Personal Trainers | Avoid This Type Of Personal Trainer At All Costs

Traits To Avoid When Searching For Your Personal Trainer

If you are looking for a personal trainer… there are some times when you should simply take one look at a personal trainer and run screaming in the opposite direction.

Yes, everyone is different, but personal trainers who display any of the characteristics listed below are probably not going to be able to help you to achieve your goals (and may require a little bit of therapy as well!)

These are the traits to watch out for in your search for a personal trainer:

•    They don’t seem to know what they’re talking about. Yes, a little bit of inexperience is one thing, but if you are constantly catching your personal trainer in an error it may be time to reevaluate whether or not they are really qualified to be teaching you. Remember, you hire a personal trainer for the benefit of their knowledge in helping you to achieve your goals; if they don’t know what they’re talking about, where is your money going?

•    They force you to do things that are obviously beyond your abilities, then criticize you when you fail to meet their expectations. It is expected that a personal trainer will push you to stretch beyond the boundaries which you have established for yourself, but the whole idea is to help you to reach attainable goals in reasonable increments. Sometimes a personal trainer will forget that not all of their clients are able to perform the same physical exertions as they are, and they will become very frustrated when those same clients’ performance is on par with their specific level of fitness. This is both frustrating and potentially harmful.

•    They make you uncomfortable on any level at any time.

•    They discuss your training and progress (particularly the negatives) publicly. A personal trainer should have the same type of confidentiality policy as a doctor; that is, they realize that what they know is their business and their business alone and therefore should not be discussed with anyone without your say-so. Often associates working together in a private establishment will have meetings with upper management to discuss clients and how they could possibly improve their experience; however, this is not the same as openly talking or complaining in the hallway by the water cooler.

•    They have frequent bursts of temper as a result of something which you have said and done. As mentioned above, patience and an even temperament are essential requirements for a successful trainer. Losing their temper with a client is unacceptable, and may result in either physical or emotional harm to one or both parties.

If your personal trainer exhibits any of the above traits or behaviors, fire them immediately and find a personal trainer that is qualified and is right for you.