Alternative Fitness Concepts (AFC) provides personal and private training to clients in Santa Monica, California and the surrounding Los Angeles area. AFC also writes monthly fitness newsletters and articles for the worldwide web giving advice to those individuals looking for personal trainers, private sessions, workout tips, information on anti-aging, weight loss, functional training, running, boot camps, yoga, pilates, etc. Join us today to get in the best shape of your life!
How to hire a good trainer.
We realize that hiring a personal trainer is an important step in your pursuit of a healthier lifestyle. There are many personal trainers in Los Angeles, and finding one that is affordable, knowledgeable, and professional is a huge challenge. If you do not have a direct referral, which sometimes even turns out to be disappointing, you can follow AFC's 2 steps on how to hire a good trainer.
Step 1: This is what AFC looks for when hiring a trainer: a person that is sincere and genuinely excited about personal training. Having a trainer who cares about helping you achieve the best results for yourself is a very rewarding experience. You will find that the trainer will be pleasant, specific in their explanations and clear in their vision of what they would like to accomplish for you.
Step 2: The trainer must be professional. The trainer should be professional in dress, behavior, demeanor, punctuality, and dependability. You are looking for a trainer that takes the client-trainer relationship seriously. The trainer should fully disclose the cost options and cancellation policy.
When you meet with the trainer or speak with him on the phone you should have the attitude that you are interviewing him. Follow these basic questions and you should find a good trainer.
Question #1 Are you certified? This is a good place to start which shows that the trainer has a base of information and guidelines he will follow. However, it could be very misleading if he has been certified for less than 2 years. His lack of experience will affect his choices.
Question #2 How long have you been a personal trainer and how many hours have you trained over the last 12 months? This is a good second question. It will help determine the length of time he has been a trainer and give you a good idea of how much real experience the trainer has. You should look for a trainer with at least 2 years of experience with 1000 to 2000 hours of training per year. You are almost guaranteed to get a good trainer if you follow this guideline. Experience is vital to hiring a good trainer.
Question #3 - Are you a part time or full time trainer? (or do you have another job?) This will show you whether the trainer is fully invested into his training business or moonlighting for extra cash
Question #4 - Can you explain what type of program you have? This will show if the trainer has an organized system to assess your present condition and a plan to help you reach your goals. This also shows his professionalism.
Question #5 - Do you have formal education or a degree in exercise physiology. This is important but you still can have a great trainer who is certified with the proper experience. By applying the first 4 questions you will find someone that suits you.
A personal trainer's experience and knowledge affects how he structures your workouts which affect your results and reduces injuries. All trainers should start with an assessment to determine your present condition which is vital to designing an effective program. If you don't hear this in your interview with your potential trainer, say thank you and call the next one.
Reggie Clements
ACE Certified
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