Five Questions to Ask Your Personal Trainer Before Hiring Them

Introduction

We all know how great it feels after a good workout, but motivating yourself to get up and do it can be a struggle. Without someone to hold you accountable, it’s much easier to use the “It’s cold outside, I’ll go tomorrow” card.

A certified personal trainer provides you with the motivation you need to reach your personal training fitness goals. They deliver training plans tailored to your requirements, as well as diet and nutrition advice. With a personal trainer, the results you see will encourage you to keep going, even on the days where Netflix in bed seems like a preferable option.

Having a good personal trainer can make all the difference when it comes to transforming your fitness, but hiring one is a big investment of your time and money, so don’t rush into choosing just anyone. It’s important to find someone with the relevant experience and skills for your requirements.

There are a number of qualities that a success personal trainer needs. Asking them these questions will help you to narrow down your options and get you on track to finding the right personal trainer for you.

What is Your Area of Expertise?

An experienced trainer should have an area of expertise, whether that’s bodybuilding or Boxercise. It’s vital that you choose someone whose experience matches what you are hoping to achieve. It’s a waste of time (and money) if you’re wanting to build on your Crossfit ability and your professional trainer has no experience in teaching this. As well as asking for your professional’s specialism, you could also see what they have worked on with previous clients to get a clearer picture of this.

What Are Your Credentials?

Anyone can call themselves a personal trainer, but the only way of knowing is if they have proof of certification. They can show this in a number of ways, including being a member of the Register of Exercise Professionals (REPs), or having a relevant degree like human anatomy or sports science. Other recognised qualifications for personal trainers include the Level 2 Certificate in Fitness Instructing. More experienced trainers may hold higher certificates, such as the Level 3 Diploma in Fitness Instructing and Personal training.

What Training Approach Do You Take?

Finding a personal trainer is a bit like dating, you need to choose the right match for your personality for it to be long lasting and fulfilling. Whether you prefer an intense workout, or softer sessions to ease you in, make sure you gauge the type of approach and personality your trainer has, as these will be big factors in deciding whether you’ll be happy to spend hours on end with them. It will also determine how successful you are – if you’re someone who doesn’t like pressure, you won’t thrive with a personal trainer whose motto is “no pain, no gain!”

How Much Do You Charge?

Personal trainer’s don’t charge one fixed rate. The cost can vary significantly depending on experience, location and specialism. If you have an honest conversation with your personal trainer about your budget and price expectations, it will be easier to work out the best option moving forward. You might even be able to agree on a discount if you’re buying sessions in bulk. If the cost of a personal trainer is over your budget, you could always consider group workouts. This reduces the price per hour as the cost is spread between participants. If you’d rather get more one-on-one time with your personal trainer, you could always ask if they offer online sessions. These tend to be priced lower per hour than in-person workouts.

Can I See Feedback From Your Previous Clients?

Testimonials from previous clients are a fantastic way to gain an accurate picture of your personal trainer. They are also a good way to see how much experience they have. If your personal trainer is unable to provide you with a lot of testimonials, they could be relatively new to the field. While this doesn’t necessarily mean that they won’t be able to deliver high quality training, you might want to choose someone more experienced. Hiring an inexperienced personal trainer might be a blessing in disguise, as they’ll often charge less than someone with years of training under their belt.

The Takeaway

While you can easily hire any personal trainer on the spot, asking a prospective trainer the right questions is going to help you determine if they are the ideal fit for you.

Remember, your trainer is going to be the person there to motivate and hold you accountable with your health and fitness goals. If your trainer lacks the proper experience for your needs or they have a clashing personality, it’s going to be a longer journey.

So, go ahead and start with these five questions and take it from there!

About the Author: Katie Miles

Katie is an experienced writer with a passion for health and wellness and is currently a writer for Bark.com, a world-leading services marketplace with over 5m customers in 8 countries around the world. Katie writes about all aspects of fitness and is dedicated to helping readers achieve a healthier and better quality of living.

About Theresa Duncan

Originally from Detroit, MI, Theresa has been offering health and fitness advice for the last 30 years while working as an engineer. She decided to turn her passion into a profession, and finds nothing more satisfying than helping others reach their health and fitness goals.