Friday, November 28, 2008

Reasons -Why Working With a Personal Trainer

A lot of people think of personal trainers as people who show you how to go about lifting weights. This is actually a small part of what a personal trainer does. When certified a personal trainer provides his / her clients with practical, safe and affordable guidance so that a person can achieve their personal goals for a healthy body and mind.

Once you locate a personal trainer here is what they can offer :

Education- Building good health is an important goal, however an investment in learning how to change your current lifestyle and get healthy and active and stay that way for the long term will pay off. You will enjoy a longer and healthier life as a result. A certified personal trainer will provide you with the education you need to achieve your health and well being goals.

Guidance-Your personal trainer will assist you with designing your exercise program, one that is tailored to your lifestyle and schedule, one that fits your body type and current fitness level. A personal trainer can guide you in general fitness, improved sports performance, prevention of injuries, and weight loss. Not to mention the activities of everyday life.

Motivation-This is an important one. Sometimes getting motivated to work out and eat right for some people is like climbing the biggest mountain on earth. Going it alone makes it even harder. We need some kind of outside motivation to get moving and keep moving toward our fitness goals. A personal trainer can be an important asset with regards to this area and provide you with encouragement and feedback to build confidence so you can find the resolve to continue.

Support-Finding the time to exercise regularly is a challenge. If you run into roadblocks and find it difficult to keep going your personal trainer can help you sort through some of the issues you might face. Having a person to talk to and get advice on certain aspects of your routine is an asset.

Safety-Making sure that you are starting out properly and using the right form and technique when exercising is crucial to long term success. The last thing you need is to get an injuring right out of the gate. A personal trainer is educated in the basics of setting proper weight amounts and in the proper use of the equipment used, the best types of cardio training to get you going without over exerting your muscles and joints.

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

Posted by careerpersonaltraining at 15:00:42 | Permalink | No Comments »

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Before You Join Fitness Club …

Exercise centers often offer the same workout experience from facility to facility. Exercise facilities can have differences, the staff, the layout etc. Not necessarily, most fitness centers just offer a place to workout without anything beyond that.

This is not to say that a given fitness center is without its benefits. Most of them provide the quality of experience which fitness-minded people desire. For most, the local gym or fitness club provide the need that you are after and will keep you coming back.

However, many, if not most, fitness centers in, and elsewhere, cannot provide the focused attention, environment and quality of training that some of us seek. It can be tough to ask for help from a fitness trainer in a big health club and feel like you are on display. Most of us, I’m guessing, would prefer to have the undivided attention of a personal trainer, while not dividing the attention of those around.
There is no reason to have esteem issues when working with one trainer, one location, one tailored workout routine.

Unless your fitness center is open 24-hours and is vacant at, say 2 am, or you belong to an exclusive–and expensive–fitness center, the ability to maximize the time, energy and effort to pursue a life-changing workout regimen without the many distractions found in the average fitness center in is compromised.
Providing a private, one-on-one training experience that focuses only on the individual, their goals, their needs and desires, even their respirations and exertion level…
“It all goes to making the sometimes daunting effort of getting in shape an enjoyable, challenging and worthwhile journey.”

Now, we might think the midpoint of a journey is when the distance before us is equal to the distance gained. This is true in a physical sense. Emotionally, however, we might consider the first step toward a goal as momentous, as it took an investment of faith and courage to make that first stride possible.
Some fitness centers recognizes this investment, one that may well have been borne out of any number of personal reasons that make it a dear investment, indeed. This recognition is worthy of an investment of our own, which we pledge, and together we stride toward greater health and fulfillment.

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

Posted by careerpersonaltraining at 18:45:30 | Permalink | No Comments »

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Fitness Instructor - Insurance

As a fitness instructor providing lessons outside of your place of employment, you need to be sure you have fitness instructor insurance to cover your liabilities with regard to having private clients.

Always have your clients sign a waiver so that you are covered in case of simple things that could happen to anyone taking a fitness class.

Things like sprained ankles and pulled hamstrings are common, and you don’t want to be sued for these.

Your fitness instructor insurance can cover them, but you don’t want this small of an issue having to go to court.

Make sure to have your clients undergo a physical exam by their own physician. Provide a form for them to have signed by their physician that you can keep in their information file. Their level of fitness should be tested as well.

If they test as a beginner, you should not allow them to take your harder classes until they can test into them. This protects you from being sued, and is the professional thing to do. Sometimes you can’t avoid it. As the expert, you can be held responsible for any injuries to your clients, even though they may have signed a waiver.

As their professional fitness instructor, you need fitness instructor insurance to protect you.

Anytime you are instructing students, training new athletes or even just acting as a consultant, you are liable. Your clients have turned to you as the expert in your field. The court system will see you as the same expert. You better have fitness instructor insurance to cover you outside of your place of employment.

There was a case recently wherein a fitness trainer who was employed by a club decided to advise a client about vitamin supplements they could take to help with their exercises.

Their club did not sell supplements or vitamins, so this was all on the trainer. Their insurance policy did not cover the trainer in his act as a consultant about vitamins and supplements.

They met outside of his normal place of employment so the trainer could talk to the client about what to take.

The client had a heart problem, and because of taking the recommended supplements, he died. Guess who was responsible?

The fitness trainer was responsible. He also did not have his own fitness instructor insurance.

The family of the deceased client sued the manufacturer of the supplements, the club and the fitness trainer.

Not only is the fitness trainer going to have to pay, the club he worked for (he was fired of course) will probably have to pay, and their insurance will also go after the fitness trainer to recoup their losses. Having fitness instructor insurance pays.

Please visit our website for more information on personal training certification

Posted by careerpersonaltraining at 18:18:26 | Permalink | No Comments »

Monday, November 24, 2008

Fitness Trainer - Waste Of Money Or Valued Tool ?

Motivation is the drive in fitness training. But believe it or not, it’s the hardest too. That’s why you haven’t been working out! This is especially true for beginners with fitness training program.

When things are done repeatedly and turn out to be a routine, no matter how fun and electrifying it was in the beginning, it can still get boring! To add to that, exercises never show immediate results, hence making you lose that motivation you had when you first came to join the program with a bright smiley face to achieve your target. You will then be left with the word ‘impossible’ in your head.

To avoid this situation, keep your fitness routine as fresh and interesting as possible, rather than the same old thing for years. One of the best solutions will be to have a personal fitness trainer.

A professional fitness trainer doesn’t only come in the package of information, or guiding you through the mechanics of the equipments at the gym. The best fitness trainer will be able to help in motivating you when necessary for success of your target and achievements. Motivational words cannot stand on their own. So this is when the knowledge of the trainer comes in. A good trainer can guide your with variety of routines to keep your fitness routines fun. Your trainer can show you tips and tricks that will help you make your workouts or diet more successful. Stories of the success of others that they’ve been involved with as a trainer could help you maintain your level of motivation while you squirm your way through those machines.

One of the utmost importances in a fitness trainer is to make sure you are calm and feel at ease when you are feeling down or thinking of failing. It goes the same as when you think you need a break. A good trainer will be understanding and able to accept it emotionally, the necessity for you to step back for a while and relax from the fitness regiment from time to time to shoot for a better level of success.

However, every trainer is different. So do your research right before selecting your trainer. Some may fit your personality and understand your lifestyle, as others might have a different perspective on it. One of the few things you have to consider before selecting a fitness trainer is if the trainer is certified. Do check the educational background too. Many colleges and universities now offer courses in the field of fitness training. You can then find out what your potential trainer has achieved through it.

One of the most important elements should not be missed when selecting the right character in a trainer is if he or she is qualified in first aid or CPR. Many unexpected things can happen during fitness training programs, and you would want to know if he or she is qualified to deal with unforeseen situations. Meet your potential fitness trainer and get to know him or her a little better so you can know how the trainer’s personality likes. It is important to have a trainer that you feel comfortable with. If it’s a recommended trainer by a friend, even better! You wouldn’t want to be spending most of your time sweating it out with someone that ends up making you feel worst about yourself, right? Ask for the trainer’s goals for your development. It’s good to know if your trainer understands what you are hoping for to accomplish and keep track of your progress.

A fitness trainer plays a big role to an exercise program. He or she should be able to provide guidance, advice and encouragements to you when necessary so you will stay on track with your exercises to achieve your target.

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

Posted by careerpersonaltraining at 18:23:46 | Permalink | No Comments »

Friday, November 21, 2008

Common Mistakes When Hiring a Personal Trainer

Hiring a personal trainer is a great way to get in shape. Sometimes the fitness knowledge and motivation that we provide for ourselves is not quite enough to get the type of results that we know our bodies deserve, so hiring a personal trainer can be a great way to get some better, more long lasting results. The only thing is that when it comes to hiring a personal trainer, we tend to be even less experienced than we are with the whole fitness thing. That is okay, though; take a moment to review the most common mistakes that people make when hiring a personal trainer so that they won’t happen to you!

Not Meeting the Trainer before Starting

One of the worst things that you can possibly do when hiring a personal trainer is to fail to meet the trainer beforehand. If you think about it, the work that you do with a personal trainer is a collaborative effort between the two of you. If you and your trainer do not have a certain element of chemistry, it will be very difficult to get the results that you want from the experience, right? For this reason, it is so important to be sure to at least make a valiant effort to meet face to face with your trainer before you sign anything.

Not Taking Experience into Consideration

Do you know what a personal trainer without experience is? They are the ambitious, motivated equivalent of YOU. We are all for giving people a chance to get started in the business, but if a personal trainer has not shown that they can get results, they are of no use to you and may or may not be a waste of your time and you hard-earned money. Apprentices are great-but not for a price. It is nice to want to give people a chance, but unless you have got money to burn instead of fat this may not be the best time.

Not Considering the Gym’s Recommendation

Your local gym has your best interests at heart; they want you to be happy and satisfied with the results that you get from them so that they can count on your business in the future. If you neglect to consult the recommendation of the gym that you work out at and you find yourself unhappy with the personal trainer that you have hired, the only person that you have to blame is yourself.

Not Considering Appearance

While it is true that society is working on getting past the whole fickle nature of appearances, when it comes to hiring a personal trainer you have got to be a bit superficial. Not considering appearance for a personal trainer is like not considering style when it comes to a stylist-it really makes no sense at all. A personal trainer should be thin and fit, and muscular in all of the right areas. While they may have a bit different of a physique than you are aiming for yourself, not considering personal appearance and fitness level with a personal trainer is a recipe for disaster.

Don’t make these mistakes when hiring a personal trainer. Your health is the only thing you will have to hang onto sometimes, and your personal trainer can make it or break it.

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

Posted by careerpersonaltraining at 16:55:16 | Permalink | No Comments »

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Personal Trainer Certification – How to Proceed ?

People frequently ask “how do I get certified as a personal trainer?” Are there classes for those wanting to become a personal trainer? Well, it is one thing to know which certification you might want. It’s entirely another thing to know how to get you from “no” certification; to holding one in your hand!

Most people get the 3-4 texts recommended by a certifying organization and then get stopped in their “tracks.” The person is usually suffering from a big case of overwhelm or paralysis because there is a lot of content to consider studying in these resources that the person doesn’t know where or how to begin.

Here’s a plan…

1. Find a workshop that is sponsored by the organization you want to get certified by. Remember when you were in school, it really did help to go to class and listen to the teacher. It’s likely that the teacher emphasized content that you really needed to know for the exam. So, it helped, right? The same idea holds true for attending a workshop for this exam preparation.

2. Can’t find a workshop? Get online and see if someone has written a study guide or notes to help direct you in studying for this exam rather than “wading” through the volume of the 3-4 texts that the certifying organization suggests.

3. Okay, so 1 & 2 are not options, what next? Take one of the textbooks you have received and go to the table of contents and “chunk” down the material to be covered. Most certification exams have a percentage of emphasis in one area and a different percentage in another. The exam specifics like this should be on the web site of the certifying organization.

Take the largest focus of questions on the exam, go to the content in the text and begin to read this content. For example, a PT should know basic concepts of exercise science. Chances are this would be a major focus of any exam you would take for certification. Read this material in the text, answer the questions in the back of the chapter(s), make flash cards, quiz yourself, etc. Give yourself a deadline to read and study this material and then go to the next major percentage of content you need to know about. Chances are this might be exercise recommendations and programming. Follow the same plan as previously followed with exercise science.

4. Each certifying exam worth its weight will have about 8-10 areas of content emphasis. You can “chunk” down each of these areas into 5-10 days of study time and, in about three months, be prepared for the exam.

5. Discipline, discipline, discipline! Write down your deadline for taking this exam. Set up time each day/week to study a “chunk” of material to move you toward your goal of certification. Get a study buddy or a group to support you in this effort.

Research supports that people who don’t write goals and review them frequently, don’t accomplish things. You know that you must help your training clients to become more disciplined, so you must do the same for yourself. As Nike advertises, “Just do it!”

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

Posted by careerpersonaltraining at 18:04:54 | Permalink | No Comments »

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Personal Trainers Can Make or Break Your Success

Do you need a personal trainer? That is the first question that you should be asking yourself. The answer is quite simple… If you walk into the gym and feel lost or confused, then you definitely need a personal trainer. Or, if you pretty much know what you’re doing but are seeing very little or no results, you should consult a personal trainer to help make the difference. Believe it or not, even experienced exercise enthusiasts seek out the assistance of personal trainers when they seem to be unable to make any more gains from their daily workouts.

Personal trainers are supposed to be the sole resource necessary to succeed in the gym. The time and education that is required to obtain a certification as a personal trainer is definitely not easy. You should be able to consult your gym’s personal trainer regarding your current workout routine and your goals. They should be able to give you suggestions, guidance, and instruction, as well as show you where you are making mistakes.

Most personal trainers also have and in-depth knowledge of dietary needs and requirements, and should be able to give you guidance in those areas as well. In fact, many trainers also compete in body-building or fitness competitions. These trainers are extremely focused on dietary requirements as their body fat content must be extremely minimal during an actual competition. They can give you dietary guidance that is worth its weight in platinum, so pay heed.

Sometimes, you will get lucky and will find a personal trainer that has prior military experience, possibly even Special Forces, who can give you guidance that you couldn’t get from your traditionally educated trainers. Believe it or not, most Special Forces groups in the United States Armed Forces go through the same training programs. The Navy SEALS, Army, Marine Corps, & Coast Guard all go to the same Dive School to obtain their dive certification. The physical training that they undergo is grueling to say the least. The same can be said for airborne certification schools that are hosted by the U.S. Army. Every step of the way involves more and more physical training that ensures that their bodies are perfectly tuned for the difficult and continuous abuse of combat, and that they are conditioned for any situation that may arise in the area of their certification. They are the best of the best for that reason, and a personal trainer with that background is an extremely valuable resource.

Some personal trainers aren’t so valuable. When the personal training arena became a national craze, a lot of weak certification programs sprung up across the nation. Some people saw personal training certifications as a money maker, and rushed programs into existence to take advantage of the market. This enabled masses of people to take a cheaper course and to acquire their certification in less time. Experience with personal trainers will give you the ability to discern between the two. Having a properly educated personal trainer is a wholesome and completely different experience than having someone trying to train you that knows only a little more than you do. If you have one of these trainers at your gym, avoid them like the plague. Always use a personal trainer with the knowledge to help you, because the lack of this knowledge can literally hurt you.

In the end, your fitness goals must be achieved. If a personal trainer is not helping you to make any gains or improvements, don’t be afraid to try someone else. Sometimes a trainer’s area of expertise may not coincide with your current fitness needs. Believe it or not, experience depicts how effective that a personal trainer is in certain areas. In this way, personal trainers are very much like Physicians because they can specialize.

Many personal trainers have experience with dealing with certain body types or types of metabolisms. Someone that constantly trains body-builders may not be the trainer for you if you are a beginner or have a higher body fat content than most people… Don’t be afraid to ask any and all questions that you may have, including questions regarding the personal trainer’s experience. They should be unafraid to hand you off to another trainer that is skilled better to assist you with your current fitness needs. Make sure that you have the right personal trainer for you, and you will see nothing but continued success !

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

Posted by careerpersonaltraining at 17:30:02 | Permalink | No Comments »

Monday, November 17, 2008

Personal Fitness Training

Many people just are not sure if fitness training is an art or an exact science. If you ask any good fitness trainer, he or she will tell you that it is probably a combination of the two, plus a little bit more. In an effort to look and feel better, improve overall health, and to maybe even live a little longer, many people engage in different types of fitness training each and everyday. Some people don’t need a regimented fitness schedule to look and feel their best; they can do that with just regular physical activity rather than a strict physical fitness schedule. Other people cannot go a week without the proper amount of exercise without feeling that they have neglected their body.

If you are going to engage in any type of fitness training, you should always check with your doctor beforehand. He or she will be able to adequately discuss your medical history, your current physical fitness, and any other restrictions or issues you may need to remain aware of during your physical workout. Your doctor may also be able to help you decide which type of fitness plan is right for you as well as assisting you in choosing the proper dietary restrictions. Remember, a proper diet is just as important as an effective workout. Your doctor may even be able to suggest the right fitness center or fitness trainer for your particular needs.

With the proper fitness training, you will be able to enjoy a healthier life than without it. Good physical fitness means that your body and mind can endure activity, stresses, and is more likely to ward off infection and disease. When you are not physically fit, you may suffer from depression, poor self-image, a suppressed immune system, and other ailments. Simply walking up a flight of stairs or carrying the groceries in may be too much of a strain on your body when you are not in shape. Being out of shape can negatively affect every aspect of your life.

It is possible to learn about the right types of fitness training before you even engage in them. Going in as an educated participant is never a bad idea, especially when you will need as much motivation and information as possible. Starting a physical fitness program is easy; sticking to it is a whole other story. Thousands upon thousands of people make their New Year’s Resolution on the evening of December 31st to exercise more and to lose weight. It is often that they go out and join the local fitness center or begin an exercise regimen but several months or weeks down the line, they just aren’t doing it anymore.

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

Posted by careerpersonaltraining at 18:16:55 | Permalink | No Comments »

Friday, November 14, 2008

Personal Training Fitness Education

Personal Training Fitness Certification Programs in the United States and Canada Nowadays, individuals can become certified through one of numerous personal training fitness certification programs and earn the opportunity to work in health clubs, fitness and wellness clinics, and in other health care facilities.

Depending on the level of personal training and fitness one chooses to pursue, a number of career training schools offer varying degrees of instruction; including basic personal training fitness certification, advanced personal trainer certification, master level certification, and other related studies.

In a personal training fitness certification program, students learn important entrepreneurial skills like startup, maintenance and expansion of a personal training business; practical fitness testing, assessment, goal planning, various exercise programming and exercise science, healthy eating habits and diet maintenance, common health condition management (e.g., cholesterol mgmt., blood pressure, etc.), pathology with regard to exercise regimens, anatomy and physiology, kinesiology, strength and endurance training, and much more.

In advanced personal training fitness certification programs, students engage in more in-depth studies and practical training in the various components of fitness, including endurance, agility, coordination, strength, energy, and flexibility with regard to exercise and training, thereof. Students enrolled in these personal training fitness certification programs also learn how to assess musculoskeletal imbalances through kinesiology and other movement patters to help clients improve these imbalances through prescribed exercise regimens. In addition to advanced training strategies, students will learn how to form case studies and develop successful fitness training routines for athletes and other clients.

Master level personal training fitness certification programs incorporate all aforementioned coursework, as well as additional training in cardio respiratory conditioning and other pathological conditions, anatomy, optimal exercise methods, and sports training, among countless related areas of study.

Aside from personal training fitness certification, a number of schools and colleges have begun offering undergraduate studies in this field. Students who successfully complete all coursework gain personal training fitness certification, in addition to an Associates or Bachelor’s degree.

If you (or someone you know) are interested in finding personal training fitness certification programs, let professional training within fast-growing industries like massage therapy, cosmetology, acupuncture, oriental medicine, Reiki, and others get you started! Explore career school programs near you.

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

Posted by careerpersonaltraining at 18:35:02 | Permalink | No Comments »

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Hiring a Fitness Trainer ?

There are many reasons why you might consider hiring a fitness trainer to help you with exercise and give advice about nutrition. One might be that you feel you need an expert in the field to help make sure you are doing all your exercises properly. Another might be that you want this person to give you good, effective exercise routines so you can get the most from your exercise sessions. Yet another might be that you want someone to help you manage your dietary needs. All of these are good reasons to hire a fitness trainer, but how do you know if you will be hiring a trainer that will best suit your needs? Here are a few guidelines to consider that will help you make the right choice when choosing a fitness trainer.

First and foremost, you need to make sure that the trainer you choose holds a current, nationally accredited certification in the fitness field. Some of the certification organizations that require a good, solid minimum knowledge base to earn their certification are the “ISSA” (International Sports Sciences Association), the “ACSM” (American Collage of Sports Medicine), the “NSCA” (National Strength and Conditioning Association), and the “ACE” (American Council on Exercise). Some others are “NAFC” (National Association for Fitness Certification) or the “NFPT” (National Federation of Professional Trainers).

While it is very important that the fitness trainer you choose holds one of the certifications, it is certainly not the only thing to look for when choosing a trainer. There are a few other things you will want to be sure of to ensure your satisfaction.

One thing to look for is whether or not your fitness trainer has a plan to suit your individual needs. Some trainers get caught in a rut and train their clients with a “one size fits all” approach to exercise and while this may be alright for the raw beginner for the purpose of general muscle and connective tissue adaptation, they need to be able to branch out and have a vision of how to customize exercise routines that are best for your needs. In other words, what do they see possible for you. You might ask the trainer; what kind of a plan do you see for me and how will it benefit me?

Another point to consider is whether your fitness trainer can be objective about your training. Your trainer should always consider your needs during each training session. Sometimes the trainer may need to alter your exercise routine due to an injury or simply because you’ve had a hard day and do not have the energy you usually have. You might ask the trainer; how do you assess me each day before my session.

One of the most important things, of course, is whether you and your fitness trainer have matching personalities or simply put, you must get along with each other and you must feel comfortable with your trainer or it will be hard to work with him/her. You need to understand what your trainer is trying to do and so your trainer needs to give clear, detailed instructions. Your fitness trainer should be open to what you have to say and be able to listen to and respond to your concerns.

If you have made the decision to invest your time and money into an exercise lifestyle, and you are enlisting the help of a fitness professional, make sure you choose one who you know will give you everything you need to give you the results you want in a safe, enjoyable way.

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

Posted by careerpersonaltraining at 18:59:52 | Permalink | No Comments »