Advice & Tips

Total Trainer helps people find the right personal trainer, personal training company or exercise professional to meet their health and fitness goals. But what decisions should you make before hiring a personal trainer? We've come up with a few tips to help you pick the right personal trainer.

Questions to ask before hiring a personal trainer
Choose a qualified personal trainer
Choose a personal trainer who is fully insured
Meeting a personal trainer for the first time
The pre-exercise questionnaire
Home personal training or gym-based personal training?
Bulk booking or pay as you go personal training?

Questions to ask before hiring a personal trainer

Before hiring a personal trainer ask yourself a number of key questions, including:

  • Do I need a personal trainer?
  • Why do I need a personal trainer?
  • Do I have the funds to afford a personal trainer? - Typical cost £20 - £35 an hour
  • How much time a week can I devote to personal training? - A typical session lasts up to 1 hour
  • At which times could I see a personal trainer - Mornings, lunch time, after work?
  • What is my main health and fitness goal? - Weight loss, muscle gain, a sense of well-being etc.
  • Would I like to work out one-to-one with a personal trainer or as part of a small group?
  • Do I want to personal train at home or at a gym?
  • What exercise will I enjoy and which form of exercise won't I enjoy?
  • Will I feel more comfortable with a male or female personal trainer?
  • Do I need to consult a doctor or GP before exercising?

Answering these questions will allow you to decide whether hiring a personal trainer is right for you.

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Choose a qualified personal trainer

Total Trainer prides itself on listing only qualified personal trainers. However, before hiring any personal trainer ask to see their qualifications. Personal trainers should hold qualifications as a personal trainer, including Level 2 or Level 3 personal trainer awards from the likes of Premier Training, Lifetime, Future Fit, Focus Training, The Training Room, EIF, ACSM and others. Also, most personal trainers will be enrolled onto the Register of Exercise Professionals (REPs) so make sure you ask to see their REPs card.

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Choose a personal trainer who is fully-insured

All personal trainers who are listed on the Register of Exercise Professionals (REPs) automatically hold public liability insurance of up to £5 million. This will give you the peace of mind that is (heaven forbid) you sustained a serious injury during a personal training session that you would compensated.

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Meeting a personal trainer for the first time

Professional personal trainers will wish to make you feel as comfortable as possible. So with this in mind make your first meeting either in a public place or at home with other people at home. This is only sensible as any first meeting will be with someone you don't know.

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The pre-exercise questionnaire

All personal trainers should offer new clients a pre exercise free consultation. This consultation will include a medical questionnaire as well as a conversation about your goals and ideal times to work out. Many personal trainers will also check blood pressure, resting heart rate and even ask clients to perform a simple fitness test. If any issues are raised your personal trainer will advise you to seek medical advice from your doctor or GP before exercising.

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Home personal training or gym-based personal training?

Personal trainers are able to visit your home, meet at a local park or (some) will have access to a gym. So decide where you would prefer to train to meet your goals. Typically home personal training is easier on your time as the personal trainer will come to you whereas working out in a local park or health club means you need to travel there and back as well as train, making this option more of a time burden.

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Bulk booking or pay as you go personal training?

Bulk booking a personal trainer shows a commitment to your goals and to your personal trainer. Typically personal trainers also offer a discount to those clients willing to pay for 5,10,15, 20 or more personal training sessions up front. But many personal trainers will also allow you to 'pay as you go' - paying for each session one at a time. Over time this may prove to be more expensive. It also means that you may be more likely to miss the odd session here and there as any missed personal training session will not be money lost.

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