So, you’re thinking about investing in some personal training. But what should you look for to ensure you choose a personal trainer who’s right for you?
If you’re reading this article, you’re probably considering investing in some personal training sessions. You might be a seasoned gym-goer who’s hit a plateau and needs a bit of a boost, or maybe you’re at the very start of your exercise journey looking for guidance on where to start.
Why try personal training?
Whatever your situation, a personal trainer can not only help you with your workouts, but also to make the most out of your time at the gym, ensure you’re successfully working for the results you’re after, and prevent injury whilst you’re giving it your all. Having an expert there to help, whatever your reason for wanting a PT, can prove invaluable.
This means it’s really important to know how to choose a personal trainer who is going to help you get to where you want to be. We’re all qualified personal trainers at Train Together, and we’re also a training provider for the Level 2 Gym Instructor and Level 3 Personal Trainer courses, so we like to think we know what we’re talking about when it comes to this topic!
What to look for in a good personal trainer
To help you out we’ve put together the top 3 things you need to look for when deciding on a personal trainer who’s going to suit your needs. You’re going to be working closely with this person so you want to ensure you’re looking for the right things.
1. Qualifications
A personal trainer isn’t qualified unless they’ve got the certificates to prove it. If you’re unsure, just ask them. Any trainer who is not willing to talk about their qualifications with you is probably closed off for a reason, so we’d advise you to steer clear. Examples of the qualifications you need to become a personal trainer are a Level 2 Certificate in Fitness Instructing and Level 3 Certificate in Personal Training, so ensure your PT has these or an equivalent.
You might also want to ask your new PT if they’ve got any other qualifications too. So if you’re wanting advice on nutrition as well as exercise, you may ask if they’re qualified to give nutritional advice.
Many PTs specialise in a certain area, for instance, on top of the basic qualifications, our very own Neil specialises in Lower Back Pain management and working with older individuals, and Sarah specialises in nutrition, obesity and diabetes as well as competing in body fitness competitions (read more about this here). Both Neil and Sarah also teach our PT courses and are qualified kettlebell instructors too. See what you can discover when you ask?
2. Philosophy
Personal training is a two-way street. Yes, you are paying your personal trainer to help you get results, but in order to get there you have to put in the work too. If you choose a personal trainer who has a similar philosophy to you, you’re more likely to gel with him or her, and you’ll want to work hard for them.
Do your research, take a look at their website and give them a call. You’ll be able to tell if you think you’ll gel with someone better if you have a conversation with them about what you want to achieve first.
At Train Together our ethos is simply to put you, the client, first. We know that one size doesn’t fit all, so each of our trainers tailors their sessions to your specific needs. We are genuine trainers and our attitude is always friendly, supportive and encouraging. We set realistic goals and celebrate together when you reach them. Remember what we said about your personal training journey being a two-way street. We take the time to properly understand you, then we put in the work and so do you.
3. Experience
Another thing to check out is the experience that your potential personal trainer has. If you have a specific issue that you’re looking to tackle, you could ask them if they’ve had any previous experience in helping people overcome it. If they have testimonials from these people, even better!
Did you know that Sarah is also a qualified Football, Volleyball and Basketball Coach, and a BAWLA (British Amateur Weight Lifting Association) Instructor? And that Neil has been in the fitness industry for 30+ years, coaching numerous sports teams and was a Physical Education Instructor in the prison service? Well, you do now!
We suggest looking at all three of these factors together before choosing your own personal trainer. They might have had experience in helping people with the same issues as you, but if their ethos isn’t something that resonates with you, then maybe you need to think again.
Ready to make a change and feel great?
If you are ready to take the first step on your own fitness journey (the first one is always the hardest, trust us) get in touch. We would love to chat with you about our personal training packages and discover how we can make you feel like you again.
UA Media