FAQs
What questions should customers think through before contacting a personal trainer?
The client should determine what his or her goals are for personal training. The client should also check with a physician to ensure that he or she has no health conditions that will make training inadvisable.
What advice would I give to a customer looking to hire a personal trainer?
The client should check that the personal trainer is certified by a recognized national body such as the National Federation of Personal Trainers. The client should make sure his or her goals align with the kind of training that the trainer provides. The client must then make a personal decision to commit to the program as well as any reasonable lifestyle changes that the trainer recommends in order to achieve the desired results.
What is my process for working with a new customer?
The first step is a free 45-minute consultation to determine the customer’s fitness goals. I will also assess the customer’s physical activity readiness and his or her cardiovascular risk profile. If both assessments indicate that the customer can engage safely in the kind of training envisaged, then an indicative program is worked out with the client. The discussions would include the timing and frequency of sessions as well as the recommended length of the program and the cost. Upon agreement on these matters, several simple forms testifying to the agreements reached are signed to conclude the consultation. The program starts in earnest on the next meetup.
How long is a training session and what does it consist of?
A training session is 50 minutes, with 5 minutes at the start dedicated to stretches and warming up and 5 minutes at the end dedicated to stretches and warming down. I choose routines with the client’s goals and fitness levels in mind. My emphasis is on achieving results in a challenging but safe and comfortable manner, free of injury. I favor tried and trusted exercises and techniques over fads and extreme workouts.
What do I do for a signed-up client besides the training sessions?
With the client’s permission, I am in regularly in touch with the client by email and text (WhatsApp) outside the training sessions to ensure that the client does the things in his or her down time that will maximize the gains from the sessions and ensure that the desired results are achieved. These things include, for instance, eating right, getting enough sleep and putting in “homework” such as achieving the recommended minimum number of steps per day.
What education or training do I have that relates to my work as a personal trainer?
I am certified as a personal trainer, after an extensive course of study and rigorous exam, by the National Federation of Personal Trainers. In addition, I have several related certifications including in nutrition. I am also an academic with several college degrees, including a PhD, in other fields of endeavor. I’ve kept fit all my adult life, having been a high-school athlete (track). I became a certified personal trainer to pursue that passion and to help others with my personal insights into keeping fit and trim with simple, fun programs.
What types of customers have I worked with?
I’ve worked with adults of all genders, including people losing weight, toning up or generally getting fit for health and other reasons.
What recent project am I fond of and how long did it take?
I especially enjoyed working to get a 50-something year old client fit and buff for a photoshoot in which he would be bare-chested. We used a program called the 75 Hard but modified it to suit the client’s age and fitness levels. It was a four-week program and he looked half his age by the photoshoot.
What should the customer know about pricing (e.g. discounts, fees)?
Discounts are given for block bookings which makes such bookings cheaper per hour. The client can also tack on a training partner for only an additional 25% fee.