Finding a personal trainer
who makes you feel comfortable enough to expose your biggest flaws can be
challenging. But they're called "personal" trainers for a reason --
they're there to guide you to your personal fitness goals, and to do so, they
need to fit with your personality.
1. Patience
Patience is the key to a good client-trainer
relationship. Trainers should understand that what works
for one client may not work for another. He or she should do an assessment of
your body when you first meet to familiarize themselves with your needs.Trainers should also find a comfortable pace
for their clients . Some clients may progress at a faster rate,
while others may require more coaching and assistance.
2. Communication
Your trainer likely will not be with you at
all times during your workouts. That said, they should be able to
explain things to you on the phone and teach you how to do certain moves
without physically being present through every workout. Communication should always be two way not the usual where the trainer gives lecture and the client listens to it.
3. Professionalism
While it's important to maintain a close
relationship with a client, Borden says, there also needs to be a level of
professionalism. The duration of your
training session, the location and the experience level of your personal
trainer will dictate the cost of your session.
Lastly, the clothes your trainer wears should
be simple and plain. The attention should be on the client, not
on what the trainer is wearing or not wearing.
4. Education
Trainers should have -- and be able to show
you -- an appropriate
fitness certification for their area of expertise. To become certified, personal trainers must
pass an exam through accredited organizations such as The American Council on
Exercise (ACE), the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) or the National
Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA).
Most exams cover exercise physiology,
training and exercise procedures, nutrition, functional anatomy of the body and
weight management. Each organization's certification exam will ask different
questions.
A high school diploma or GED is necessary to
enroll in certification classes; however, not all employers require college
degrees -- this will depend on whether your trainer practices privately or
through an institution.Trainers should also stay up-to-date with the
latest fitness trends and new research published in scientific journals.
5. Personality
As a client, you want to feel comfortable and
trust that your trainer has your best interest in mind.Once you have established what kind of
personal trainer you want, you can start looking for them. There are certain online tools that can help you locate the
personal trainers available in your area and filter your results to cater to
your activity of interest, price range and gender.
