How Do You Know A Personal Trainer Is Right For You?

Finding a personal trainer can be daunting, but now that you have found one, how do you know if they will be a good fit? Just as there are signs in a store to guide you in the right direction, there are also signs to look out for to identify an excellent personal trainer. Knowing what to look for will drastically cut time wasted with a trainer that was not a good fit for you in the first place.

Drawing from my personal experience with a trainer, talking to clients of personal trainers, and talking with Lewkowicz Fitness, I compiled a short checklist of what to look for when choosing a reputable personal trainer.

The trainer has the appropriate education and certifications related to health and fitness.

A personal trainer with little to no education is a huge red flag. Your trainer by no means needs to attend Harvard or Yale, but they do need to attend a school or classes related to physical fitness. For example, ACE and NASM are professional and well-established health and fitness programs for that many personal trainers today have received their certifications. Another acceptable education route for a personal trainer is an apprenticeship. Your trainer may have studied or worked under a certified health professional for several months or even years learning how to become a fitness expert. Remember that even when working in an apprenticeship, your trainer should still receive a letter of recommendation or a certificate of completion from their teacher once the training is complete. Your trainer should be able to present those documents easily when asked.

*Note: Trainers are not medical personnel and should never offer medical advice like stopping a medication; they're not doctors and most likely do not have an MD.

The trainer is respectful and professional at all times.

I was chatting with a friend about personal training when he told me this crazy story of a fitness trainer he used to work beside. They were in charge of group fitness training sessions for a group of teachers who happened to be primarily female. Trying to encourage the ladies, his colleague shouted, "Come on, ladies pick it up, quit being weak, and pull your (you can guess what he said here) out." The "encouragement" was in abysmal taste and very unprofessional. And yes, that trainer did receive several complaints and lost clients because of his comment.

A trainer who cannot exhibit professionalism is not someone you should invest your time or money in. An unprofessional trainer can lead to blurred lines and situations that can create discomfort for you. The dynamic may be more relaxed if you have been training with an individual for many sessions and have built a rapport. Still, professionalism should never go completely out the window.

The trainer is in shape.

Now, I'm not only talking about looks when I say in shape. You shouldn't necessarily expect your trainer to look like a fitness model (which is highly unrealistic to maintain; many tricks go into looking cut and chiseled for photoshoots). Still, they should be physically fit. If your trainer can't hold a plank with you or demonstrate the exercises, something is up. There will be exceptions; for example, your trainer suffered a life-altering injury that prevents them from performing specific movements. Or a personal trainer of top-tier athletes (I would not expect Serena William's personal trainer to serve a ball at 90mph). I do expect my trainer to be in shape to perform all the exercises they are implementing during our training session efficiently and correctly (given the expectations).

They care about YOUR goals.

A good personal trainer will not try to morph you into what "they" think is the ideal body or lifestyle. Maybe you don't care to bench press 300lbs or fit into a size two. What matters to you is increased mobility or more stamina to play with your kids. Or yes, maybe you do want a body transformation. Whatever your fitness goal is, the trainer should embrace YOUR goals and help you achieve them in a healthy, supportive, and respectful manner. This support would look like your trainer discussing your goals and writing these goals down with you. Your trainer should consistently check-in (even when not training) to encourage, hold you accountable and answer any questions you may have outside the gym. If you're struggling to reach your goals at times, an excellent trainer will come alongside you and work hard to troubleshoot the issue or issues holding you back (9/10, it's what you're eating, but we will save that for another blog). They will never shame you or make you feel bad for backsliding.

After reading this blog, I hope you feel more prepared and empowered to find the personal trainer that fits YOUR needs and goals. Finding the right fit can take time, and that's OK. Also, don't completely write your trainer off after one bad session (unless they were inappropriate or unprofessional); everyone has off days. Having a personal trainer will significantly increase your chances of reaching your fitness goals AND maintaining those goals throughout your life. Plus, having a trainer can help you achieve more fitness goals once your previous ones have been reached. To get the results you want, you must put in the work, but an excellent personal trainer will help you and dedicate their time and education to helping you succeed.

Autumn Hawkins has received her ASIS in Communication through Indiana Wesleyan. She is also a certified Yoga instructor (YTT 200) and received her certification for nutrition counseling through the Institute of Integrative Nutrition. Autumn cares about improving individuals' lives one healthy choice at a time.