Check Your Personal Trainer – Tony Gentilcore

I became a personal trainer and coach in 2002. Shows like Alias and 24 It was all the rage, *NSYNC still had Justin Timberlake, and The two towers It was rocking my world. So much so that I went to the theater to see it four times.¹

Admittedly, it feels like eons ago. I mean social media didn't exist back then. Or Warby Parker for that matter!

It goes without saying that in my 20+ years in the business, I've seen my fair share of good coaches who make me proud to be in this industry, and bad coaches who sometimes make me want to shine a spotlight on my face. on fire.

I could sit here and write endlessly about the traits I feel any “good” coach should include: a basic understanding of anatomy, movement, and program design would be a good start. Do they look the part? As cruel and mysterious as it may be – What does it mean to look the part up? – my friend Brian Crane Hits the nail on the head:

“In the fitness industry, appearances matter. Now, this doesn't mean that six-pack abs or boulder-sized muscles should be basic requirements for the job. But your trainer should be healthy and have a physique that suggests a certain level of mastery in his chosen field. If Talk the talk, they have to walk the walk.

Are they dressed professionally or like they just stepped out of an MMA class? Are they accurate? Are they prepared and organized? Do they take the time to ask questions and do some semblance of an initial assessment? Unfortunately, I have seen some trainers in my time do nothing more than demonstrate how to insert pins into various Cybex devices as part of their “comprehensive assessment”.

Why not make paper airplanes in just an hour?

Are they friendly, personable, able to show some empathy, and perhaps most important of all, are they generally a non-stupid person? Because, let's be honest, no one wants to train with an asshole, let alone pay for it.

I think all of them, in a slightly sarcastic way, are relevant questions and observations to note when deciding who to hire as your personal trainer. I find it strange that some people are more diligent with who changes the oil in their car than they are with the person in charge of telling them what to do with their body.

Some other things to consider

Finding the right personal trainer that fits your goals and needs can be as hassle as buying a car. Sure, there are few things as annoying as buying cars—except for an uncontrollable eye twitch or so far last Taylor Swift's song about breaking up with a guy (all our fingers crossed, Travis) — and you (generally) don't have to deal with the antics of shady salespeople when looking for quality trainer.

However, this does not mean that you should not be on your toes and do your best to be a more proactive consumer when hiring a personal trainer. Keep in mind that many people pay upwards of $60 to $90 For each session (Sometimes depending on one's location), it only makes sense to try to get the most out of your personal training dollars.

Two questions to ask the trainer

Eliminating the obvious questions like “Are you certified? (1)” or “Do you have any references/certifications to share? (2)” or “What is your favorite hip-hop album of all time? (3)” Here are some questions A collection of lesser questions A common (but no less important) question you can ask someone you're considering hiring.

(1) = Obtaining a certificate is “necessary” when examining a trainer. The gold standard certifications in the industry are NSCA, ACE, ISSA, NASM and ACSM. As I think any coach would Show physical fitness The course(s) are more than eligible as well.

(2) = Just having a few letters next to their name doesn't mean much. Do they place a premium on continuing education? When was the last time they attended a national conference? What is the last book they read? Do they have a list of current clients who you can contact about their own experience with this coach? These are all pertinent questions to ask, and questions any coach should be able to answer without hesitation.

(3) = Anything like Tribe Called Quest, Wu-Tang Clan, Gang Starr, or anything else after 1996 are acceptable answers here.

“Do you exercise yourself?”

I understand that it may seem a little strange or contradictory(ish) to ask a trainer/trainer if he or she works out. It's similar to asking Jason Bourne whether or not he knows where all the exits are when he enters a room, but it's alarming how often this happens.

Before co-founding my own facility in 2007, I previously worked at several commercial gyms, and was amazed by the number of colleagues who had never exercised.

I'm not referring to looking the part (i.e. fit), which has already been covered above.

I'm referring to personal trainers who literally They don't exercise themselves!

It's an honest question to ask, but if you're going to spend good money to hire a trainer, do you really want to have someone in charge of your body who doesn't practice what they preach?

“What is your training philosophy?

Likewise, it is also smart to ask what the coach's general training philosophy is.

Are they people who focus on strength training or do they rely more on endurance?

Do they include a comprehensive assessment – ​​movement screens, injury review, training history, etc. – as part of their approach? If not, I'll say “goodbye, Felicia” and shop elsewhere.

Most importantly, if they are competitive powerlifters, bodybuilders, physique competitors, or CrossFitter (to name a few), do they have the ability to separate their training preferences from yours?

What's the point if you're interested in improving your deadlift and squat numbers and your coach does a “biceps day” because he was for him Biceps day?

Or maybe your goal is to add some strength training to help you prepare for a half marathon. If so, why do all those crazy MetCon workouts and stop doing pull-ups?

The point is: Your coach should tailor your training towards your needs and goals. Not their own

Bonus: One question the coach should ask never I ask you.

I can't tell you how many times I've heard this question asked when I've worked at different commercial gyms.

The client enters and greets his trainer, then asks the trainer….

“So what do you want to do today?”

Um, isn't that what you pay them to discover? This is like if I walked into my accountant's office and he looked at me and said, “Have you read all the new tax laws?”

This goes back to my comment above regarding organization and preparedness. Anyone you hire should have a game plan.

They should be writing programs, not exercises!

This doesn't mean they shouldn't ask for your feedback or to see you on any given day – maybe you were up late the night before with a sick child or you had a long day at work and were about to end your boss's life – which may require a change. And the change in the session of that particular day.

However, in the grand scheme of things, they should be prepared ahead of time. With few exceptions, they should not “run aground.”