If you’re one of the many Americans who’ve made the decision to get healthy this year, congratulations! Getting active and involved in physical fitness can be a daunting and difficult task to start, especially if you don’t know where to begin.
That’s where a personal trainer comes in. If you need help figuring out what exercises will help get you closer to your goal, a personal trainer in Houston can help.
Not only are personal trainers great at getting you started, they’re also great cheerleaders, coaches, and guides as you navigate the world of physical fitness.
Keep reading to learn how to choose a personal trainer that’s right for you.
Take a Look at Their Credentials
Personal trainers should have some kind of certification. In order to be considered a certified personal trainer, a person has to pass an accredited organization’s exam.
This is a measure put in place to protect you. Without insurance that your personal trainer understands and can meet certain standards and competencies within the profession, you’ve got no guarantees that you’re getting high-quality care.
Ask About Their Experience
Once you’ve found a certified personal trainer, find out what experience level they’ve got.
Keep in mind that the more experience a personal trainer has, the more expensive they’re going to be. But when you opt for a more experienced trainer, you’re getting all of that expertise and knowledge that comes with being in the business for so long.
Everyone has to start somewhere, of course, and if you’re willing to sacrifice some quality in exchange for a smaller cost, a newer personal trainer might be right for you.
What’s Their Personality?
Once you’ve narrowed down the field a little bit, it’s time to sit down and chat with some of your possible candidates. Personal training is, well, deeply personal. In order to connect with someone who can truly push you to your goals, you need to find someone who can connect with you.
Find someone who you mesh with, personality-wise. Maybe you need someone to be a peppy, happy cheerleader who is always pumping you up with positivity. Or, maybe that type of person isn’t your style and you need someone who can quietly but firmly guide you where you need to be.
No two personal trainers are the same, so if you don’t mesh well with one, there are others who are bound to suit your needs.
Decode the Fitness Philosophy
If you’ve found someone who you connect with personally, take the time to ask them about their fitness philosophy. What paths to fitness do they prefer to take?
This is important because it will set the stage for the kind of work you’re going to do together.
Does your trainer like gym-based workouts or do they prefer to take things outside and beyond the walls of the gym? Are they invested in the workout machines or do they like to bulk up with free-weights?
Make sure whatever road they’re willing to take you on, you’re comfortable with.
Check Your Availability
So you’ve found someone who you think would be the perfect personal trainer for you. Your personalities work together nicely and you think they know what they’re talking about. That’s great!
Do your schedules line up, though?
Personal trainers take on loads of other clients in order to fill their schedules and if you’re interested in a popular trainer, chances are you’re going to have to be willing to bend your schedule in order to work with them.
Figure out what days and times they’re available and try to make it work. A good personal trainer is worth their weight in gold and they’re certainly worth making room in your schedule!
Ask Around
If you’re having trouble finding a personal trainer by searching on your own, you could always ask around. When people find a service that they really love, they’re often more than willing to share it with the world.
Do you know someone who’s super involved with physical fitness? Ask them if they have any recommendations about where to begin your search or if they have friends who are certified to personally guide you through your fitness journey.
Personal Trainer Red Flags
There are a few things you should watch out for when it comes to personal trainers.
If you’ve gotten to a session and you’ve noticed that your trainer doesn’t seem to care when you tell them that you’re in pain, there could be a problem. Yes, there is some discomfort that is to be expected when you’re starting out your fitness journey, your exercise routine should challenge you, not physically hurt you.
Your body has limits and your personal trainer needs to be sensitive to them.
Additionally, your personal trainer should never rely on body-shaming you or others in order to motivate you to workout. People of all body shapes and sizes can be physically fit and using shame to motivate you is not a tactic that will keep you coming back to the gym.
A few other things to look out for are:
- Using the same exercises every single session with no variation
- Can’t explain how their workouts help
- Aren’t checking in or asking you how you’re feeling through an exercise
A good personal trainer will be by your side the entire time, coaching you through your workouts and ensuring that you haven’t reached the point of injuring yourself.
Choose a Personal Trainer in Houston
Finding a personal trainer in Houston doesn’t have to be difficult. If you follow this simple guide to walk yourself through selecting someone who can help you get fit for life, you’re bound to find the right trainer for you.
To find out if our Houston personal trainer is right for you, contact us today!