Personal training is not new. The rich, famous and royal have often appointed individuals to help them stay in shape. Queen Victoria of England and even Genghis Kahn are reported to have had professional personal trainers. It's safe to assume however that where Genghis' trainer was all about preparing his client for the rigors of war, Queen Victoria's trainer's job would have been far more genteel.
While personal training has been around for centuries, it's only in the last 20-30 years that personal trainers have started coming out of the shadows and into the limelight.
Now, if you peruse most celebrity magazines and read the blog and twitter posts of rock and film stars, it's all too apparent that the great physique or figure that many of these stars possess is in part due to the advice and guidance of a personal trainer
So what does a personal trainer do?
The first thing a good personal trainer should do is assess your current level of health and fitness and help you set some specific fitness goals. Your goals are important as they will ensure the personal trainer can design a workout and diet (if appropriate and required) that is right for you.Once your trainer has all the relevant and necessary information, they will then set about designing your workout program. Writing a good workout program is as much an art as it is a science and a good trainer will be able to create a workout that is both fun and effective. That's why it's vital you tell your trainer what exercises you like and what exercises you don't.
Now your workout program has been created, it's time to hit the gym although it's worth noting that not all personal trainers work out of gyms and some prefer training in other environments. Some personal training takes place on beaches, in playgrounds, in aerobic studios, and often in the client's own home. It all depends on your goals, preferences and training history.
Your first workout…
During your training session your personal trainer will ensue you warm up properly to minimize your risk of injury and then coach, correct and encourage you through a series of exercises designed to address your fitness wants and needs. They aren't there to "punish you with exercise" but may push you slightly beyond your comfort zone which is where you'll get the most benefits from your workout.
At the end of your session, your trainer will then take you through a series of cool down exercises designed to bring your body back to homeostasis (or balance) so you can start the process of recovery which means in a day or two you'll be ready to do it all over again!
What makes a good personal trainer?
Personal trainers come in all shapes and sizes so it's important to choose the right one for you. Hopefully you'll get a good one straight off the bat but if you just "don't click" with your first choice of trainer, don't worry. There are plenty more out there and the right one is waiting for you!
A good personal trainer should have most if not all of the following characteristics…
1) Be professional at all times. You are, after all, their boss for the duration of your workout!
2) Put your health first. They should never put your well-being at risk by giving you advice or exercises that may cause injury or illness.
3) Treat you as an individual. A good personal trainer will customize your workout to meet your unique requirements and not write "one size fits all" workouts for all their clients.
4) Ask you for your input and respond accordingly. Your relationship with your trainer should be a two-way street. By asking you questions, a good PT will mold the workout so it is absolutely right for you.
5) Have the relevant qualifications and insurance to operate legally. Uncertified, unqualified and uninsured personal trainers are by definition unprofessional. It doesn't matter how experienced they are (or think they are!), if they don't hold the relevant documentation then you should find another.
6) Change your workouts periodically. Doing the same old workout month after month is a sure-fire way to stop making any meaningful progress. Your personal training session should be reviewed and altered as you get fitter and stronger so you continue to make progress.
7) A good personal trainer can be a powerful ally in your battle to get fit, lean, healthy and strong. You'll still need to work hard but at least you can be sure that each workout you have under the tutelage of your trainer will take you a step closer to meeting your fitness goals.
While personal training has been around for centuries, it's only in the last 20-30 years that personal trainers have started coming out of the shadows and into the limelight.
Now, if you peruse most celebrity magazines and read the blog and twitter posts of rock and film stars, it's all too apparent that the great physique or figure that many of these stars possess is in part due to the advice and guidance of a personal trainer
So what does a personal trainer do?
The first thing a good personal trainer should do is assess your current level of health and fitness and help you set some specific fitness goals. Your goals are important as they will ensure the personal trainer can design a workout and diet (if appropriate and required) that is right for you.Once your trainer has all the relevant and necessary information, they will then set about designing your workout program. Writing a good workout program is as much an art as it is a science and a good trainer will be able to create a workout that is both fun and effective. That's why it's vital you tell your trainer what exercises you like and what exercises you don't.
Now your workout program has been created, it's time to hit the gym although it's worth noting that not all personal trainers work out of gyms and some prefer training in other environments. Some personal training takes place on beaches, in playgrounds, in aerobic studios, and often in the client's own home. It all depends on your goals, preferences and training history.
Your first workout…
During your training session your personal trainer will ensue you warm up properly to minimize your risk of injury and then coach, correct and encourage you through a series of exercises designed to address your fitness wants and needs. They aren't there to "punish you with exercise" but may push you slightly beyond your comfort zone which is where you'll get the most benefits from your workout.
At the end of your session, your trainer will then take you through a series of cool down exercises designed to bring your body back to homeostasis (or balance) so you can start the process of recovery which means in a day or two you'll be ready to do it all over again!
What makes a good personal trainer?
Personal trainers come in all shapes and sizes so it's important to choose the right one for you. Hopefully you'll get a good one straight off the bat but if you just "don't click" with your first choice of trainer, don't worry. There are plenty more out there and the right one is waiting for you!
A good personal trainer should have most if not all of the following characteristics…
1) Be professional at all times. You are, after all, their boss for the duration of your workout!
2) Put your health first. They should never put your well-being at risk by giving you advice or exercises that may cause injury or illness.
3) Treat you as an individual. A good personal trainer will customize your workout to meet your unique requirements and not write "one size fits all" workouts for all their clients.
4) Ask you for your input and respond accordingly. Your relationship with your trainer should be a two-way street. By asking you questions, a good PT will mold the workout so it is absolutely right for you.
5) Have the relevant qualifications and insurance to operate legally. Uncertified, unqualified and uninsured personal trainers are by definition unprofessional. It doesn't matter how experienced they are (or think they are!), if they don't hold the relevant documentation then you should find another.
6) Change your workouts periodically. Doing the same old workout month after month is a sure-fire way to stop making any meaningful progress. Your personal training session should be reviewed and altered as you get fitter and stronger so you continue to make progress.
7) A good personal trainer can be a powerful ally in your battle to get fit, lean, healthy and strong. You'll still need to work hard but at least you can be sure that each workout you have under the tutelage of your trainer will take you a step closer to meeting your fitness goals.
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