personal trainer
Personal Trainer – Top 10 Questions to Ask Your Personal Trainer
If you’re currently trying to build muscle, investing in a good personal trainer is a smart plan. Whether you are new to the sport or are a seasoned weight lifter, a good personal trainer can offer you a variety of different benefits from motivation, increased knowledge, helping you prevent injuries, and holding you accountable to your workouts.
When it comes to choosing a personal trainer who will provide you with a workout program, there are some important things you must keep in consideration.
Here is a list of the top ten questions to keep in mind when assessing a personal trainer, so you can be sure they are right for you.
Question 1: What certifications do they have?
It’s important to find out what certifications your personal trainer has and how valuable these are.
Good ones to look for in this industry are the CSCS, as this requires you to have obtained a university degree. That’s not to say trainers without this are not knowledgeable, just that you need to look into whatever certification they do have and ensure there is a good study process required to obtain it.
Question 2: What is their past training history?
Have a look and see who your personal trainer has trained in the past. Are they people who have had similar goals? If so, that’s great because then you know that this trainer has experience in doing what
you are trying to accomplish.
Question 3: Do they specialize in any type of programs in particular?
Also find out if the personal trainer specializes in any types of programs in particular. For instance, if this trainer has worked a great deal with hockey players and you happen to play hockey during the winter, this is a great match.
On the other hand, if you’re currently pregnant, try and find a trainer who has dealt with pregnant programs before.
Question 4: What is their availability like?
Always ensure that the trainer you’re looking at has time to take you on. Some are so busy yet they keep booking clients in because they know they’ll get a few cancellations a week. While this is a good idea from the trainer’s point of view, from the clients, it can make scheduling your sessions rather
difficult.
Question 5: What have they accomplished, fitness-wise?
Consider what this personal trainer in question has done with their own fitness. Have they ever competed in a fitness or bodybuilding competition? Have they completed a marathon? Both a very good indicators that this person practices what they preach.
Question 6: How many clients do they currently have?
Getting the information regarding exactly how many clients they currently have is also essential. If they currently have 10 clients and these clients all want three sessions a week, do the math. That equates to 30 hours of time. If the trainer works the typical 8 hours a day, this leaves an additional 10 hours left for you to schedule in. The busier the trainer, the more likely you’ll have to accommodate to their schedule rather than the other way around.
Question 7: Are they easily reachable by phone or e-mail?
Finding out if your trainer is available easily by phone or e-mail if you have any questions is also important. If there is something urgent you need to discuss with them, they need to be receptive to hearing about it.
Since you obviously won’t be with your trainer every single time you are in the gym (in most cases anyway), you may run across issues you need help with. Being able to reach them at your convenience makes this easier.
Question 8: Do they offer any type of online services?
More and more trainers are also turning to offering online services. Whether it is simple e-mail correspondence or entire programs written out and sent online, this is definitely a growing trend and something that can work well for those who are extra busy.
Question 9: How many gyms do they train at?
Taking into account how many gyms the trainer trains at is also a key factor. If they are constantly running between gyms, again, this makes it harder for you to schedule in your sessions. Try and find a trainer who, for the most part, is only at the gym you train at.
Question 10: What are their plans for the future?
Finally, ensure that your personal trainer is going to be around for a while. Obviously the last thing you want is to get on a good muscle building program with you, only to have them move away or leave that gym.
Most people really do build long-term relationships with their personal trainers, so you want to ensure this is a person who you can see yourself working with for a while.
So, be sure you keep all of these in mind next time you’re in the market for a personal trainer. Don’t neglect the online personal trainers out there as many of them are just as good, if not better, than the ones you’ll meet in person.
Be A Personal Trainer
Don’t read beauty magazines, we are told, because they make us think we are overweight! But if we listen to the current debates on nutrition, dieting and obesity, we know that something is not quite right. The US in particular has received some criticism for bad eating habits and for piling on the pounds, one person at a time. How can we maintain our overall fitness when all types of junk food are thrust at us?
Personal trainers used to be a word exclusively associated with the rich and famous. Only the celebrities seemed to need them in those days, to maintain their amazing bodies and youthful looks. Not anymore. As the population moves towards fast food and experiences rapid weight gains, it’s time that the personal trainer became more commonplace.
If you are an active, light-footed individual, a personal trainer is among the best home based business ideas you can consider. It’s loads of fun and a great way to socialize. You can even make it a sort of a dancing class, if you take up aerobics. The best part about this job is that you take care of your body as well as helping others to maintain their health. Remember, a lot rides on image these days. Fitness is much more than health, to the young and the energetic. It’s a way to show off your body, to look fabulous in the clothes you wear and to have the stamina to make the most of your life.
It won’t do to point out specific skills for anyone interested in being a personal trainer because this job is more of an art. Suffice to say that you have to be passionate about fitness and have a vibrant personality and a cheerful disposition. This will attract clients to your classes. You need to work on creating an upbeat atmosphere in your home, where your clients will be perky and willing to test their physical limits. You need to be a leader and a motivator. Other than that, your own appearance may factor in your appeal. You won’t have to look like one of those models on Elle magazine, but maintaining a healthy profile means you lead by example.
Getting down to the academic side of it, you will need to be certified before starting the business. If there is a local club you like, check with them about certification courses. Or better yet, you can check out the popular certification organizations, such as ACE, ACSM and NCSF. Think also about a specialty. Because the competition for personal trainers is huge, it’s best if you can narrow down your services. By earning a specialty certification, you can charge clients in the higher end of the spectrum. It also allows you to work with special cases, like people with certain injuries.
One way to break into this business is to offer your services in a fitness club. That will count highly in your resume, especially if you have had some interesting clients. Before you start, you may need to get liability insurance so that you are covered against possible scrapes. You will have to initially pocket out some cash to purchase exercise machines, dumbbells, exercise mats and other necessities. Start off with a few high octane aerobics classes to get people hooked.