Personal training is an unregulated industry in most parts of the world.
This means there’s no single certification that qualifies someone as an official personal trainer (PT), nor is there a regulatory watchdog maintaining quality control.
Consequently, the quality of trainers ranges from terrible- gym rats whose main sources of knowledge are YouTube and Wikipedia, to terrific- life-changing coaches with decades of experience, many of whom have a degree in sports science, kinesiology or a similar field. As a trainee, the challenge lies in separating the two.
Finding a good PT on your own is certainly possible, but the process of trial and error is time-consuming, expensive and incredibly frustrating. In fact, you have about a 1 in 2 chance of getting it right. A study from market research firm AYTM found that as many as 49 percent of people who used a PT in the past year were dissatisfied with the service. Is that a risk you want to take?
Here’s an inside look at a few of the things I specifically look for when selecting our PTs:
Desire to improve
Perhaps the most important trait of a good PT is the desire to improve in all aspects of their life - not just their appearance or physical ability. The health and fitness industry revolves around this very philosophy - it’s probably why you started working out in the first place.
I hunt out those who have put their egos aside and are always on the quest for knowledge. Whether it’s reading new studies, experimenting with innovative training techniques or furthering their education, they're continually looking for ways to better themselves. Training and nutrition concepts are constantly evolving as technology and science continue to intersect with the fitness world, so it’s vital that PTs are keeping a finger on the pulse of these developments in order to improve their craft and better support you.
Empathy
One thing that separates a good PT from a mediocre PT is the understanding that everybody is different. There’s no ‘one size fits all’ method when it comes to training, and what works well for someone else may not necessarily be the best option for you.
A key component is identifying PTs who can seamlessly tune into your strengths, weaknesses, lifestyle and limitations, and factor these aspects into your training programming.
Communication
As in just about every other element of life, communication is critical in the fitness industry. After all, a PT who knows every training secret in the world is still going to be hopeless if he or she can’t convey the knowledge correctly.
Seek for a PT who can communicate effectively and brings a sense of energy into everything he or she does. It’s not about preaching training gospel; it’s about knowing how to use language to teach, motivate and inspire.
Passion
Passion is the undercurrent running through all our PTs. It supercharges their personality and transforms them from a trainer into a high-voltage source of inspiration and motivation. I look for people who not only have a deep, authentic love for all things health and fitness but who is also genuinely passionate about making a positive impact on people’s lives. PTs I work with are chosen for their ability to help you gain the confidence you need to smash your goals in the gym and beyond.
Qualifications and Education
As touched on, there’s no certification required to be recognised as a PT, and we never hire PTs based on certificates and/or tertiary qualifications alone.
However, while, a degree in sports science, kinesiology, sports medicine, physical education or similar doesn’t necessarily make for a quality PT, it does indicate that they have taken the initiative to understand the theoretical science.
How much should you pay for a PT?
The price of training with a PT can be offputting at first, but keep in mind that you’re doing more than simply paying for the PT’s time - you’re tapping into a treasure trove of knowledge and expertise (often decades in the making), and fast tracking your way to success.
With that being said, it’s impossible to give you a single, definitive answer of how much you should pay for a PT, especially because fees can vary so drastically between cities. For example, you could probably expect to pay more for personal training in London or New York than you would in many parts of Southeast Asia due to regional differences in demand, living costs and economies.
Last but not least, the chemistry between trainer and trainee is something that is very personal and subjective - even the best trainer in the world may not be quite right for you!
