How to Choose a Fitness Trainer For a Beginner
A healthy lifestyle consists of a nutritious and sustainable diet full of vitamins, high-quality protein, carbs, and fats. Nevertheless, a good diet is nothing without regular physical activity.
Specifically, nowadays, people tend to have a sedentary lifestyle: working from home or in an office for long hours and commuting by car. This routine can shorten one’s lifespan and cause a multitude of health issues. That’s why experts recommend at least 150 hours of moderate physical activity a week to decrease the development of cardiovascular diseases.
But how do you start implementing a workout schedule if you’ve never worked out before? A personal trainer could be a fantastic choice for beginners, but choosing the right coach can be challenging. So, in this article, you’ll learn how to choose a fitness trainer for a beginner.
Choose a professional
Being a fitness beginner means that you’ve never worked out regularly, but it also means that you’ve never received directions from a professional. So, you don’t know if they’re good or not, especially if you have no fitness knowledge. Hence why you might want to choose a certified professional.
Your coach should have an up-to-date certification from the NCCA, the National Commission for Certifying Agencies. This certification ensures that your trainer has the proper knowledge and experience to guide you through your new fitness journey. An Educational background and/or degree in exercise science could be valuable but it isn’t required if your trainer is certified. It can be intimidating to ask right away if your potential trainer is certified, but your health is at stake. Moreover, there should never be a problem with asking questions about their expertise. If they mind, you might want to avoid that particular coach.
On the other hand, it’s discouraged to get trained by your friends (unless they are certified). This can be dangerous because you’re a beginner, so you’re unfamiliar with weights, moves, and equipment. Therefore, you can severely injure yourself or cause damage in the long run if someone trains you incorrectly.
Do some research
Asking your potential coach about their certifications and expertise shouldn’t be a problem, ever. Nevertheless, even if they provide you with documents, you might want to ask around and do some research:
- Ask their colleagues and clients.
- Look their certification number up on official sites.
- Check their social media accounts.
- Search them on Google and see what pops up.
- Read the reviews on their accounts and web pages.
- Find out more about their education.
Only after you’ve checked these elements, you can be sure that you’re in good hands and they’re worth your money.
See if you’re compatible
Being certified isn’t enough: your trainer should be kind, uplifting, and careful with you. They should have an optimistic approach while being professional. That’s why you should try to talk to them and see if there is a genuine friendly connection. You should feel like they understand where you’re coming from.
Moreover, your trainer should always take into account your weaknesses or medical issues. If an exercise is not safe or you have difficulties, your coach should listen to your fears and demands.
Lastly, you should never settle for someone you don’t feel comfortable with because it can make your workouts an unpleasant waste of time and funds.
Figure out if you like them if they’re receptive to your needs, and if they accommodate your schedule and demands.
Understand their rates
Working with a professional is always a good choice, but it can’t always be cheap. Some trainers are freelancers and may come to your home to train you, and other coaches work in gyms and come in a package deal with the gym membership. Either way, you should find what suits you.
You don’t have to pick the most expensive one because everyone says they’re amazing. In many cases, you might work better with someone who is always there, at the gym. Or you hate commuting for workouts, so having someone drive over to your place is better for you.
Remember that you have a lot of possibilities, so don’t rush into your fitness journey without proper research. See what plan you can afford, and then pick your coach.
Lastly, if you’re still unsure about your funds, schedule, or motivation, try to pick a flexible plan or membership that allows you to quit or change trainer whenever you want.
Check your trainer’s specialization
As previously mentioned, your coach should be receptive to your demands and concerns. You may have past injuries, chronic illnesses, and conditions that need to be addressed.
Some coaches are specialized in post-rehabilitation workouts, Crossfit, yoga, and more. Depending on your issues, try to match your needs to the trainer. Maybe you’re not flexible, and you want to work on that. Here, your coach should guide you through stretch moves, possibly yoga or pilates, all while making sure you don’t injure yourself. So, finding a coach that understands your needs comes once again in handy.
Conclusion
When picking a personal trainer, please do some research about their expertise and certifications. Make sure that they’re friendly, professional, and compatible with your schedule and needs.
Bio
Matthew Jackson is an experienced editor and freelancer from Manchester, UK. He writes blog articles, Essays on Time, and edits a couple of online magazines. If Matt isn’t working, he’s probably spending time with his family and friends. On sunny Saturdays, Matthew enjoys a long walk with his wife, Jess.
