When you first decide to hire a local personal trainer, it can feel overwhelming. There are so many personal trainers out there – how do you know which one is right for you?
Whether you’re looking to lose weight, tone up or build muscle, we’ve put together our top tips for choosing the right personal trainer to support you in achieving your fitness goals.
Understand your fitness goals
You need to understand your own personal fitness goals before you look to hire a personal trainer. Knowing what you want to achieve will help you to find the right personal trainer to support you.
Once you know what your goals are, you can ask potential personal trainers about their own fitness journey, as well as the journey they’ve taken their clients on. If they’ve coached people with similar goals to you, you’ll know that they have an understanding of the challenges involved.
For example, if you’re looking to lose weight, you want to know that they’ve got a good track record of helping people to achieve a similar goal.
Ask about their experience
You want a personal trainer who has pre and post natal qualifications along with solid experience. Many people ask what qualifications a personal trainer should have. Personal trainer qualifications can range from diplomas to master’s degrees.
The minimum qualification needed to become a personal trainer is the Level 3 REPs (Register of Exercise Professionals), but this only represents around six weekends’ worth of training. Look for university qualifications. A BSc degree means that they have invested three years and over 3,000 hours studying in their industry, whilst an MSc degree is an extra year on top of that. Find a personal trainer near me.
If you’re looking for results in athletic performance, you’ll need a trainer with the Accredited Strength and Conditioning Coach (ASCC) qualification. This means that they have passed one of the UK’s toughest fitness exams – the UKSCA, which has a pass rate of only 10%.
Check out their specialities
Not all personal trainers are created equal. Whilst some might specialise in muscle building, others might specialise in weight loss. This is especially true if you’re returning to fitness after an injury or postnatally.
Not only will a specialist have more experience in your desired area, but they’re also likely to be more passionate about your goal, leading to better results.
Make sure your availability is compatible
Consistency is critical when you’re working with a personal trainer, so it’s important to enquire about their schedule. Ask how many regular clients they currently have and how their schedule works. Will you have a regular time slot each week or do you book slots on a weekly basis?
References, reviews and recommendations
The best proof that a personal trainer is effective is if they come highly recommended. Look out for reviews and recommendations. A person achieving their goals is the ultimate proof that a personal trainer is successful. A good personal trainer will be happy to share their success stories, testimonials and references with their potential clients.
Feel the connection
The most important thing to consider when you’re hiring a personal trainer is the connection that you have with them. Your personal trainer is there to guide you towards your goals whilst providing you with motivation to help you to achieve your goal.
Some people do well with positive reinforcement or cheerleading, whilst others prefer a stricter approach involving discipline. You need to talk to the trainer to see if their approach works for you.
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