Finding the right personal trainer

So, you’re getting great use out of your awesome new home fitness equipment, but you’re really hoping to take your exercise routine and overall health to the next level in the coming months. While establishing a healthy diet that supports your body’s needs, developing a more regimented sleep cycle and reducing harmful lifestyle factors are all great starting points, you may want to look into working with a personal trainer. Though these individuals services certainly come at a heightened expense to many other fitness options, they can deliver an extreme amount of value to someone looking to better themselves physically. Still, if you’re beginning the search for a personal trainer, the odds are high that you have a lot of questions regarding how to select the right one. Don’t fret about it, though, simply following these few tips should help you ensure that you get the most out of your new fitness companion:

Trust ratings
Fortunately for you, we live in a world of incredible technological innovation. It seems that more than ever, people are turning to social media and websites to express their opinions on services and products they’ve purchased or used in the past. Personal trainers are no exception to this. If you’re currently on the market for someone to push you through your fitness goals, then take to the Internet to see if anyone has posted ratings about the best ones in your area. Social ranking sites such as Yelp! often have reviews about these individuals in which people detail their experiences with them. Be wary of services or trainers who only have a few reviews, as this is too small a sample size to be accurate and reliable. Try looking for individuals who have at least 50 different positive reviews to set you on the right course.

Don’t look too hard
Honestly, if you live in any sort of incorporated or urban area, then you shouldn’t have to look too hard to find a personal trainer worth hiring. If you’re struggling to locate one that you like or simply don’t know where to begin your search, your local gym can make a brilliant starting point, according to Spark People. While personal trainers can be hired through private services, they tend to be more expensive. Working with one from your local gym can minimize your commute, and many gyms or fitness centers offer package rates for personal training services to those who already hold a membership with them. This is a great way of consolidating your efforts.

Consider accreditations and specialties
One of the most important things in hiring a personal trainer is making sure that you aren’t only finding one who is qualified, but that you’re finding one who is qualified to work with you specifically. The first point here is an incredibly simple one, finding a personal trainer who’s qualified is largely based in their accreditations or certifications. According to Ace Fitness, it’s imperative that your trainer be NCAA-certified. The National Commission for Certifying Agencies is one of the prime governing bodies in the world of personal trainers, and finding one with this level of endorsement will mean that you’re on the right track. Next, you need to ensure that the trainer is right for you specifically. Be honest with yourself here; If you’re just beginning a fitness routine after a long period of inactivity, then you probably don’t need a trainer who works with bodybuilders and Olympic athletes. A basic trainer should work just fine for most people.