How to choose the right personal trainer to help you achieve your fitness goals
You’ve struggled to motivate yourself to get to the gym to exercise regularly. Or even worse, you’ve been going to the gym and not seeing the results you want.
So, you’re considering enlisting the services of a fitness professional to help you achieve your goals. Makes sense. After all, you didn’t study to become a fitness professional. How in the world are you supposed to know how to do this?
Finding a Personal Trainer to fit your needs can be a daunting task. If you’re wondering where to start your search, how much to pay, how to vet and what to expect, read on.
1. Location, location, location!
When enlisting the services of a Personal Trainer it’s important to choose one close to where you live that’ll be easy for you to get to. Think about your commute. For example, if you need to be at work from 9:00am-5:00pm, there’s a good chance you’ll need to meet with your Personal Trainer very early in the mornings or later in the evenings. You may need to endure commuting through a cold winter, in the dark and in the rain. Yes, you want to keep active. But would a 15-minute walk to and from a Personal Trainer to a tube station encourage you?
Be realistic in what you can expect from yourself. Make this commitment easy for you to do. This way, you’ll be able to maintain your new fitness plan long enough to see great results.
2. Boutique Studio versus High Street Gym
Once you’ve found a few options near you to consider, it’ll help you to whittle down your options by considering the type of facility you feel would suit you best.
Would you prefer a large busy high street gym or a smaller boutique studio with an intimate environment? Which type of environment will you feel most comfortable in?
Considering the times you’ll be meeting with your Personal Trainer can also help you in making this decision. If you’re going to be training at peak times (before 9:00am and after 5:00pm), you may find you’re challenged for space and access to equipment during these periods.
3. Social proof
When you have a short-list of Personal Trainers to work with, check out their reviews and testimonials. This will give you a good idea on what to expect from those who have experienced the service already. For example, you can .
4. CREDENTIALS
Qualified Personal Trainers hold a minimum Level 3 Personal Trainer qualification and/or a degree in Sport Science. If you’re looking for a Personal Trainer to help you with specific conditions i.e. Post-Natal, dealing with back pain, ask them which credentials they have as it relates to your specific needs.
5. Meeting prospective personal trainers
It’s important you feel at ease with the Personal Trainer you choose to work with. This is a relationship which may require you to make uncomfortable changes in your day-to-day habits. You need to feel confident you’ll be supported and held accountable in a productive way. Arrange to meet with them in person so you can really get a feel for what it would be like to work with them and how they plan to help you.
6. setting your goals & tracking your progress
It’s important you work with a Personal Trainer who understands what you want to achieve and why. You’ll need a fitness professional who will calculate realistic milestones to motivate you to achieve your goals and track your progress throughout the process. Find out how your goals will be created and how your progress will be tracked. Knowing you’re making progress by tracking data can help to spur you on to keep going as you reach your milestones.
I.e. if you’re training to improve your strength, will you receive regular strength tests to track your progress and revise your goals? If you want to improve your posture and movement, how will these be tracked? If you’re looking to change your body composition, how will this be monitored and how will your goals be set?
7. Support beyond exercise
There are 168 hours in a week. If you’re looking to make change, the change you seek to make will not happen entirely during the 2-3 hours a week you spend with your Personal Trainer. You may need support with eating habits, lifestyle habits and injury rehabilitation. Investigate what type of support and guidance you’ll receive outside of your training sessions. Will the support be delivered in a productive way that you’ll be able to absorb and adhere to alongside a busy lifestyle?
8. PRICING OPTIONS
The price of hiring a personal trainer in Clapham can vary from £30-£110 per session.
If this will be beyond your budget, you may wish to consider the following options to make hiring a fitness professional feasible for you:
2:1 PErsonal Training
If you have a friend, colleague, partner or family member who lives locally, buddying up to train together at the same time can reduce your investment.
Personal Training in a small group
If you’re unable to find a buddy of your own to share the cost of a Personal Trainer, you may find Personal Trainers who run small group sessions. When I say small group, I’m talking about 4 members max. In this type of setting, you’re more likely to receive personalised attention than you would in a group of 5-10 participants.
Off-Peak appointments
You may find Personal Trainers willing to reduce pricing based on the times you will be available to train. Just like gym memberships can cost less off-peak. It helps the Personal Trainer to fill quiet periods. It helps you to afford their service if you have a restricted budget. Win/win!
SUMMARY
Follow these 8 tips to choose the right Personal Trainer for you in Clapham.
- Location is key: choose a Personal Trainer at a location that’s quick and easy for you to get to.
- Boutique studio versus large high street gym: consider which type of environment you will feel most comfortable in.
- Social proof: look for evidence from third parties to support your decision-making.
- Credentials: do the qualifications of the Personal Trainer relate to your specific fitness goals?
- Meet prospects: arrange in-person meeting to see if you’re a good fit.
- Goal setting & progress tracking: find out what the process will be.
- Support beyond exercise: what does this look like?
- Pricing: which options fit your budget?
FIT TO LAST PERSONAL TRAINING & NUTRITION COACHING IN CLAPHAM
Fit to Last Personal Trainers in Clapham offer a high-end, all-inclusive fitness solution for those who’ve tried everything in the past; crash diets, exercise fads, regular gyms in London, all with little to no success or results.
The Fit to Last private studios are located a 5-minute walk from Clapham Common, Clapham North and Clapham High Street stations. Free parking and plenty of bike racks are available.
ABOUT JAMES STARING
James Staring is a personal trainer based in Clapham, London. His methods have featured in publications such as Your Fitness, Hello, Healthy, Daily Mail, Closer, and many more. After giving up smoking and entering the fitness industry in 2009, James has focused on his passion to help others transform their health and fitness. However, James is convinced most people struggle so much more than they need to in an effort to improve their fitness. Through his company, Fit to Last, James has helped hundreds of men and women make small adjustments in their daily habits to transform their fitness and to love how they look and feel.