There are hundreds of personal training companies when you search online, all claiming to be the best and making a great weight loss promises. Choosing is very difficult. Some guidelines can be read below to guide you from choosing the right personal trainer for you.
1. Does your trainer have a REPS 3 or 4 qualification?
The Registrar of Exercise Professionals (REPS) is an independent public register which recognises the qualifications and expertise of health enhancing exercise instructors in the UK. One of the key functions is to provide a system of regulation for the instructors and trainers to ensure that they meet the health and fitness industry’s agreed national occupational standards. REPS 3 is the minimum requirement for a personal trainer.
2. Does your trainer have any specialised areas
There are a number of training companies that are widely recognised as the highest standards of personal training qualifications globally and whilst it’s not imperative if your trainer has any of the below in his qualifications you know you will be in good hands.
C.H.E.C.K Institute
NASM
Gray Institute
3. Does your trainer have full insurance
If you are working privately with a trainer outside of a gym it’s vital to check and ask to see proof of insurance.
4. What other qualifications does your trainer have
In order to stay registered with REPS your trainer must submit proof that he has completed a certain amount of courses each year. REPS stipulate that a trainer must have 20 points or more to reregister each year. There are hundreds of courses all over the UK each carrying a different number of points and a good way to see if your trainer is up to date and continually learning is to see what other courses they have done.
What next?
Well here is the bad news, even if your trainer has all of the above qualifications this does not mean they will be any good. I have worked with a number of highly qualified trainers over the years who, on paper should have been very good but were dull as dish water and totally un motivating.
In my opinion a trainer must have the relevant qualifications you are looking for as well as the personality and intuition to match. To many trainers these days do not think outside of the box. They forget that most people who want personal training have busy and stressful lives, either if it’s at work or chasing after children all day long. You as the client need to feel comfortable with your trainer. So once you have found a trainer with the correct qualifications here are a few more things you should check for.
Has your trainer gone through a thorough assessment with you?
This is the key, and you will be surprised how many trainers don’t even do this. If they don’t know you inside and out what you like and dislike, what fitness you have done in the past, what your goals are, how they can give you what you really want.
Does your trainer react to your changing moods and lifestyle?
Your trainer should always ask how you are feeling and how your day has been, and this should directly reflect in the type of session you have. What is the point in lifting heavy weights if you are to tired to push them.
Are you seeing results?
If you are doing everything your trainer suggests regarding exercise and nutrition you should see results within 3 to 5 weeks. If your body is not changing shape and you do not feel different in yourself confront your trainer and move on.
Want to find out more about personal trainer north London, then visit Tim Hayes’s site on how to choose the best personal training in London for your needs.