6 Questions To Ask Before Hiring A Personal Trainer

By: Jon Gestl

Once reserved only for the rich and famous, personal fitness training
has hit the mainstream. A personal trainer is now as common as a pair
of good cross trainers and a water bottle.

But unlike your hair stylist, your fitness trainer doesn't need to be
tested and licensed by a state licensing board. Someone with little
more than a great body--but no experience--can print business cards,
call themselves a personal trainer, and take your money.

So if you're looking for a trainer, you're on your own. Here are
six questions to ask trainers either in person or by phone before
hiring them.

1. Can I have references?

This is the best way to get honest information. A prospective trainer
should be more than happy to give you a list of at least three clients
whom you can contact. Ask the references if they achieved their goals,
how the trainer helped them to do so, and what they liked best about
the trainer.

If the trainer refuses to give references or acts as though it is a
major inconvenience, look elsewhere.

2. Through what organization are you certified?

Certification is a credential given by an agency or institution with
its own educational and testing procedures. Quality credentialing
agencies require a thorough, and often expensive, process of certifying
trainers. Usually this includes written, oral and practical exam
components. Other agencies will literally "sell" a certification as
long as the check clears.

Current popular and reputable certification associations include the
National Strength & Conditioning Association (NSCA), the American
College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), and American Council on Exercise
(ACE). Certification from any of these organizations doesn't
guarantee trainer excellence but shows only that the person
successfully passed the minimum requirements for certification. While
important, certification is a factor that should be used in combination
with all of the other information that you are collecting.

The trainer also should also be certified in CPR/First Aid and be able
to show you the credentials.

3. What is your training/exercise philosophy?

A credible trainer should be able to explain a philosophy of exercise
training. You don't need a doctoral dissertation here, only a
description of how they help clients reach their goals. How do they
train clients? How do they motivate them? Is there an assessment
process? Find out as much as you can about how they work with clients
to achieve goals.

What you are looking for here is a reflection of trainer credibility.
If the trainer says something like "I kick my clients' butts...No
pain, no gain, dude," thank them for their time and move on. Be an
intelligent consumer. Ask for specifics and clarification if you
don't understand something. This person is going to tell you how to
exercise, give you lifestyle information and hold very heavy weights
over your head.

3. How much do you charge and how do you expect payment?

Prices for personal fitness instruction vary widely based on where you
live and trainer qualification and experience. As with everything else,
you usually get what you pay for, but there'a no guarantee that the
most expensive trainer will be the best suited for you and your goals.

Talk to other people who have used fitness trainers. Or call health
clubs near you to determine the average rate in your area. If the
trainer is meeting you at your home, expect to pay slightly more than
average. If you are meeting at a health club, prepare to cover the cost
of a guest fee if there is one.

Get specifics on all fees and how payment is to be made. Some trainers
charge on a per session basis, while others offer packages and
discounted rates for a given number of pre-paid sessions. Some accept
only cash. Others accept checks and credit cards. Most fitness trainers
have some sort of cancellation policy. Agree on all financial
obligations before the first session and insist that both parties sign
a billing contract.

Avoid at all costs the trainer who responds to a question about fees
with statements like "How much can you afford?" or "How much are you
looking to spend?" This is someone who has their wallet-not your
fitness goals-in mind.

5. How do they look?

You should never base your selection solely on physical appearance. A
person with a flawless-looking body may not know the first thing about
safely teaching you how to achieve your own goals. This is especially
true if they have achieved their own results through things like drugs,
eating disorders or exercise obsession.

The person you hire will be teaching you skills and lifestyle habits
and doesn't need to look like a model in a fitness magazine. But
trainers do need to practice what they preach. Let's face it. Are you
really going to respect someone's opinion if you're in better shape
than they are? Probably not.

6. What's your comfort level?

Above all, make sure you choose a trainer with whom you feel
comfortable and whether their personality is a good match with yours.
Above all, trust your instincts. Hiring someone with superior training
knowledge is worthless if you don't feel comfortable. You need to
trust, respect and feel at ease with them.

You wouldn't buy a pair of exercise shoes without at least trying
them on to see if they're comfortable. The same concept holds for
hiring a personal fitness trainer. Set up an interview, ask the right
questions, and follow your instincts for the perfect fit.

About The Author

Jon Gestl, CSCS, is a personal fitness trainer and instructor in
Chicago specializing in in-home and in-office fitness training. He is a
United States National Aerobic Champion silver and bronze medalist and
world-ranked sportaerobic competitor. He can be contacted at
jongestl.RemoveThis@jongestl.com.


jongestl.RemoveThis@rcn.com

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