I’ve been a personal fitness trainer since before the profession existed. I was a coach, college lecturer, fitness program instigator and director, as well as a successful, nationally-ranked, competitive athlete in women’s bodybuilding and powerlifting. People naturally came to me
I’ve been a personal fitness trainer since before the profession existed. I was a coach, college lecturer, fitness program instigator and director, as well as a successful, nationally-ranked, competitive athlete in women’s bodybuilding and powerlifting.
People naturally came to me for fitness advice and direction.
When the industry became standardized, I was one of the first to become a certified personal fitness trainer from the National Academy of Sports Medicine. That, with my degree in kinesiology and psychology, made a good start. However, much has changed since those early days, and any trainer worth their salt must keep up on the latest research and information.
Personal trainers help people navigate the maze of sometimes conflicting and often overwhelming information. Good trainers motivate and provide support to their clients, with training tips, warm positive regard, frequent check-ins and human understanding. Trainers keep their clients on track toward their goals, whether those goals are body weight reduction, building up, athletic goals, flexibility attainment or injury rehab.
In choosing a trainer, you must research their credentials carefully. Too often, clients accept at face value someone who has been hanging around a gym for years and tells you that they can train you. You likely will get their program (the only thing they know), which may not be appropriate for your goals, your current fitness level or your injury status.
A great trainer will have multiple certifications and many years of continuing education. This proves that they are current and insurable, but also that they are passionate about what they are doing.
Not all certifications are equal. Some certifications happen after a weekend workshop, or even by correspondence. Would you go to a car mechanic or physician who got their license over the Internet? I don’t know, some professions just demand face time with real clients and real “hands on learning.” You are investing your body, your time and your money.
Ask the right questions and don’t be sold on less than the best.
About the cost. Here on Kauai, the going rate for a professional certified personal fitness trainer is around $50 per hour. In larger centers, it is much more. The investment that you make with a trainer saves you time in the gym, saves you embarrassment in the gym, can save you even more time if you have the trainer come to your home (and no, contrary to common belief, it is not about the stuff, you usually can train very well and very thoroughly in your home of office with about $50 worth of equipment, top end).
I bring equipment to my clients to try out or use. Having a qualified trainer will save you from injury and get you on the right path the first time you workout. Watching other people in the gym is not an effective way of learning about exercise. It is a great way to copy other people’s mistakes and get hurt, or get nowhere fast.”
People that I work with appreciate the diversity that I can bring to their workouts, as I am certified in many modalities of fitness — from women fitness, to senior fitness, to yoga and pilates, to nutritional guidance and more. This not only keeps things interesting, it keeps things motivating and fun. They also appreciate that their workouts are designed specifically for them, and they see results more quickly than they ever could have achieved on their own.
Books, magazines and videos remain static. They are not dynamic or interactive and they cannot give you real time feedback. They may not even be appropriate for you. Fitness classes cannot be designed with you specifically in mind. Working with a qualified trainer is the best fitness investment you can make.
• Jane Riley, M.S., B.A., C.P.T., Certified Nutritional Adviser, can be reached at janerileyfitness@gmail.com, 212-1451 or www.janerileyfitness.com.
