How To Find A Good Personal Trainer

So you want to get into shape and is looking for professional help in the form of a good personal trainer. However, unlike your doctor or engineer, the personal trainer industry in most countries are not regulated and so how can you be sure that the trainer you intend to hire is up to the mark?

So here are some tips to finding a good personal trainer to help you to attain your health and fitness objectives.

The first thing you should do when interviewing your trainer is to ask for past references of clients he/she has trained. A good and successful trainer should be more than glad to supply you the list of contact. When you call the references, ask if they have achieved their goals and what they like best about the trainer when training with him/her. This is a very good indicator of how good your gym instructor can be.

Second rated trainers or one with less than sterling record will be hesitant to give you any references. If you find any hesitation, then you may want to rule out the trainer.

Ask to see the trainer's certification because many people who workout in the gym themselves simply call themselves personal trainers without attending any formal courses. They train people from the experience they've gained from training themselves.

I am not implying that these type of trainers are no good, but a certified trainer have at least gone through some formal education and training and is most probably updated about the latest in the industry and new science discovered as they may have subscribe to journals from their certification bodies.

Also, a certified trainer is likely to be also trained in Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and First Aid in case there are any accidents or injuries sustained while working out.

The next thing you should ask your potential trainer is what is his/her training plan for you should you decide to hire him/her. Everyone is unique and have different goals and thus a good instructor should be able to formulate a safe and progressive plan for you to reach your objective. Ask for specifics and clarification if you don't understand something in his/her plan and hear out the explanations and gauge whether it made sense.

You should never base your selection of an instructor solely on physical appearance. A person with a well buffed body may not know the first thing about safety or methods of instruction. However, physical appearance can be an indicator that this is someone who is disciplined as it takes discipline to get into good shape. If your trainer do not take care of his/her body, how can you expect this person to be able to diligently take care of yours?

Last but not least, you should choose a trainer which you can be comfortable with and has a personality that is acceptable to you. You are paying good money for quality instruction and you must have a good time working out with this person. There is absolutely no reason why you should pay someone whom you are not comfortable working with. There is nothing to feel shy about this.

So if you are looking for good quality personal trainers, then you may want to adhere to the above guidelines.

Chris Chew is a fitness and health consultant. Read his free articles at http://www.sgfitness.com and http://www.sgfitnessonline.com