Hiring a personal trainer is a phenomenal investment in yourself. It shows a commitment to taking care of yourself. To being able to take care of the one you love because you are healthy and strong enough. To being able to do the activities you enjoy because your body isn’t in constant pain.
It’s also a costly one.
In order to make sure that your money is being well invested in a professional who is going to safely and effectively help you achieve your wellness goals here are some questions to ask when you are hiring a personal trainer.
The Questions I would ask when hiring a personal trainer.
What are your qualifications and credentials?
While this may seem like an obvious one, it is amazing how many people assume that because someone works at a gym and has personal trainer on their shirt, that they possess some advanced learning which qualifies them. Unfortunately, that is not always the case, and just because someone has worked out and looks good it doesn’t necessarily mean they know how to program and coach for others.
Likewise, certifications aren’t the be all and end all. Many personal trainers with advanced learning are poor coaches. Many certifications are completed over a weekend, with limited practical experience. So it is important to check this box that they have SOME qualification, but this should not be THE deciding factor when hiring a personal trainer. Preferably I favour NSCA or CSEP
Do you have liability insurance?
This is an important one, because no matter how good the personal trainer is, accidents can happen in the gym. You want to make sure that you are covered while working under this trainers care in the rare occasion that something silly happens. Or even worse, that you make a mistake and hire a negligent coach.
This question will also show you a window into the attention to detail and care of a potential coach. Chances are a coach who doesn’t obtain liability insurance, also is playing fast and loose with what they consider good training. It is important to protect yourself when hiring a personal trainer.
Have you ever worked with a client with similar goals as mine?
While no two clients are the same, and a good trainer knows how to adapt programming for specific individuals, goals and circumstances. It can’t be overlooked that some trainers are better suited to working with certain population over others. Coaches often tend to program what they enjoy and so someone who is really into bodyweight exercises, might not be the best option to coach someone looking to get into body building. Not to say they can’t learn. But that process of learning and exploring the best way to do things is going to be inefficient, and delay the timeframe for the client to reach their goals.
When hiring a personal trainer, finding someone who has worked with others in similar age range, limitations, goals, history to yourself, means they are bringing that experience to the table to better serve you. They’ve made the mistakes, they’ve done the experimenting and they have a better understanding for your needs.
Have you ever ‘fired’ a client, and why?
Just like coaches get fired for doing a poor job, or not meeting expectations. So too can clients.
Many people don’t realize, but it’s common for personal trainers to move on from clients for reasons ranging anywhere from “I don’t think I have the right skill set to help this person,” to “this client makes my day terrible and I dread when they are on the schedule,” and many other things in between.
Personal trainers are human, and have varying levels of tolerance for things like tardiness, rescheduling, missed workouts or lack of adherence to habits outside of the gym. They may lack the social connection to create a fulfilling connection for both themselves and the client. They may have a conflict of interest which forces them to move on. And many other situation which can result in the termination of the trainer/trainee relationship.
This question is a good way to find out what your potential personal trainers boundaries are, and whether you feel they align with what you can commit to, or what you expect from them. Be prepared if you ask this question when hiring a personal trainer, you may catch them off-guard and they may get awkward or defensive. Let them know you understand that things happen, and you are just hoping to understand their boundaries better.
Final thoughts on hiring a personal trainer
Hiring a personal trainer should be a very individual choice. While referral from a freind is a great place to start, it is important that just as all bodies aren’t created equal, all coaches are not suited to every individual (no matter how good they may be at their niche). It is critical that you ask a lot of questions and interview a number of trainers before settling on the one that is right for you.
If you are in Oakville or Mississauga and looking for a place to be your best self, we would love you have an opportunity to chat with you! Please fill out our contact form or email train@prototypeathlete.com to set up your no sweat intro and get started!
