How to Select a Small Group or Private Trainer
By Pia Fitzgerald: The Wellness Tactician
There are multiple ways to develop the different muscle groups in the body and having you do push-ups for your chest development when you told the trainer you have shoulder issues should raise a red flag. Are they professional? Good personality? Energetic? Great communication skills? If it is tough to consistently exercise, then an unsafe trainer who doesn’t educate or take time be mindful of your needs paired with a lack of professionalism, a warped personality, low vibrations, and poor communication skills will not help you achieve your WOWW!Factor.
Know Your Goals
What is your wellness wish? What kind of WOWW!Factor do you want to radiate. Set your goals based on the answers to these questions. Be clear on how much you want to invest in obtaining your goal. There are costs associated with achieving your WOWW!Factor. Don’t expect to achieve your !Factor for free.
Accountability
How much accountability do you need AND how much accountability do you really want? Sometimes what you NEED conflicts with what you want. Be clear on both. The WOWW! I CAN Lose Weight Companion Guide, provides suggestions on how to establish a good buddy system to help you achieve that WOWW!Factor and successfully work on your wellness wish! We call them WOWW!Pals. Check out our RED Alert Blog on “Benefits of a WOWW!Pal” for more information.
Location and Facility
If you are struggling with discipline and consistency, then make sure you don’t have to travel far to exercise. Ideally, the facility would be close to your job or home. If discipline and consistency are not your issues, then select any location that makes your heart leap.
Does it have the equipment to best meet your goals? If your goal is major strength training, then a studio with just bands and dumbbells under 10lbs may not do the trick (unless there are a lot of MAJOR body weight things going on and even that is relative).
Small Group Experience or Private Sessions
There are many kinds of small group experiences such bootcamps (10-50 plus people), small group personal training (2-15 people), Crossfit (2-20 people), specialty cardio classes like hip hop fitness, Zumba, step aerobics, etc. (5-50 plus). Each brings its own reward and value—the key is will it meet your goals. If your goal is to lose weight and rev up your metabolism, reserve the cardio-based classes for once or twice a week. Select a program that incorporates more strength training with shorter bouts of cardio infused in the mix.
Ask to do a trial class or see if they offer a GROUPON. Because fitness professionals are in business to earn a living and not provide services as a hobby, many will not offer a free private session but may invite you to a complimentary small group visit. Many will offer a complimentary phone consult to assess your goals and share their training style and philosophy.
Speaking of training style and philosophy, ask what their training style and philosophy is. If your goal is to build muscle, have them share the plan on how they would help you with that process. (Side note, if you are a woman over the age of 40 and the trainer doesn’t mention anything about your potential hormonal capacity AND promises to help you build muscle, consider joining the WOWW!Factory online membership to get expert advice on HOW to best do this given your unique season). If your goal is to lose weight, ask about their process for helping you achieve your goals. If some form of weight training isn’t part of the equation, then continue researching other options. Properly training your muscles for various goals is essential for maintain a thriving metabolism.
Additional Questions:
Are they military, no-nonsense in their approach? Does this style work for you?
How do they help their clients set and achieve wellness goals?
What are their certifications? Although this area is not regulated in Ohio, it is helpful to have the credentials as having the credentials allows a trainer/coach to carry insurance.
Specialization--What is their niche? Bodybuilding? Corrective exercise/Functional Training? Pilates? Endurance performance? Etc. Trainers who specialize in a certain area that doesn’t match up with your goals may not be good fit unless they do a lot of cross training beyond the niche. I had a woman inquire about training to help rehab her knee issues. Although I’ve taken courses on corrective exercises for populations with this issue, it is not my niche and it was not the service I wanted to focus for that season. Not to mention, she wanted it at small group price rate, and it was the type of training best suited for one-on-one sessions.
During the visit, pay attention to the following:
Does the workout seem safe? Its one thing for a routine to be tough, but tough for no rhyme or reason is a rotten deal.
Does the trainer take time to educate? Are they knowledgeable?
Is there trainer mindful of your physical accommodations? There are multiple ways to develop the different muscle groups in the body and having you do push-ups for your chest development when you told the trainer you have shoulder issues should raise a red flag.
Are they professional?
Good personality?
Energetic?
Great communication skills?
If it is tough to consistently exercise, then an unsafe trainer who doesn’t educate or take time be mindful of your needs paired with a lack of professionalism, a warped personality, low vibrations, and poor communication skills will not help you achieve your WOWW!Factor.
I like a trainer who is knowledgeable, creative, energetic, professional, direct in-love, and honest. I’ve used various coaches for different purposes and for different stages and seasons of life. Each one gave me what I needed for that time based upon my goal for that season. I will do groups when I need a little push and accountability during tough months in the year. I struggle in December because its cold and dark (which exacerbates my bouts with SAD). One December, I signed up for a group experience with a coach and fellow competitors just to have like-minded company while preparing for a show.
Remember when it comes to selecting a trainer, know your goals, how much you want to invest, and do your due diligence and research. Don’t take drag your feet. Learn what you need to learn and decide!
Be intentional and maintain the right attitude.
Work On your Wellness Wish and Win!
WOWW!Factor Activated!