Even children are benefiting from certified personal trainers, who help them lose weight, learn new sports skills, and improve fitness levels. The benefits of hiring your own personal trainer or private fitness instructor include increased motivation to exercise, a healthy fitness plan and more discipline. Personal trainers are like tutors for your fitness plans and weight loss goals.
Reasons to Hire a Personal Trainer:
- You're uncomfortable at health clubs or even women's fitness centers; you aren't certain how to use the Bosu balls, wobble boards or stretch bands.
- You're recovering from an illness or injury. If you've recently hurt your back, gone through chemotherapy, or had a major surgery you may benefit from a certified personal trainer to guide you through the best exercises.
- You have a specific goal: a marathon, triathalon, or your first 10K race. Some personal trainers specialize in particular fitness plans.
- You're completely bored with your old exercises and need a new fitness plan.
- You need motivation to exercise or a fitness instructor to guide you in creating a fitness plan. A personal trainer gives you real reasons to exercise.
How to Hire a Personal Trainer: Look for the Right Credentials & Fitness Certification Programs
Make sure your personal trainer is certified through a quailty program. The following high-quality organizations offer fitness certification programs – but if your personal trainer hasn't attended one of these places, don't immediately reject them. Find out where they obtained their fitness certification credentials, and research the institution yourself.
Word of mouth is one the of the best ways to hire a personal trainer or fitness instructor. You could also try your local health club, fitness center, or community recreation center.
Some of the best fitness certification programs are offered by:
- Aerobics and Fitness Association of America
- American College of Sports Medicine
- American Council on Exercise
- National Strength and Conditioning Association
- National Academy of Sports Medicine
How to Hire a Personal Trainer: Check Their Fees First
Fees for personal trainers range from $30 to $100 per hour, depending on the size of your city or town and the state or province you're in. New York City personal trainers earn around $100 per hour; small town personal trainers or fitness instructors earn significantly less. Some fitness instructors come to your home; others meet you at a local weightroom or health club, or at their own private gyms.
Hiring a certifiied personal trainer through a health club, your local gym, or a community recreation center may be a more economical option. Many community centers offer the services of a certified personal trainer for a reasonable cost.
How to Recognize a Good Personal Trainer
Before you hire a personal trainer, ask for an interview (which should always precede the first session, which is often free or discounted).
A certified personal trainer or private fitness instructor should:
- Evaluate your current fitness level & future goals (eg, weight loss, increased health).
- Help you establish a personal fitness plan.
- Encourage you to try new equipment, such as Bosu balls, while letting you enjoy your tried-and-true exercises.
- Listen to you, and take your concerns and feelings seriously. When you're hiring a personal trainer, make sure they act professional and courteous.
- Pay attention to how you're doing the exercises, and give you feedback and pointers.
- Help you modify your fitness plan as needed.
You may need your private fitness instructor to set you up with a fitness plan or weight loss goals, but the ultimate outcome is up to you. Hiring a personal trainer can motivate you to lose weight, but you have to do the workouts and follow the fitness plan to see the results you want.
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Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen - Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen is a full-time writer and blogger in Vancouver, BC, and the creator of the Quips and Tips blog series.
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