Whether you are a beginner just about to start on your fitness journey, or an advanced athlete wanting to refine your form & performance, you can benefit from a trainer. Picking the best personal trainer for you can seem like an overwhelming task, but it doesn’t have to be! In this article, we will cover the ins and outs of what to consider to help your decision-making process, and how to pick the right trainer for you!
Personal Trainer – A person who works 1-on-1 or online with a client to plan or implement an exercise or fitness regimen.
How To Select A Trainer
You can begin by searching ‘’personal trainer near me’’ into google, or asking your friends and family if they have ever worked with a trainer, and who they might recommend.
Once you have a few names on your list of possible trainers, the refining process can begin!
Most trainers have websites or social media pages through which you can contact them to set up a consultation or discovery call.
How To Find A Good Personal Trainer
1. Begin by asking for their qualifications- some trainers have multiple fitness certifications, some only have 1 or 2 under their belt. Asking them about this will give you insight as to how much emphasis they put on continuing education and staying up to date with their certifications. This is a good time to also ask them how long they have been working in the fitness industry, and point to their experience level.
2. Ask about their training philosophy. What do they value most about their clients/results? Many trainers look at their clients as ‘’trophies’’ of their coaching accomplishments, without putting much empathy or dedication into the individual, and only their results. For example, if your goal is to lose weight, ask them to help you set a realistic (and safe) goal to get you there. Steer clear of any trainer who promises quick results via extreme measures, this will not be sustainable and can often be dangerous.
3. Look at their website, social media and client testimonials- what are their clients saying about them? This will give you a good idea of the lasting impression they leave on their clients.
How To Find A Personal Trainer For Seniors
You will want to take special consideration if you are a senior looking for a trainer. Make sure to ask them if they have experience working with someone of your fitness level and age before hiring them.
4. If you have any past or current injuries/health issues, make sure to ask them if they have the knowledge to work with your condition safely. Coaches will be honest about this as if they work beyond their scope of practice and something goes wrong, the responsibility is on them. It’s in both your and their interest to be upfront about their coaching capacities.
5. They should have experience working with other clients who had the same goal as you, tell them about your goal and ask how they handled past clients working towards the same objective.
Other Things To Consider When Deciding How To Pick The Right Trainer
6. Make sure your availability matches up with theirs. For example, if you can only train on weekends, make sure that they’re available on weekends.
7. Some may feel more comfortable working with a certain gender of a coach. For example, some women prefer to work with a female coach, because they can relate more to issues of body confidence, period-related setbacks and other day-to-day struggles. Likewise, some men may prefer a male coach who has their ideal physique, as a constant reminder of what they’re working towards! Everyone has different needs and will look for certain qualities in a coach.
8. Ask about their contracts/ cancellation policy. Every trainer does this a bit differently, and it’s important to know what their policies are so everyone is on the same page.
9. Make sure they are a reasonable distance away from you. It has been proven that the likelihood of cancellations goes up the further away you live from your place of exercise.
Totally up to you if you’re willing to make the drive, but it’s important to take into account session times, and rush hour traffic during/after, as well as any weather conditions that could affect your punctuality.
Be Aware Of Cost: How Much Is A Personal Trainer Per Hour?
Cost can vary greatly from trainer to trainer depending on many factors. Come up with a budget on what you’re comfortable investing in your health and fitness, and ask the trainer if they are available to work within that range. Keep in mind, trainers set their prices based on experience, reputation and availability, so in a lot of ways, you get what you pay for! Trainers can range anywhere from $40 an hour up to $100 or more per hour. A quality coach is more than worth the investment. Remember, you are investing in yourself, your long-term health, and a wealth of knowledge that stays with you forever, can you put a price on that?!
What To Expect From A Personal Trainer
You can reasonably expect the following from your coach:
- Someone to keep you accountable
- They will help educate you about which exercises will benefit you personally, and keep you safe at all times during the session
- To ask any fitness related questions and provide moral support for you along your journey
- Someone who will give you 100% of their undivided attention during the session and focus on providing the best experience possible for you during your workout
Final Thoughts
Taking all these things into consideration, the biggest thing to consider is how you FEEL about them.
Listen to your gut upon talking to them/ meeting them! If you pick up good energy from them and could see yourself enjoying spending a few hours a week working with them, this is a wonderful sign. When all is said and done, your trainer will feel like a close friend, ready to help you reach your goals and there to pick you back up when you fall off the proverbial wagon. That’s why it’s so crucial that you two get along!
