What to look for in a personal trainer.

I want to take the time and address what to look for if you plan on using a personal trainer. This past year I have had four clients who have had personal trainers that either injured them in the workout, did not return calls, lacked expertise or did not do a good job assessing the client prior to any workout program. I will try not to be biased but I will do my best to give a general idea as to what you should look for in a certified professional trainer. And I do stress professional. First of all, the trainer should be educated in his or her line of expertise. In other words, if you have an injury that you have recovered from through physical therapy; your trainer should be knowledgeable and professional enough to work with your PT. And implement any exercises that are recommended by your PT into your workout, if needed. Also if you’re a part of the older population and suffer from conditions such as arthritis, osteoporosis or another health condition, you should be working with someone who is familiar with special populations. Don’t be afraid to ask the trainer if he or she is experienced, CPR certified, types of trainer certifications (make sure they are reputable), educational background or ask to talk to the trainer’s current or previous clients. Also at your first training session your trainer should be assessing your current fitness level. This will help to customize your program to meet your needs. Also it can be used later as a comparison to your previous readings to make sure your progressing. Flexibility should be tested, current health and medical history should be noted, cardiovascular endurance, anthropometric assessment (body weight, lengths circumference etc…). You and your trainer should be working together to set realistic goals and he or she should be providing you with nutritional guidance.

Accountability is essential and your progress should be tracked on a regular bases to make sure long and short-term goals are being reached. Also, your trainer is your paid guide to better health and they should be giving you 100%, anything less is unacceptable. He or she should be a good listener as well as understanding to what your needs are. You should not be intimidated by your trainer to not speak up about your program. For example, if a certain exercise is not working for you, tell the trainer why it should be adjusted, perhaps they may need to educate you or vice versa. And lastly, there is a fine line in the words, “no pain no gain.” You should not be feeling sharp, shooting, or pulling pains in your workout. These symptoms are abnormal and it's your body telling you to stop before further damage is done.

I have been in the health & fitness industry for over 14 years and I will not hesitate to provide my clients with my credentials as well as references if needed. My job is to help you reach your health goals and with that, we're both satisfied.