Your personal trainer can make or break your fitness success. Here’s how to choose the right trainer for you;
Use our checklist to ensure you get the right personal trainer for you and the best experience for your investment.
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Location
Make it easy on yourself and avoid travel time. Focus your search on suburbs nearest to work or home to find your most convenient options. Neither trainer nor client needs to drive from Bondi to manly for a session and permit and regulations mean personal trainers tend to stick to certain locations or clubs.
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Venue
Think about whether you would like to train at home, a local park or beach, or in a studio or gym. There are mobile trainers who offer outdoor sessions and trainers who work in small fitness studios or operate out of the big fitness chains if you are happy to invest in a gym membership. There’s no point in finding a trainer you like only to discover they don’t offer the venue you want.
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One on one or group
Personal training can be one on one, with your partner or a couple of friends. It can even involve joining a small group. This allows you to choose what ratio of personal attention to social environment motivates you more. It also means more cost effective options, especially if you want multiple sessions per week.
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Credentials
Don’t be shy in asking about qualifications, insurance and experience. Personal Trainers may have studied via different colleges or completed a physiology degree. However, everyone is registered with Fitness Australia, who vouch for the trainer’s qualifications and include experience in their level rating. All trainers must legally have current first aid and public liability and professional indemnity insurance.
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Reputation
It’s ideal to have a personal recommendation and social media is a great tool for gathering information from friends. Otherwise, most trainers will have a website with testimonials or are more than happy to let you chat with a current client.
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Characteristics and style
You don’t need to love your trainer as a friend, but you do need to gel. You may get on better with a man or woman, older or younger. You may prefer a boot camp style instructor or an encouraging coach. That’s for you to decide and communicate to your potential trainer.
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Terms and conditions
The price of a trainer varies greatly so make sure you ask the cost upfront. Find out what their cancellation and rescheduling policy, so you don’t lose money unnecessarily. If you are interested in assessments or nutritional advice find out if these services are offered and included.
There is a personal trainer to suit everyone. You just have to find the right fit for you.
By Rachel Livingstone Personal Trainer & Owner of The Health Hub
