What to Look for in A Personal Trainer

What to look for in a Personal Trainer

A personal trainer can be an excellent resource in guiding you towards meeting your fitness goals.  But working with a personal trainer is a commitment of both time and money so you want to make sure to choose someone who will help you achieve maximum results.  Here are some things to look for when you decide to hire a personal trainer.

Education and Qualifications   

• All personal trainers should have some type of certification from an accredited organization such as International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA), National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), American Council on Exercise (ACE) or International Fitness Professionals Association (IFPA).  In addition to holding a current certification, you want to find a trainer who takes the initiative to continue their education in the profession in order to be knowledgeable of current fitness trends and meet standards on safety and fitness.

Experience

• Every person’s needs will differ when working towards making changes in their physique.  An experienced trainer will have the knowledge and familiarity of developing the most effective program for each individual.

Teaching Skills  

• Just because someone is knowledgeable in an area doesn’t mean they know how to teach this to others.  Look for a trainer who possesses the skills of a good teacher.  Excellent communication skills are essential to training so the client understands what to do.  Patience is important so the client is comfortable and open to change.  They should also be very skilled in assessing a client’s progress to make changes to individual workouts taking into account that each person will progress differently.

Professionalism  

• A good personal trainer will behave in a professional manner.  This means giving their clients their full attention by not texting or talking on their cell phone during your workout and avoiding personal conversations with other people at the gym.  A personal trainer should also be friendly but maintain a professional relationship with clients.  This demonstrates integrity by showing that they can sustain a respectful and responsible working partnership with their clients.

Passion

• An excellent personal trainer demonstrates a passion for what they do.  They lead by example and this should be evident in their fitness level and the healthy habits they choose for living their own lives.

Physique  

• Last but not least, a good personal trainer should look the part.  They should be in good shape and practice what they preach.  Nobody is looking to hire a fat personal trainer.

For more information about what to look for when hiring a personal trainer, or tips about weight training, eating right, and living a healthy fitness lifestyle, contact us.