POPSUGAR UK

These Are the 3 Things You Need to Consider Before Getting a Personal Trainer

17/07/2018 - 10:40 PM

If you're looking to hire a personal trainer [1] to help you achieve your fitness goals, you're going to have to be strategic about your search. Selecting a personal trainer should be handled in the same manner that you would go about finding a hairstylist, a beloved nail technician, or a physical therapist. They should be someone you trust, someone you like, and someone who can teach you about fitness. Referrals from friends and family are always a great place to begin, but if you're still unsure of what to look for, take these tips into consideration.

Their Qualifications and Specialisations

Before investing your time and money into any trainer, you should ask your prospective trainer what their certifications are. Another thing to inquire about is if they specialise in any specific areas. If you're training to be in a soccer league, it would be ideal if your trainer had experience in sports performance. If you're looking for a trainer to teach you corrective exercises [2] and customize a marathon training program [3], you want to ensure they have the knowledge and background to do so. In order to find the best trainer for you, know exactly what you're looking to achieve (weight loss, speed, strength, etc.), and compare that to their background and specialisations.

Their Methods and Style

No matter who your trainer is, it would be a stretch to say that you're going to love every workout they give you. Overall, you should enjoy and understand the particular style of training you're doing. Look for a trainer who can explain any questions you may have about why your doing certain exercises and workouts. Ask your potential trainer if you can set up a few (three is a good amount) trial sessions in order to experience how they program workouts. After those initial sessions you should have an idea of whether or not their programming will help you meet your specific fitness needs and goals.

Their Personality

Similar to choosing a partner, you should select a trainer that has a personality that you enjoy since you'll be spending a lot of one-on-one time with them. If you know you work better with someone who has more of a militaristic style (yelling to motivate you), your prospective trainer should have that characteristic. If you want a trainer who will constantly text, email, and call you about progress photos and what you're eating, you should find a trainer who communicates with you outside of the time you spend together in the gym. No matter how great a trainer is, if your personalities don't mesh, and both of your needs and expectations aren't being met, there's a possibility for a clash later down the road.


Source URL
https://www.popsugar.co.uk/fitness/How-Find-Personal-Trainer-45059308