As we come out of lockdown and summer fast approaches, more and more of us are turning to personal trainers to help to support our health and fitness goals. In order to achieve these goals, it is so important that you secure the support of a knowledgeable and experienced personal trainer, especially one who feels like a natural fit with your aims.
Read on to find out more about our personal trainer tips and the top things you need to consider when trying to find the perfect personal trainer for you.
Investing in your fitness goals
If you are thinking about finding a personal trainer, now is a great time to think about the goals that you want to achieve as part of your health and wellness journey. Are you looking to tone up your existing muscle, or perhaps lose weight? Maybe you would like to gain muscle mass and improve your overall physique. The options are endless when it comes to improving your health and wellbeing.
With the support of a personal trainer, you can stay motivated whilst someone works to keep you accountable. Plus, they play a vital role in keeping you safe from injury at the gym, whilst also helping you make the most out of your workout to see more consistent results.
It is vital that you find the right person to help you meet your current fitness goals to achieve your desired results. In order to find that person, you need to do your due diligence to find the personal trainer who can offer you the very best support. Read on to find out our top personal trainer tips and to find out the most important things to consider when looking for a personal trainer.
1. Do they have the proper credentials?
First things first, never consider a personal trainer who does not have the level of expertise that you need them to have.
To become a fully qualified personal trainer in the UK, you need to have at least a Level 3 qualification that is recognised by CIMSPA. If they have a Level 2 qualification, they are qualified as a Gym or Fitness Instructor. This means, they should have the following qualifications:
- Level 2 Certification in Gym Instructing
- Level 3 Personal Trainer Course.
Even better, they might have also trained to do a Level 4 qualification! This is when you know they’ve really done the leg-work to become a top-notch personal trainer. Another personal trainer tip is to make sure that they have the correct insurance to protect you and them should anything go wrong. Their insurance should include public liabilities, professional indemnity, replacement sports equipment, personal accidents, and so much more.
2. Are they experienced?
Practice makes perfect! This is why it is so important to look for a personal trainer that has worked with plenty of other people before. One personal trainer tip is to find a personal trainer that has been around for a while or has been suggested to you by people you know.
By working with an experienced personal trainer, they will have had an opportunity to perfect their craft. This means that they should have tried and tested methods that deliver results.
3. Are they a good fit for you personally?
This is probably the most important part of choosing a personal trainer. It is vital to find someone who motivates you on a personal level. Do you work well with positive reinforcement? Or perhaps you find a harsher approach more effective. A top personal trainer tip is to find a trainer that speaks to you in a way that motivates you. If you find a personal trainer who doesn’t fit your approach, you are unlikely to achieve the results you want to achieve.
Their philosophy is also a vital part of this experience. Find out how they develop their programme and what key understandings they have about health and wellbeing prior to creating your plan. Will it be solely gym-based? Will you be given a lifestyle and diet plan to work alongside this? Get to grips with the way your personal trainer approaches fitness.
4. Do they have any specialties?
If you are looking for a specific goal, such as improving a personal best, you will want to work with a trainer who specialises in a particular area.
This personal trainer tip is so important because it means that the personal trainer will not only be best suited to support you in reaching your desired goal, they will also have the experience in it and will be passionate about the nuances of this particular goal and how best to achieve it.
5. What is their availability like?
Being consistent with your training is so important when it comes to achieving your goals. This means that if you are looking for a new personal trainer, it is important to enquire about their schedule and how much wiggle room they have to be able to take on new clients.
If it looks like they’re very busy and you need to book a long time in advance to secure an appointment, will you be able to get the level of consistency that you need to achieve your goals?
Finding the best personal trainer for you
Now that you have had a run down of personal trainer tips and tricks, why not speak to the team at FORM to find out more about our personal training services and how we can help you to achieve your goals.
