Working with a personal trainer can be of great benefit to you. Whether you’re a beginner and need help with proper use of weights and creating a program, or a seasoned gym-goer needing to add something new and challenging to your workouts, a personal trainer can get you there. I should rephrase that. The right personal trainer can get you there.
Far too often though, people end up working with unqualified, uncertified, and inexperienced trainers. This leaves the client no closer to their goal, frustrated, never wanting to hire a personal trainer again, and possibly injured. I feel the general opinion of personal trainers is negative, and for good reason. Most of you reading this now have probably worked with a trainer who didn’t know what they were doing. The majority of the clients I’ve worked with have had at least one negative experience with a trainer before coming to me. It’s not a surprise this is the case, with so many online trainer exams available, you could pay a fee and call yourself a personal trainer today if you wanted. And thus, the unqualified and uncertified personal trainer is born.
Although the numbers of this type of trainer are high, don’t despair. There are trainers out there (like myself) who hold a degree in a fitness related field, and studied extensively to pass the challenging exam to be certified through an accredited personal training agency.
That being said, here are some things to look for when choosing a personal trainer.
· The very first thing you should look at is their certification. A knowledgeable personal trainer will be certified through an accredited certifying agency. ACSM, NSCA, and AFAA are some examples of such agencies. These agencies require both a written and practical exam (ACSM being the most difficult) to ensure knowledge in anatomy, biomechanics, exercise physiology, fitness testing, nutrition and weight management, metabolic calculations etc.
· CPR and First Aid certified. If your trainer passes the first test and is accredited through a respectable agency, they will already be CPR and First Aid certified as it is required to be in order to sit for the exams. If they do not hold a current CPR certification, chances are, either their personal training certification has expired, or they were never required to have one in the first place.
· Education: Does your trainer have a college degree related to the fitness field? If that is important to you, it’s something to consider. A degree in a fitness related field will add to the credibility of the trainer. A degree is required to be ACSM certified, but not for the other accredited agencies.
· Specialties: Find out what your potential trainer specializes in. Does it correlate with your fitness goals? If the trainer you’re considering specializes in bootcamp style and advanced clients, and you’ve never set foot in a gym before, it may not be a good fit.
· Interests: If a trainer bio is available, read it. Choose someone who has similar interests to you. Although this is not nearly as important as the above bullet points, you will be working with this trainer on a regular basis and it’s good to be able to have some things in common to talk about.
When it comes down to it, you’re trusting this personal trainer with your health. You’re trusting them to not injure you, to motivate you, and to safely help you reach your goals, so make sure you take the time to choose a trainer carefully.
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