Choosing The Right Trainer For You

Location

The location is where you will work with your trainer. You want a trainer who is accessible. The more convenient it is for you, the more likely you will attend your session.

When regarding location, you also want to consider the physical workout space. Trainers tend to work out of three primary types of spaces:

• Large box gyms: Think big corporate gyms, like Planet Fitness or LA Fitness. These gyms are great because they provide quality equipment and tools, but they can be busy or intimidating for beginners.
• Boutique fitness studios: These spaces often specialize in a specific type of fitness, such as yoga or martial arts. They are great if you want to work with a specialized trainer, but they often have a smaller selection of equipment than larger gyms.
• Clients' homes: If you have an at-home gym, some trainers, such as GymNet trainer Rich R., will come to your home to train you. Working out at home is perfect if you have a hectic schedule or are a stay-at-home parent because you don’t have to go anywhere, but it limits you to the equipment and space that you have.

No location is better or worse than the other. It’s all about your preferences and fitness goals.

What if I don’t live in a big city?

Big cities are filled with gyms and fitness studios, making it easy to find competent trainers. If you live in a rural area, it can be challenging to find in-person training, but that doesn’t mean you can’t find a qualified trainer to help you reach your fitness goals.

Many personal trainers offer virtual training. Virtual or online training allows you to receive personalized fitness plans, feedback, and coaching without committing to a specific date, time, or location for your workouts.

Price

According to the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), personal trainers charge an average of $25 to $100 an hour. However, the cost of personal training can vary depending on factors such as location, experience, training format, session length, and the personal trainer's qualifications.

As with any service, higher prices do not automatically mean better results. You can find a qualified personal trainer within your budget. Be upfront with trainers about your budget, and look for ways to save on sessions, such as package deals or small group sessions.

GymNet trainer Siron H. helps his clients save on sessions by offering package deals. You can purchase multiple sessions upfront, saving on the overall cost per session. You can also save on GymNet by referring friends to the app and earning credits that you can use to book future sessions.

Certifications

A personal trainer can get many certifications to help further their practice and understanding of fitness. Certifications indicate if a trainer has the knowledge and skills to help you reach your goals.

A few common certifications you’ll see are:

• Certified Personal Trainer: The base level certification for personal trainers is to obtain a personal training certificate from an established institution such as NASM or ISSA. These certifications often teach trainers the basics of exercise science, how the body works, and best practices for fitness training.
• Specialized Certificates: Some trainers specialize in specific fitness areas, such as strength training, calisthenics, or adaptive training. You can even find trainers specializing in postpartum fitness, group sessions, kettlebell training, and yoga.
• Nutrition Coach: Fitness and diet go hand-in-hand, which is why many trainers will get a nutrition certification. Nutrition coaches are not registered dietitians licensed to provide personalized meal plans. However, nutrition coaches can help you better understand how your diet plays a role in your fitness journey and provide general guidance to help you reach your goals.

While it’s ideal to work with a certified personal trainer, there are instances in which personal trainers aren’t certified but have the credibility to provide fitness guidance. For example, professional athletes or martial artists may not have a certification but have years of credible experience within their discipline. A non-certified athlete or martial artist with years of competitive experience and training will provide more value to you within that specific field than a certified personal trainer without a similar background.

Fitness Goals

One of the most important factors in finding a personal trainer is connecting with someone who supports your fitness goals. Whether you’re looking for someone to help you lose weight, build strength, improve mobility, or recover from an injury, a personal trainer is out there for you.

You can search for trainers on GymNet by specialty or training type to help narrow your choices. Before committing to a session, don’t be afraid to message a potential trainer and ask them questions about their coaching style, how they help clients measure success, and what drives them to work with clients.

Recognitions

Recognitions can be anything that makes a trainer stand out to you. On GymNet you can sort trainers by recognitions such as top rated, women-owned, locally-owned, or black-owned businesses. These recognitions can help you find a trainer with similar values or approaches to fitness. Some recognitions, such as top-rated, can also give you an idea of their relationship with clients and what to expect when working with them.

Now that you know what to look for when searching for a personal trainer, it’s time to find someone to work with! GymNet makes it easy to find and book a personal trainer near you. It’s easy to use, with verified trainers, secure payments, and no membership fees.

Sign up and find the perfect personal trainer today!