There is plenty of choice available to you if you are looking for a personal trainer. Employing the services of a personal trainer is an investment in your health and fitness and for that reason you should make your decision wisely. I have put together a short list of things to look for when shopping around for a PT.
1. Qualifications. Unfortunately there are a lot of people working as personal trainers who do not have the needed qualifications. The minimum qualifications required to work as a personal trainer are Cert III and Cert IV in Fitness & Personal Training. Be weary of personal trainers who work alone - there is no one checking to ensure they are qualified before they advertise themselves as a fitness professional.
2. Attitude. A personal trainer's attitude towards health and fitness will strongly affect the way they train you and will strongly influence the attitude that you develop towards exercise. If your trainer is passionate about health and fitness, participates in their own regular exercise program and is always looking to involve you in as much exercise and activity as possible, it is a good sign that they practice what they preach and will able to keep you motivated. A personal trainer who runs a few sessions for a little extra money in the evening with no passion or interest in health and fitness may not be the best choice. Avoid the personal trainer that is more passionate about themselves then they are about providing you with a quality service. You will become tired of listening to them speak about them self all the time.
3. A Busy Personal Trainer. A busy personal trainer is busy for a reason. If they do not have great availability to fit you in they must be doing something right. Find out if they have a waiting list you can be listed on.
4. Professionalism. Do they look, speak and act like a professional? If a personal trainer is not professional they will lack organisational, time management and communication skills. This will negatively impact on your personal training experience. Personal trainers are fitness professionals and should act like one, make sure you choose one who does.
5. Training Environment. The training environment that your personal trainer works in will impact on your personal training experience and results. It is important that your personal trainer has access to all the necessary training equipment to get you the results you desire and to keep training varied and fun. Personal training in a park with a medicine ball, boxing gloves and park bench will become boring eventually. Although it may not be necessary to train in a gym, having a few extras available will help to keep things interesting for longer. If the trainer operates entirely outdoors find out if they have a back up arrangement in the event of prolonged wet weather - you do not want to go weeks on end missing out on sessions you have already payed for.
6. The Fine Print. Make sure you find about all the policies, fees and extra charges. Is there a joining fee? A set term contract? A cancellation fee if you cannot make the session? These are all important things to find out before committing to a personal trainer. Find out exactly what you are paying and what you will receive for your money.
7. Word of Mouth. If you found out about a personal trainer by referral this is a good sign they have done a good job at least once and are worth considering.
8. Experience. Finding out about not just how long a personal trainer has been in the industry but also how busy they have been and what type of work they have been doing is important. A personal trainer with many years experience instructing aerobic classes, for example, does not really bring any extra expertise then a personal trainer with no experience at all. Personal trainers typically do not last long in the fitness industry if they are not doing a good job. If they have greater than 2 years experience with a busy personal training schedule they are likely to be doing something right.
9. Knowledge. A personal trainer should have good knowledge about the services they offer and what exercise is right for you. Assess a personal trainer's level of knowledge by asking questions about your training and any concerns you may have. If they cannot answer promptly and confidently it is often a good indication that you should keep looking.
10. Results. Nothing speaks louder than results. Ask about previous success stories that the trainer may have had with clients who were looking to achieve the same goals that you are.
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