I love running and working out on my own but I want to start working with a personal trainer. What are some tips on picking a good personal trainer?
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ertification and knowl- edge as a fitness profes- sional are the first things
to look for in your personal trainer but don’t stop there! A great personal trainer will meet with you to discuss your goals, needs, and wants. In this meeting, you should be interviewing them just as much as they are interview- ing you. Make sure you feel
comfortable with them and that you get the feeling that they care about you and your goals. Ask them about their current/past clients. Have they trained others with simi- lar goals or obstacles? They should not monopo-
lize the conversation about them. Personal training is per- sonal because it is all about YOU (not them). Look for a trainer that can
be creative in your program design. Someone who thinks outside the box is a great person to have on your side.
Jessica Zapata PTS PRO TRAINER Edmonton, AB
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orking out with a personal trainer is one of the best deci-
sions you can make in regards to your health and fitness. To choose a great personal trainer, shop around, ask for recommendations and watch them train their clients to see if you like their style of training. The number one priority is to ensure that your personal trainer is certified and/or educated in health and fitness. Ask for a copy of their certification (if one is not already displayed). Every personal trainer is required
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onsider the following questions when looking for a personal trainer:
1. Ask to see certifications
and possibly a testimonial from a recent client. Do they have a mission statement that is linked to bettering the mind, body, and spirit? 2. Do they have a motivat-
ing style that you respond to well?
3. Are they meticulous with their time and with yours? Are they able to pro-
to attend yearly confer- ences, workshops or seminars to ensure they keep their certification valid, so it is also important to ensure their certificate has not expired. Beyond being certified, or having an educational background, they should also be professional, confident, passionate and enthusiastic about helping you achieve your goal.
Connie Beaulieu PTS, NWS PRO TRAINER Ottawa, ON
vide you with a manageable program you are able to use on your own and modify if required?
4. Do they think outside
the box? For every exercise they give you, are they able to provide up to five modifi- cations to make it unique to you if required? 5. Are they passion-
ate about health? Focused? Disciplined? Excited to train you as a person and not as a paycheque? 6. Is the first session and
evaluation free or refundable if you find they are not a good fit? A great trainer will refer you to someone bet- ter if they truly want you to achieve your goals. 7. A great trainer arrives
early, dresses appropriately, checks your progress, and is passionate about your goals.
Fyonna Vanderwerf OAS, FIS, CPR PRO TRAINER Muskoka, ON
1. Ask to see a current
certification. canfitpro is the largest certifying body in Canada and offers numer- ous certifications for fitness professionals. 2. Ask to see current in-
surance. This is to protect you as the client. 3. Before any training be- gins, it is important that your trainer have you complete a full health history form, gath- ering important information about you. 4. At minimum, your
trainer should be recording your current resting heart rate and resting blood pressure. 5. Your trainer should be
recording notes on every ses- sion with you. 6. A good personal trainer
will have you working hard, and having fun! In addition to being fun, your programs should be progressive. This means that you are not doing the same workout every time. Progression of your workouts must be appropriate to your fitness level.
Andrea Thatcher PTS, NWS, CPR PRO TRAINER
1. Understand each other
for availability purposes: Set up a brief interview to under- stand each other since you will be spending several hours together while training. 2. Ascertain his/her quali-
fications/ affiliation: Before picking a personal trainer, it is important to clearly under- stand his/her educational background and experience, and if the trainer has his/her certification with an accept- able organization. 3. Find out the personal
trainer’s experience with other clients who have similar goals as yours.
Salem Rao PTS PRO TRAINER Burlington, ON
health and fitness. It’s also im- portant that you find a trainer who best suits your lifestyle. This relationship should be one built on trust, so make sure you find a trainer you get along with. Watch trainers in your club or look at their website. Read testimonials clients have given. The more you probe, the more you will understand the trainer’s style and training personality. The more a train- er knows about your exercise or health history, the better the program will become. Most important, if you’re
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not having fun, find a differ- ent trainer. The more fun you have, the more successful you will be at reaching your goals.
Michael Meadows PTS PRO TRAINER Toronto, ON
MARCH/APRIL 2011 canfitpro 15
ake sure your per- sonal trainer is certi- fied and educated in
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