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How to Hire a Personal Trainer
You need to know how to hire a personal trainer if you want your training sessions to be
productive and enjoyable.
Here's a checklist of what to look for in a personal trainer:
Certification
There are many certification organizations in the fitness industry. Some certify almost
anybody, but the better organizations require being able to pass a comprehensive exam.
You should only hire a personal trainer who has been certified by one of the better
organizations. You also need to make sure that the certification is current, as most expire
after a year or two unless the trainer takes continuing education courses.
Some of the better organizations that certify personal trainers are the American Council
on Exercise (ACE), the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), the National Federation of
Professional Trainers (NFPT), the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA), the
National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), and the International Fitness Professionals
Association (IFPA).
University Degree
A fitness related bachelors or masters degree is usually even better than a certification.
Look for degrees in exercise physiology, exercise science, physical education or kinesiology.
A university degree plus certification is a great combination.
References
Good personal trainers have satisfied customers and won't hesitate to put you in touch with
them. You should ask for references that are the same age and gender as you and have similar
fitness goals to yours. This will help you determine whether the personal trainer is skilled in
dealing with your particular needs.
Liability Insurance
A personal trainer should carry liability insurance to protect clients against injury.
CPR and First Aid
A personal trainer should be certified in CPR and first aid in order to handle any emergency
situations.
Fees
Fees for personal training can vary greatly depending on the trainer's experience, clientele
and services. You should research fees for personal trainers in your area to get an idea of what
the range is like. As a general rule, be wary of personal trainers at either end of the fee
spectrum.
Schedule
What hours does the personal trainer have available and how flexible will the trainer be in
scheduling your workouts? The whole point of hiring a personal trainer is to get the instruction
and motivation you need at times that are convenient for you.
Compatibility
Before you hire a personal trainer, you need to interview him/her to make sure that the two
of you are compatible and that you will you feel comfortable working out with him/her? A personal
trainer can look good on paper or in person, but that doesn't mean the trainer is right for you.
Now that you have some guidelines for how to hire a personal trainer, your training sessions
should be productive and enjoyable.
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