Personal Trainers

Western Technical College has an article that briefly explains what personal trainers do, and how they could help someone. Though much of the page is about the College’s wellness center, the general information serves as a useful overview.

FamilyEducation is part of a group of sites run by Pearson Education, Inc. Read this particular article to explore reasons why a person would want to hire a personal trainer; examples include a lack of experience, the need for extra motivation, and the need to escape from a workout rut.

The American Council on Exercise teaches you what to consider when choosing a trainer. Find a quality overview of the process, including tips such as asking for references and checking for insurance liability.

WebMD has an extensive article that covers who might use a personal trainer, what to look for in selecting one, and what kind of rates to expect.

Healthclubs.com is part of the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association. Find tips on what to look for in a personal trainer, including meeting with trainers before hiring them to learn how they would help you meet your goals, and trusting your instincts.

The National Strength and Conditioning Association has an in-depth checklist of what to look for in a personal trainer, including certification, education, and references. Also consider logistics, such as fees and cancellation policies, as well as personality traits. The article stresses the importance of getting along with your trainer, who should motivate but not intimidate you.

MSNBC hosts an article from the Associated Press about kids and personal trainers. According to the article, more and more parents in the United States are signing up kids as young as 6 to work out with personal trainers. The International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association’s 2005 survey reported that around 824,000 children between 6 and 17 use personal trainers. The article also warns that children still have developing bodies, and parents must make sure the trainer is appropriately trained to handle that.

Workouts For You is a viable option if you don’t want a live personal trainer. Use this online service to list your goals and receive personal training sessions via the Internet. You can even customize your workouts based on the types of equipment you have access to. Prices start at about $30 for a 12-week program.

The New York Times has this article detailing the new trend toward downloading personal training sessions to an iPod or P.D.A. It is also a way for individuals to experience a personal training session without having the hassle of paying the as much money or bending to the trainer’s schedule.

The American Council on Exercise is a nonprofit organization that promotes safe physical fitness, and imposes education and certification requirements for health professionals. Search the site’s large listing of ACE-certified personal trainers by location or name.

The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) has a list of members that can be searched by city, state, or zip code. ACSM members must choose to add their information to the online directory, and the association verifies the credentials its members report.

Personal Trainers’ Network is an international service that provides individuals and businesses with certified personal trainers. Search for a personal trainer by location, expertise, or name. Find a diversity of specialties to choose from, whether you just want to get in shape or train for a particular sport. The database, however, isn’t particularly large, and you may not find a specialist in your area.

Personal-Trainer-Search.com has a database of more than 10,000 personal trainers throughout the United States. Search by city or name, but be aware that they only have major U.S. cities to choose from.