One of things is not like the others
(Can you guess which one is my favorite? This PT is straight forward, no BS and kicks some serious butt)
The purpose of this posting is to answer all these questions and more plus give you the best info available so you can be an informed consumer (We love those!).
One night my wife and myself were working out at the local gym when as we walked in I immediately scanned the area to see where the Personal Trainers (PTs from now on) were and what kinds of exercise routines they were taking clients through. The scene was all too familiar and I asked my wife
"What do you notice about every single trainer in this gym?"
She replied smartly "They are all wearing black duh!"
"Besides that, I mean what are they all doing that is similar?"
"They are all talkin to chics on cardio equipment...?"
"And... what do you notice about the ladies on the cardio equipment...?"
"They are all in skimpy shorts, sports bras and at least DDs?"
"BINGO!"
I see it too often that PTs congregate to the "beautiful" people, not that they aren't in need or proper instruction but I just wish they would spend a little more time helping the guy in the corner curling a 30lb barbell arching his back so far you think he's practicing for a limbo competition. NOT ALL PTS ARE LIKE THAT, that's not what I said, but PTs who do teach incorrect form, are more worried about looks that health, and so on are the ones that are giving the rest of the industry a bad name.
What is a PT?
Any joe schmoe who walks in off the street can call themselves a PT...scary huh? So whenever you start looking for a PT or want to be a PT look for the following KEYS.
-Degree in Exercise Science or related field
(a lot of pts will argue with me on this one but the fact is that a pt that has a 4yr degree/formal education in the field will be a more effective PT and have the understanding to solve difficult problems)
-Nationally Recognized Certification
There are sites on line where you pay $40-50 and then you can print out a Certificate that states you are a PT so ASK FOR IT!
The Best Certifications are as follows
NSCA
NASM
ACE
ISSA
ACSM
Someone that chooses to be a PT by profession will have at least one of these Certs. NOT ALL CERTIFICATIONS ARE CREATED EQUAL!!
(ps it doesn't matter the gender of the PT if they have an education and these certs they will be more than able to whip anyone, male or female, into shape, don't think that because she's a girl she won't be able to give you a good workout.)
-Lives the lifestyle
Would you trust an auto mechanic who's car is rusted, old, and doesn't even run? So why would you trust someone with YOUR BODY that doesn't take care of theirs? You can meet every single criterion up to this point and be the most knowledgeable, decorated PT in existence but in my opinion if you have all that understanding/knowledge and can't apply it to your own life I'll never trust you with mine. A PT doesn't have to have 35 inch guns or thighs the size a my waist but they need to be in shape, working out, competing, caring about their physical health before they can properly care about mine/yours!
My Fav Trainers Links
Jillian Michaels
Crossfit
What to expect?
If you find a PT that has taken all of the above steps then you've got yourself a keeper. Now what? PTs are experts on how the body moves, what each individual muscle is responsible for, what muscles need to function, what the natural position of the spine, shoulders, hips, etc is and how to get your body to where you want to be. PTs are not nutritionists or dietitians, unless they have a degree or (and i hesitate to say this but they have gotten better) an accredited national certification in nutrition. PTs can/should advise you on what you are eating, basics of carbohydrates, fats, proteins and alcohols but aren't qualified to go any further than public knowledge or get anywhere near treating any type of disease.
A good PT will take you through a battery of tests, talk to you about goals, lifestyle and your eating habits before writing up a program for you. A PT that doesn't do such tests/evaluations will be playing battleship with you body (hit & miss) until you sink or just quit.
On-line PTs?
Some sites offer one size fits all pt for everyone while others have pictures of those beautiful people that make us believe that they got that way overnight by following the prescribed workout. In order for on line PTs to be effective they need to have all the info a normal PT would request and so you should feel like you are being questioned by the CIA when you fill out a preworkout form. I don't recommend online PTs for newbies because form and technique are HUGE and learning the moves correctly is the difference between a toned core and a wrenched back.
A good online PT with run you through a battery of questionnaires, ask very specific questions about your health and eating habits, provide you will a contact number where you can reach them 24/7, meet all the previous criteria, have years of experience, tons of testimonials, videos, tools, and will usually work in conjunction with a registered dietitian.
Trainer Etiquette?
Every PT works a little differently and has a certain set of tools to help you reach your goals as fast as possible and as safely as possible. What I mean is that some PTs can give you verbal ques that your brain interprets and translates into the correct movements while other PTs will make the adjustments by physically touching you to get your body in the correct position. Some people are OK with this others think it is borderline harassment how to tell the difference? When a PT is correcting you form they should always attempt to do so by first giving you verbal ques, second show you with their own body, third place you in front of a mirror so you can see what they are talking about and as a last result use physical manipulation of joints and parts of the body to get you in the proper position. No PT should ever be touching you in any area that can be deemed inappropriate, the chest for females, or the front or rear of the pelvis area for men and women. If a client of mine just doesn't quite get it and I have to adjust them manually I will always ask "Is it OK if I place my hands ________?" and once they get the movement down I immediately remove my hands. The reasons I do it in such a manner is bc I don't want anyone to feel uncomfortable, I don't want to embarrass my client, I don't want to get sued, I want my client's body to do it by itself and I don't want anyone to get the wrong impression. Your PT should do the same, physically placing a client in the proper position should be a last resort and if at any point you feel uncomfortable SPEAK UP!
Don't mistake a PT circling you eyeing your form up and down meticulously searching for any needed adjustments for him/her admiring you "assets". A well educated trainer will watch you from the front, side and back as you perform various movements to identify any skeletal/muscular abnormalities that have developed due to lifestyle, injuries or other causes.
Every PT has their own way of training and if you don't like the trainer or feel uncomfortable in any way it's not your fault nor is it necessarily the trainer's fault but you need to talk to the manager explain why and ask for a different trainer and that's OK, that's your right as a consumer/client. Starting to exercise is hard enough, you don't want any unnecessary anxiety or stress to be associated with it.
A PT that does all of this is worth his/her weight in gold and like any professional you will be expected to pay for their services. However, unlike some professionals, PTs develop relationships with clients on such a level that they will become one of your favorite people, invite them to parties, baby blessings...well maybe not baby blessings but weddings for sure. Find a PT that meets these criterion, that you get along with and that cares and you will reach your fitness goals faster, safer, and easier than you ever imagined.
What other questions do you have?
What good/bad experiences have you had?
What's the dumbest thing a PT has said/did to you?
What's the best thing a PT said/did to you?
Thanks for your comments and for reading everyone.
Blake Robinson
Making the world a better place one workout at a time.
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