Five things to look for in your next personal trainer

When it comes to health and fitness, these days it can feel like information overload. It is available in- person and online everywhere, with one swipe, search or download giving you instantaneous results. Results used to add and potentially improve your quality of life but now, given the sheer volume of knowledge at our fingertips, it can also act as a source of confusion and anxiety. Consuming too much at once puts us in a temporary brain freeze.

This reality can be especially overwhelming when you experience an injury that requires a substantial amount of rehab and mobility work. You are vulnerable. It can be hard to decipher whose ‘expertise’ is trustworthy or what advice should take priority in your fitness experience.

Most people require multiple practitioners to properly address their discomfort. This might look like integrating a physio, personal trainer, and GP at the same time. In unique cases your team of practitioners can work in tandem with one another sharing information on your injury and building a comprehensive plan to your best benefit. We love to see this!

However, often we witness clients juggling various versions of advice given to them from individual sources. The contradictions in information and approach leave them confused without knowing which recovery plan is best to follow.

There’s nothing worse than feeling desperate for answers and seeking injury advice from multiple practitioners with no clear road to recovery.

An already painful injury now made worse by the headache of misguided help. Sound familiar?

You need one trusted plan that encompasses all the advice you receive. When this is not available, you are not getting the recovery results you want despite your best efforts.

We don’t want this to happen to you.

Imagine if you just needed to show up to the gym to achieve your peak fitness. By showing up you could experience a supportive community, accountability, and waste no time reaching your goals because you have a coach who knows exactly how to get you what you want.

A good coach has the power to transform your health and fitness. As masters of their craft, they take the guesswork out of the process, build you a plan to reach your goals and then guide you through the experience to success.

But not all trainers are created equal. They can have an incredible impact on your life, so it’s important to do your own due diligence to choose the right fit for you.

Here are the essentials we suggest you consider in your search:

1. Look for trainers who engage your body AND mind. A good trainer doesn’t fall for fitness trends. They keep you engaged with education and technique that touches on both the physical and mental. This could look like full body exercise that incorporates multiple muscle groups at once, multi-joint movements or all three planes of motion.
   

2. Every trainer has their own style and method Most trainers are knowledgeable in many styles of training, but they tend to specialise in a niche with specific skills. This might look like injury rehab, sport, endurance training, and bodybuilding to name a few. Be sure to choose a trainer that aligns with your goals. For example, if your goal is to build endurance then you wouldn’t want to see a bodybuilding specialist.
   

3. Make sure they focus on technique training Technique and form training is essential to building a strong foundation to your fitness approach. We suggest starting light, perfecting your form first and foremost, and as your confidence and technique builds adding a challenging weight for max impact from every rep. Choosing a good trainer who values training technique can make a huge difference in your fitness experience.
   

4. Ask for a personalised program If you have injuries or special considerations, these should be integrated into your training program. An essential ingredient to working with a coach is how they personalise your experience.

5. They should help you achieve results If you are investing time and money into a good trainer, you deserve to see results. Results don’t always come only in the form of physical transformation, but also mental and emotional. It takes time to see results. You must be ready to make change and with the right coach you can shift habits and thought patterns acting as barriers in the way of achieving your goals. A personal trainer should track your progress during your sessions and over time.
   

Your time is valuable, and so is your health. Don’t waste time deciphering the next ‘expert’ opinion on fitness and recovery, instead, let a coach do the work for you.

Here at Method Health we offer a precise blueprint for injury prevention and recovery incorporating expert strength and lifestyle management. Our team will guide you in advancing your physical function, strengthening your weaknesses, and offering accountability on the days you struggle to get out of bed and get moving.

Do you have a health challenge that needs extra focus?

No more excuses, let’s get serious about taking a comprehensive look at your health. Together we can do the heavy lifting!