There are all kinds of fluffy criteria to apply to picking a trainer. I will not be addressing those here. There are a lot of “nice,” “fun,” and “likable” personal trainers out there who can not train. In fact, many of the most likable celebrity trainers are, in my opinion not, the greatest trainers for actually affecting change in their clients. As a client, you must realize that you are purchasing a GOOD, not a SERVICE. The “good” you are purchasing is your results and it just doesn’t really matter if the guy or gal you hire is the nicest person on earth if they never deliver the goods. So, here is my advice for choosing a trainer who will make a difference in your health and in your life:
1) Of course, they must be certified.
Certifications are becoming easier to obtain than a driver’s license so you have to be careful. My personal favorites are ACSM, NASM,NSCA, ACE. Of course, for the best of the best (and yes, I am completely biased here, CHEK). A CHEK practitioner will never disappoint and is equipped to show you amazing things about your body.
Certifications are becoming easier to obtain than a driver’s license so you have to be careful. My personal favorites are ACSM, NASM,NSCA, ACE. Of course, for the best of the best (and yes, I am completely biased here, CHEK). A CHEK practitioner will never disappoint and is equipped to show you amazing things about your body.
2) Ask for proof of insurance.
Only true professionals will have their own insurance. The occasional trainer will not bother and it is a sign that he or she does not take their career or the safety of their clients seriously.
3) Ask them to name all of the muscles that comprise your core.
Base knowledge of anatomy is incredibly important in designing programs, if your potential trainer does not know the muscles they are working, and their function, how can they hope to correct any kind of dysfunction or design a program to train them efficiently?
4) Ask to see a program for an existing client.
A true professional writes everything down. The essence of a real program is to get measured adaptation of your body for strength, growth, or whatever you wish to obtain. If the trainer is keeping that information in their head, or do not have the skills or discipline to write a program, you will be wasting both your time and money.
5) Ask what kind of assessment they do.
If they take body fat and measurements, great but it won’t tell them anything about the strength or weakness of your muscle groups. Without this knowledge, the best exercise prescription that they can give you is something generic and non customized to your body. How would you feel about getting heart surgery without the doctor so much as pulling out a stethoscope? At the least, you should be given flexibility and strength tests as well as visual assessment for postural issues. In addition, medical history, and informed consent forms are a must.
Only true professionals will have their own insurance. The occasional trainer will not bother and it is a sign that he or she does not take their career or the safety of their clients seriously.
3) Ask them to name all of the muscles that comprise your core.
Base knowledge of anatomy is incredibly important in designing programs, if your potential trainer does not know the muscles they are working, and their function, how can they hope to correct any kind of dysfunction or design a program to train them efficiently?
4) Ask to see a program for an existing client.
A true professional writes everything down. The essence of a real program is to get measured adaptation of your body for strength, growth, or whatever you wish to obtain. If the trainer is keeping that information in their head, or do not have the skills or discipline to write a program, you will be wasting both your time and money.
5) Ask what kind of assessment they do.
If they take body fat and measurements, great but it won’t tell them anything about the strength or weakness of your muscle groups. Without this knowledge, the best exercise prescription that they can give you is something generic and non customized to your body. How would you feel about getting heart surgery without the doctor so much as pulling out a stethoscope? At the least, you should be given flexibility and strength tests as well as visual assessment for postural issues. In addition, medical history, and informed consent forms are a must.
6) Do NOT choose your trainer on price alone.
Good trainer are paid well and deliver the results they promise...that is why they can charge more. It is not necessarily the case that high price equals high quality however. Make sure that your trainer passes all of the other criteria and decide if the price works for you but remember that lower-priced trainers are generally lower priced because their services are worth what they charge. I know coaches who charge $160-$200/hr and are booked for months in advance. Can you imagine the amazing things a coach like that could do for your body? Do not fall into the trap of paying ANYTHING for NOTHING…choose a trainer who will get you results and reward him or her with an applicable fee for changing your life.
7) Pull the plug quickly if you are not getting what you are paying for.
Some facilities, especially some commercial clubs, bank on the fact that you may purchase huge training packages and then decide not to finish the training. Great deal! The club gets your money and they don’t have to pay the trainer to provide it. Paying anything for a service you do not use is simply foolish. Or worse, you choose a poor trainer and then give the guy access to your body because you have a lot of money sunk into a package. Buy a small package at first or pay from session to session until you are sure that this is the trainer you want then purchase more when you are
There are a lot of phenomenal trainers and coaches out there and you can choose to use these steps to find yourself one. If you do, you have an amazing experience ahead of you that can redefine the way you view yourself and your body. If you do not, you can always take consolation in telling yourself that nobody really gets results with a trainer.
Good trainer are paid well and deliver the results they promise...that is why they can charge more. It is not necessarily the case that high price equals high quality however. Make sure that your trainer passes all of the other criteria and decide if the price works for you but remember that lower-priced trainers are generally lower priced because their services are worth what they charge. I know coaches who charge $160-$200/hr and are booked for months in advance. Can you imagine the amazing things a coach like that could do for your body? Do not fall into the trap of paying ANYTHING for NOTHING…choose a trainer who will get you results and reward him or her with an applicable fee for changing your life.
7) Pull the plug quickly if you are not getting what you are paying for.
Some facilities, especially some commercial clubs, bank on the fact that you may purchase huge training packages and then decide not to finish the training. Great deal! The club gets your money and they don’t have to pay the trainer to provide it. Paying anything for a service you do not use is simply foolish. Or worse, you choose a poor trainer and then give the guy access to your body because you have a lot of money sunk into a package. Buy a small package at first or pay from session to session until you are sure that this is the trainer you want then purchase more when you are
There are a lot of phenomenal trainers and coaches out there and you can choose to use these steps to find yourself one. If you do, you have an amazing experience ahead of you that can redefine the way you view yourself and your body. If you do not, you can always take consolation in telling yourself that nobody really gets results with a trainer.
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