13 tips on Finding the Right Personal Trainer for YOU!
By Sian on Jan 28, 2010 with Comments 11
Finding a trainer is not an easy task. Every personal trainer is different and you need to do some research to find the best possible match. I have been personal training for several years now and been through some rough client-trainer relationships and some great ones as well. Believe it or not, having a personal trainer is a team effort and you will build a strong relationship over the months.
Each person feeds off the energy of the other person, which fuels the workout. So finding the right trainer is vital or else you will end up disliking exercise and increase stress rather than reducing it.
This new year, if you’re in the market for a personal trainer, here are 13 tips to help you identify the one best suited for you:
- Explore trainers; each and every trainer should give you a complimentary session.
- Look for a trainer that is specialized to meet your fitness goal.
- Find a trainer that is punctual.
- Check the trainers credentials/educational background.
- Ask questions and pick the trainer’s brain.
- Look for a trainer that is fun, outgoing, and caring.
- Find a trainer that does not have too much drama in his/her life; this will take away from each and every workout.
- Decide if you want a male or female trainer.
- Avoid a trainer that works out during your session, this will become a hassle and could lead to possible injury.
- Find a trainer that has a flexible schedule and is accommodating of your daily routine.
- Look for a trainer that is not over-bearing, but pushes you.
- Look for a trainer that keeps each workout upbeat; this helps avoid monotony.
- Find a trainer that makes you happy!!
How did you find your personal trainer?
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I’ll have to agree with what Kishore said above. I will never use an online trainer because as a trainer I would want the ability to do some pre-testing before I start with the client. Things such as blood pressure, stress testing, and body fat testing are essential to a good training program. You don’t get those things from someone online. If a trainer takes his business seriously and is professional, the above things should be included in his training program. Its way too many people out there with fly by night certifications injuring trusting people!
I use a virtual trainer because I don’t love working out with a trainer in the gym. It makes me crazy if they’re late, when they talk to much, when all they do is count my reps. I’ve used online trainers for years now. I research them by reading their articles, talking to other clients, and talking to them. When I know I can trust them w/my style and body…they’re hired!
Here are a few things that I wonder about using a virtual trainer:
1. How can he/she assess you before embarking on a program, like structural imbalances?
2. How do you learn new exercise form? I cannot imagine learning a power clean or squat from an online trainer (I’m yet to see someone do a proper squat in commercial gyms)
3. Monitoring your performance at the gym, form and recording rep tempo/count are of utmost importance to any serious trainee (unless you just want to walk around the gym in a tight fit with your ipod doing moronic stuff like triceps kickback)
4. A good coach can tell you if you strength or fitness is being limited by soft tissue problems, joint strength etc. Not when he’s writing programs for you online.
WOW! Thanks Kishore for the added tips…some are very funny!
You are welcome. I work out in a commercial gym and often witness poor clients being ripped off of their money by personal trainers with a weekend certification.
Lots of pink barbie dumbell moves, smith machine (which is only good for pull-ups and drying your sweaty t-shirt) routines and chit chat. No effective exercises like squats, pull ups, deadlifts etc. End result? The client looks the same or fatter 6 months later.
Here are ten easy ways to spot a useless personal trainer:
1. He never records anything. Unless he has a way to show your average load used, your relative strength index on each exercise, progress curves etc…, your trainer is a big dweeb. He cannot produce any data on how you have made progress outside of weight on scale.
2. He is more into entertaining you than training you. Jumping laterally from a Bosu ball to a bench while pressing overhead a dumbbell with the opposite won’t get you lean or fat.
3. Program design is a function of the equipment closest to the person he is interested looking at. It should instead be a function of your goals.
4. He talks to you about random stuff while you are doing your set. He should be monitoring your rep count and tempo pace.
5. He tells you about his personal problems. Hey, you pay him to get you in shape, not to be his personal counselor. Outside of greetings and goodbyes, talk should be centered around your exercise performance and the whys of what you are doing.
6. He uses his cell phone to take calls, make call, or text while you are working out.
7. His video does not match the audio. In other words, he either is a skinny fat bastard with the calf development of a parrot, or could consider a career in Sumo wrestling. He talks the walk, but cant walk the talk. Would you go see a dentist who sports a dentition that looks
like a piano?
8. He does not associate with a functional medicine practitioner to make sure your health is not limiting your progress in the gym.
9. He has never taken a class to expand his horizons and his knowledge on the basics of training: such as anatomy, program design, stretching, etc..
10. He cannot sell his business. Why? It is worth nothing.
The sad truth is that 99.99% of personal trainers could not sell their business tomorrow. Why? They have no records, no results to show for. They work for their business, not on their business.
I agree-you are the one paying them so be sure you are very comfortable with that person!
Great points! And make sure that they don’t insist that there is only one way! Also, if they are trying to push a supplement or supplements as part of the program, think twice
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Great post especially since Biggest Loser is on TV right now. If you don’t know where to begin with working out and getting fit, ask for help! Trainers are there to help you! You need to find a trainer who will push you more than you can push yourself! They know how to get your body in great shape. Thanks for sharing
Jen
This is a topic I’ve been wanting to write about for awhile as well – thanks for posting it! It’s so important to find the right personal training match!