Choosing The Right Personal Trainer

Choosing a personal trainer is like choosing a physician, therapist or friend. Personal trainers often fulfill multiple functions and it’s important as a consumer, to know exactly what you want and most importantly, what you are buying into. Naturally we all want to positively change our physique by enlisting the help of motivational sources. Some of us want to become stronger or leaner. Some of us are rehabilitating from an injury or training for an athletic competition. Whatever your goal may be, it’s important to do your due diligence when choosing the right trainer for you. Not only must he/she be qualified and experienced, but your trainer’s personality and work style also needs to compliment yours.

A personal trainer can be a wonderful asset to kick-start a workout routine. However, trainers are not one-size-fits-all and it’s important to know how to pick the right one for you.” Here’s a guide to make sure your coach is the right fit for you.

Watch and Observe
It is rare when you are able to watch professionals interact personally with their clients. In this case, you are able to observe a personal trainer while you are roaming the gym floor or completing your cardio session nearby. Besides noticing a trainer’s physical appearance and demeanor, also notice if he/she is actively involved with the client’s program. Is the trainer constantly looking away? Is he/she taking notes or on chatting on a cell phone? Is the trainer correcting his/her client’s posture and providing continuous feedback? It’s important to see how engaged the trainer is with his/her client. The more engaging a trainer is, the better he/she can correct you, motivate you and stimulate you to trainer harder.
 
In addition to a trainer’s engagement, also observe their training style. Is the trainer soft spoken or speaks in an authoritative boot camp manner? Does the trainer converse during most of the session or does the trainer focus on exercise intensity? Some clients enjoy small talk while training, but others like to get down to business. Figure out your social tendencies and choose a trainer that suits your personality type.

Do Your Research
While a trainer can have an incredible physique, it’s important to also have some education and experience behind the brawn and biceps. Personal trainers come from a variety of educational backgrounds. Some trainers graduated with a four-year degree in exercise science. Other trainers enrolled in a specialized, certificate programs. Whatever the background may be, the most important thing to look for is a combination of education and experience. Some of the most well-known training certifications today are given by the American Council on Exercise (ACE), the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) and the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM).
 
While education is an important factor, nothing takes away from the years of experience a trainer possesses. Some trainers were athletes, marathon runners, bodybuilders or weight loss success examples. Some trainers started working several years ago and have successfully trained a variety of clients. Choosing a “green” trainer, which is new to the profession, isn’t a bad choice either, but knowing that your trainer has experience provides more trust and confidence in you.

Have a Two-Way Interview
Before hiring a trainer, have a good sit down (free of charge) with your potential trainer and ask the right questions. Besides researching their educational background, really see if you ‘jive’ with this person. Do you feel comfortable? Do you feel intimidated? Is he/she a good listener? Does the trainer ask you a lot of questions? Ask the trainer about past clients and past results. Provide the trainer with scenarios and tell him/her about your history. Find out what kind of program he/she is suggesting and see if it sounds realistic. When interviewing your potential trainer, look for confidence, consistency in answers and comfort in your conversation.
 
During this time period, the trainer should equally be interviewing you. The trainer should be inquiring about your health background. The trainer should ask questions regarding your eating habits, past injuries, exercise regimen and physical goals. He/she should lead you onto the workout floor and observe your posture, balance, strength and flexibility. If the conversation revolves too much around your personal life and not much on your physical self, then that’s a strong indication that the trainer is not qualified to train you.

Get with ‘The Program’
A good trainer won’t just train with you when you are together, a good trainer will provide a complete weekly program that is tailored to your long-term goals. Not only will he/she provide an exercise program, but most often, the trainer will also provide a meal plan. “I usually have my clients write down what they eat for a few days then alter their foods so it’s healthier,” says personal trainer Emily Gregg, assistant fitness manager of Crunch Gym in San Francisco. “It’s tough telling someone to eat chicken breast and broccoli if that’s not what they enjoy to eat. Just like exercise, if you don’t find something you enjoy, then don’t expect yourself to stick to it that long.” These programs should not be generic, but instead be specific to your personality, your physical goals, your schedule and your food tolerances.
 
A trainer’s long-term goal should be to develop your self-sufficiency in your fitness program. When your sessions end, there should be fitness homework that follows. When your training package is finished, you should be able to continue forward without confusion. “The best trainers provide you with an education, suggesting workouts you can do on your own and that will be sustainable beyond your sessions together,” Peraino said. “For example, running the gym stairs might be OK with a trainer but less fun on your own. Be sure your trainer gives you exercises you can make into healthy habits.”
 
Besides developing a self-sustainable program, it also important to ensure the trainer provides a program that is “all-encompassing.” If your program doesn’t focus on cardio, strength and flexibility, then it is not complete.

Comb through your contract
When you finally find a trainer you are ready to hire, then it’s time to get down to the details. Cost for a trainer varies depending on how many sessions you purchase. Your training package can average anywhere between $40 to $70 per session. Many training packages allow a payment plan, in which you don’t have to pay everything up front. When signing the dotted line, ask about the cancellation policy. Go through a list of scenarios like if your trainer quits or if you want to switch trainers. See if the sessions can be transferrable to other gyms or if you can be refunded if you’re dissatisfied. It is important that you comb through your contract so you know exactly what you are buying. After all, hiring a personal trainer is usually a large investment.

“When you screen carefully, personal training can be an excellent investment in fitness,” Peraino said. “Remember that investment doesn’t need to break the bank. The most expensive trainers aren’t necessarily the best. Many trainers will consider semi-private sessions so you can split the cost with a friend. Just be sure that friend has needs and goals that are similar to yours.”

When should you make an investment in a personal trainer?
• If you are new to exercise and want to develop good exercise habits.
• If you have been training for months without progressive results.
• If you are training for an upcoming sports event, marathon or fitness competition.
• If you have injured yourself.
• If you have bad posture.
• If you lack motivation to work out.