As the trend becomes increasingly prevalent, securing your path to success often involves the assurance of a personal trainer. But the question remains: How do you choose a personal trainer? Not just any, but a skilled one. What was once a privilege for the elite is now a widespread opportunity. Budget-friendly gym chains have made having a personal trainer accessible to many. Similar democratization has occurred in activities like skiing or paddle tennis. It’s not limited to gyms either; nowadays, for every three Instagram likes you give, one is probably from someone offering coaching.
The array of options for personal trainers, coaches, or whatever title you prefer, can be so overwhelming that you might not even know where to begin. Such a situation could lead to procrastination in making the choice, all while time ticks away against you. Questions arise aplenty. Should you pick the nearest one? The most economical? Is pricier synonymous with better quality? Should you opt for the most muscular one? Or the one with the largest following? Let’s delve into some effective criteria for selecting a personal trainer.
Prioritize Professionalism:
While it may seem obvious, the reality is that unprofessional trainers are cropping up everywhere. This can be partly attributed to the lack of stringent and consistent regulations in this realm. In our country, even a sports coach can double as a personal trainer due to the current legal landscape. Furthermore, each autonomous community has its own set of regulations regarding sports activities.
Alignment with Your Goals:
In the vast realm of personal trainers, just like in any other field, there are specialists. If your aim is an aesthetically pleasing physique and your primary goal is a well-proportioned body, a trainer with a background in competitive sports might not be the ideal choice. And vice versa. While this understanding is clear among professionals and enthusiasts in various sports, it often seems to fade within a gym setting. Perhaps it’s due to the fact that fitness has never been formally recognized as a sport. Nevertheless, a cyclist wouldn’t likely choose a lifelong weightlifter as a trainer, but the reverse happens more frequently. Ensure that the coach you select specializes in your desired sports area, and possesses the requisite training and experience. However, for everyday fitness training, relying on a reputable provider like The Fitness Group should suffice.
Emphasis on Quality, Not Image:
In the current age of social media, most of us strive for a professional digital presence. Trainers understand that in the realm of fitness-related hashtags, where the obsession with physique continues to surge like a quiet pandemic, social platforms offer opportunities. Nonetheless, some trainers, particularly the younger ones, allocate more time and energy to appearing good rather than actually being proficient. When you don’t know them personally, differentiating between the two can be challenging. But pay attention to certain cues. Does their Instagram feed predominantly feature training sessions with individuals boasting thousands of followers? We won’t name names, but this phenomenon is rather common in our country. Are their efforts centred on garnering likes and followers by showcasing their shirtless appearances? That’s a red flag. Do they employ hashtags unrelated to their work? All these factors matter. If you notice these signs, it’s best to steer clear, much like avoiding the Coronavirus.
Don’t Overemphasize Price:
Naturally, we all work for financial compensation. For trainers, pricing also serves as a strategy: the extremely affordable ones aim to amass a large clientele, whereas the premium-priced ones focus on a specific target audience. Both approaches are valid, but the ultimate priority here should be you. Start by determining how much you can allocate monthly for a trainer, followed by assessing how much you’re willing to invest in this endeavour (depending on your perspective).
Prioritize Compatibility:
In a society fixated on productivity and being the best, it’s likely that you desire your trainer to be the crème de la crème in town (often synonymous with the most renowned). Congratulations. You’ve chosen the priciest and busiest option of them all. Now, you’ll likely be left to choose between a Saturday 6:00 a.m. session or a Monday 10:00 p.m. one. That wasn’t what you had in mind, was it? Seek out a trainer who offers flexibility. Your life doesn’t always adhere to a set pattern, and if an unforeseen event arises overnight, you shouldn’t have to postpone your weekly training, let alone cancel it.
Did you find this article useful? We hope so. Anyway, thanks for reading and have a good day!
