by Coach Manny
I’d like to piggyback off my previous blog post, “How To Choose The Best CrossFit Gym Near You,” and talk about how to choose the right personal trainer. With the abundance of trainers available, I think it’s actually more challenging to find a great personal trainer than a great CrossFit gym. This is because if you’re looking for group fitness, the bar only goes so high. The problems being solved in a group setting are general and non-specific. There is (or should be) a massive gap in skill and value between group fitness and personal training.
With no real barrier to entry, there’s a wide range of skill and experience among personal trainers. And truthfully, most of them aren’t doing the best work. Here are some key questions you should ask your potential trainer to ensure you’re working with the right person for the job:
- Can you walk me through my journey or process?
- How will you track my progress?
- Have you worked with people like me (describe your situation) before?
- Will you help me outside of in-person training? How?
- How will happen if I’m struggling or the program isn’t working?
- How are you different from other trainers?
It’s not only important for you to ask your potential personal trainer questions, but equally important that your trainer is asking YOU questions. Here are some common ones we ask at NorthEast:
- What outcome are you looking for?
- How will you feel when you reach your goal?
- Why is your goal important to you?
- What obstacles do you think can get in the way of you staying committed?
Asking your potential personal trainer these questions will quickly weed out the inexperienced and less skilled. They’ll lack clarity, fumble over their words, or try really hard to B.S. their way to your credit card. An experienced and skilled coach will take their time addressing your questions and build confidence in the plan they’ve prepared for you. A great personal trainer will also ask a range of questions to ensure they’re capable of helping you. It’s a big red flag if your trainer isn’t interviewing you too!
Oh, one last thing! Vet your potential trainer’s Instagram account. Are they the “influencer” type? Here’s how to spot one: they post more about themselves, wear revealing clothing or showcase what they do, offer generic training tips, and essentially use their account to chase likes and attention. Or are they trying to be a person of influence? They post about their clients, provide valuable insights, and highlight their skill set.
Fitness can work for anyone, as long as they’re with the right people for the job. My goal with this post is to empower you to make the best decisions for your health investment. Asking the right questions is a great place to start!
