I really want people to understand the difference between bad trainers, good trainers and GREAT trainers. You don't want to waste valuable time and money on a bad (or even a good) trainer. So, how do you identify a GREAT TRAINER?
Honestly, any Joe blow on the street can say he is a personal trainer, and poof, he is one. I say this not to scare you, but to help you realize that you have a very important decision to make and will want all the facts. So how do you find the right trainer? There is not only a financial commitment on the line but also and more importantly your time, effort, and health. To make this decision easier, I’ve compiled a list of 9 steps of what to look for and questions to ask when you interview a personal trainer or meet with them during your initial session.
1. Credentials and Experience
Although not mandatory, the majority of competent trainers decide to become certified as fitness professionals, which requires passing a detailed written examination and usually a practical exam. There are several organizations that certify personal trainers; they teach the same biological stuff because the human body is universal. However, many of them will have different training philosophies and program design. Some top ones are ISSA, ACE and CanFitPro.
That being said, you must realize that simply because a person is certified does not mean he is an expert in the field of fitness. Any big-box gym will send a new trainer to a weekend course and have them working in the gym the next Monday. Certified implies that a trainer displays a basic knowledge of exercise, stretching and nutrition, but does not take into account many factors that ultimately determine a trainer’s competence. For example, would you rather take tennis lessons from Frank because he is certified and works at the local YMCA or from Andre Agassi who has proven results? This is the difference between being certified and qualified. I provide both.
There are many trainers who possess book smarts and can pass a certification exam, but often are not able to communicate their knowledge to others in a clear, concise fashion. I have seen this all too many times. Certification is valuable as an initial screening tool but it has limited usage.
Education is a vital component that will help to ensure safety and results, but so is experience. Ask how long they have been training. Ask where they have worked as a personal trainer. Many professional and successful amateur athletes become personal trainers with a great wealth of knowledge and been mentored by great coaches. This counts too. Ask if they themselves have worked out with a trainer. Ask them how and why they became a personal trainer.
2. Find A Personal Trainer With A Physique That You Admire
A personal trainer should serve as a fitness role model. If you are inspired by the physique of your trainer, it can serve to motivate you to stay on a proper course. The ability to work with someone who has achieved an enviable physique through fitness can be a terrific source of inspiration and can keep you focused on your fitness goals. This is a true example of leadership by doing.
While it is true that someone with a great body is not always a capable trainer, one should look very skeptically at a trainer who is overweight or unfit. Some trainers are “Do as I say but not as I do”. It honestly blows my mind how many overweight personal trainers there are. This does not make sense. A trainer who is out of shape does not serve as a positive fitness role model. If the trainer is overweight, you need to seriously question their knowledge of exercise and nutrition and their overall level of dedication that they will have for you. If they cannot achieve it on their own, then you cannot expect to get results from them.
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3. Find A Trainer With A Great Personality and Attitude
A good personal trainer must possess more than just knowledge. This trainer has to relate to the needs of each individual trainee. Everyone is different and a good personal trainer must be like a chameleon. The trainer needs to be able to adapt to his client. He is not going to encourage Maxine the 65 year old grandma the same way he motivates Jack the 30 year guitarist for some crazy band.
While some people respond to a hard-driving, militaristic style of training, others need to be gently coaxed for maximum results. Spend some time talking to the trainer and get a feel for his ability to communicate with you. If the encounter is anything but comfortable and encouraging, then choose someone else.
If you are not comfortable with the personal trainer’s persona, then the next 3 to 6 months are going to be pure hell and something you loathe doing. Your training sessions should be fun, exciting, and challenging; they should not be a chore and test of your ability to not snap and kill someone. Besides, you want to ultimately become friends with your personal trainer. If you could not see yourself hanging out with that person EVER, then why hang out with them 2 to 3 times a week.
texting or talking to other trainers about their weekend while the clients huff and puff, then move on.
4. Evaluate The Fee Structure Of The Personal Trainer
Fees can vary greatly when it comes to personal training, ranging from as little as about $20 per session and going as high as $200 per session or more. Don’t think that a low-priced trainer is a bargain or that a high-priced trainer has some magical formula for success.
Be sure to find someone that fits your budget. That being said, also remember that you will save tremendous amounts of money by being healthy: no sick days off work, no doctor visits, no medication or prescriptions, lower insurance, no emergency hospital visits, etc.
5. Method and Variety
Is the workout innovative? Is the workout proposed by the trainer the same for every client or is it highly personalized for an individual's goals and ability? Do the workouts progress and are they challenging from week to week? Is it the same for men, women and people of all ages? If it is, buy a DVD and move on!
6. Communication
Does this trainer clearly communicate what they want their clients to do and why? Do they communicate their expectations clearly? Do they interact with each client? Do they seem comfortable communicating with people whose age, race, language or sexual orientation varies from their own? Do they demonstrate proper technique or just sit around and tell people what to do.
7. Professionalism and Accountability
Is the trainer on time and expecting you when you arrive? Is the trainer dressed in an appropriate manner? Does the trainer do what they say they will do? Because this industry lacks consistent regulation some personal trainers have earned a bad reputation for being "flaky." Not every trainer is, of course. If your trainer does not show up or consistently starts late- move on!
On the contrary, to identify a GREAT trainer, ask yourself if the trainer is a role model. Do they live a healthy and inspirational lifestyle? Do they put out positive energy? Are they intimidating or welcoming? Do they seem genuinely interested in their client's well-being? Do they respect others? Do they smile -- or only when they look in the mirror? Are they inspiring people to come back through their consistency, goals, performance or results?
8. Physical Environment
Do you want to work out in a gym, outdoors, indoors or in your home? These questions will determine whom you hire to train you, but won't really affect whether or not your trainer is a great trainer. Great trainers can train on the moon. They don't need a fancy gym. Regardless, if you are considering a gym workout ask yourself if the gym environment is safe and supportive; is it clean; are the machines working; is the equipment in good condition; is the lighting good? If the gym is more like a social club then you might want to move on. One more important point: complaining is toxic and detrimental to your goals- if the trainer or the other people in the gym are complainers - move on.
9. Intangibles
When you've determined that you have found a good trainer, you must now ask yourself if this trainer is a good match for you. People hire trainers to help them reach a goal and get results, but not everyone is motivated the same way. A trainer-client relationship is a very personal one and even the best trainer might not necessarily be the best trainer for YOU. Do you complement one another? Do you think you could spend an hour a day with this person and give them your all? Do they know how to get YOU to your goals? Does the trainer seem to have insight into what makes you tick? A good coach will modify their style to fit the individual and maximize results.
In Closing
As a personal trainer myself, I need to point out that a lot of personal trainers out there are incompetent. I have worked in homes, big box gyms, and private gyms and they are everywhere. The worst are usually in big box gyms because any trainer that is worth his salt and has LOYAL clients, will work for himself. However, realize that there are uneducated, lazy, fat, careless trainers working all over. There are very few that I would actually invest my time and money with and you should be just as picky.
When looking for a personal trainer, remember these nine criteria.
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