Once reserved only for
rich and famous, personal fitness training has hit 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 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 references if they achieved their goals, how trainer helped them to do so, and what they liked best about trainer.
If 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 check clears.
Current popular and reputable certification associations include National Strength & Conditioning Association (NSCA), 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 person successfully passed minimum requirements for certification. While important, certification is a factor that should be used in combination with all of other information that you are collecting.
The trainer also should also be certified in CPR/First Aid and be able to show you 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 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.
