Saturday, 21 December 2013

The difference between a professional and a mediocre personal trainer

When enlisting the services of a personal trainer, each of us would require a training programme that is unique to ourselves. As individuals, with varying degrees of fitness levels, and different expectations, a professional personal trainer will design a tailor-made routine based on your information and their knowledge. There are some key factors that will tell you if the personal trainer you are considering is qualified to help you achieve your goals.

Before designing a programme, a personal trainer will assess their clients’ health. Some will use the Par-Q system (the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire which was conceived by the British Columbia Ministry of Health as a screening tool for anyone taking on an exercise regime), others will use their own devised questionnaire, but the basic premise is the same. The questions are health-related, for example, whether the client has experienced chest pain, breathlessness, dizziness, bone and joint problems, has a heart condition, or is currently taking medication. In some circumstances, a qualified trainer may insist on a doctor's assessment before embarking on a new regime.

Pregnant and post-natal women, those with existing health problems, old sports injuries, chronic pain sufferers, and the obese, can and should exercise. Their particular circumstances will determine their programme and any gradual increase in their fitness routine has to be carefully monitored. With or without any specialised requirements, a good personal trainer will then find out what results are expected. This could be an improved muscle tone, weight loss, or simply an overall increase in fitness level. If the client is looking to lose weight in a set time frame, to fit into a wedding dress for example, a knowledgeable trainer will be able to work out if that goal is a viable and healthy option, and how best to go about it.

Nutrition goes hand-in-hand with an exercise programme, so a good professional trainer will be able to advise their client on nutrition, food types, amounts, how and when to eat, what foods to avoid, and tips to keep them on the right track. Additional classes can be recommended to supplement the client's existing programme, the trainer will know what's available, what would be most beneficial, and what they are most likely to enjoy, whether that's Spinning, Zumba, or Boxercise.

Motivation and encouragement is a key factor. Even when a client is regularly exercising, it's not always that a good eating programme is also being adhered to. Maybe they don't feel they are progressing, so a motivational tool used by good professional trainers is to regularly take photos and measurements to show the client their improvement. They will also diversify the routine to keep it interesting, chat more about nutrition, and correct any weaknesses or bad habits that have crept in.

A good professional personal trainer will want to keep up with the latest techniques and research, so many take further education courses to improve their own teaching methods. They will have a good and thorough understanding of how muscles work, how they react, how to deal with an injury, how to soothe muscles and joints, and when to ease off certain exercises.

Take these points into account when selecting a professional personal trainer for yourself. First impressions are an indication too, whether you get along straight away, and the trainer looks as though they follow their own advice. Not every method works for everyone, so it's imperative for them to design a bespoke routine that you will be happy with, and that get your desired results.



If you are in Perth and need an awesome personal trainer, Lords Recreational Centre have expert personal trainers that know all about how to best get results for your body and have the knowledge, personal skills and experience, mediocre trainers don't.

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