A personal trainer is a fitness professional who is qualified to design exercise programs to fit the differing requirements of any individual. A qualified trainer has a great deal of knowledge and experience in principles of anatomy, physiology, and kinesiology. With their experience and powerful motivational skills (maybe as good as Anthony Robbins in Personal Power), trainers can help you reach your goals faster than if you work out alone.
As we all know, training muscles is more of an individual sport, done alone with headphones and good music. However, for those looking for added motivation to push them further, personal trainers can be a wise choice. Also, the trainer teaches you how to perform an exercise routine properly to avoid injury. Personal trainers help you start a safe and successful fitness program that will benefit you for years to come. They can provide you with a weight loss program, a strength and endurance training regimen, or a cardio and resistance training plan to isolate precise body parts that need more attention than others.
Many people ask me about the advantages of working with a personal trainer. When you need the house cleaned, you call a cleaning lady. When you need landscaping done, you call a landscaping professional. When you want the paint on your house to look good, you call a reputable painter. Well, if you want your body to look amazing, you call a personal trainer. We exercise with you at a time that is convenient to you. We always provide you with personal feedback on what you do well or need to work on. When working with a personal trainer, you pay for his full attention. Since you have someone who will get your ass working whether you like it or not, you can assure yourself of progress, which will eventually motivate you by itself.
Let’s talk about what’s going to come out of your wallet when you seek the services of a personal trainer: They are not cheap. If you want a good one, you will need to ask the sales representative at a gym for a training staff and certification list. You can dish out 55 to 125 dollars per hour, depending on your geographic location and the expertise of the trainer. If you want someone with 20 years experience, expect to pay for his maturity. Also, when you buy sessions, buy them in groups of five or ten; they are always less expensive than if you buy them “a la carte.”
You might be wondering if you need a home equity loan to maintain a personal trainer. Not exactly. Those who can afford one on a daily basis, kudos to you; you’ve succeeded financially. However, if you are not one of the fortunate ones but still want to lead a healthy life, you can always use a personal trainer for a couple of sessions and learn as much as possible. Perhaps all you need from the trainer is a personalized workout program. You do not need to see the trainer every week to achieve a positive change, but please note that, if you are new to the gym, more than a couple of sessions will be required for you to become accustomed to the exercises. After you purchase your sessions, do not take them all at once; take time to digest the information so you can learn at your own pace. The amount of information shared in one hour can be overwhelming.
When you meet your trainer for the first time, consider if he is someone that you want to deal with on a regular basis. Also, find out if this job for him is a hobby or a career. A real personal trainer will ask you to fill out a “PAR-Q” (Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire). This form asks about your medical history and serves as a safety precaution for both you and the personal trainer. If you have had any serious health problems in the past, the trainer will advise you to seek your doctor’s approval before training. For the trainer, the form helps them assess your physical capabilities. Any gym can provide you with the PAR-Q but you should wait until the trainer asks before completing it. You are about to make drastic and positive changes in your life that you and others will notice and that will enhance your self-esteem and help you reach any goals you set in your life.
The next section of this article will help you learn to identify certain personalities common to all gyms across our dear planet earth. These “personal-e-tease” are simply a fact of our environment and we are pleased to describe some of them to you. After reading about them, I am certain you will be able to point out examples in your own gym. Some of these personalities will even describe you. Here’s hoping that no one takes offense.
Dan Amzallag
Gloateus Maximus: Inside and out of personal trainers lives
Book available at http://www.fitnesstrainersnetwork.com
Accredited and certified personal trainers for USA and Canada
