your fitness and weight loss goals more steadily than anything you can do on your own. A bad one can be a physical and emotional nightmare. Follow the advice given above to make sure that your personal training fit is a prosperous partnership.
* Fitness Disclaimer
This website offers health, fitness and nutritional information and is designed for educational purposes only. You should not rely on this information as a substitute for, nor does it replace, professional medical advice, diagnosis treatment. This website does not promise any specific results, as each individual responds differently to training.The author of this article is not a medical professional. We have volunteers in our organization from different aspects of health, nutrition, and fitness. Not just modern medicine doctors and physicians, but yoga teachers, spiritual teachers, martial arts teachers, and energy healers and we use all those resources to be able to provide the best and most proper advice to people around all walks of life. We do not have a defined goal, we only have a mission to help as many people as we can.