The word “personal” is a key part of the job description “personal trainer”.

Getting help with your fitness goals will keep you focused, motivated and help achieve what you desire much quicker than you would alone. So how do you find and then choose the right personal trainer?

The Online Search

You can find a personal trainer in all the predictable ways. Ask at the local gym. There’s often an army of personal trainers waiting in the wings. You can search online. Fit-Map.com provides a portal for gyms and personal trainers to advertise what they do, plus you can target a search in your local area. Google can also pull up names to add to your growing list.

There’s also nothing like getting a referral from friends or work colleagues. You’ll probably have a few acquaintances who’ve recently lost weight, or are training for a big sporting event. Ask around—those in your immediate circle can often throw a few good names in the hat.

Okay, you’ve found a bunch of personal trainers who sound/seem/look promising. Now how do you choose? What should you be looking for?

Qualifications

For many, job experience trumps training. But training has a direct impact on a personal trainer’s knowledge, an understanding of the body, fitness and their offer to you. In the UK to become a personal trainer, someone must have these four pieces of paper as a minimum:

• Level 2 Gym Instructor Qualification.
• Level 3 Personal Trainer Qualification.
• First Aid Certificate.
• Personal Trainer Insurance.

But really you want to go beyond the basics and learn what other qualifications they possess. If a personal trainer has the letters BSc after their name then they have invested 3 years studying an industry specific qualification, and their knowledge will be based on science and fact, not on whatever is the coolest fad this year.

The Right Experience for You?

Just as qualifications mean knowledge, so too does experience. You don’t want to be a human guinea pig for a kid just out of training. If a PT has been in the industry for 10 years, chances are they will have been there and done that. All their mistakes will be well in the past. You’ll pay more, but you’ll get more out of what you spend. A note on price: What you’re charged will vary from trainer to trainer. Commonly sessions of one-hour range from £15-£50+. Pricing comes down to experience/qualifications and how many clients they have on the books. Remember you’ll need 2-3 sessions a week to see real results.

Know Your Goals

Finding the right local personal trainer also depends on what you’re looking to achieve. Most professionals will have similar, working approaches to common goals: weight loss and building fitness for specific events. But if you’re looking for body building or specialized event (cycling or triathlon) training, then finding someone who also has competed themselves, or trained others in the same field will go a long way. Plus, they’ll have insight into diet requirements for niche sports.

Go Hard or Not…?

Remember we said the word personal is important? While the softly, softly approach may work for some, having a drill-sergeant screaming at you to give it your all on those final pain-inducing reps can work wonders for others. You’ll know best what motives you, and if you will need pushing hard. Chose the personality type that will make you get the most from your workout.

At Fit-Map.com you can search over 2,000 local gyms, fitness clubs and personal trainers. Fit-Map is #1 place to begin your search for a personal trainer and achieve your fitness goals. You’ll be able to find personal trainers in your area and view ratings and reviews.

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