About Personal Trainers

A Personal Trainer (PT) is a person who you engage to advise and coach you in your training programs. Simple.

Your training program may be in track and field, or in resistance training, or swimming or .... there is a personal trainer for most physical activities including porno videos.

You can go through the physical activity yourself without a PT. If you're knowledgeable enough then you can guide yourself and likely achieve results. If you're clueless then you may spin for years going nowhere.

What to expect from a PT

The most important requirements of a PT are

1. to be able to ensure his client learns what he is teaching
   
2. to be able to ensure the safety of his client
3. to be able to motivate his client
4. to be able to follow through with his client

Academic or paper credentials are good to the extent of being knowledgeable in the field. But this does not necessarily make him a good PT. A PT's physical looks does not have to match the sport he is teaching, for example a gym PT does not have to be more muscular than his client; nor a football PT have to score more goals than his client. It helps the image, but it is not that important.

PTs have to earn a living too. They would rather get paid for their services than give their services for free. The going rate is S$30/hr for new PTs to S$80/hr for experienced PTs to S$200/hr for specialist PTs. PTs may be regular employees of a gym, or they can be freelance too.

Engaging a PT

How do you engage a PT without knowing the quality of the PT ? You'll be spending lots of money based on sales pitch and faith. Here's what you can do:

• Ask the PT to describe what he will do for you
• Ask the PT for 1 trial session, pay for it
• Tell the PT you are guaging the quality of his teaching
• Tell the PT you will not sign on if you are not satisfied , don't be shy

It is perfectly acceptable to pick and choose a PT. Just as when you are shopping for a massage chair, you would go to the various dealers and ask to try it. You are under no obligation to buy. When it comes to choosing a PT, ask the gym staff to introduce you to a PT, making clear that you are checking on the quality of the PT and under no obligation to engage him. If you're not satisfied, just go to the next gym branch and do it again.

Minimum standards for a PT

A PT who doesn't go through a PAR-Q session with his would-be client is not a PT you should engage.

• P - Physical
• A - Aptitude
• R - Readiness
• Q - Questionaire

The PAR-Q is designed to ascertain whether a person's physical condition allows him to engage in certain physical activities. The range of activities available depends on the answers to the question, such as a woman in her 2nd trimester of pregnancy, or an elderly person or a person with diabetes would all have their range of activities they can safely engage in.

In a gym setting, the credible PT will begin by inviting would be clients to talk to him about their training aspirations. The PT would then describe the advantages of engaging his services. If the client is agreeable, the PT would administer the PAR-Q test and the following:

1. measure height, weight, body fat, blood pressure, circumference
2. (sub)-maximal aerobic capacity on stationary cycle
3. flexibility, for example using the stretch and reach test
4. 1RM strength test

Based on the assessment above, the PT would then:

• prescribe a progressive exercise program tailored for this client
• demonstrate the exercises, including safety measures
• monitor the client through the exercises and correct
• evaluate the clients progress over time and re-assess
• follow through with the client outside PT hours

The value of a personalized exercise program, if properly done, cannot be overstated. This is 1 key tool towards achieving the body you want. It may not work for other people, because it was not specially tailored to their physical condition.

The last point - follow through with the client outside PT hours is particularly important. Most PTs responsibility ends at the 1 hour PT session, but an outstanding PT will follow through with his client outside the 1 hour, for example with regards to the client's continue physical activities, dietary habits, etc.

I am reminded of the acronymn EMPAS when demonstrating an exercise station to a client. The credible PT should:

• E - exercise. Describe the exercise
• M - muscle. Describe the muscles involved
• P - posture. Describe the correct posture
  
• A - action. Describe the action and proper form
• S - safety. Never forget the safety aspects.

The PT should give all his 1 hour to his client. The PT should not engage in his own training nor chatting with his friends or into his hp during that 1 hour. After all, you're paying him for his 1 hour. The PT should be monitoring you and correcting you as you go along.

After a suitable period, perhaps 8-10 weeks, the PT should evaluate your progress, reassess your physical condition and prescribe another training program.