Personal Training Trends

Choosing The Right Personal Trainer

When I was working full time as a personal trainer several years ago, I was an independent contractor at a gym in Seattle. I was responsible for keeping my books in order and filing taxes both quarterly and at the end of the year. In other words, I found a really nice CPA who was willing to take my (not very organized) box of receipts and income information and then let me know how much to send the IRS.

In a similar way, I know that when people have issues related to their teeth, they see their dentist. When people are ill, they see their doctor. Isn’t it a relief to know that when you need a particular service, there are people who have studied, trained and are specialized to help fill that need? It would be very disturbing to find out that someone you hired to fix your car had never really had any schooling to become a mechanic, wouldn’t it?

I absolutely love what I do; I always have. However, one of the most frustrating things about the fitness industry is how unregulated the field of personal training is. There is no exact path that someone must travel to become a personal trainer. Some obtain a college degree in physical education, exercise science, exercise physiology or something similar area of study. Others choose to attend a trade school. Still others study and take a certification exam from one of many different organizations. Every gym is different in what they require of their personal trainers, so it really is up to the client who is doing the hiring to research and decide what the most important qualifications are to them.

What should you look for when choosing a trainer?

In my opinion, one of the most important questions to ask is, 'What are the trainer’s credentials?' At the very least, the trainer should be certified through a reputable organization that requires testing to obtain it, and that also requires the trainer to take continuing education for recertification every couple of years.

Because the fitness industry is constantly changing, it is important to stay on top of the latest trends and findings. True professionals will be happy to share with you information about the classes and conferences they have attended to continue learning. As for reputable certifications, there are quite a few, but here are some websites of some very well-known organizations:

Long Island Personal Fitness Training Trends And ... - The Web Leaders

1. Aerobic fitness

According to Joe Donovan, owner of a busy personal fitness training studio in Lynbrook, Long Island, New York , Aerobic exercise, also known as cardio or endurance activity, is the foundation of most fitness training programs. Aerobic exercise enables you to breathe faster and more deeply, which maximizes the amount of oxygen in your blood. The better your aerobic fitness, the more efficiently your heart, lungs and blood vessels transport oxygen throughout your body — and the easier it is to complete routine physical tasks and rise to unexpected challenges.

Aerobic exercise includes any physical activity that uses large muscle groups and increases your heart rate. Try walking, jogging, biking, swimming, dancing, water aerobics — even leaf raking, snow shoveling and vacuuming. Aim for at least two hours and 30 minutes a week of moderate aerobic activity or one hour and 15 minutes a week of vigorous aerobic activity — preferably spread throughout the week.

2. Muscular fitness

Muscular fitness is another important part of a New York personal fitness training program . Strength training at least twice a week can help you increase bone strength and muscular fitness. It can also help you maintain muscle mass during a weight-loss program.

Personal fitness training studios like Joe Donovan’s offer various resistance machines, free weights and other tools for strength training. Your own body weight counts, too. Try push-ups, abdominal crunches and leg squats.

3. Stretching

Most aerobic and strength training activities cause your muscles to contract and flex. For balance in your fitness training program, it’s important to stretch those muscles, too. Stretching improves the range of motion of your joints and promotes better posture. Regular stretching can even help relieve stress.

Before you stretch, warm up by walking or doing a favorite exercise at low intensity for five to 10 minutes. Better yet, stretch after you exercise — when your muscles are warm and receptive to stretching. Ideally, you’ll stretch whenever you exercise. If you don’t exercise regularly, you might want to stretch at least three times a week after warming up to maintain flexibility. Activities such as yoga promote flexibility, too.

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