Irv Rubenstein has a doctorate in exercise science and has operated a personal fitness training studio in Nashville, Tennessee, for 35 years. Clearly, he speaks positively about the benefits of using a personal trainer, and this applies to gym-goers as well as beginners.

“Anyone can teach you how to do a bicep curl,” Rubenstein said in an interview with The Associated Press. “But only a few people can tell you how to do it if your shoulder hurts.”

Rubenstein acknowledged that finding the best trainer for you can be a maze.

How important should credentials and education be, or are personality and motivational skills more important? What about cost? How often should you use your personal trainer? These are just a few of the questions anyone looking for an instructor should ask.

Rubenstein asked, “How do you know who is the best?” he asked. “What’s best for you is the best. But finding that is a challenge.”

There is no national or local government body that licenses instructors in the United States and many other countries. Certification is usually granted by private organizations; some are more respected than others, and many are in the business of generating revenue rather than reliability.

American College of Sports Medicine It is best known in the United States. this in canada Canadian Academy of Sports and Exercise Medicine.

“You should probably ask if the person is certified,” said Rubenstein, who runs STEPS Fitness. “I think it’s valuable, but I don’t think it’s necessary. “You should also ask about academic education.”

He also gave a warning.

“If a person gets all their information — as you understand it — from the Internet, I would stay away from that person,” he said of a potential instructor.

Guy Andrews runs Exercise ETC. From Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Like Rubenstein, he says trainers and clients should be fighting each other. Credentials are important, but personality fit is important.

“First and foremost, this is a service relationship,” Andrews said. “So first you have to bond with the coach. You have to like him. My personality is more important than anything else. I don’t care how qualified someone is, how well trained they are. If you can’t enjoy working with them, the relationship is doomed to fail.

Asking friends or gym operators for recommendations can help in your search. A good measure of a successful relationship is how many years the referrer has spent with their instructor.

“If clients have been working with a trainer for eight or 10 years, that’s a good sign,” Andrews said. “Looking good in an undershirt is not enough.”

Rubenstein quoted another fact and laughed: “Most people who have worked with a coach for a long time will tell you they are the best.”

Another good sign when rating instructors is whether they offer a “non-contractual relationship.” So you won’t lose money if you quit the service.

“Then you have an instructor who is honest, confident, and likely has the skills to help you,” Rubenstein said.

There is also the instructor’s motivational style to consider. Rubenstein has repeatedly said that the quality of “compassion” is key to choosing the right person. But some may want a basic training drill sergeant to push them.

“The relaxed military attitude may benefit the young and those who are very fit,” he said. “But for the average person, such behavior may not be motivating or encouraging.”

The price is difficult to determine precisely. Costs vary by country and by geographic region within a country. In the United States, you can pay $100-$150 per hour in major cities and maybe $50-$75 in other areas. Rubenstein also said the cost compares favorably with manicures and similar personal care services.

Rubenstein said the cost may be prohibitive for some. It often eliminates young people and may favor older customers who have more spending power and a greater need for the service.

“This separates those who want a coach from those who need one,” he said.

Beginners should meet with a coach two or three times a week for the first six weeks, Andrews and Rubenstein said. After that, once a week or even once or twice a month may be sufficient for maintenance and evaluation.

“From a motivation standpoint, I don’t believe once a week is enough for the average person to begin with,” Andrews said.

Rubenstein explained: “If a person is not used to being in the gym, is not comfortable there, or does not feel safe, working out with a trainer twice a week is a basic routine that will give them benefits such as muscle, cardiovascular, balance, etc. If one learns, one can also do once a week.” It could also go once a month, but that means they need to be motivated.”

Now you’ve found your instructor and you’re ready to work. What happens now? Set some goals.

There are four main goals depending on the client: weight management, general fitness, special needs and overall health.

For each client, “routines may overlap, but the frequency, intensity and duration will vary,” Rubenstein said.

Andrews said setting goals in the first meeting is critical.

“If both parties disagree on what they want, they are doomed to fail,” he said.

Andrews said a good coach will recognize unrealistic goals.

“This often focuses on how they want to look after hiring a personal trainer,” he said. “In my experience, a client who focuses on how they will look after a workout rather than how they will feel is setting themselves up for disappointment.”

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