What to Look For In a Silicon Valley Personal Trainer

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There are no shortages of health clubs in Silicon Valley, otherwise known as the southern part of the San Francisco bay area. Most of them employ personal fitness trainers to assist the members. There are also personal trainers that work privately at clients’ homes or places of work.

I’ve been in the health and fitness industry for years, and I’ve been around. I’ve worked in Palo Alto, Redwood City, Mountain View, Santana Row, San Jose and Cupertino. Having trained at large commercial gyms such as Equinox, Gold’s Gym, Club One and 24 Hour Fitness, I’ve witnessed personal trainers of all abilities. I’ve come across some amazing talents to those that frankly have no business being a trainer.

Here is a list of a few things I think are crucial in a personal trainer.

Certifications

Make sure that the personal trainer is certified by a reputable certification body.The most reputable organizations are the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), American Council of Exercise (ACE) and the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA).

You can verify a trainer’s certifications through each organization directly. You’d be surprised how many trainers lie about having a certification!

Continuing Education

Is your personal trainer always looking to learn more? Or do they seem content with the base of knowledge they have at the moment?

The science behind performance improvement and what works in fitness is ever evolving. New studies, techniques and theories are constantly being updated. A good trainer knows that ongoing education is key, and should always be seeking out and attending seminars, workshops and conferences to learn the latest on how to help their clients.

Additionally, many of the certifications require continuing education credits in order to renew active status. Ask the trainer about the last class they took: if it has been more than 6 months, keep looking.

Training Philosophy

Ask the personal trainer what is his/her training philosophy. The answer is not meant to be a ten minute scientific dissertation. The trainer’s answer should make sense to you. For example, if your goal is to be in better health and tone up a little, would you want a personal trainer that works primarily with bodybuilders? Probably not. If you are the type of person that doesn’t like the in-your-face type of approach, would you want to hire a boot camp style trainer that gets aggressive with you and likes to use yelling as motivation?

Be Comfortable

Make sure that your personalities match well. If not, the training sessions will seem long and drawn out. Also make sure that you feel comfortable around the trainer. If something doesn’t feel right, trust your instincts and find someone else. Hiring a personal trainer with vast amounts of knowledge and/or experience is useless if you don’t feel comfortable around him/her.

Ask for References

A qualified personal trainer will be happy to give you the names of his/her current clients who can vouch for him and give feedback on what the trainer is like to work with. If the trainer is hesitant about giving you references, this is a red flag.

Ask the clients about their training and the trainer. For instance ask if they reached their goals. Also ask how the trainer helped them get there, and what they like best about their trainer.

Trainer Appearance

Does the fitness trainer live by what they preach? Does he/she have the appearance of one that is physically fit and takes care of their personal well-being? If not, that should also be a red flag.
How about their dress and grooming? The trainer’s attire should evoke professionalism and pride in what they do. 

You’ll be spending valuable time and money with a personal trainer. Make sure you get your the full value of your investment by asking questions and you will find the right trainer for you.