Entrenamiento Fitness: How To Choose A Personal Trainer

One size fits all? Not always. It’s unlikely that one style, cut or size of jeans will fit every woman. The same goes when hiring a Personal Trainer. Not every trainer is good for every client. You must find the perfect fit for YOU! As the consumer you are shopping for a service and a very personal service at that. Hiring a Personal Trainer is an investment in your health and lifestyle and should not be taken lightly or dismissed as just someone to “workout” with. A variety of factors come into play that can positively or negatively impact your efforts in achieving your goals. Personality, method of coaching, and experience are just a few. Here are some suggestions to guide you in choosing a Personal Trainer.

Observe. Does the trainer look the “part”? It’s a good rule of thumb to hire a trainer who is conscious and proactive with his/her own health and lifestyle. In other words, they should practice what they preach. Next, observe the interaction between the Personal Trainer and his/her client. This will speak volumes. No better place to watch a training session in progress than from up on the cardio deck if possible. While you are on a treadmill or elliptical watch the trainer in action. Is he/she giving 100% attention to the client? Is the trainer demonstrating/teaching the client the proper technique of performing the exercise? Does the trainer appear to be watching the client to ensure the exercise is performed properly? Does the trainer seem to be motivating the client through the workout? If the answer is yes to all of the questions, that is a positive sign. Then proceed to the next step.

Interview. Prepare a list of questions ahead of time to avoid forgetting something that was a priority for you to know. As you interview the trainer, it’s important to note if the trainer appears to be a good listener and committed to helping you reach your goals. Some sample questions might be:

What are your current certifications? At the minimum, he/she should have a current Personal Trainer Certification and current CPR certification and be able to furnish you with a copy or show it to you. If the trainer has other credentials/certifications related to health and exercise, it’s a good sign that they are investing in their career and shows they take their profession seriously.
Why did you become a Personal Trainer? This will be a great way to give the trainer a chance to show his/her enthusiasm and possibly share their personal experience/philosophy on health and exercise.
Share your goals with the trainer and ask how he/she would help you achieve them and how he/she will track your progress. If your goals include a meal plan, do not just assume the trainer will or is capable of helping you with this. Ask! This will give you a basic idea on how the trainer plans on fulfilling his/her service to you.
Ask for his/her rates and what is included in the rate. It’s also important to ask what the policy is for canceling a session either by you or the trainer. Will it be re-scheduled? Most times there is a policy in place in regards to how much advanced notice must be given to avoid being charged for the canceled session.
Do you give an initial complimentary session? Most professional trainers will offer a complimentary session as a chance to showcase their training techniques/philosophy. This session might be shorter in length but long enough to give you an idea on how you and the trainer interact and get a sense on how the sessions would run.

After gathering this information you can better assess if this trainer will be a good “fit” for YOU!

By Liza Hughes RN

Certified Fitness and Nutrition Coach

Professional Athlete