Everyone knows winter is a holiday season. It’s the perfect time to go on a long vacation with your family or friends. So it’s understandable if exercise is the last thing on your mind.
But staying healthy is important, especially this time of the year. If you don’t have the time to go to the gym, you can hire a personal trainer to help you stay fit. A quick Google search about “personal training Edmonton” gives you plenty of options to choose from. These personal trainers will create a fitness program that fits your needs.
Not only that but they will help you stay motivated to reach your fitness goals. You can also find trainers who do fitness training online. That’s why a personal gym trainer is perfect during the winter season.
This article will give you an idea of what personal training is all about. You’ll also learn how to find the best personal trainers and what goes on during a training session.
What Kind of Training Do Personal Trainers Offer?
The best thing about personal training is that you don’t have to go to the gym to work out. You can find personal gym trainers offering home and online training. Some trainers prefer providing one of these, but most of them can offer you a combination of the following types of training:
1. Gym Training
You’ll find most personal trainers working at a gym. This is best for people who have gym memberships but are having trouble seeing results. You’ll also benefit more from this type of training if you’re just starting.
The best thing about gym training is that you don’t need to buy fitness equipment. The gym will provide that for you. Most gyms also have memberships that can get you incredible rewards and perks.
2. Home Training
Personal trainers who work independently offer home training. You can choose to have the trainer visit your house to go about your training session. Other trainers also provide online personal training. This is perfect during the winter season when you’re on vacation with your family.
How to Find the Right Personal Gym Trainer for You
While it’s easy to search “personal trainer Edmonton,” it’s not easy to pick the right one for you. A personal gym trainer plays a huge part in your fitness training. Finding the best personal trainers can help make your journey easier.
Before you hire one, make sure to look for these important factors below.
1. Their Experience and Area of Specialization
The first thing you need to know is how long they have been working with clients. You can also find out if the trainer has experience dealing with your specific situation.
A personal gym trainer should create a session that considers your medical conditions. It’s also important that they know how to handle your injuries. Hire a personal trainer that can work with these.
2. Their Education
Like any profession, personal training requires professionals who have solid educational backgrounds. Remember that they are responsible for your fitness program. They need to have previous knowledge of exercise, health, and nutrition.
3. How Compatible They Are With You
Some people like early workouts, while others prefer evening workouts. Does the personal trainer you're speaking to can work on the days you chose? How about the way they communicate? Do they shout when their client makes a mistake? If so, are you okay with that kind of communication?
Your motivation to attend training also depends on how well you get along with your trainer. Before you hire a trainer, take these into account and any other personal compatibility issues you may have.
4. How Much They Charge
Personal training isn’t free, so you also need to find out about their rates. The cost of a session varies depending on the length, qualifications, experience, and skill of the trainer.
Where you live and where they work can also affect the rates. Fitness center trainers will likely have rates lower than those who are self-employed. So, if you live in Edmonton, Canada, you should look for “personal trainer Edmonton” on Google. You can also scout around the place to find fitness trainers near you.
5. If There Are Any Liability Insurance
There are plenty of personal gym trainers who work outside of a fitness center. If you want to hire one, find out if they are covered by professional liability insurance. This type of insurance will reassure you that you will get compensation for the damages that happened during your training.
What Can You Expect in Your First Training Session?
If you’ve had a personal gym trainer before, then you know what each training session entails. But if this is your first time applying for personal training, you should know what happens in your first session.
Your first session will also be the best time for you to familiarize yourself with the facility. Even with online personal training, the list below is some of the things you can expect during your first session.
1. Getting-to-Know-You Period
The essence of personal training is to have a routine that addresses your specific concerns. To do that, your personal gym trainer will need some information about you. During your first session, you will fill out a physical readiness form. This questionnaire asks about your health status, medical history, and injuries.
You can also expect your fitness trainer to ask about why you signed up for personal training. But it’s not just about losing weight; something deeper than that.
Why do you want to lose weight? Why do you want to get a six-pack? Your answer will serve as your motivation to reach your goals. This will also help your trainer to create an effective fitness program for you.
2. Undergoing Initial Assessments
The trainer also needs to check your fitness level and see how well you understand the activities. Aside from your weight and fat levels, your personal gym trainer will also need other fitness information from you. They get this through a series of fitness tests. This will help your trainer to determine what they will and will not include in your program.
Your initial assessment will test three main fitness areas. This includes body composition, movement, and work capacity.
Body Composition Assessment
Your personal trainer will need to measure your weight and fat levels. This is important so that they can identify where you are in your fitness journey. These will be your starting point as you track your progress throughout the program.
Movement Assessment
This part involves identifying your range of motion and muscle endurance. Once they do, your fitness trainer can include specific exercises in your program. They can also provide you with clear mobility goals with this information.
The tests included in a movement assessment depend on your training age and goals. To get the most accurate data for this, you can expect to do seven movement patterns.
Work Capacity Assessment
Your work capacity will give your trainer a clear picture of your fitness levels. This will determine how many sessions you need and what exercises you can do on a training day.
The tests that you will do for this area depend mostly on how much training you have done before. People who have undergone training and exercises before will have muscle endurance tests and one-rep maxes. If it’s your first time, you can expect to do basic aerobic tests.
3. Setting a Fitness Plan
After the paperwork and assessment, your personal gym trainer will let you try out easy exercises. Your first training session mostly consists of general exercises to get your blood circulating. Before your first session ends, your gym trainer will discuss how your next sessions will turn out. These include details about:
- The number of sessions you will need to take per week
- The length of time that each of your sessions will undergo
- A rough outline of what your workout plan looks like
- A list of exercises you can do on your own at home or the gym
- A roadmap of your progress
Final Thoughts
Just because it’s the holidays doesn’t mean you won’t have to keep track of your health. Most people think that it’s okay to do so, but the truth is far from that. Staying fit is a lifelong commitment. Get the help of a personal gym trainer to help you stay focused and reach your goals in no time.
