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 This article is written by Nancy Christie, a professional health and wellness writer. Nancy, a motivational speaker and author is committed to helping women find ways to get out of ruts by developing new habits and thought discipline. Get to know more about Nancy at our beTeam page.
LET'S FIND THE TRAINER THAT IS RIGHT FOR YOU
Whether you’re a newbie exerciser or just adding a new-to-you exercise to your fitness routine, a professional fitness trainer can help you get the maximum benefits from your workout. But be sure to do your homework before you sign on the dotted line.
Check qualifications. Is the trainer certified through a National Commission of Certifying Agencies (NCCA) approved body: the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) and the American Council on Exercise (ACE)? “Then consider any additional education or experience he/she may hold such as advanced qualifications or specializations that are specific to your goal,” said California-based certified personal trainer Erin Malone, MA, CES, PES and NASM’s Manager of Training and Development. Evaluate the training style. You want your trainer to be passionate about the profession. “Otherwise, you won’t get the full effect of the education and background,” said John Rowley, Certified Fitness Trainer and Wellness Director for the International Sports Science Association (ISSA) in California. Watch a few sessions. Are they “boot-camp” intense, low-key and fun, or a mix of both? Is the trainer impatient or encouraging?
"Finding a trainer that is the ‘right fit’ can sometimes be difficult and often depends on your goals as the client,” said Malone. “If your goal is to have a trainer make your workouts enjoyable and effective, then you will want to look for someone with a personality similar to your own. If you want somebody to hold you accountable for your progress, you may want to look for a focused individual who may or may not have a personality similar to your own. "Interview" the trainer.
 Malone recommends asking these key questions:
• What is your personal philosophy on fitness?
• What training system or methodology do you implement with your clients?
• What are your areas of expertise?
• What would you expect of me as your client?
• What is your level of education?
• How many years have you been in the industry?
• How long have you trained at this particular facility?
• Can you provide me with testimonials from three to five clients?
Then, explain your goals and objectives. “Pay attention to how he or she responds. If he or she is supportive of where you want to go, fantastic!” said Rowley. “If he just glosses over while you are talking and tries to force-feed you what he wants for you....RUN! If you don’t like being with your personal trainer, you won’t go consistently and if you aren’t consistent, you will not get your desired result.”
Have a one-on-one session. Finally, schedule one to three sessions before signing the contract to see how well the two of you work together and how comfortable you feel with your trainer. Watch for “warning signs”: missed appointments, late arrivals, lack of a specific game plan or general inattentiveness. “As the client, you want to make sure that you receive what you’re paying for: results and time,” said Malone.
“One important thing to remember is that people hire trainers to help change negative habits that they may not necessarily want to change,” she added. “This means, from time to time, that you may not agree with, or even like your trainer, but respecting his or her guidance as an expert is always necessary.”
Sources
 John Rowley
http://peakperformancelifestyle.com/
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Erin Malone, MA, NASM CPT, CES, PES and NASM’s Manager of Training and Development
The National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM)
http://www.nasm.org/
Toll-free 800.460.NASM (6276) |
