Finding the right personal trainer isn’t as simple a task as you would imagine. Each of us has our own unique qualities, our own limits and strengths, our own reasons for being motivated. This is especially true where exercise is concerned, because each of us approaches it, and has to approach it quite differently. Consider, for instance, the differences between people’s body-types, fitness-levels, dietary requirements, mind-sets and attitudes towards exercise. The list goes on and on as to why we are all unique, and it is for that very reason why choosing the right personal trainer for your needs, can be an exceptionally difficult thing to do.

However, with the following in mind, you will be able to get it right, which means that you will be able to get the most out of your training. Simply follow these steps, some of which may take more time and effort than others, but in the end, it will pay off.

Steps to choosing the right personal trainer

ASSESS YOURSELF

Before you start , you will need to examine yourself quite closely first. In order to find a trainer that is just right for you, you will need to know what the ‘you’ part of that question entails.

A good start is by determining your goals. Think about the long and the short-term and consider what you want to achieve. No one is asking for a detailed plan of action, but knowing where you would like to get to, and how long you think that ought to take you, will take half of the guesswork out of finding the right trainer.

In addition to knowing your goals, you should give some consideration to which areas of your fitness you will need to improve in order to get there. Will you require more stamina, is strength where you are lacking? Understanding this will not only give you a better idea of your limitations, but also where you can focus on improvement, and therefor which approach you will need to take when working towards your goals.

It will also be helpful to know which areas of your fitness are your strengths, and in that same token, what it is that motivates you to push harder.

Knowing all of this will help you select a personal trainer  who is compatible with you, who knows how to keep you motivated, which approaches will work best with you, and who will be able to make your fitness goals their professional ones. If you haven’t got any answers to these questions when looking for a trainer, you won’t be able to tell whether they are right for you until you experience it for yourself; which may not work out as well as you’d like it to.

CONSIDER THEIR CREDENTIALS

Before selecting a personal trainer based on how compatible they are with you, however, you’ll first want to make sure of their credentials. To do this, you will need to look at three different things. How long they have been in their profession for, whether they are certified or not, and with whom they are accredited.

Experience counts for quite a lot for two reasons. The more experienced personal trainers will certainly give you a better service, but they are also highly sought after and because of that, will also invariably cost you more. You might decide that the budget is worth the experience, or you could choose a less experienced trainer who knows well what they are doing, yet still won’t charge you an arm and a leg. Still, even if you go for the more affordable option, take care to select a trainer with enough experience to be able to know how to give you the best approach towards meeting your fitness goals.

Another crucial thing to look out for is whether or not they are certified as personal trainers, and to what extent they are qualified. They could for instance, have level 3 certification, or they could hold a diploma. While each of these provides excellent insights into human activity, one is more complex and in-depth than the other.

Certification is all fine and well, but you also need to consider the accreditation that it carries. There are a lot of governing bodies in the field of fitness, and some of them carry far more weight than others. To this extent, you should look out for trainers who have a personal training certificate that is accredited through REPS or YMCA Awards.

Now that you know what you need from your trainer, and you have someone in mind whose competence you have confidence in, you can start considering your schedule, and whether or not your trainer can accommodate you at those times.

COMPATIBLE SCHEDULES

Each and every one of us has a tight schedule. That applies to both you and the personal trainer in question. Because of this, you may have to either change your daily routine, or shop around a little longer for a trainer who can slot into your free hours.

The keyword here is schedule. Staying motivated takes dedication on your part and on the part of the trainer. For that reason, if he or she  and you can’t find routine times that you can both agree to train at; you will both be wasting your time.

So look at your schedule closely. Shuffle things around where you can to make consistent and meaningful frames of time, so that you can find a trainer who can accommodate you at that point.

DON’T RUSH

Quite importantly, you shouldn’t rush your decision. There is quite a lot to consider and each personal trainer out there will give you a different experience. For the best results you need to find one that suits you, your schedule and your goals closely, and if you take your time you will be more likely to make the right decision.

CONTACT TRIFOCUS FITNESS ACADEMY

To find out more about our online fitness courses or to obtain your own personal training certificate, contact a representative from Trifocus Fitness Academy today, or visit our website for more details on how to enrol in our courses.

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