Global News Calgary Fitness Information - Global News Calgary recently ran a week long segment on fitness.
Global News Calgary Fitness Information - Global News Calgary recently ran a week long segment on fitness.
Here are some things you should know regarding Fitness to help you achieve your goals:
10 REASONS TO HIRE A PERSONAL TRAINER
We all need a little help with exercise sometimes, whether we're just starting out or we've been at it for a long time. Still, there are people who shy away from training, unsure of what they'll get out of the experience or whether it's worth the money. Take a look at just a few reasons people typically hire personal trainers and see if it's the right decision for you.
1. You're Not Seeing Results
If you've been exercising consistently for several weeks or months and aren't seeing the changes you'd like, hiring a trainer may be a good choice. A trainer can look at your current program and eating habits and help you see where you could make changes to create more effective workouts. A trainer can also help you determine if the goals you've set are realistic for you.
2. You Don't Know Where to Start
Knowing how to set up a balanced schedule that includes all the activities you need to do can be confusing. The great thing about a trainer is that he can help you maximize your time while helping you stay within your own limits so you don't overdo it. He can also help you set goals and map out a specific schedule so you know when, how and where you'll fit in your workouts.
3. You're Bored with the Same Old Workouts
If you're an experienced exerciser, maybe you haven't considered working with a trainer. But it can be a great choice if you need some variety in your workouts. A trainer can bring a fresh perspecitve and new ideas to challenge both your body and your mind. Even if you just do a few sessions or meet every few weeks, you'll find it refreshing to have new workouts and new exercise toys to play with.
4. You Need to Be Challenged
If you're like everyone else, you tend to slack off on your workouts sometimes, especially when things get tough. A trainer can motivate you to push past those self-imposed limits, encouraging you to lift heavier, go longer and challenge yourself more than you would on your own. You'll find it's very hard to slack off with a trainer standing over you, telling you to do just...one...more...rep!
5. You Want to Learn How to Exercise on your Own
Even if your goal is to create your own workouts and exercise by yourself, hiring a trainer for a few sessions can be a great benefit for learning the right way to exercise. This is especially true if you want to learn more about the muscles in your body, the exercises that target those muscles and how to do those exercises with great form. Just a few sessions can teach you a lot about your body and how it works.
6. You Need Accountability and Motivation
Trainers come with built-in motivation. Not only are you investing money into your exercise program...you're investing time as well. There's nothing like a standing appointment to get your butt in gear for a workout. Not only that, a trainer provides some accountability so, even when you don't have a session, you know your trainer will be asking if you did your planned workouts. Just knowing that may make it harder to skip your workouts.
7. You Have a Specific Illness, Injury or Condition
If you have any specific issues like arthritis, heart disease, old injuries, etc., working with an experienced trainer (who works with your doctor, of course) can help you find a program to help heal injuries and avoid any further problems. It's also a great idea to work with a trainer if you're pregnant and want a safe, effective workout to keep you healthy and fit. Just make sure your trainer has experience with your issues!
8. You're Training for a Sport or Event
If you're training for a marathon, a golf tournament or some other type of sport or event, an experienced trainer can help you figure out what you need to do to stay strong without taking away from your other training. She can also help create a training program and map out a plan for the coming event. Just make sure she's experienced in the sport you're training for since not all trainers do sport-specific training.
9. You Want Supervision and Support During Workouts
Some people know how to exercise and they even know how to do the exercises correctly, but they like having a trainer around for support and supervision. If you're lifting very heavy weights or need someone to help with partner-type exercises, working with a trainer might be a good choice for you. He can spot you during workouts and help you come up with a good training plan for your goals.
10. You Want to Workout at Home
If you'd like to exercise at home but either don't have a lot of equipment or aren't sure how to use what you have, in-home personal training is an excellent choice. A trainer can show you exactly how to use what you have to get the best workout for you or they can bring equipment with them to give you a great workout. They can also make recommendations for equipment that will help you reach your goals.
Now that youve decided to hire a trainer/join a gym, here's what you need to know about hiring the RIGHT trainer for you:
When you decide to improve your fitness, you may wonder whether to just join a gym, sign-up for group classes, or to hire a personal trainer.
Why Have a Personal Trainer?
A trainer will:
-assess your individual abilities and needs.
-help you set realistic goals.
-personalize your workouts so that they help you achieve your goals.
-ensure you are doing exercises correctly and provide instant feedback on how to
adjust your posture, motion, and exertion to get maximum results and prevent injury.
-instantly adjust an exercise if it is proving to be too advanced for you to
do correctly. Likewise, the trainer will add a difficulty level to the exercise if it
is too easy for you and isn't giving you the challenge needed.
-keep your workouts fresh and fun, introducing you to using different equipment to work
the same muscle groups. You won't get stuck in a rut.
Choosing the Right Personal Trainer
Many times, you will end up being assigned or shuffled off to a trainer at your health club. But you should assert yourself and interview the trainer, as this will be a personal one-on-one relationship. You need to be comfortable with the trainer and able to understand his or her directions. Choosing the gender of your trainer is one way to narrow the field. Many people find it easier to take direction and motivation from a trainer of the opposite sex, while others may only feel comfortable with a trainer of their own gender.
Interview Questions for a Personal Trainer
What are the trainer's professional credentials? Is he or she certified by YMCA, AFLCA, CANFITPro, or another recognized body?
Has the trainer worked with other clients with your same starting fitness level and age?
If you are training for a specific sport goal, such as walking a marathon, has the trainer worked with others who have that goal?
Does the trainer keep up with the latest ideas, research, and equipment?
What hours does the trainer have available, and what flexibility will there be in scheduling your workouts?
What are the fees? What is the penalty for having to cancel a workout? Do package agreements have an expiration date? Are they transferable to other trainers at the same facility? You will want to research fees of other trainers in your area to see what the going rate is.
Is a trial session available for free or a low fee? If you like the trainer, book just a couple of sessions as a trial before you buy a package of sessions.
After the Interview/Workout Session
I recommend going through a workout with the trainer before making your decision - how he or she communicates with you throughout the workout is what really counts. After you've done this, ask the following:
Did I understand how the trainer was directing me to do the exercises?
Did the trainer encourage me to give feedback, or did I feel intimidated and clam up?
Did the trainer listen to and understand what I was saying and adjust the session so I could do the exercises correctly?
Did the trainer understand my goals and seem to be gearing the workout in that direction?
Is this somebody I will feel comfortable working out with? Does he or she motivate me to perform better?
Will I look forward to coming to workout with this trainer, or am I likely to find excuses to miss workouts? -posted from 'about.com'