How to Choose a Private Fitness Trainer
You made the decision to hire a Personal Trainer, but now you have the task of essentially picking one. Where ought to you start? And what must you look for?
A Personal Trainer supposed to be certified through a respectable fitness organization and have the education required to help you accomplish your fitness goals. Remember, this person’s profession is to assess your fitness level, design a training course and keep you consistently motivated, so it is okay to do a little study and find the best person for you.
Qualifications to consider:
Experience
Your Personal Trainer should have several years, new medicine
, of experience and even more importantly, that experience must be in relation to your fitness goals. If you want to shave a few strokes off your golf game, your Personal Fitness Trainer should possess sport-specific expertise. On the other hand, if you are recovering from an injury, your Personal Trainer should be knowledgeable in rehabilitation and be willing to work with your doctor if needed. Many Personal Trainers are experts in a multitude of areas, but you need to ask to be sure.
Education
As mentioned above, a Personal Trainer should be certified through one of the reputable fitness organizations such as NASM, ISSA or ACSM (more certification information is below). Their certification should also be current. You may want to inquire about their college degree as well if an advanced degree is important to you.
CPR and/or First Aid
The Personal Trainer you hire should possess a certification in CPR and/or first aid. Most Personal Trainers will tell you upfront, new medicine
, what certifications they have, if not, feel free to inquire.
Professionalism
Your Personal Trainer should be well groomed, fit, and be on schedule and ready to go at your previously set appointment time. He/she should also do a thorough assessment of your physical condition and goals prior to initiaizingl your program, and then continue to track your progress over time.
Personality
You may not consider this at first, but you, new medicine
, will be spending time with this person while working directly on your fitness goals, so it will be crucial that you and your Personal Trainer are compatible. You want someone who listens to you, pays attention to your needs, provides constructive analysis when required, and honestly assesses your fitness progress.
As far as certification goes, there is a difference among Personal Trainers that are just certified, and those that are certified and qualified to train. You want to consider both the experience the Personal Trainer has, and the type of certification he/she has received.
Legitimate Personal Training Certification Companies:
* National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM)
* Aerobics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA)
* American Fitness Professional and Associates (AFPA)
* International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA)
* American Council on Exercise (ACE)
* American College, new medicine
, of Sports Medicine (ACSM)
* National, new medicine
, Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA)
Ask your Personal Trainer which certifications he/she presently possesses and if those certifications are current. You can do further research on each certification agency to familiarize yourself with the accreditation process. Keep in mind that in addition to the certification, you may want to ask for personal references from other satisfied clients.
Cost Considerations:
For each session, expect to pay between $30 to $100 or more depending on whether your Personal Trainer is employed by a local fitness center or community center, or is private and carries his/her own overhead and insurance. Years of experience will also affect the cost of your session; more experience will typically cost more hourly. Buying a package or a sequence of sessions is generally more cost efficient and is often the way to go if you are new to working out or have a long-term fitness goal.
On the flip side, as with all professions, Personal Training has its share of incompetent persons that should not be training anybody.
Be cautious of a Personal Trainer that carries out any of the following:
* Trains you so hard that you’re in ache for days. Some discomfort is usual, but you should still be able to move.
* Recommends a level of training that is too demanding for you.
* Ignores your questions and/or you.
* Doesn’t remember your exact health problem or injury after the preliminary consultation. For instance, you shouldn’t have to repeat your Personal Trainer that you had back surgery.
* Suggests or demands that you take medications, supplements or herbs without speaking to your doctor first.
* Makes personal phone calls while you are in session or answers the phone (unless it is an emergency).
* Converses with other clients or Personal Trainers while you are training.
* Doesn’t return emails or phone calls.
A Personal Trainer should pay attention to you; correct your alignment, explain what muscles you’re working and why, and be there to show you through a fitness agenda. It’s your body, schedule, and money, so you have the right to get what you want; a qualified Personal Trainer will understand that.
In return, be considerate and courteous of your Personal Trainer by showing up on time, saving personal phone calls till after your session, bringing your own water and towel, and listening to directions without interrupting. This should be a rewarding time for you; ensure your Personal Trainer is qualified and experienced so you can build a relationship and reap the benefits of health and fitness.