How to choose trainers and gyms

A while back I wrote some articles about how to decide on a fitness club. The articles were about joining a gym, gym staff, how far to the gym and how to tour a gym. I have to think that it would have been a good idea to decide what is important in picking a fitness trainer so that article is coming right away as well.

I would love to go into depth into how you can best choose a personal trainer but the busy time of year for getting a personal trainer is around New Years Day so I will put some stuff together for just before then. If you are looking now for a personal trainer though here are a few tips

Choosing a Personal Trainer

First of all make sure that your trainer has some kind of credentials. There are a couple of accreditation’s that personal trainer can get.

NCCA certification - NCCA is a 3rd party governing body whose function it is to impose certification standards and identify quality programs to candidates and the public that are in strict compliance and produce valid, competent, and worthy personal fitness trainer graduates

ACE Certification - The ACE Personal Trainer Certification is designed for trainers providing any form of one-on-one instruction. Once you successfully pass the ACE Personal Trainer certification exam you will have demonstrated your knowledge of basic exercise science, nutrition, fitness assessment, exercise programming, and instructional and spotting techniques.

Personal Trainer References. What are the trainers success stories, wherever you end up training you will probably be able to meet some of ther personal trainers students and ask them away from the trainer what you can expect.

Cost for personal trainer. The money that you pay is important but not as important as the results. There are trainers that charge little but are just getting started and do not have the experience to know when to push you harder and when to let you rest a bit. Having said that, there is not reason to overpay because a particular trainer is overhyped. There are other things that matter.

Finally, make sure that you can work with your trainer. This is the most important thing that you can do. Up front tell your trainer that you want to meet with him or her four times in four weeks, if that seems good to them and see how you work together. You are not really looking for a friend but you are looking for encouragement and a person that will push you when you are tired. You want to have fun but if you are not drained then you are not getting the workout you deserve. And finally you want a personal trainer that can help you learn what to do on your own, tips and techniques that will make you stronger and smarter but not so much information that your head is spinning by the end.

After you have worked with a trainer for a few weeks you can get together outside of the training area of the gym, in the lounge or changing room and decide if you are going to continue together. Make a list of the things that you liked and disliked and see if there is any good input that the personal trainer can give to you. You may be a whimp, you may be too ambitious for your workouts and you have to know that your trainer is comfortable giving criticism and well as praise.

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