How to choose a trainer in the gym?

Author: Timko Ilya - master of the whole project and fitness trainer.
2012-04-01

It's no secret that personal trainer services are quite expensive. In large cities, the cost is around 700 – 1000 rubles per session. It’s understandable that no one wants to spend such money without knowing what they're getting in return. The concern is that a person doesn’t know how qualified the specialist will be and whether they can help resolve their specific problems. Therefore, many people approach the selection of a trainer with great caution, but unfortunately, they often don’t know what to consider.

As an active trainer, I’ll try to shed some light on this issue.

1. Is it better for the trainer to be male or female?

Men typically prefer a male instructor, while women prefer a female. However, I would say this is practically irrelevant. In my experience, I have trained roughly equal numbers of men and women, and I have felt equally comfortable and effective with both. The same can be said if a female trainer works with men. If the instructor is a professional, they understand both men’s and women’s issues equally well, regardless of their own gender. So, the gender of your trainer should not be a decisive factor for you.

2. How to determine if a trainer is a professional?

To become a professional in any field, one must at least love what they do. You can immediately see if a trainer loves their work. Observe how they train others. Ask them a couple of questions. If they enjoy training, they will give you advice for free, without requiring payment for sessions first.

A trainer who loves their job is primarily interested in your results. Since your achievements are also their achievements as a trainer. If they see that you don’t have much money, they will suggest that you pay for a few sessions and will try to give you as much knowledge as possible so you can go off on your own and save your money.

3. Is it better to have a young instructor or an older one?

It is believed that the older a person is, the more experienced they are. This is generally true. However, enthusiasm usually decreases with age, and this is an important aspect of any job. Don’t think that if a trainer is young, they know nothing. Of course, we’re not talking about twenty-year-old students. In such cases, they likely lack both experience and sufficient knowledge. I know good trainers who are 25 – 27 years old, and I also know some not-so-good trainers who are nearing fifty. Ultimately, age should not be your main selection criterion.

4. How to know if they won’t harm my health due to ignorance?

If you have any specific health issues, be sure to inform the trainer before paying for their sessions. Some people have health conditions that not every instructor will take on. If you tell them about your issues, and they respond with something like: "That’s not a problem, I’ve dealt with that before; we’ll start with this and that," then they likely know what they are talking about.

Sometimes a trainer has never dealt with a condition or issue similar to yours. That doesn’t mean they aren’t professionals. A good trainer will ask you detailed questions, do some research, and generally be able to help you.

5. How to tell if they can handle my specific problems?

If you have fairly common issues, and the instructor is a professional (see point 2), you can be confident they will manage. Gaining muscle, losing weight, toning your glutes, reducing side fat, or building arms or legs are problems any gym instructor encounters every day. When a new person comes into the gym, I often already know what they want before they’ve said a word.

Conclusion

The conclusion is quite simple. Try to determine whether the trainer enjoys what they do. Observe how they train others. Casually ask them a couple of questions and watch their reaction. Good luck!