If you are looking for the next leg up in exercise, want to redefine your fitness journey, or need the extra push to meet fitness goals, then a personal trainer may be the answer. This is not a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants decision though. Employing a personal trainer means allowing someone in on your routine. Choosing a trainer should be treated with a lot of consideration.

If you are not familiar with personal trainers and therefore do not know where to start, it helps to do a little research. There are a plethora of different types of trainers out there, which means you can afford to be a little picky to ensure you find the kind who fits your needs and lifestyle.
To understand the significance of a personal trainer, especially if you are on the fence about the expense of hiring one, it helps to know what exactly their certification entails.

According to Jonathan Goodman, CSCS on BodyBuilding, most clients don’t care what kind of certifications a trainer has. They care more about the results. This is because in most cases they don’t have anything to base their opinion on, unless they are the type of client who is looking for a specific type of training like yoga or CrossFit.

Goodman also said that a piece of paper isn’t going to guarantee results for a trainer or the client. The amount of passion and knowledge the trainer has of the subject will. So, a trainer can be good at talking themselves up, but it won’t make a difference if they do not produce results.

If you are wondering how you would even find the right personal trainer and check their credentials, there are quite a few ways. First, Jeff Crosswell, a NASM Elite trainer, suggests making sure they are certified through a legitimate, nationally recognized organization. Then, look to see what other kind of schooling they have alongside the certification; a college degree is a big one, Crosswell said. Another good thing to look into is if they have any client reviews of their work.

The best way to find all this information is if the trainer you have in mind has a website. If they are serious about their marketing, they should have all the information listed above and more at your research disposal. But, if they do not have their own advertising platform, they can simply send you a copy of their certificate, according to the staff at Exercise.com.

Now this all simmers down to the real question: Do I need a personal trainer? If you are serious about your fitness journey and want to do it right, then ,yes, you do. A personal trainer offers the expertise and guidance to achieve your personal goals. Just make sure that if you do decide to take the step to employ one, do the research first.

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5 Tips For Finding Your Perfect Personal Trainer

1. Enquire about personal trainers at your local gym. They should have a list of personal trainers with their information for hire.
2. Audition the trainer. If you have the chance to watch them train someone else, see how they treat other clients and what their training style is.
3. Find someone who markets effectively. A personal trainer who knows how to make themselves well known in the gym community and has a good presence online is a good quality to have in your personal trainer.
4. Make sure they share the same goals as you.
5. Ensure that they have good communication skills, have a passion for fitness, and remain professional. That way they can build a good workout program just for you.

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Written by: Alex Dunn