About Personal Training at Home

Identification

• A personal trainer is an individual who can hep you to develop an exercise routine tailored to your needs, and then instructs you in proper exercise form. Trainers can specialize in working with children, seniors, athletes and those rehabilitating from an injury or disease. Since there is no oversight as to who can call themselves a personal trainer, and because there is no formal licensing procedure, you must be an educated consumer. Some personal trainers may have degrees, but many do not. Most trainers are certified. There are some good national certifications out there. Unfortunately, there are also courses you can take over the Internet. With these courses you become certified in a matter of hours or days, without ever stepping foot in a gym or being supervised working with clients. Hiring a well-educated trainer to come to your home, can change your life. Hiring a trainer without the right education can leave you with injuries.

Benefits

• Starting an exercise program is a daunting task for many. With so many options, such as classes, machines, free weights and an endless supply of videos and books, many people have no idea where to start. In addition, there is a lot of misinformation out there. If you happen to be dealing with an injury or illness, it becomes even more complicated, as you must take extra care not to aggravate your condition. Hiring a personal trainer to come to your home can get you on the right track. They can help you to define your goals, whether that means losing weight, gaining strength or rehabilitating a specific condition. Unlike in a gym setting, you will be in the privacy of your own home where you can discuss your situation in private. Also, many people feel intimidated in a gym setting. Working out at home can help you to learn proper technique in a less competitive setting. The decision to hire an at-home personal trainer may also be necessary in situations where your work schedule does not allow you to get to classes or the gym when it is open. A trainer can be flexible and meet with you before or after work hours.

Function

• Most personal trainers who offer at home service will have some of their own equipment such as weights, balls or bands. However, one other plus of having a personal trainer come to your home is that they can help you put together a home gym to suit your needs and budget. Many of my clients spend a lot of money buying equipment for home use that never gets used. The equipment may look good in the store or on the TV. Then when you get it home, it either never makes it out of the box or you try it and end up injured. A personal trainer will work with you to find the right type of home equipment, teach you how to use it properly and help you purchase equipment that you will actually use. I know that many of my clients have good equipment at home, but still never use it. Making an appointment for a trainer to come to your house, will force you to wok out, even when you do not feel up to it. A trainer will motivate you and keep you on track, and suppprt you in making positive life changes.

Considerations

• Hiring a personal trainer is an investment in your health. To get the most for your money make sure you are really ready to commit. The price for a personal trainer can be anywhere from sixty dollars an hour in a more rural setting, to over two hundred dollars or more an hour in a city setting. You should expect an initial meeting to establish your goals, and for the trainer to identify your current level of fitness. In addition, in order to get results you need to work out at least three to five days per week. If you are having difficulty motivating yourself, this may mean paying a trainer to visit your home three or more times per week, and that can really add up. If you can meet your trainer once per week and then make yourself exercise the other days, you can save yourself some money. However, some trainers will offer package deals if you pay in advance for a set number of sessions. For most people, hiring an at home trainer is not a luxury they can afford on a regular basis. I have clients that just need help getting started, and only need a few sessions. Then once every six weeks or so, I revisit them to make adjustments to their routine. Another option is to get a few friends to join you. Some trainers will have small group rates. This way you and your friends can split the cost of the trainer, and even better, you can motivate each other to stay on track.

Warning

• Make sure your at home personal trainer has the right background. The most respected certifications are from the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) and the American Council on Exercise (ACE). When searching for an at home personal trainer, try to find someone who has one of these certifications. Ask your trainer for references and call them. If you are dealing with a specific condition or illness, ask your instructor if they have ever worked with anyone in your situation before. If not, are they willing to learn? Talk to your doctor or physical therapist and ask them to provide your trainer with some guidelines to help keep you from aggravating your condition. This is where training in the comfort of your own home can really make a difference. It allows you and your trainer to purchse equipment and build a routine especially tailored to you. To start, visit the links below and search for a trainer in your area.