What should I Look For in a Personal Trainer?
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Find a personal trainer.
I’m sometimes asked “What makes a good personal trainer?”
My answer is simply this:
A good personal trainer achieves positive influence on a person or groups physical, mental, nutritional and social well being.
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How do I find a good personal trainer? What makes a personal trainer great? How do I find the right personal trainer for me?
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The answer to this will change from person to person, so I’ll probably just answer the question for myself. WHAT SHOULD I LOOK FOR IN A PERSONAL TRAINER?
Once, I had to answer the question “what makes you a personal trainer?” And I was forced to answer: “If you can get someone to train with you, you’re a personal trainer.” Does’nt neccessarily make you a good one. But you may be just right for someone.
When I started off as a trainer, I hated it. I was so effin’ bored all the time. I worked in a high volume gym and basically worked 10 hours a day doing the same routine with every client, for two years. BOREING! But I had to do it. And good thing I did! I achieved practicum! And learned alot about customer service and expectation. It helped make the trainer I am today.
Personal training has led me down a path that has not only changed my life . That is, since I have learned that every person is different and must be trained as such. Being a personal trainer is the best thing on earth I can do. I can literally save the world with what I have learned! Therefore I have some strong opinions about what makes a good one;)
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Finding a personal trainer is a pretty personal choice. Your requirements will be different than mine. Here are some things I might consider when choosing a personal trainer:
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1- Certifications:
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These differ wildly in requirements. The first certification I recieved took me two days of instruction and a take home exam(which they gave you two chances to write if need be). Some Personal training courses take months to finish. Some people yet get a masters in physio!
I still believe my first certification has value. I believe it was the most in depth with regards to chemistry and why we train a certain way. But it could not give a comprehensive foundation in anatomy; pathophysiology; neurology or; clinically oriented exercise. There was no time. I had to wait a couple years and find other certification bodies to teach me these things.
There are some pretty great establishments for teaching personal trainers. I have mentioned Andre Noel Potvin on many occasions. His school for fitness professionals is Infofit. Throughout the twelve years I have been a trainer, I have spent enough time in classes to have achieved a degree in personal training. Thanks to groups like Infofit I plan to continue to learn about this for ever.
Maybe you want a trainer who holds recognizable certifications. But really I would just find someone who is commited to continuous learning. Now, I have three certifications from internationally recognized bodies. I still use the info that I learned in that first course every day.
Non-sequitor alert!
In my opinion, your trainer should have current cpr/first aid and have nationally recognized certification and insurance.
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2- Testing and assessment:
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Find out what methods your trainer employs to get to know you and the way you move. Does the trainer take Blood pressure? Waist girth measurments? I would expect to have a series of postural analysis; musculo-skeletal and cardio-vascular tests performed on me. These tests identify risk and give the trainer a starting point for your training. Do them all. even if they cost a little extra. the information is invaluable.
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3- A guide along your fitness path:
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Know what it is you want to accomplish. Talk to your prospective trainer about it. Find out if you can do it together. Some trainers still use the exact same exercises with all of their clients. How personal is that?
There are some thing I just won’t do. Over-training is one. I make people wear HR monitors and give constant feedback as to effort. This way I can reduce the risk that they will vomit(haha), and injury(not haha), while keeping their intensity where I planned it to be. Some people demand to be pushed to the limits all the time. If you’re that guy, make sure you have a trainer who will.
I won’t train athletes that use steroids. It goes against my philosophy that is health oriented. I have nothing against those athletes. I just don’t want the risk associated with that in my life. Also, I am very upfront with people who have lofty goals. I will “tell it like it is”. Some folk don’t like that. If that’s you: don’t train with me, we won’t get along.
My point is, know what you want to achieve; then find the right trainer for you.
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4- A personal trainer with experience:
… As the saying goes, ‘if you want to make an omellet, you gotta crack a few eggs’. Do you want to be the cracked egg? Every trainer makes mistakes in fact here’s a little secret: It’s how trainers get better. That is why I’ll take an experienced trainer over any degree out there… BECAUSE I DO NOT WANT TO BE THE SUBJECT OF ONE OF THESE MISTAKES! If your trainer has already made mistakes on others your risk goes down. Morbid but true.
I have had in depth discussions with kinesiology grads who have told me that they have no idea what they are doing. They learn a tonne of theory, but have zero practice upon graduation. Some of these guys are very smart! They will figure it out. However, don’t assume that just because they have ‘BA kin’ beside their names that they can put it all together for you in a risk free environment. Ask how long they have been training people and what they intend to do for you.
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5- A personal trainer who can reduce your risk for injury:
… Look some personal trainers still employ contraindicated exercises(military press behind the neck; .etc.). Some personal trainers still push push people to the point of nausea. Just like Arnie did. In general, it is a rare personal trainer who can prescribe the most effective, appropriate and low risk exercise for a given person in the state they are in. But if you see these red flags, run. Message me for details about why these activities are dangerous.
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6- A personal trainer with a passion for health:
People often mistake fitness for health but…. How many times have you seen a personal trainer bored out of their minds with a client at a gym. They barely look at the client! Look, if your trainer is not invested and involved in the program they’ve created for you, good luck to you. For some, this career is a stepping stone to other things. If your trainer is watching t.v. while you are under load, you may have a problem.
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7- A personal trainer who understands physiology; anatomy; and chemistry
Does your trainer UNDERSTAND the origin; insertion; and actions of the muscles they are training? Do they know why and how they are acheiving these results in you? This may not be essential but , brother, it is a real help! When I first started off as a trainer, I had no idea how much learning this stuff would give me a charge! Now I love it. However, at the time, I just thought “I gotta learn THIS now?!?” It takes years! Further, if you are not applying the knowledge daily, you forget it! Forgetting expensive information is a real drag!
Today, I am shocked at the amount of trainers I see who don’t know their anatomy. I guess I shouldn’t be. I used to be one. Back then, I thought every trainer except me knew anatomy like the back of their hands. Please consider: THERE ARE WAY MORE CERTIFIED PERSONAL TRAINERS OUT THERE NOW. The B.C.R.P.A.(one of my certifying bodies) has more than 2000 certified trainers in British Columbia alone. There are few who have been at it long enough to have such understandings. There are fewer still that can properly identify the prime mover of every exercise they teach. Again, these qualifications are not not essential for certification. However, as I said before…. they sure help!!
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8- Fitness models can be inspirational BUT…
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Many’s the time I have heard that people do not want to train with someone who hasn’t taken the time to acheive their own dream body.
“So and So doesn’t “look” like a personal trainer”.
This is understandable. Fitness models are hot. However please consider: It takes all kinds to make the world go round. Not every person can get shredded and have mass and be an endurance athlete. Some people battle illness or injury. And you never know what a person has been through. Same with trainers.
Personally, I would rather have a book worm who knows energy systems; thresholds and; my physiology like the back of his hand, then some athlete or model who has just found a way to do it for themselves. I have zero interest in what a trainer looks like; weather or not they have abs nor; what their ‘grind time’ is…
Do you want an Adonus training you the way they would themselves? Or would you rather train with a personal trainer who has put in the time to understand the way your body works? Either one is fine if it gets you moving. However, please understand either of these persuits is very time consuming.
It strikes me as very difficult to be able to to have both a flawless physique and a comprehensive education neccessary for a long career in health. I have yet to see a fitness model who understands physiology; and yet to meet the physiotherapist; athletic therapist or; doctor who models suimsuits… well thats not quite true, but I have only met one;)
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