Finding a Personal Trainer for Functional Fitness
People start working out for a variety of different reasons. For people seeking professional help with their fitness routine, it's important to find a trainer who respects those reasons and will help a client reach his or her goals. Not all trainers are created equal.
There are trainers who focus on bodybuilding and trainers who focus on a specific sport, like running. Some have an extensive dance background. It's important to find a trainer whose experience gels with the client's goals. Someone with insight and experience in the sport a client wants to master is likely to be a good fit. Someone with an unrelated specialty may be difficult to build rapport or explain goals to.
Some trainers work exclusively through a gym, while others are willing and able to make home visits. Depending on the clients' schedule, flexibility and a willingness to travel may be important qualities to look for in a trainer. Someone just starting out in a career may be able to meet a trainer at the gym every week. Busy executives may want unusually early or late times, or require Skype-type remote sessions.
Related to this is the issue of cost. More experienced trainers with more flexibility tend to cost more. Someone working at a chain gym may have great general knowledge. For someone starting to get into fitness, they can be a great choice. For others with more specific goals, like running a marathon or completing a triathlon, a specialist can be a better choice. Additionally, a trainer's level of experience will affect their price schedule. Newly certified trainers are likely to be more affordable than people with decades of experience. It's important for clients to be honest with themselves about what they actually need and can afford.
Finally, anyone advertising as a personal trainer should have a certification from an organization like The American Council on Exercise, the National Academy of Sports Medicine or the National Strength and Conditioning Association. These organizations are all well-regarded but each has its own take on fitness, slightly different from the others. It's important to research personal trainers before committing to one. The trainer-client relationship is a close one. Communication is very important. Both partners must understand the other to succeed.
There are trainers who focus on bodybuilding and trainers who focus on a specific sport, like running. Some have an extensive dance background. It's important to find a trainer whose experience gels with the client's goals. Someone with insight and experience in the sport a client wants to master is likely to be a good fit. Someone with an unrelated specialty may be difficult to build rapport or explain goals to.
Some trainers work exclusively through a gym, while others are willing and able to make home visits. Depending on the clients' schedule, flexibility and a willingness to travel may be important qualities to look for in a trainer. Someone just starting out in a career may be able to meet a trainer at the gym every week. Busy executives may want unusually early or late times, or require Skype-type remote sessions.
Related to this is the issue of cost. More experienced trainers with more flexibility tend to cost more. Someone working at a chain gym may have great general knowledge. For someone starting to get into fitness, they can be a great choice. For others with more specific goals, like running a marathon or completing a triathlon, a specialist can be a better choice. Additionally, a trainer's level of experience will affect their price schedule. Newly certified trainers are likely to be more affordable than people with decades of experience. It's important for clients to be honest with themselves about what they actually need and can afford.
Finally, anyone advertising as a personal trainer should have a certification from an organization like The American Council on Exercise, the National Academy of Sports Medicine or the National Strength and Conditioning Association. These organizations are all well-regarded but each has its own take on fitness, slightly different from the others. It's important to research personal trainers before committing to one. The trainer-client relationship is a close one. Communication is very important. Both partners must understand the other to succeed.
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