This Time It’s Personal - Personal Fitness Trainers
Personal trainers-fashion accessory for the cash-rich and time poor? or failsafe route to fitness?
At some point you will consider it, if not now, then later when you hit a motivation or performance plateau that you don’t know how to get over. So what will you get for your money? And how can you decide if a personal trainer is for you?
Let’s be clear about what a personal trainer means. We’re not talking about having someone knock up a tailored training routine for you when you first start - all gym: should do that as a matter of course. Personal trainers will dedicate themselves to you and you alone for each hour that you book. They should assess your fitness level set up a programme complete with goals and waypoints, and provide the motivation to achieve them.
If you’re thinking of opting for personal training, ensure that the trainer:
- Has a recognised personal trainer qualification.
- Is a member of the Register of Fitness Professionals.
- Has a valid CPR (cardio-pulmonary resuscitation) certificate.
Recognised qualifications (as defined by the Register of Fitness Professionals) include:
- Future Fit Training Personal Trainer
- YMCA Personal Trainer Diploma
- Lifetime HF Personal Trainer
- FIE Certified Personal Trainer
- Premier Training Diploma
- Or a BA-level degree in sports and fitness
Why would you pay extra?
Given what you’re already forking out for the gym, why would you pay extra for a personal trainer? If you have a clear idea of your fitness targets, the knowledge of how to hit them and a high level of self-motivation, then the honest answer is that you don’t need a trainer. If, however, you find that motivation is a big problem, or you have an unusual target (say a new sport), or you’re going nowhere and don’t know what to try, then a personal trainer could be exactly what the doctor ordered.
What can I expect ?
Depends entirely on what your agreed goals are. If your aim is to lose weight and tone up, then you can expect to start off with a cardio warm-up before going onto weights and moves that you wouldn’t normally do. In the process you will learn a lot about form, posture, technique and the use of different pieces of equipment. It also makes the gym session an appointment, a commitment that you can’t back out of, and introduces the trainer as a kind of external conscience nagging you if you let things slip. Sort of like Jiminy Cricket in tracksuit bottoms.