A complete guide to personal training

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In this guide, we cover everything you need to know about personal training. From what it is and the different types, to how you can ensure the most benefit and how to find the right personal trainer.

Section 1 - Introduction to Personal Training

What is personal training?

Personal training involves working with a professional who is an expert in physical fitness and exercise. Personal trainers design and manage personalised exercise programs that focus on achieving health, fitness, or performance goals.

Typically, personal training will be either one-on-one with clients or in small groups, depending on the situation or the client’s needs. Areas of focus may include weight loss, strength building, improving cardiovascular health, mobility, and flexibility.

By working with a personal trainer, it provides a structured, personalised, and supportive approach to achieve your fitness goals. It also helps to ensure that workouts are safe, efficient and sustainable.

This is typically achieved through personalised fitness plans. These plans are specifically created by the personal trainer to cater to the individual's fitness level, goals, lifestyle, and limitations. This leads to a more efficient use of time, better focus on achieving goals, and improved motivation.

Why is personal training beneficial?

Personal training offers a wide range of physical and mental health benefits.

Greater muscle strength and endurance

Exercises and workouts can be incorporated into a personal training program that focuses on strength training. Not only does this help to develop strong and resilient muscles, but it also increases muscle tone, strength, and endurance.

Improved cardiovascular health

Aerobic exercises are a standard part of any personal training program. These exercises are designed to raise your heart rate while strengthening your heart and lungs. This boosts circulation and lowers blood pressure to improve your cardiovascular health. Aerobic exercises include running, steps, and circuit training.

Increased flexibility and mobility

Personal trainers may also focus on flexibility and mobility exercises within their routines to improve clients' range of motion. This is important for reducing muscle tightness, enhancing joint health, and reducing stiffness.

Better balance and coordination

Balance and coordination exercises are designed to support motor skills, which are beneficial in both sports and everyday activities. These exercises, such as high knees and roll-ups, can also be beneficial for older adults to reduce falls, enhance agility, and support injury recovery.

Higher energy levels

Another major physical benefit of personal training is that it can boost your stamina and energy levels. This is done by improving your cardiovascular efficiency and muscular endurance. As such, daily tasks can feel easier, and you can feel more energised throughout the day.

Improved posture

Posture issues can be a common problem for people who sit for prolonged periods or experience repetitive movements. Anyone experiencing poor posture can benefit from core strengthening and postural exercises that help improve posture, such as alignment, stabilise the spine, and reduce the risk of back pain.

Improved bone density

Bone health can be a big problem in those aged over 50 due to the loss of bone mass or density, which can lead to a range of related health issues. Weight-bearing and resistance exercises can be used to strengthen bones to improve bone health and reduce the risk of osteoporosis and fractures.

Reduced stress and anxiety

Personal training also provides some mental health benefits, the first of which is reducing stress and anxiety. Exercising is a well-known method for reducing stress by lowering your cortisol levels while increasing endorphin production.

Improved self-esteem and confidence

Many people can see an improvement in their self-esteem and confidence, whether it’s achieving a fitness goal, learning new skills, or seeing the physical progress they’ve made. All these factors, as part of exercise, can contribute to improved self-esteem.

Greater cognitive function and focus

Regular exercise helps stimulate brain activity while improving memory, learning, and concentration. That’s why many personal trainers will incorporate coordination and agility challenging exercises.

Reduced symptoms of depression

Regular exercise can also help to reduce the symptoms of depression by balancing brain chemistry and boosting energy levels.

Improved sleep quality

If you are a poor sleeper, regular exercise can also help to improve your sleep quality. By regulating circadian rhythms and reducing insomnia symptoms, people often find they sleep better after consistent workouts.

Develop positive mental habits

Developing negative mental habits, such as physical inactivity and unhealthy diet, can have an impact on our mental and physical wellbeing. Personal trainers can help to teach clients discipline, time management, and goal-setting. The structure that this provides them positively reflects on developing positive mental habits, such as self-care.

Improve the mind-body connection

Mindfulness techniques are often incorporated into workouts or sessions by personal trainers to improve the mind-body connection. Techniques that focus on breathing, posture, and body awareness can all help to manage stress and improve focus while improving the mind-body connection.

Section 1

Section 2

Section 2 - Personal Training Key Components

In this section, we will explore the key components of personal training. This ranges from how a personal trainer assesses a client's fitness levels, goal setting, program design, and progress tracking.

Personalised fitness assessments

Intense exercise or sporting events can lead to soreness and fatigue. This is typically due to a build-up of lactic acid and other metabolic waste products. Sports massage can help improve blood circulation to speed up the removal of these by-products.

For a personal trainer to deliver a personalised fitness plan tailored to each individual's needs, they need to assess the client's fitness levels. This is typically done during the first session. There are a variety of ways a personal trainer can assess an individual's fitness levels.

Conducting fitness tests or assessments is vital for allowing a personal trainer to gain insight into someone’s:

Overall health, such as any injuries or illness.
Body composition; the percentage of body fat, muscle and water.
Cardiovascular endurance; how well someone can perform high-intensity exercises.
Muscular strength and endurance; how well muscles perform repetitive contractions.
Flexibility, limitations and pain when joints move.

Here are some of the main methods personal trainers use to evaluate fitness:

Health history

A personal trainer will ask about your health history, current medical conditions, previous injuries, and lifestyle habits. They will also ask if you are taking any medications, about your diet, and whether you smoke.

A personal trainer should ask you to complete a Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q). This informs the personal trainer whether you need to check with your doctor before significantly changing your physical activity.

Body composition

A personal trainer may also use different methods for testing your body composition. The first of these is BMI (or body mass index). This is a measurement of body fat depending on the height and weight of a person. However, this is not always an accurate measurement.

Circumference measurements, such as waist, hips, and chest, may also be taken. This is especially the case for anyone who is looking to reduce their weight, as it helps track changes over time.

Methods for calculating body fat percentage, such as calliper measurements, can also be used to estimate the body fat percentage of an individual. This provides a much clearer picture of somebody’s lean mass and fat mass.

Endurance tests

Cardiovascular or endurance tests may be carried out to determine a person’s ability to perform cardiovascular exercises. This can include a range of different tests. A step test is one example, where you are required to do a three-minute step test on a 12-inch bench to determine how quickly your heart rate returns to normal after exercise.

A run or walk test may also be carried out. This will measure how quickly someone can complete a running or walking test, such as a 1.5-mile run. Timed tests may also be carried out to see how far someone can run within a limited time, such as the Cooper Test.

Muscular strength

Muscular strength can also be assessed during a fitness assessment. These tests assess a specific muscle or muscle group's ability to resist fatigue. Examples of muscular strength tests include the Oxford Scale, push-ups and sit-ups, and one rep max.

Flexibility

Personal training assessments may also test a person’s flexibility and mobility. Common tests for measuring flexibility and mobility include the sit and reach test to measure lower back and hamstring flexibility, Functional Movement Screening to evaluate movement patterns in basic moves like squats, or joint-specific tests like shoulder rotation or hip flexibility.

Functional movement and balance testing

Functional movement and balance can also be tested in a personal training assessment. Balance tests are one method that assesses a person’s stability. Gait analysis involves looking for walking or running abnormalities that can highlight muscular imbalance. Posture analysis can help evaluate muscle imbalances, tightness, or weakness.

Goal setting in personal training

The information a personal trainer gains from their assessment will enable them to set specific fitness goals for each client. These goals will be tailored to the client's needs and current fitness level.

The most common method of setting goals in personal training is setting SMART goals. SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound and is an effective framework for clearly defining attainable and meaningful objectives.

Specific – this ensures goals are effective by considering what needs to be accomplished or the steps necessary to achieve the goal. For example, lose 5kg, run 5k, or bench press 50kgs.
Measurable – adding a quantifiable measurement to a goal provides a method of tracking progress and determining success. For example, reduce body fat by 5% or increase push-ups to 30 reps.
Achievable – ensuring goals are realistic enough to achieve them within the given time frame and that they align with the client’s goals.
Relevant – the reason behind why you are setting the goal, ensuring it aligns with your long-term goals.
Time-bound – the date or period with which you need to achieve the goal, for example, in 12 weeks.

Here are some examples of SMART goals for personal training programs:

Weight loss: Lose 5kg and reduce body fat by 3% in 8 weeks by working out five times a week (3 days of cardio and 2 days of strength training) and following a balanced diet plan.

Increase strength: Increase Squat, Press Up and Sit Up test scores by 5 reps for each in 8 weeks by following a strength-training program 4 times a week and increasing daily protein intake to 1.4gramper 1kg of body weight.

Endurance: Run a full 10k without stopping within 10 weeks by following a progressive running program, starting with 2 miles and adding 0.5kg each week.

Program design

To achieve the personalised SMART goals a personal trainer will develop a personalised and tailored workout or training program. This is done by thoroughly understanding the client’s unique goals, current fitness, lifestyle, and limitations.

These are the steps involved in building a tailored training program.

Initial consultation and assessment

Initial consultation and assessment to review the client's current medical history and fitness level. A fitness assessment and discussing the client's goals also helps.

Analysing the lifestyle and preferences of the client

Analysing the lifestyle and preferences of the client, such as the client's schedule and time availability, to ensure a realistic plan that they can follow, alongside exercising preferences, nutrition, and sleeping habits that may impact fitness progress.

Tailoring the program design

Tailoring the program design according to goals as different exercises and workouts will be suited for different goals, such as weight loss or muscle gain.

Choosing exercises and workouts

Choosing exercises and workouts according to the client's fitness level, such as foundational movements for beginners to teach proper form, build confidence, and prevent injury, compared with intermediate and advanced clients with more experience.

Structuring the workout plan

Structuring the workout plan by setting a schedule around the client’s availability and recovery needs, choosing appropriate exercises, and setting the volume and intensity of such exercises.

Progression and adaptation

Progression and adaptation by ensuring the training program adapts and responds to the client’s progress by increasing the weight, reps or intensity over time. This ensures the client remains challenged while supporting continued progress.

Monitoring and adjusting for recovery

Monitoring and adjusting for recovery by including rest days to allow the client to recover while reducing the risk of burnout for optimising performance. Adapting to the client's feedback is also important to determine how they are feeling physically and mentally. If they are struggling, adjustments may be necessary to ensure that goals are met.

Differences in program design

The program design will depend on the goals of the client. For example, the exercises chosen for a weight loss client can differ drastically from those chosen for a muscle gain client. Here is a breakdown of the differences in program design and goals:

Weight loss – a combination or mixture of cardio and strength training would be better suited for a client with a weight loss goal. Cardio supports caloric expenditure, while strength training will help build or maintain lean muscle. Some high-intensive interval training for efficient calorie burn may also be included. Diet has a huge part to play in this and a plan must be made and reviewed.
Muscle gain – strength training that includes compound movements would be better suited for a client with a muscle gain goal. Compound movements (such as squats, deadlifts, and bench press) in strength training help maximise muscle engagement. Progressive overload may be incorporated whereby the weight, reps, or seats are increased.
Endurance – a cardio-centred program would be better suited for a client with an endurance goal. A cardio-centred program that gradually increases intensity and duration, such as running, cycling, or swimming, focuses on steady progress to improve cardiovascular capacity without the risk of injury supported by strength training.

Monitoring and adjusting

Another key component of personal training is monitoring and adjusting the fitness plan as necessary. Tracking and monitoring progress is a crucial part of ensuring the client is achieving their goals and determining success. There are several reasons why tracking progress is important, it:

Provides motivation as a result of the progress made. This helps to boost confidence and encourage individuals to continue their efforts.
Provides accountability by regularly documenting workouts and progress. Someone is much more likely to stick to their training plan when their commitment is reflected in the records and progress.
It informs adjustments so that any necessary changes can be made based on what works and what doesn’t work and the client’s progress.
Creates a feedback loop that helps in understanding the effectiveness of training methods, such as adjustments in exercise intensity or frequency.
Monitors behavioural changes by documenting habits related to health and fitness, which can support clients in recognising patterns and triggers that facilitate behaviour changes.
Ensures long-term success by monitoring progress over time to help clients stay on track with their fitness journey.

To monitor a client’s progress, a personal trainer will use tools and metrics that allow them to monitor performance and progress.

Performance analytics

A range of different tests can help a personal trainer to assess a client’s progress, depending on the goals and workout plan. Some examples include strength tests, such as 1-rep max, endurance tests, such as mile runs, or speed and agility tests, such as shuttle runs.

Progress charts or reports

These provide a comprehensive record of the client's journey, alongside highlighting achievements and milestones. Progress charts will showcase a client's progress on a visual chart, such as one rep max results. A report will include more detailed information on fitness assessments, performance improvements, and goal attainment.

Training apps

Some personal trainers may use training apps or tracking systems that make it easier to monitor clients' progress. The choice of the app may differ depending on the personal training or the training plan, but tracking systems may include wearable tech that monitors daily steps, sleep patterns, or heart rate.

Progress photos and measurements

Progress photos and measurements can also be used for monitoring a client's progress. This can either be before-and-after photos or body measurements. Before-and-after photos provide visual documentation of a client’s progress over time and are taken at regular intervals. Body measurements use a tape measure to track waist, hip, thigh, or arm circumferences to monitor fat loss or muscle growth.

Section 3 - The Types of Personal Training Services

In this section, we will explore the different types of personal training services. Personal training can be in-person, online, in groups, one-to-one, or specialised.

In-person vs. online personal training

In-person personal training is where a client will work face-to-face with their trainer, providing a hands-on approach. This type is much better suited for clients who need hands-on guidance, and detailed form correction. It can be especially beneficial for beginners.

Online personal training is where all the sessions and workouts with the personal trainer are carried out via video call. As such, this option may be ideal for experienced exercisers. Typically, online personal training will also be more flexible and more budget-friendly.

Online personal training has seen a rapid rise in recent years due to advances in technology, changing lifestyles, and an increased interest in convenient and flexible fitness options. Market data supports this, as the compound annual growth rate of the virtual fitness market is expected to expand by 26.72% by 2030.

There are several pros and cons of both in-person and online personal training. Firstly, the pros and cons of in-person personal training:

In-person personal training pros:

Provides instant feedback and correction
A trainer’s physical presence gives hands-on motivation
Real-time adaptability
Minimises distractions
Greater safety
Tailored and personalised attention
Attendance accountability

In-person personal training cons:

Higher cost
Schedule flexibility
Physical location dependent
Physical and emotional fatigue

Online personal training pros:

Flexibility and convenience
More cost-effective
Access to customisable plans
Training on your schedule
Enhanced accountability and communication

Online person training cons:

Limited real-time supervision
Less personal contact
Requires self-motivation
Technical and communication challenges
Difficult in adjusting workouts in real-time

Group training vs. one-on-one

Alongside in-person and online personal training, it is also possible to carry out personal training within groups, two-to-one or one-on-one. The choice will depend on the client’s needs and workout preferences.

One-to-one training is typically ideally suited for those who want personalised attention, specific goals, privacy, and detailed guidance on form and technique. Most beginners will opt for one-to-one training due to the hands-on instruction and individual attention.

Joint or group training is ideal for those who enjoy social interaction and feel motivated by working out with others. Typically, group training is also a more affordable option. This type is well suited for general fitness, weight loss, or cardiovascular conditioning or when people thrive on competition.

The major difference in approach between group and one-to-one personal training is the difference in approach. With one-to-one training, a personal trainer will design each session on the client’s progress, goals, and feedback. In comparison, joint or group training sessions will be pre-planned with less flexibility. It can be more difficult to accommodate specific needs.

Cost is also different between the two approaches. One-to-one training is typically more expensive due to the exclusivity and greater degree of customisation. The higher cost reflects the trainer’s dedicated time, tailored plans, and in-depth focus. Group training is typically much more affordable as the cost is split among participants.

Given that one-to-one training is much more focused and tailored, it is much more effective for achieving specific goals. That’s because the trainer can tailor and amend workout plans to meet the objectives or based on progress. Group training is less suited for anyone with niche or highly specific goals.

Specialised training

There is also specialised personal training for those with special needs, such as the elderly, athletes, and postpartum women. Typically, these will require a much more tailored and focused approach.

Specialised training for different needs will have different focus areas. Firstly, the focus areas of personal training for the elderly:

Balance and stability to help reduce the risk of falls.
Strength and muscle maintenance to help minimise muscle loss.
Mobility and flexibility by prioritising joint health.
Cardiovascular health to help maintain heart health while minimising joint stress.

Specialised training for the elderly will require low-impact movements, slower progression, and exercises that minimise joint strain. A trainer may also more frequently check in during workouts to ensure comfort and adjust intensity as needed.

The focus areas for athletes will also differ:

Sport-specific skills, including exercises that focus on power, agility, endurance and technique.
Strength and power development by incorporating tailored strength training alongside power and speed-enhancing exercises.
Conditioning and stamina-enhancing exercises, such as endurance circuits or cardiovascular conditioning.
Injury prevention and recovery through mobility, flexibility, and joint stabilisation work.

Specialised training for athletes will require close performance tracking to monitor progress. Advanced techniques and tools will also be incorporated as athletes will need much more dynamic and progressive routines. Athlete training may also be periodic, focusing on the athlete’s schedule.

Personal training for postpartum women will also have different focus areas:

Core and pelvic floor recovery to rebuild core and pelvic muscles after pregnancy.
Gradual strength rebuilding by slowly reintroducing strength training that focuses on low-impact exercises.
Posture and alignment by using corrective exercises to restore proper posture and relieve muscle imbalance.
Cardio and endurance with low-impact cardio exercises that help gradual endurance rebuilding.

Specialised training for postpartum women will require a much greater focus on safety, ensuring that clients are fit for personal training. This is especially important for women who had a caesarean section or complications during pregnancy or birth. Progressive rebuilding with slow and safe progression will also help in the body’s recovery. Some women may also require mental and emotional support during postpartum fitness.

Section 3

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Section 4 - The Certifications and Qualifications for Personal Trainers

This next section will focus on the certifications and qualifications for personal trainers, including why certification matters, popular certification programs, and how to choose a qualified trainer.

Why certification matters

Certification of a personal trainer is a vital method for ensuring professionalism, safety, and trust with clients. Opting for a certified personal trainer offers many more benefits, including:

Credibility and trust.
Evidence of knowledge.
Safety and risk management.
Trainers are up-to-date with the latest research, trends, and techniques.
Professional standards and ethics.

Popular certification programs

There are several different personal training certifications that you should look out for when choosing a personal trainer. Here are some of the most common:

National Academy of Sports Medicine

The National Academy of Sports Medicine provides a Certified Personal Trainer (CPT) certification program. This certification emphasises corrective exercise, injury prevention, and progressive training systems.

National Strength and Conditioning Association

The National Strength and Conditioning Association offers Certified Strength and Conditioning (CSCS) and Certified Personal Trainer (CPT) certifications. CSCS certifications are much more specialised for personal trainers working with athletes with a focus on strength and conditioning.

International Sports Sciences Association

The International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA) offers certified personal trainer (CPT) certifications. This is a widely accessible certification that is popular among online trainers who are looking for a flexible learning pace.

National Federation of Professional Trainers

The National Federation of Professional Trainers(NFPT) offers certified personal trainer (CPT) certifications. NFPT is focused on entry-level trainers with a focus on fundamental skills in fitness and personal training.

National Exercise & Sports Trainers Association (NESTA)

The National Exercise & Sports Trainers Association (NESTA) offers personal fitness trainer certification. This certification is recognised for its innovative approach and emphasis on practical application. This is a popular certification choice for trainers looking to work independently.

How to choose a qualified trainer

Choosing the right qualified personal trainer for you will require some research. There are several key factors to consider when choosing a qualified trainer, including:

Their certification and qualifications (as detailed above).
Experience and specialisation, such as weight loss or strength training.
Training style and approach, such as focusing on high-intensity interval training.
Communication and personality, ensuring a trainer is motivating, supportive, and communicates effectively.
Location and availability, ensuring you choose a trainer that is convenient for your schedule.
Cost and budget by looking at the trainer’s rates, session lengths, and packages.
Client testimonials and reviews to gain an idea of how the trainer works and their effectiveness.

Section 4

Section 5

Section 5 - Personal Training Costs and ROI

Within this section, we will explore the costs and worth of personal training and how you can see a return on your investment. We will look at the cost breakdown, such as packages and hourly rates, alongside the worth.

Cost breakdown

The cost of personal training can differ significantly depending on whether you opt for in-person or online, the package, or hourly rates.

The cost of online personal training is typically a more affordable option than in-person personal training and will have a lower average price as a result. In-person training can cost between £15 to £100+ per session, with the average being around £60. In comparison, online personal training can cost, on average, between £20 to £60 per session.

Those opting for group personal training will also experience differences in pricing. Small group training sessions cost, on average, between £10 and £30 for up to 5 people. Larger group settings can cost, on average, between £5 and £15.

Some personal trainers may also offer packages. This involves charging a fixed price for a set number of sessions. For example, offering a 6-week personal training programme for £450. Different packages will vary in pricing depending on their contents.

Worth

One of the biggest factors people consider when deciding to opt for personal training is whether it will be worthwhile. Investing in personal training can be worthwhile for many people, offering unique benefits and qualities not possible from other fitness options, such as gym memberships. Here’s how:

Customised fitness plans

Working with a personal trainer will ensure a customised fitness plan that is tailored to help you achieve your fitness goals. A personal trainer will use their knowledge and experience to ensure that the right exercises are chosen, alongside their intensity, duration, and frequency.

They will also be able to make any necessary adjustments and changes to suit your progress, injuries, or personal preferences. As such, you are more likely to yield better results than a generic workout plan you may create yourself.

Accountability and motivation

Sticking to a fitness routine and finding motivation is one of the biggest setbacks for people maintaining a workout plan. By opting for personal training, you can benefit from a motivation boost and a consistent schedule.

The set schedule that a personal trainer provides helps to keep you accountable so you are more likely to stick with your workout routine. They also provide motivation by offering encouragement to push beyond what you may achieve by yourself.

Proper technique and injury prevention

Many people may experience injuries when opting for a self-workout plan due to improper form. Any injuries can also be a setback to training routines. With a personal trainer, this can be avoided.

If you do experience an injury, a personal trainer can adapt the plan to support your recovery and reduce the risk of further injury or re-injury.

Efficient use of time

Have you ever felt like your workouts were not very effective or didn’t make effective use of your time? With a personal trainer, this can be avoided as they will optimise your workouts, ensuring you get the most out of your time. The clear structure will also ensure you know exactly what each session will include and provide a flow to reduce time-wasting.

Variety and skill-building

It is also possible to improve your skills and ensure your workouts don’t become boring with a personal trainer. That’s because they will help you to push your skill while making any necessary changes to keep workouts interesting.

Who can benefit the most?

Personal training offers many benefits to help transform your fitness routine or improve your lifestyle. Some people can benefit more so from personal training than others:

Beginners, including newcomers to fitness, can particularly benefit from a trainer’s guidance to build a solid foundation and avoid common mistakes.
For those with Specific Goals, whether training for a sport, an event, or a specific fitness milestone, personal trainers provide targeted help.
Busy individuals as trainers can maximise efficiency, making workouts quicker and more effective.
People in rehab or with special conditions as trainers with specialised knowledge can be instrumental in safe, effective training.

What is the long-term return of personal training?

Personal training can also provide some long-term benefits, ensuring that you get a good return on your investment. These long-term benefits include both physical and mental well-being.

The physical health and wellbeing benefits that you can gain in the long term include:

Reduced risk of long-term illness, such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, or obesity.
Improved bone density and muscle mass to reduce the risk of osteoporosis and muscle loss associated with increased age.
Develop positive fitness habits that will ensure you maintain an active lifestyle for years to come.
Develop a stronger sense of body awareness, making healthy and positive decisions for your body, such as diet.
Enhanced productivity as better physical and mental health directly relates to higher energy and productivity.
Increase your healthspan

The mental health and wellbeing benefits that you can gain in the long term include:

Reduced stress as regular exercise reduces your cortisol levels and stimulates endorphin production, which improves your mood and reduces stress levels.
Reduced risk of depression as structured exercise can help reduce the symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Better cognitive function as long-term exercise is strongly associated with improved memory and cognitive resilience.
Greater confidence as achieving fitness milestones can build your confidence and sense of achievement, which in turn improves your mental resilience.
Reduce the risk of or combat loneliness as working with a personal trainer can create a sense of community that can help combat loneliness.

Section 6

Section 6 - Finding the Right Personal Trainer

Now that you have seen the benefits and long-term gains you can gain from personal training, let’s look at how you can find the right personal trainer for you. In this section, we will look at the qualities you should look for when finding the right personal trainer.

Credentials and experience

The first thing to look for is trainers with relevant certifications (as covered in section 4). This ensures they’re trained in safe, effective exercise programming. Consider their experience in the areas specific to your goals, such as weight loss or muscle gain.

Specialisations relevant to your goals

Some trainers specialise in different areas of personal training. If you have specific goals or challenges (like recovering from an injury), it’s important to find a trainer with experience in that area.

Communication skills

A good trainer should clearly communicate, provide constructive feedback, and listen to your concerns. They should be able to adapt explanations to make exercises understandable and help you learn proper form.

Adaptability and personalised programming

It’s also important to look for a trainer who will design a program specific to your needs while also adapting it as you progress. This adaptability helps prevent a lack of achievement and keeps workouts aligned with your changing goals.

Motivation style

Different trainers have different motivation styles, from positive reinforcement to more intense encouragement. It’s important to consider what type of motivation will encourage you to maintain your fitness program.

Empathy and patience

A good trainer understands that everyone progresses at their own pace and should be patient as you work through challenges. They should show empathy and encourage you, especially on tougher days.

Attention to safety and form

Trainers should be highly attentive to proper form and movement to avoid injuries. They should prioritise correct technique over pushing, especially if you’re learning new exercises.

Track record and reviews

Seek out testimonials, reviews, or client success stories. A proven track record can give you confidence in their ability to help others achieve results, particularly if you find clients with similar goals to yours.

Professionalism and reliability

Trainers should be punctual, respectful, and professional. They should also show consistency in their scheduling and show respect for your other commitments, such as work or family.

Compatibility

As you’ll be spending a lot of time together, it’s important that you feel comfortable with your personal trainer. Look for someone who will make you feel supported, empowered, and confident in your abilities.

Section 7

Section 7 - Common Personal Training Myths Debunked

In this section, we will explore the most common personal training myths and explore why these myths aren’t true. This can help to make you feel more confident in choosing appropriate personal training for your given needs.

Personal training is only for beginners

One of the first personal training myths you may come across is that it is only suitable for beginners. While personal training is an ideal choice for beginners to ensure effective workouts and proper form, it is not limited to beginners. Professional athletes, fitness enthusiasts, or experienced clients can benefit from personalised training.

No pain, no gain

One of the most popular and well-known myths surrounding personal training is the no pain, no gain proverb. You do not need to experience pain to make progress. While you will need to push yourself, pain is not a reliable indicator of a good workout or success.

Cardio is best for losing weight

People who are looking to lose a few pounds may believe that cardio workouts are the best method for achieving this. While cardio can support weight loss, it may not be the best option for you. A personal trainer may find that strength training, increasing your daily activity levels, and focusing on nutrition is a more effective long-term weight management program.

You need to workout everyday

People who are new to personal training may make the mistake that it’s necessary to work out every day for there to be any results. However, this is wrong, as rest in between is vital for muscle repair and growth. Not allowing your body to rest in between can lead to injury, with training only taking place 3-5 days a week.

Women shouldn’t lift heavy weights

If you’ve heard that women shouldn’t lift heavy weights for personal training, you’re wrong. Women can greatly benefit from lifting heavy weights if it aligns with their goals. Typically, this is to enhance metabolism, improve body composition, and build strength and function for life.

The best way to get abs is through crunches and sit-ups

Some people who want to get abs may strongly believe that crunches and sit-ups are the best way to achieve this. However, this is false. Crunches will not lead to visible abs unless it is paired with a balanced diet and a comprehensive fitness routine. Other methods, such as cardio, getting plenty of sleep, and eating a healthy diet, are much more effective methods.

Muscle shock by constantly changing exercises

Another personal training myth you may come across is that you need to shock your muscles by continually changing exercises. However, this overload can do more harm than good. Instead, it is much more effective to gradually increase the weight, reps, or intensity of your workouts.

Older adults are not suited for strength training

Some people believe that strength training is only suited for young people. However, strength training can benefit people of any age. Older adults may find it particularly beneficial for improving bone density, muscle strength, balance, and mobility.

Protein supplements help muscle gain

If you want to gain muscle, you may have heard that taking protein supplements can help you achieve this. However, most people will get sufficient protein necessary for muscle gain through their normal diet, and there must be strength specific workouts alongside protein intake. Therefore, in most cases, it is not necessary to take protein supplements.

Opting for personal training and finding a personal trainer that will work best for you will ensure you get the most benefit. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced athlete, you can still benefit by working with a personal trainer. Being aware of what you aim to achieve, being transparent with your personal trainer, and sticking to the training program will ensure you gain the most out of your sessions.