When Picking a NYC Personal Trainer

I Choose…

Choosing a personal trainer is a big deal and generally a big investment. It’s also a commitment of your blood, sweat, and tears, so naturally, you must make an informative decision. Go with the unqualified trainer and you could be running in painful circles without actually moving forward (toward your goal).

This decision is a daunting task because of the exuberant amount of unqualified “Professionals” claiming to be what they are not. Muscles and six pack abs do not equate to a qualified trainer, if one at all. Knowing how to work out versus knowing how to train a client are two very big differences, which we’ll talk about later. In short, it’s beyond the physical appeal, it’s about the personal trainer’s skill set, which makes this an even more difficult decision process.

I’m going to rip off a very fitting quote from a great minded doctor I had dinner with the other night, “You don’t go to a race horse to get faster, so why should you got to a meathead to get faster,  lean, or stronger?”

Ahh made me laugh my A$$ off!

Making Your Decision:

There are many aspects to consider before making your decision, and it’ll be difficult to narrow it down. But if I had to, I would base it off of this:

• What is the personal trainer’s education? Did this person take the time to fully commit themselves to this field? Do they have a related degree?
• Does the personal trainer or performance coach have *True experience? Did this person work under qualified coaches at a higher level? Working at some box commercial gym is like the blind leading the blind, and generally will NOT produce quality experience…Even playing *fill in the blank* sport at *big time* university is not enough. Most players just do as they are told and rarely understand the science and mechanics behind the training. It takes years of practical experience and constant education to really know what goes into being a Strength and Conditioning Coach, and more specifically, to fully understand every aspect needed to be an effective fitness mentor.
• Does the personal trainer show that they care about you and your personal goals? You don’t want to get stuck with someone who’s just focused on pumping out sessions. You want someone that is willing to take the extra time to listen, even past the allotted session time. More importantly, you want a personal trainer who believes in you!
• Do you guys click? Is there a comfortable vibe between the two of you? Make sure that you feel completely comfortable with this person, because a great coach or personal trainer will know how to motivate you, and if they are a true professional, they will know when to push and pull back the intensity.