How to Locate a Personal Trainer

It is easy to locate a personal trainer. There are many part-time and full-time fitness professionals who are eager to help you attain your fitness goals. The key is to find a personal trainer who is qualified and suits your needs. Follow these steps to locate a personal trainer.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Word of mouth
• References
• Telephone
• Money

1. Ask around for a recommendation. Find someone you know who has benefited from a personal trainer's help. They can tell you who they liked, as well as the pros and cons of the trainer's technique. Recommendations from people who actually hired personal trainers are the best sources of information.

2. Inquire at your gym. Most gyms have personal trainers on staff. They will be happy to create a fitness plan for you and will probably be there your first few times through the routine. Keep in mind that they are employees of the gym, so their first loyalty is usually to the gym, not you.

3. Check bulletin boards at your gym and local coffee shops. Many independent and freelance personal trainers advertise on bulletin boards. Be sure to check their references since you can only tell so much from an ad.

4. Log on to an online personal-trainer directory. There are many on the Internet, including personaltrainerdirect.com, locate-a-trainer.com and localfitnesstrainer.com. Again, be sure to check their references.

5. Try out several personal trainers before you commit to anyone. You want to be sure that you find a personal trainer you are comfortable with and who is responsive to your needs. Ask for trial sessions with several personal trainers. If any refuse, then move on.

Tips & Warnings

• There are other issues you must consider when hiring a personal trainer. These include cost, availability and schedule. You may meet a great trainer only to find that they are too expensive, too busy or on the other side of town. Use these factors to narrow your list before trying out specific trainers.
• Anyone can call themselves a personal trainer. That doesn't mean they know what they are doing. Be sure to check references and ask about their qualifications. There are many organizations certifying personal trainers. They include the AFPA (American Fitness Professionals and Associates), the NFPT (National Federation of Personal Trainers) and the National Personal Training Institute. Be sure your trainer has one of these certifications or an equivalent measure of skill.

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Resources

• Personal Trainer Directory