Friday, October 31, 2008

Personal Trainers and You !

There are plenty of reasons why you should and shouldn’t get a personal trainer.

Being a beginner at the gym can be very confusing. All the machines probably look the same and you don’t know what to workout on today, tomorrow and the day after that.

A personal fitness trainer can help you get started with the basic knowledge you need to get into shape. They can show you how to do different exercises and they can also set you up with a routine that will help every muscle in your body. Long term programs are always beneficial, but if you only need to setup a routine for yourself; one or two sessions can be enough. Personal trainers are also there to be your motivation. If you are someone that likes to make excuses and never show up to the gym, paying for a personal trainer can be what gets you there.

While there are reasons to get personal trainers there are also reasons why not to get them. Many personal trainers only have a certification which is given out after a two or three day course. These certifications almost never require a college degree so they might not know more than your neighbor. Always ask them for their certification and research what it actually means. You might be surprised.

If you are leaning on hiring a personal trainer, there is plenty of information available for free wherever you look. On the internet, in the library and even at your gym. There are always people you can ask that will be more than glad to help you and won’t charge you a penny. If you are having a lot of trouble getting in shape or getting motivated; a personal trainer might be for you.

Please visit our website for more information on career personal training .

Posted by careerpersonaltraining at 15:13:03 | Permalink | No Comments »

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Personal Trainers – An Intro to the Beginners

We’ve all seen them in the gym taking care of their clients, giving expert advice and encouragement. But what can you expect from a personal trainer and how do you find a good one? Here we provide the answers to those questions and more.

Why have a personal trainer?

After all, some are not cheap and it’s you doing the exercise not them. However are you doing the right exercise, at the right frequency and with the right technique? A personal trainer can save hours of hard work done incorrectly. A personal trainer can analyze your lifestyle and give you the perfect routine, encouragement and guidance. Then you can get the most from your workout efforts.

Personal trainer certification and qualification

Within the first conversation with a prospective personal trainer you should ask for their credentials. There are many governing bodies a personal trainer can be a member of. All of the following ensure the candidate can safely and knowledgeably instruct their clients by having them take various tests and courses:

USA

Aerobic and fitness association of America - AFAA

American college of sports medicine - ACSM

American council of exercise - ACE

American fitness professional & associates - AFPA

International sports sciences association - ISSA

National federation of personal trainers - NFPT

United Kingdom

Lifetime dynamic training - LDT

National register of personal trainers - NRPT

Register of exercise professionals - REP

YMCA fitness industry training - YMCAFIT

Look for these plus any further qualifications gained at college or university. Any personal trainer should be glad to show you these.

How to find a good personal trainer

Before even choosing a personal trainer while you’re in the gym; observe them at work. See who give their clients good encouragement and are attentive. Look also for someone you’ll get on with personally.

Also talk to some clients and get there recommendations. Some personal trainers specialize in long distance running or body building, ask around and see if you’re goals match with any specialists. All in all get a feel of their reputation and combine this with your observations to find the best one for you.

What a personal trainer will do

Before any activity takes place, the personal trainer should discuss your general health and fitness goals. They will discuss your body type and find out how much time you’re willing to spend. He/she will also need to know of any relevant health concerns you may have had in the past.

Your personal trainer should then draw up a fitness program to suit you. This will include fitness aims and a schedule to undertake during the week until the next personal training session. There should also be a comment on good nutrition toward a healthier lifestyle, all in keeping with your goals.

The personal trainer will then walk through a fitness routine with you. This will start with stretching and a gentle warm up followed by some cardio work (treadmill, bike, etc). He/she may then go through some resistance training. All of this is to check you’re using the machines correctly and to go through your fitness routine so you can workout yourself until your next session with the personal trainer.

Personal trainers overall

Personal trainers are not always needed; you could do some training research yourself and focus yourself on your goals. But it is much safer and easier with the guidance and motivation from a personal trainer. You will also reach your goals far quicker and without injury with the professional help.

Overall, be sure to check out all the personal trainers available, ask for their qualifications and, as long as you put the effort in, then your fitness and lifestyle goals should start to become a reality.

Please visit our website for more information on how to become a personal trainer.

Posted by careerpersonaltraining at 18:50:12 | Permalink | No Comments »

Monday, October 27, 2008

Selection of a Personal Fitness Gym

It is not uncommon for people thinking about joining a fitness gym or health club to be a little confused by the choices available. The first thing you really need to do is sit down and decide exactly what is you want to achieve from fitness school or institute you join. Whilst that is important, there are some other factors to consider before you make your final decision. Not to be dismissed as a minor point should be where it is located, if it is not close to your place of work or home you will quickly find reasons not to go.

Having a decent well certified personal trainer is the next most important thing, as a good trainer will encourage you to not only attend but to keep the fitness training up. For people that may have specific requirements or physical limitations, the personal fitness trainer needs to be made aware of these from the start. Ask the staff what additional services are available; how they treat you will give you a good idea how enthusiastic and professional they are in their work. The really good fitness clubs have specially trained staff that may focus on aspects of diet, nutrition or even professional physiotherapists.

Often it is the opening times of these training institutes that let them down and the standard range of programs is not varied enough to suit most people’s needs. If you have specific classes in mind, make sure they have them before you join the fitness school or institute; preferably more than one per week. It may seem like a minor point but if the school or institute doesn’t have sufficient training equipment to go around, queues are likely to form and that is when people start to leave. The more modern fitness facilities available these days are world apart from training equipment a few years ago; machines are much safer and easier to use but look out for damaged or broken machines as these should really be fixed within a week.

Almost all trainer schools or institutes have a healthy social calendar and this is a good time to get an invitation before you join and perhaps meet few people you might be able to get on with when you’re training. You will also need to know what the fees are, whether they increase a great deal every year and if there are charges not mentioned in the literature.

Personal Fitness training schools vary, which means you will need to visit a few to find one that you not only feel comfortable which also has all the facilities you require. Choosing a fitness training school or institute is just like shopping on the best shirt for you so don’t be pressured or contact them right away; take your time to review and gather enough information if you are still not sure which one to choose.

Please visit our website for more information on personal training courses .

Posted by careerpersonaltraining at 20:30:20 | Permalink | No Comments »

Friday, October 24, 2008

Expectation from Personal Fitness Training Education

If you like working with people and would like to help others enhance wellness, balance diets and improve weight management through planned exercise regimens, then enrolling in National Personal Training Institute education programs might be ideal for you. Once you begin participating in personal fitness training education, you not only get in shape while attending school, but you also gain focus and knowledge to teach others how to become fit and healthy as well.

In the course of a personal fitness training education, students can become certified as personal fitness trainers through comprehensive studies including anatomy and physiology, basic first aid and CPR, nutritional education (i.e., macro/micro nutrients, diet, nutritional consulting), fitness assessment, exercise programming, exercise machinery, and how to track client progress.

Furthermore, personal fitness training education programs frequently teach students how to facilitate kinesiology (a muscle testing method), as well as essential entrepreneurial skills in business, marketing and management.

Depending on the personal fitness training education program in which you enroll, some courses can be completed in less than six months; while a number of personal fitness training education programs may be more in-depth and require an extended period of training hours.

In most cases, personal fitness training education programs will result in a diploma or certification; however, graduates who have met all required coursework and training may be eligible to take a national certification exam to become nationally certified. After you’ve completed your personal fitness training education program, you can go onto working in health clubs, fitness centers, health retreats, spas and salons, as well as vacation resorts and alongside major sports teams. While income varies, experienced and reputable personal trainers can expect lucrative earnings from $25,000 to well over $50,000 annually.

Please visit our website for more information on personal fitness training education .

Posted by careerpersonaltraining at 15:41:22 | Permalink | No Comments »

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Today’s careers in Personal Fitness Training

Currently, there are a variety of vocational schools and personal trainer schools from which to choose; should you desire to pursue a personal training fitness career. In addition, there are a number of certification programs that are offered through traditional colleges and universities that help candidates get on track for successful personal fitness training careers.

Sometimes, personal training fitness careers may require a bachelor’s degree for various hiring institutions; however, the greater part of employers seeks candidates who have at least achieved certification from an accredited school or college. Once individuals have made the active decision to pursue personal training fitness careers, it is wise to review potential training academies for prerequisites, tuition, curriculum, and whether the school meets all certification credentials (with regard to educational programming).

Common academics for personal training fitness careers include exercise science, physical education, anatomy and physiology, first aid and CPR, kinesiology (muscle testing), nutritional counseling, and business training. In addition, while many training courses like this focus primarily on personal fitness trainer, some degree programs integrate additional coursework in business administration and management, as well as general training in communication, humanities, and other health sciences.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “opportunities are expected to be good for fitness workers because of rapid growth in the fitness industry.” This is a fine example of the great prospect of a career in personal training. Also, depending on education and experience, professional personal and fitness trainers have annual median earns of about $25,000 but may well exceed that amount.

If you (or someone you know) are interested in achieving personal training fitness careers, let professional training within fast-growing industries like massage therapy, cosmetology, acupuncture, oriental medicine, Reiki, and others get you started !

Please visit our website for more information on career in personal training.

Posted by careerpersonaltraining at 19:54:08 | Permalink | No Comments »

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

Personal Trainer Certification – Which One is the Best For You ?

There are many organizations offering personal trainer certification in the health and fitness industry like National Personal Training Institute. Some of these certifications are legitimate and should be considered when determining which personal trainer certification to get but others aren’t certifications that are worth the paper they are written on.

How do you know which personal trainer certification to choose?

# 1 - Go for the best personal trainer certification not necessarily the easiest. Choose a certifying organization for personal training that has a third party that reviews their exams. Recently, the personal training certifying bodies have used NCCA, an accrediting body of impartial experts who ensure that the certification of that organization has met stringent standards. This brings credibility to the organization and its certifications, research, events, etc. Not many organizations who certify personal trainers will have this professional “mark” of excellence but those that do, will definitely tell you about it.

# 2 - Choose a personal trainer certification that encourages fitness assessments and proper medical and general history of the client during the client intake.

You want to know what you are getting yourself into when you train a client.

How do you know if the client has a heart history? How do you know how much stress the client is under from job, family, and other commitments? What about medications the client is taking - do you know how these will affect the client’s training? How do you know what exercise recommendations you should make for a client that you haven’t fitness assessed?

Organizations that don’t teach personal trainers through their certification programs to ask for and get this information are basically “asking” you to train a potential “walking time bomb “.

Who knows, in this day in age, what is truly going on internally with people in the general population? Even younger athletes who you might be training could be “on” something and /or susceptible to something (heart attacks).

You need to know this information through proper client intake procedures. The certification program should teach you this.

# 3 - Select the personal trainer certification that requires continuing education hours.

This expectation gives credibility to the certification. The personal trainer should be continually learning more about how to train safely and effectively and to make programs individualized by using a variety of teaching techniques.

The certified personal trainer should learn information to give the client of a general non - medical nutritional nature and should be constantly educating him/herself in how to motivate and hold the client accountable.

This is the standard that a certified personal trainer should be held to.

# 4 - What to watch out for.

Can you get a personal trainer certification off the internet in the next half hour? Sure. If it is something that is inexpensive and you can print the certificate immediately after paying with your credit card, you really don’t want this personal trainer certification. If you aren’t required to study anything nor have any study materials to purchase in passing a personal trainer exam, you don’t want this certification either.

Basically, if it is too good to be true, it is not a legitimate credential. These are the certification credentials that you ought to run from.

The health and fitness industry is huge and the opportunities for certified personal trainers are growing. Start out on the right footing. Get the best certification in the industry to set you apart using these tips as guidelines in choosing.

Please visit our website for more information on personal trainer certification .

Posted by careerpersonaltraining at 18:25:19 | Permalink | No Comments »

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Personal Fitness Trainer and Benefits

From eating the right food to choosing the right exercise and everything in between, one may invariably forget one pertinent detail or make a mistake regarding their diet and end up 10 pounds overweight or with bulging biceps when all you really wanted was to tone your muscles.

While the fee that a personal fitness trainer may charge may make your knees bulk, wait till you read and learn about the benefits of hiring one.

Accurate Fitness Evaluation. Let’s face it; a lot of us tend to over- or under-estimate our physical abilities and therefore end up with strained muscles and joints (which can lead to health problems) or a lax exercise regime (which lengthens the time enabling us to reach our fitness goals). However, with a personal trainer, your physical fitness will be accurately evaluated and you can be quite sure that whatever fitness program you end up with is the ideal one for you.

Motivation. It really is easier to exercise with someone around and a personal trainer is just the right person to have on your side if you have a fitness goal you’re sweating to attain. A personal trainer will know exactly when he has to act as a tough general, a great source of encouragement and inspiration or simply as a friend to talk to and listen to your personal health woes.

Customized Fitness Program. Contrary to popular opinion, there’s no such thing as an exercise or diet program that fits all. In short, what may work for others may not work for you and what may take others weeks to achieve may mean one year’s worth of effort in your part. But how will you be able to determine what fitness program is best for you unless you consult an expert?

Safety. A lot of accidents can happen during unsupervised exercises so having a personal trainer will ensure that you are using fitness club equipment the right way. Not only does this prevent serious physical injuries, it ensures that you get the most out of your exercise routines.

The Need for Change. Perhaps one of the things that hits even the most health-conscious individual is boredom ! Sometimes, all that one needs is a little change in one’s exercise routine and with a personal trainer beside you , he or she can come up with different exercise programs, all geared towards keeping you active and interested in going to the gym.

What to Look for in a Personal Trainer

So are you convinced now that a personal trainer is what you have been needing all this time? If so, following are some of the items you should look for in a personal trainer.

• Education. Remember, you are relying on this individual to guide you in your fitness goals. As such, it is important that he or she is certified by reputable Fitness Institute such as ACSM or NSCA.

• Experience. It builds one’s trust and confidence if you know that your personal trainer has had vast experience so be sure you know his or her credentials. Also, keep in mind YOUR fitness goal. For instance, if you are a bodybuilder, get a personal trainer who specializes in bodybuilding.

• Personality. A great personal trainer is one who is dedicated to your fitness objectives. As such, he or she should be attentive to your needs, be a good listener and one who constantly keeps track of your progress or failures.

Please visit our website for more information on personal trainer education .

Posted by careerpersonaltraining at 18:13:11 | Permalink | No Comments »

Monday, October 20, 2008

What Things To Look For in A Fitness Trainer - And Why

What Things To Look For in A Fitness Trainer - And Why

Motivation is of utmost importance in fitness training, this is where a personal fitness trainer can work wonders. The value of a certified personal trainer is not simply in the wealth of information he or she can provide, nor the guidance through the maze of machines and methods. A good fitness trainer can also help provide the motivation necessary for success in an exercise, fitness, or weight loss program.

As with so many things in life, not every fitness trainer is like the next. Some have more to offer than others, some fit your personality and lifestyle than others, some are more perceptive than others, and, unfortunately, some should not be fitness trainers.

Here are a few things to think about when selecting a fitness trainer:

1. Is the trainer certified ? There are many highly regarded professional organizations such as APFA, NASM, or NCSF which certify fitness trainers.

2. What is the educational background ? Many colleges and universities offer degree courses for those entering the field of fitness training. You might want to know what your potential trainer has achieved.

3. Is the trainer qualified in first aid and CPR ? A lot of things can go wrong in a fitness training program. Anything from slips falls and dropped equipment all the way up to heart attacks. Is your trainer qualified to deal with these ?

4. What is the trainer’s personality like ? Meet with this person and take some time to get to know them. Was this person referred to you by a friend ? So much the better. You are going to spend a lot of time with your trainer, and there will be moments of frustration and discouragement. It is important that you feel comfortable with your trainer as a person.

5. What are the trainer’s goals for your development ? Do they understand what you are hoping to accomplish ? How are they going to track your progress ? Are they going to develop a plan designed for your needs, or do they have a chart in a notebook and a copy of a list of exercises they recommend to all their clients.

The contributions of a personal fitness trainer to an exercise program go beyond standing there exhorting you to knock out one more rep or chewing you out for slacking off or failing to meet your goals.

Please visit our website for more information on career in personal training .

Posted by careerpersonaltraining at 19:20:56 | Permalink | No Comments »

Friday, October 17, 2008

Working With a Personal Fitness Trainer

Some people have a difficult time motivating themselves to workout. Others may have a hard time figuring out which work outs are best for achieving their goals. If you are experiencing these problems, you may need to work with a fitness trainer. Fitness trainers are great at motivating you to work out properly and stay fit. They have experience with fitness, and will often know what is best for you to achieve your goals. When it comes to fitness, there are a lot of gimmicks and products available which simply do not work.

You often have to make guesses to try and figure out what works best when you exercise alone. A personal trainer will be able to see past all the gimmicks and point you in the best direction. They will be able to see you from a different perspective than you see yourself, and can quickly find solutions to problems which are keeping you from achieving your goals.

When you work with a fitness trainer, they will set you up with a program which is tailored to your health, age, and fitness specifications. Your fitness trainer will set up a eating plan, strength training plan, cardiovascular plan, and a progress chart. Probably the most important thing gained from working with a fitness trainer is self confidence. Having someone complimenting you on your hard work will make you feel good about yourself, and will push you to continue.

Many people choose to stop exercising because they are not seeing the results they want fast enough, or they’ve tried some special diet which hasn’t worked. Working with a fitness trainer will help you choose the right diets and the right methods of working out. They will point you in the best direction possible.

You want to make sure to choose a certified fitness trainer. You want to make sure they have a proven track record of helping people become successful.

Please visit our website for more information on personal fitness trainer certification .

Posted by careerpersonaltraining at 14:55:35 | Permalink | No Comments »

Thursday, October 16, 2008

Will I get faster results with a Personal Trainer ?

If you pick the right personal fitness trainer you’ll most definitely see faster results. If the personal trainer is registered with a governing body, it’s likely the personal trainer would have gone through the proper training and education process. A personal trainer’s job is to motivate and inspire a client to push far beyond the boundaries of what they would normally do if they were exercising by themselves.

A personal trainer should also help the client understand why they need to do certain exercises depending on the outcome of the client.

For the average person who wants to get great, consistent results, and who might need just a little bit of external motivation, then a personal trainer is a great choice. A fitness plan is great for someone who has a certain goal or outcome they want to achieve within a certain time frame. If you’re the type of person whom doesn’t stick to your daily fitness routine without an actual fitness plan…then definitely go for it! If you want a fitness plan that actually works, make sure you get the advice of a certified fitness instructor/personal trainer. There is plenty of great information on getting a fitness plan on the net for free.

If you are trying to lose weight through a fitness plan, also consult a dietician to help you fast track your fitness results. A Fitness Plan mixed with healthy eating habits is a win, win situation all around!

Depending on the outcome you want, your fitness training should be tailored to suit. If you are trying to lose weight and ‘tone’ up, your fitness training will need to be more intense than if you were ‘getting over an injury’. To get the best results with your fitness training, it is best to book in with a personal trainer for a one-on-one Fitness Training assessment and work out together what you need to do to get the results you want.

Rushing into your fitness training program without the proper education, support and professional help could also mean injury in the short and long term. If you haven’t undertaken any fitness training for some time, definitely seek a certified fitness trainer’s help. Fitness training should be enjoyable, un-intimidating and results driven all at the same time. It’s never too early or too late to get started with your fitness training program and if you get the right help, you’ll never look back !

Please visit our website for more information on personal trainer certification .

Posted by careerpersonaltraining at 18:09:58 | Permalink | No Comments »