Finding the personal trainer who is right for you is a challenge. But it’s one which, with a little
research and determination, you can pull off very successfully if you follow a few simple guidelines.
Stating the obvious, the first step is to decide whether or not you feel will benefit from the individual attention that a PT will provide. This is the motivation for you to actively seek the PT who will meet your
needs.

A key requirement is that the PT should have a recognised professional industry qualification such as CIMSPA (formerly REPS), NRPT or AIPT for example. They should be at least Level 3 qualified and have full insurance.
Clearly you need to have a good idea of what your objectives are in pursuing a programme of
physical activity. For example, you may have been a member of a gym or sports club but found that
you need a more focused plan to achieve your goals. Once you have hired your PT they can help you
with this, of course, but it’s a good idea to know if your aim is to, for example, get fitter or lose
weight or improve flexibility or rehab from surgery etc. IF you are unsure, a good PT will help you devise some SMART goals to whittle down what you want, and make it easier to track your journey.

A professional PT can devise exercise plans that will cater for almost any needs, but it’s sensible to ask if they have existing clients who also have these objectives – have they worked with X condition or Y limitations before?

Possessing the appropriate qualifications is one imperative requirement but experience is also
extremely important – an experienced PT will be able to work flexibly and adapt to be able to accommodate limitations and individual abilities.

If their qualifications and experience fit the bill then you’ll want to find out how your prospective PT
likes to run a session: are they relaxed? Authoritative? Supportive? Strict or gentle? I have seen all of these styles of coaching and each of them suits someone, somewhere – but you need to ensure that your choice of PT will work the way that you like and that you will respond positively to.

A valuable indication of their professionalism is the way they present their credentials
and their client management. For example, the standard of paperwork when you sign up with them: did they ask for a PAR-Q, Informed Consent or a Client-Trainer Agreement? Whilst paperwork can be a pain, the level of care and professionalism a PT shows in the early stages can give you an indication of their attitude going forwards.

Another question when considering which PT will be suitable is how they normally monitor a client’s
progress and use the data to inform them how to adjust the activities to ensure continuing
progression. You will want to feel confident that you are getting what you paid for. Additionally, you could ask if the PT can give you an indication of how they see your training plan going forward and the sort of exercises they might suggest for you.

Another significant issue to consider before appointing a PT is their location. Whether you intend to
visit their base or prefer them to come to you, the travelling distance and convenience can make all
the difference between time well-spent or wasted. Are you sure you can manage the commitment in your daily/weekly/monthly schedule? Can you commit to a regular time each week or do you need the flexibility of a decide week-by-week basis?

Finally (although, in many ways this may be more important than all the above), make sure that you
are confident that you will get on with your future PT. It may sound elementary but can you imagine
signing up with someone who you just don’t feel comfortable with or who doesn’t suit your
temperament? You really are aiming for a sort of “bond” with your PT which can help you through
times when the session gets tough or you are not in your best place mentally. Often, being with the
“right” PT can lift you psychologically as well as physically. Not to be underestimated!

Research and acknowledgements:

https://www.womanandhome.com/health-wellbeing
https://www.theptdc.com
https://www.issaonline.com