What to Look for in a Personal Trainer

If you’ve been exercising for a while but you're just not getting the results you want, it could be time to talk with a personal trainer. Sustained a recent injury and want to modify your routine to prevent further injuries? Again, it’s time for a personal trainer. Decided you'd like to try a mini-marathon, but you're not sure how to prepare? You guessed it – time for a personal trainer.

 
When it comes to assessing your fitness needs and developing an exercise plan that’s specifically tailored for your goals, the professional you need is a personal trainer. But how can you be sure you’re choosing the right personal trainer? The following are some important guidelines:

First and most importantly, the personal trainer you choose should be certified. There are a variety of certifying bodies, so look for one that’s approved by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA). These include the American Council on Exercise (ACE), the International Fitness Professionals Association (IFPA), the National Exercise and Strength Trainer's Association (NESTA), and the National Exercise Trainer's Association (NFPT). Ask any potential trainers about their certification(s), and ask to see copies of certification documents. How recently were they certified? What is the certifying body? Did they choose a particular specialty? What kind of continuing education activities do they participate in to keep their knowledge current? Ask about the potential trainer's experience in the area that’s most important to you.

You should also ask potential trainers for references. In particular, ask for references from clients who have the same type of goals that you have. After all, if you’re training for a major race, a personal trainer who focuses on helping clients to lose weight may not be the best fit for you. Be sure to follow up and talk with these people. Referrals and feedback from friends and family members can be very helpful in helping you to choose a trainer.

It’s also important to talk with the trainer personally. Is this a person you can work with? Are your personalities a good match? Do you feel like this person could motivate and instruct you? Can this trainer meet your schedule? You should also be honest with yourself about whether a male or female trainer is a better choice for you.

Be sure to discuss rates to find out exactly how much one-on-one time you’re purchasing. Do you get a better rate if you pay in advance for a block of time? And if you’re injured and unable to continue, would you get a refund on unused sessions or could you gift them to someone else? All of these policies should be put down in writing to avoid any confusion.

While most personal trainers will meet with you in a fitness facility, they usually aren’t gym employees, but rather independent contractors. This means that they aren’t covered by the fitness facility's insurance. Be sure to ask about the professional liability insurance and how much you’ll be covered if you’re injured during a training session.

Ask how often your fitness will be reevaluated, and expect the trainer to want a health history so that he or she can know if you have risk factors which would preclude you from certain activities. Certain potential clients may be asked to have their physician sign an approval form indicating which exercises are and aren’t appropriate.

Above all, go with your gut instinct. If something tells you a particular trainer isn’t the right one for you, continue your search. As with any relationship, sometimes you click and sometimes you don't – just don’t pay the person you don’t click with out of obligation or some other emotion.

Finding a personal trainer may seem like a time-consuming process, but it’s well worth it. A personal trainer is someone with whom you’ll be spending a lot of time, and in whom you’ll be placing your trust. You owe it to yourself to pick the very best person for the job