A good or great trainer would have the majority of the following characteristics, qualities and credentials and could also verify them.
1. UNIVERSITY QUALIFIED: with a background in exercise science (or similar field).
2. CERTIFIED: with a reputable agency; ACSM, NASM, NSCA (these are the top 3 agencies from over 300 in the USA).
3. GETS RESULTS – EXPERIENCED: Has gotten results on people and some similar to you and has proof. Also has more than 3 to 5 years of full time experience working as a paid trainer. (not just self, friends or family members).
4. ASSESSMENT: Before you start working out the trainer does a thorough assessment to find your current strengths and weaknesses in different areas of health and fitness to help design or prescribe a personalized exercise routine or program.
5. INTERESTED: The trainer must be interested in you; your goals, barriers and helping you totally. The trainer does not stare at the mirror or check the local talent or their appearance, butt or biceps.
6. PERSONALITY: You will have to trust and rely on your trainer. There has to be some semblance of life or spark in the trainer. You have to like and get along with them a little. A super qualified, no personality, dead-in-the-head trainer, will be a brain drain for you.
7. CONTINUING EDUCATION: Loves to learn and keeps up to date with leading edge fitness know-how through multiple ways: books, videos, courses and more. The good trainer knows what they know and what they don’t. Trainers need to be alert and actively interested in continuing their education.
8. GENUINE PASSION: Fitness is a large part of their life. They have real passion for fitness. This is what the trainer does full time, for a living and not as an interim thing to do for money or by default because of failure to succeed being a rock star or actor
9. PROFESSIONAL: They are professional in appearance, attitude and action. They do not air or bring their dirty laundry to work for you to listen to or solve their problems.
For potentially the best, fastest, safest and most effective way to train invest in the services of a personal trainer who is ideally: college qualified, certified, experienced and has proven results over many years. This trainer would include strength, aerobic and some stretching training in your workout program with some dietary tips and guidance as deemed necessary.
A really good trainer would also educate you in the finer and more important basics of strength, cardio, stretching, recovery, rest and nutrition as well. The workouts would then be safer, more effective and time efficient leading to better results.
Rudi Marashlian
Exercise Science
