Tuesday, November 9, 2010

6 Questions To Ask Prior To Employing A Personal Trainer

By Alex Tesla

At one time, reserved only for the rich and famous, personal fitness training has struck the mainstream. A personal trainer is currently as common as a pair of good cross trainers along with a water bottle.

But unlike your hair stylist, your fitness trainer does not need to be tested and licensed by a state licensing board. Someone with little more than a great body--but no experience--can print business cards, label themselves a personal trainer, and take your money.

So if you're searching for a trainer, you're on your own. Listed here are six questions to ask trainers either personally or by phone prior to hiring them.

1. May I have references? This is the very best way to get honest information. A prospective trainer should be more than pleased to give you a list of at least 3 clients whom you can contact. Ask the references if they achieved their goals, how the trainer helped them to do so, and what they liked best regarding the trainer.

2. Through what organization are you certified? Certification is a credential given by an agency or institution with its own educational and testing procedures. Existing popular and reputable certification associations consist of the National Strength & Conditioning Association (NSCA), the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), and American Council on Exercise (ACE). Certification from these organizations doesn't guarantee trainer excellence but demonstrates just that the person successfully passed the minimum requirements for certification.

3. What is your training/exercise philosophy? A credible trainer ought to manage to explain a philosophy of exercise training. You do not need a doctoral dissertation here, only a description of how they assist clients achieve their goals. How do they train clients? How do they motivate them? Is there an assessment process? Discover as much as you can about how they work with clients to attain goals.

4. How much do you price and how do you expect payment? Prices for personal fitness instruction vary widely depending on where you live and trainer qualification and experience. As with everything else, you generally get what you pay for, but there is no assurance that the most expensive trainer will be the most suitable for you and your goals.

5. How do they look? You should never base your selection only on physical appearance. A person with a flawless-looking body may not understand the first thing regarding safely teaching you how to accomplish your own goals. This is especially true if they have achieved their own results through things such as drugs, eating disorders or exercise obsession.

6. What is your comfort level? Most importantly, ensure you select a trainer with whom you feel comfortable and whether or not their personality is a great match with yours. Most especially, trust your instincts. Hiring somebody with superior training knowledge is worthless if you do not feel comfortable. You need to trust, respect and feel at ease with them.

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