« 25 Fitness Myths, Part 2 | Home | Taking My Own Advice »
How to Choose a Personal Trainer
By Anne Keckler | February 22, 2008
As I mentioned before, there are many benefits to hiring a personal trainer. It’s not just for the rich and famous, anymore.
A personal trainer can assess your fitness level, prescribe an exercise and eating plan for you, customize that plan to your individual needs, teach you proper form for doing the exercises to ensure your safety, motivate you to stick with it and to do more than you might do on your own (as appropriate), and modify your program when necessary.
But it’s important to be sure you hire the right personal trainer for you. Be sure you interview your trainer, and don’t just take whoever your gym wants to assign to you. Here are some questions to ask your trainer:
- What are your credentials?
The top three certifying agencies for personal trainers are the ACSM (American College of Sports Medicine), the NASM (National Academy of Sports Medicine), and the NSCA (National Strength and Conditioning Association). There are many certifying agencies out there, but some of them require nothing more than a small fee and an open-book test to declare you a certified personal trainer. You deserve better than that.Keep in mind, however, that having a certification doesn’t necessarily demonstrate competence as a trainer. It means only that the individual, at one point in time, had enough knowledge to pass an exam. Some people can memorize facts short-term, and pass a test, and some people can have knowledge but not be very good at communicating it or putting it into practice.
- How do you keep up with the latest research and information?
Most trainers, like most doctors, don’t read the latest research. In fact, many of them continue to repeat the same myths that have been handed down for decades in the gym. Some of this is because that’s what they think the clients want to hear, but a lot of it is because it’s simply what they believe. If he can tell you what he’s reading, what associations he belongs to, and what conventions he has attended lately, he is likely someone who tries to keep learning, rather than someone with an unshakable faith in the outdated ideas of the past.
- What days and hours are you available?
Research shows us time and time again that we are much more likely to exercise if it is as convenient as possible. So choose a gym close to where you live or work, and find a trainer with a schedule that will work for you.
- What are your fees?
At this point, you probably know that you’d like to try a personal trainer, but you want to know that you won’t be wasting your money. You don’t want to spend more than necessary, and you don’t want to lose your money if something comes up and you have to cancel a workout. If you end up not liking your trainer after a couple of sessions, it’s important that you be able to transfer to another trainer, or even to cancel your contract and look elsewhere. Be sure to discuss these things up front, and get them in writing.
You can also sometimes save some money by hiring a personal trainer with a friend. The trainer will work with both of you at once, but it should still be customized. If your friend’s goal is to enter the next powerlifting competition, and you just need to lose ten pounds of bodyfat, it’s best to hire separate trainers.
So, additional questions to ask in regard to money might include: What is the penalty for having to cancel a workout? Do package agreements have an expiration date? Are they transferable to other trainers at the same facility? Will you train my friend and me together?
Keep in mind that the best trainers are in demand, and will want to be paid a higher rate than those who are just starting out, or those who can’t get clients.
- May I have a trial session for free?
It doesn’t hurt to ask! Even if you don’t get it for free, you should get a low-cost session before you buy a package. It’s important that you feel comfortable with the trainer, and that you have an opportunity to see how she works.
- Do you have liability insurance?
Of course, you hope you’ll never need it, but if your trainer were to do something stupid and you end up injured, you’d sure want to be compensated! Most trainers who work in a gym are covered by the gym’s insurance. Don’t be afraid to ask.
- Are you certified in first aid and CPR?
Again, let’s hope it’s never an issue. But if you were to experience an unexpected health problem you don’t want to just hope that someone nearby knows what to do! The best certifying agencies require trainers to be certified in CPR and First Aid, but they don’t necessarily check up on everyone to ensure they maintain those certifications.
- What is your experience? Have you worked with people of my fitness level and with my goals before?
Ideally, you’d like to find someone with relevant experience. If you are overweight and want to lose fat, find someone who has been there, or who has worked with others in your situation. If you are an avid golfer who wants to increase the power in his swing, find someone who works with golfers.
It’s perfectly acceptable to ask for references, but keep in mind that the trainer will need permission from clients in order to give you their personal information.
On the other hand, some trainers might be willing to go the extra mile and further their education just to help you! If you find a less experienced trainer, but you like everything else about him, AND he’s willing to learn more about your situation, I’d recommend that you give him a chance. It might just be a win-win situation!
In Summary
Most people hire a trainer based on the physique of the trainer. Keep in mind that your trainer might not have the same goals as you, but that doesn’t mean that she doesn’t know how to help you achieve your goals. For example, I am currently working on strength, so I’m not the skinniest girl in the gym. I’m not fat, either. But if you want to lose bodyfat, I know how to do that. I’ve done it before.
A young guy might have a great physique just because he is young, has good genes, and has never been out of shape. That doesn’t mean he knows anything about getting back into shape after a long layoff. It also doesn’t necessarily mean he doesn’t!
If a trainer is offended by any of your questions or concerns, simply ask for a different trainer. It’s as easy as saying, “I’d like to speak to other trainers before I make a decision.” Ask if you can make an appointment, or if there is one available then, if you have the time.
Don’t hire a personal trainer based on his or her appearance. Ask for an interview, at least, or even a trial session.
Watch for my next post: After the Interview or First Session
... Stumble it! ... Save to del.icio.usTopics: Exercise, Losing weight, Motivation, Uncategorized | No Comments »
