How To Choose The Right Personal Trainer

by: Ryan George

There are literally thousands of "personal trainers" in New York City alone claiming that they have the ability to help you with improving posture, bodybuilding, nutrition, coping with the stress of everyday life, sports specific training among many other things. While many of these trainers are without a doubt qualified to help, Far too often, a client will put him or herself in the hands of a trainer who may potentially do more harm than good. This article will briefly describe some things to look for when selecting a trainer.

There are many factors to take into account when selecting a trainer. Education, practical experience and personality are some of the many things that may be taken into account but there are some basic requirements for any trainer. First of all, any trainer that you work with should either have a degree in a fitness related field or be certified by a major certification body. There are many "personal trainer" certification programs and the best ones are the NSCA, CSCS, NASM, ACSM, ACE. The trainer should also have current CPR training as well as insurance if they are not an employee of a health club. Another hugely important thing to take into consideration is your own personal health history. Are you injured or have any previous injuries? Any illness or disease? If there are any existing medical problems, you should make sure that your trainer has adequate experience and knowledge in dealing with it.

Beyond those basic requirements, the rest is somewhat subjective. Personality is a huge thing to take into account. Some people want a drill sergeant, others want someone laid back. The best thing to do is sit down with any potential trainer, talk to them and try out a couple of sessions before committing to a long term package. Always be weary of anyone making claims that sound too good to be true because they probably are. This is by no means an exhaustive essay on selecting a trainer but a few things to look for in any trainer with whom you may potentially start working with.