As I began a 45 minute workout on the elliptical at my local gym, I couldn’t help but overhear a conversation that was taking place merely three feet away: “Then he called and cancelled on me 30 minutes before our session. I was so upset.” What this person was referring to was an all too common situation in the exercise science industry–an unqualified, non-committed personal trainer was providing a lack of service. This is most unfortunate indeed, because I cannot express enough how wonderful it is to see a personal trainer doing their job right. Luckily, there are steps you can take to increase the possibility that the professional you seek out can provide both safe and effective exercise instruction.
A consumer’s most precious resource when seeking a trainer for hire is his or her own eyes. If you belong to a gym already, take time in between your sets to survey a trainer working with one of their clients. The first criterion you want to look for is evidence that they are practitioners of fitness themselves. Do they look fit, alert, positive and energetic? You can be sure that hiring a trainer that personally fails to exercise will limit their ability to assist you in meeting your own goals.
Second, is the trainer actively documenting all the work performed by their client? Lack of documentation is one of the most obvious giveaways of training sessions going nowhere. The overload principle of exercise science states that in order for the body to adapt (change for the better) it must experience an exercise stress it is not accustomed to experiencing. So the question that begs an answer is how can a trainer intensify a client’s workouts, if he or she does not have the tools to help recall the exact data from previous workouts? A trainer that fails to document a client’s workouts risks not only lack of progress, but also possible injury. More than likely, inaccurate judgment stemming from absence of documentation and analysis will elicit loads that are inappropriate for the client.
Third, ask if the trainer provides exercise testing. Great trainers see the value in exercise testing because it quantifies your baseline level of physical, even emotional fitness. Essentially, it provides a set of data to refer back to for future comparison. Seeing progress from the battery of selected test is the most magnificent motivator. Six major areas that shouldn’t be a problem for true trainer’s to assess are your vital signs, aerobic capacity, body composition, flexibility, muscular strength, and muscular endurance. If a trainer is serious about your business, he would perform the service for free.
Last but not least, a client should take the time to see if the trainer is certified. A fitness certificate provides proof that the trainer has a minimal level of competence to serve clientele that would be interested in the service. Mind you, the certification does not, and I repeat, does not make the trainer great. There are countless “certification” companies that offer “credentials” over a weekend crash course. A smart consumer will partake in the requisite search for a professional who is seasoned. Experience in the exercise science field of at least five years will yield a trainer who is worth your time.
You can research on sites such as “http://www.acefitness.org“, where you can type in your zip code to find a certified professional near you.
In closing, it is so easy to be swayed into a financial and time commitment by a person familiar with industry jargon. Words offered by a self-proclaimed master, however impressive they may be, will do little for your fitness goals if not supported by the evidences listed above. It is the author’s goal to save you money, time, and frustration. Good luck.
Jack Mapes is the owner of Accelefit Personal Training in Long Beach, Ca. Accelefit is a company committed to helping individual cultivate a life rich in healthy choices.
