Finding a Personal TrainerBy: Anthony Falsone The following article appeared in the Jan/Feb 2007 edition of TOTAL BODY MAGAZINE. Exercise enthusiasts are finding that hiring a personal trainer can result in a multitude of performance related benefits. However, finding the right trainer to meet your needs isn't as simple as thumbing through your local yellow pages. Careful consideration and investigation must be enacted to ensure that the trainer you consider is qualified to do the job they say they can. Let's be honest. The personal training industry is extremely flawed. For starters, there is no governmental or state agency, licensure or governing body that qualifies, manages or even evaluates personal trainers and/or their claims of experience. In the United States, just about anyone can say that they are a personal trainer or fitness instructor, and it's legal. In addition, there's no organization that ensures personal trainers carry any form of insurance that would protect the exerciser from haphazard and/or reckless training practices. So what you have are a group of people attempting to do a job that they may, or may not be qualified to do. In addition, if you are one of the unlucky ones who are injured while working with one of these people, they may, or may not have insurance coverage that will cover damages. Pretty scary, huh? So how do you protect yourself? How do you find a personal trainer that is qualified and experienced enough to help you reach your health and fitness goals, without unnecessarily straining your finances or your hamstrings? The answer to this question is easy - Investigation. In the same way you check out a potential employee, dentist or pediatrician before visiting, evaluation and research of a personal trainer should be no different. After all, you're the boss. While a degree in an exercise related field isn't a guarantee of expertise, it does ensure one thing, that a person has committed (at the minimum) four years of study to the body and how exercise affects it. Fields of study that directly qualify are kinesiology, exercise science, fitness & human performance and anatomy/physiology related subjects. A Masters degree is a plus, but not required. Generally speaking, the more formal education a trainer has, the better, so long as he or she is able to apply knowledge in a real life setting. Once again, truthfully speaking, there are no guarantees. A college degree is no more than a piece of paper really, and while it does add to overall credibility it doesn't mean what it used too. Colleges and universities are businesses too you know, and if a student is willing to “stay & pay” long enough, they can earn a pretty piece of paper to hang on the wall that portrays them as some type of an “expert”. I didn't learn how to do my job from any textbook or a college course. I learned by doing, and it's safe to say that most of the really good trainers out there did the same. What my degree DID provide was information needed to develop a strong and solid base of knowledge, and to additionally reconfirm the things I already knew. In short, it serves as the foundation that a trainer can build his house (or skyscraper) on, but in and of itself, NOT a solitary yardstick for measuring knowledge and expertise. It's only one piece of the puzzle, albeit an important one. Certification is another must, but it comes with a catch, undeserved credibility. In many cases, “certification” is no more than memorization of a required manual and the passing of a standardized (and very basic) test. Make sure that the certification your trainer carries is provided by a reputable organization that has displayed some staying power in the health/fitness field. The industry was flooded by so-called “certifying bodies” a few years ago when it was discovered that certification to fitness “want to be's” was actually quite profitable. Since then, many of these agencies have gone the way of desiccated liver tablets and long jogs with ankle weights, they've disappeared. Do your best to find out if: 1) The agency is still in existence, 2) The agency is still in the business of offering certification to applicants, and; 3) Your trainers certification is current. Legitimate agencies typically require certificants to complete Continuing Education Units within a 1-3 year time period. CEU's ensure that a trainer is staying abreast of the latest information that fitness research has to offer and goes hand in hand with professional development. However, just because a trainer has passed a certification exam, doesn't necessarily mean that CEU's have been completed, and that the previously acquired credential has been renewed. As dishonest as it may seem, trainers have been known to claim possession of certifications that have long since expired, or in some rare and extreme instances, to claim to possess certifications that they never acquired at all. There are a number of credible agencies throughout the United States that provide certification to fitness professionals, specifically to those performing personal exercise instruction. The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), and the National Strength & Conditioning Association (NSCA), are without a doubt the leaders in evaluating candidates and providing certification to those who display aptitude through stringent testing procedure. In addition, many of the certifications they offer require that the candidate possess the minimum of a bachelor's degree prior to testing. Other reputable agencies include the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), the American Council on Exercise (ACE), and the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA). But even still, just about any test can be passed if a person studies hard and long enough, so realize that any certification acquired is only a supplement to previously discussed education and valuable hands on experience. And while we're on the subject of certification, let's not forget the most important of all, CPR. Without a doubt, CPR training is the most valuable credential that a trainer can hold. However, it's probably the one certification that's most frequently claimed and not actually possessed, or, has expired. Working with a trainer that possesses life saving skills provides strong piece of mind, especially if you are older and/or have a pre-existing medical condition. According to the American Heart Association, “effective bystander CPR provided immediately after cardiac arrest can double a victims chance of survival”. It only makes sense that the person closest to you in a potentially high-risk situation has the knowledge and training to save your life if the situation called for it. Make it a requirement and ask to see documentation. This is tricky, because every trainer will claim to possess plenty of experience, but here is where you have to do your homework. Personally interview the trainer you are considering and ask for a copy of their resume. In addition, ask the trainer to provide a list of client references along with phone numbers. Every trainer has a stable of clients that would be willing to talk to you about past success they have had no matter how privately they choose to live their lives. Give them a call and ask questions related to training specific job experience: punctuality, training methods used, strengths and weaknesses of the program implemented as well as goal strategy and achievement. Liability insurance is provided in order to protect both parties, the client and the trainer. First, let's talk about you, the exerciser. In the event that injuries are sustained while working under the guidance of a personal trainer or fitness instructor, liability insurance can provide assistance for medical bills if the offending act was found to be unreasonable and/or the trainer is found to be guilty of omissions, errors or negligence. While there is always an assumed risk during exercise (that is the risk associated with any form of physical activity and/or exertion), a certain level of restraint must be practiced by the fitness professional as well as respect given to standard exercise progression. If a trainer asks you to do something that your body simply isn't ready to do, he or she could be found at fault if injury results. Second, liability insurance also protects the trainer in the event that a false or fraudulent claim is made. Knowledgeable trainers realize that an unhappy client can drag them into court at any time and make nearly any accusation they want. In this case, liability coverage is smart business. In the process of defending themselves, huge financial losses could result, and even if they are found to be innocent of claims made, the business damage could prove fatal. Any intelligent trainer would protect themselves and their clients with simple liability coverage. It's smart, extremely affordable and it shows a professional commitment to both the client and to the business itself. If the trainer you are considering has no insurance coverage, or fails to show you the proper paperwork, choose someone else. No, this doesn't mean that your trainer needs to be a living, breathing fountain of compliments, rather, the personality that your trainer possess should compliment your specific need. But, don't go overboard in this area, it can lead to frustration and discouragement for both parties. Many people find that hiring a trainer who possesses the personality trait that they are most lacking leads to personal improvement in that particular area, but use your own best judgment on this issue. For example, if you're a person who requires nurturing or lacks self-confidence, choosing a “drill sergeant” as your personal trainer probably wouldn't be a great idea. On the other hand, if you know that you're motivated by challenge, hiring a trainer who has the style of a cheerleader would probably be more irritating than inspirational. Finding a balance between the extremes will in all probability lead to a mutually satisfying relationship. Sure, there are moments when we all need a reassuring pat on the back, but there are also times when the pat should be a little bit harder… and a little bit lower. We've discussed certification, experience and knowledge but now it is time to focus on the final and most important trait a personal trainer must possess in order to effectively develop your lifelong health and fitness: the desire and ability to educate. Let me step up on my soapbox for a minute. There that's better. Just like we were honest before on the fact that personal training is a flawed industry, let's be honest again. Many personal trainers don't want to TEACH you anything. Sure, they want you to lose weight and get moving towards the body you have always dreamed of, but they realize (and you should too) that if they truly taught you how to do it yourself, they could very well lose a customer. What you get are 1-3 dazzling training sessions a week filled with oodles of variety and advanced exercise technique, all designed to get results without providing you with a roadmap as to how you got there. In short, they make it up as they go along, ensuring that someone with limited knowledge and experience (you & I) could never retrace their path. What they do teach you is to become dependent on their knowledge and their ability to design “killer” workout programs. What they don't teach is independence; the ability to do it without them or the basic knowledge and understanding you'll need in order to continue on, if and when your funds run out. Fine if that's what you want, but most people can't afford a personal trainer for the rest of their lives. I can't. And it's safe to say that the people who need it the most can't either. The job title itself could very well cause some concern: personal trainer. Think about it, what are we training? When I hear the word “training”, I think of dogs. Sit when I say sit, bark when I say bark, but other than that, have no mind of your own. When was the last time someone went to the pet shop looking for a dog that was a “free thinker”, or who managed himself? It just doesn't happen. And so it is for the personal training business: exercise the way I tell you too, eat what I want you too, see you back here on Wednesday. Clients armed with knowledge and self-sufficiency have long been considered the enemy. The simple truth of the matter is that we are educators, teachers really. People come to us in order to LEARN how to exercise properly, eat more nutritiously and in the most elementary sense, gain control of their lives. While some want to go into it mindlessly, many want to learn to do it themselves, at least to a point. They don't have visions of doing it alone all of the time, but they do want to be able to stay afloat for periods of time without expensive supervision. And why shouldn't they? After all, it's not Rocket science. Weightlifting makes you stronger and helps shape the body. Cardiovascular training develops your cardio respiratory system and burns body fat. Simple really. The rest is just fluff. It's something you can learn and a qualified trainer, who has your best interest at heart, will make it their mission to teach you. Rather than looking for a personal trainer, look instead for a FITNESS EDUCATOR, you'll be healthier and happier. The motivation these people possess stems from a sincere desire to make a difference, not just a dollar. And with the current condition of the fitness business, that fact is refreshing. For in the presence of an industry that generates billions of dollars annually through the peddling of weight loss books, exercise videos, gym memberships and “magical” pills and potions, there is an adult population of which nearly two-thirds are overweight or obese. It is apparent that we have done a poor job reaching people, and an even poorer job teaching them. While it is obvious that they are “buying” our products and services, they are not “buying into” our concepts, and it's quite possible that our professional motivation is to blame. Have we really been trying to help people gain control of their lives, or have we become experts in the art of confusion, so that we may gain control of their wallets? The answer is beyond the scope of this discussion, but the question itself, coupled with information gathered in aforementioned areas, can give you valuable insight and direction as to whom you choose to entrust with your personal health and fitness. While selecting a personal trainer isn't a simple process, the steps you take early on may very well help you save valuable time and money in the long run. Choose wisely.
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