The internet is packed with information. Finding information about everything including health and fitness is possible. To some extent, you may ask yourself why you need to hire an expert on anything when you can visit Google and get free information. If you can watch a video online on quick workouts at home, why do you need to spend money on a personal trainer boston?
Well, the answer is simple – most information available
online isn’t entirely true/accurate. Many unscrupulous individuals are
masquerading as experts in health and fitness for the sole purpose of making a
quick profit. Remember, health and fitness is a very popular niche. Hundreds of
millions of people globally flock to the internet to search for health and
fitness solutions. If you take any piece of information you find online on
health and fitness as the “gospel truth”, you will be doing yourself a great
disservice. What’s more – information isn’t enough. You need to be focused and
motivated to achieve any fitness goal you set. We all have a good idea of what
it takes to stay fit and healthy, however, how many people do it?
Important: Although it’s advisable for any person looking
for serious health and fitness results to hire a personal trainer, not every
trainer you find is great. Unscrupulous individuals have also invaded the
field. In other instances, a reputable personal trainer may be great with one
person and not-so-great with another because of factors such as personality
differences. So, what does it take to choose a good trainer?
Steps to consider when hiring a personal trainer
Step 1: Check out their credentials
The importance of hiring a professional trainer can’t be overlooked
given the internet is packed with fake self-taught trainers who have never set
foot in a health and fitness class. I’m not saying you can’t be a good
self-taught personal trainer; however, some formal education is important on
subjects like health and nutrition. Trainers also need a thorough understanding
of how the body works and such information is scattered all over the internet.
If you choose a self-taught trainer, chances are they don’t have enough
expertise to navigate tricky health and fitness issues like nutrition and
exercise in relation to body type. You should choose certified trainers only.
The U.S. has a number of accredited institutions such as the ACE (American
Council on Exercise), NSCA (National Strength & Conditioning Association)
and the NASM (National Academy of Sports Medicine) which certify trainers after
ensuring they met standards of competence and professionalism. You can find
trainers online, via referrals, etc., however, ensure they are accredited by
reputable bodies.
Step 2: Consider experience
Although educational training is essential, it’s not enough
if you want an exceptional trainer. Experienced trainers have worked with
countless clients for years and produced excellent results. Unless you want to
be a guinea pig, resist the urge to work with novice trainers. Experience is
crucial in personal training just like it is crucial in all other fields.
Step 3: Personality
As mentioned above, information isn’t everything. A highly
trained trainer is useless if they don’t know how to “connect” with clients
with different personalities. You should work with a trainer who you connect to
instantly. When you interview different trainers, you can get a good sense of
their character. Some important personality traits to look out for include;
patience and good interpersonal skills. They should also be professional. You
shouldn’t cringe at the thought of going for a training session. Choose a
trainer who knows their work but is still enjoyable to be around.
Step 4: Consider their specialty
Avoid a jack-of-all-trades trainer if you want impeccable
results in the fastest time possible. A trainer who tells you they know
everything about health and fitness can’t be a master of anything. So, focus on
their background and experience to pinpoint what a jack-of-all-trades trainer
is good at. However, it’s advisable to spend your money on a specialist. If you
are focused on weight training, get a personal trainer who is a guru in weight
training. The same applies to cardio training.
Step 5: Consider availability
Like in any profession, the best-of-the-best professionals
are hard to find. Since consistency is crucial in health and fitness, you want
to work with a personal trainer you can access easily. This calls for inquiries
about their schedule. For instance, you want to find out how many clients they
take on at a time. A reputable personal trainer who is hard to find won’t help
you much. Other availability factors to consider include; does he/she make up
missed classes, what is their cancellation policy? The trainer you choose
should be committed to you once you start working together. Should there be
availability problems, they should compensate you accordingly, i.e. with a free
session, lower fees, etc.
Step 6: Reputation
There are experienced trainers with bad reputations. For
this reason, don’t stop when you find an experienced trainer. Find out what
it’s like working with them from former clients. If they have worked and helped
many people, that is the ultimate proof that they can do the same for you.
Great trainers are happy to share their success stores and references which you
can use to gauge their reputation.
Step 7: Consider the cost
Cost should be considered last. After getting a list of good
candidates, find out how much it costs to hire each one of them. It’s worth
noting; the most expensive trainers are not always the best. Furthermore, most
cheap trainers come at a price. Since personal trainers have varying charges
(you can get expensive ones as well as cheap ones), start by establishing a
budget. Once you have a list of trainers you can afford, consider all the above
factors first before you make a final decision. These considerations should
ensure you get ultimate value for your money.
Do you need a personal trainer? Yes, if you are serious
about health and fitness. However, getting a good trainer isn’t easy. Luckily,
we’ve prepared the guide above to make your work easier. Don’t fall for a con
or pay more than you must. It’s possible to get a highly skilled and
experienced trainer willing to work with you at a bargain.
