Personal Trainers – Or Lack Of

People that know me know I am not a fan of big box gyms. They hire anyone and everyone who wants to be a personal trainer. Just because someone is a gym rat and can pump the iron, does not mean they are qualified to be a personal trainer.

Currently, the personal training industry, in my eyes, is going down hill. People are forgetting that personal training is training that is personal. Every one is unique. They have different needs. They have different goals. You can’t give one program to Mary and think you can turn around and give the same program to Bob.

My case in point:  I was waiting for the racquetball court to open up at my local gym. It was mid afternoon on a Saturday. As I sat and stretched, there was a gentleman, mid 40′s, on a Bosu ball doing what he thinks are crunches. Basically, this neck was moving up and down but the abs were not engaged at all. He was doing a personal training session. His trainer was standing over him, with a Monster energy drink in one hand and talking on his cell in the other. Where is the personal appeal in that? You are being paid to give someone the best possible workout you can give and you are not even watching them?!

Take home message for trainers: If you want to be a big time trainer, act like it. Go watch someone who has been in the business for a long time, or a celebrity trainer train a client. They are so in tune with their clients workout they won’t even notice anything else. If you want to be a personal trainer, leave the cell at your desk. Leave the redbull at home. Pay attention to your client, create rapport and  change their life. If you can’t do that, you are wasting your time and your client’s time and you need to go do something else.

Take home message for people who have a personal trainer: Push your trainer to push you. Ask them questions. Get their advice. Pick their brain. If they can’t answer every single one of your questions and concerns, fire them. It is your life that needs changing and if your trainer is not doing the trick, change trainers. There are hundreds of trainers in your area. Go out and find a new one. If you are at a big box, commercial gym and you don’t feel you are getting your life changing money’s worth, go talk to the personal training manager and ask to get their best trainer. If you still are dissatisfied, change gyms. A personal trainer needs to be an extension of YOU. They need to know how to motivate YOU. They work for YOU. Don’t be afraid to push your trainer to the limit and ensure that the services you are paying for are the best.