Tips on Choosing a Personal Trainer
Getting motivated to stay fit by exercising is not as easy as it sounds. We may know we need to keep healthy through exercise but more often than not we can’t keep with the routine of working out because of so many distractions.
One of the most effective ways of sticking with a fitness plan is by hiring a personal trainer. A personal trainer will help you maintain your exercise regimen by being there for you and offering you encouragement when you need it while also making sure that your fitness regimen constantly gives you challenge but also making sure that it’s not impossible that you’ll just quit out of frustration.
Here are some tips on how to choose a personal trainer.
Ask for recommendations
One of the best ways to find a good personal trainer is by asking for recommendations from people that you trust – your family and friends. They won’t lie to you and will only give a recommendation that they are comfortable giving. Going this route will immediately prune out unqualified trainers.
Interview candidates
You need to talk to your candidate personal trainers to find out more about them. Ask about their work experience, who their clients are and their fitness philosophies. Treat the interview as a consultation as well. Talk to them about your fitness history and what your goals are and then ask for their opinion. If their answers sound sensible and is something you can support and actually do then that trainer should be in your short list.
Rapport is also important so be aware of that while you’re interviewing candidates. You will work very closely with the trainer so good communication and rapport is very important.
You should also ask for referrals. Ask to talk to former and current clients so you’ll get a better picture of his system and how he deals with clients.
Look for Certification
Legitimate personal trainers should undergo certification training. That certificate means that they have undergone training and know what they are doing. This is especially important since we’re talking about your health. There have been cases of clients getting injured because the personal trainers do not know how to correctly work with the specific needs of their clients – for example those that have weak backs.
But you also have to be aware that certification does not always mean the personal trainer is qualified to do certain things. A certification means the trainer knows the stuff that he trained for. So what does this mean? Be specific in what your personal trainer needs are, and this means knowing what your goals and limitations are. For example, if you want strength training but you have a bum back then you should find a personal trainer that are qualified AND certified for strength training and handling people with injuries. If you’re interviewing a personal trainer and their motto is “all training is equal” run as far away in the opposite direction.
A personal trainer can be the secret formula in achieving your health and fitness goals. But it can only succeed if you have the personal trainer that is a good fit for you.