Knowing a Quality Fitness Trainer When You See One

Trainers have different philosophies and use a variety of techniques. Some come from the drill-sergeant school of motivation; others prefer the cheerleading approach. Still, there are some characteristics that all trainers should share. Choose a trainer who:

- Evaluates your fitness and goals: Before anything else, your trainer should assess your current physical condition. Then your trainer should have a long talk with you about your expectations for the training sessions — your hopes, your dreams, and your specific goals. All this information is crucial: To really be of help to you, a trainer must know where you’re starting from and where you want to go.

- Gives you a balanced program: Unless you specifically request otherwise, your sessions should include three components: cardiovascular exercise, strength training, and flexibility exercises. Some trainers prefer that you do the cardiovascular portion on your own, but if you ask, your trainer should help you design a program and keep tabs on your workout and intensity. Heads up: Many trainers also skip the stretching and cool-down portions of a workout.

- Watches you closely: Your trainer should pay attention to your form and give you pointers throughout the session. On the other hand, you don’t want a trainer who blabs incessantly. Your trainer also should spot you — in other words, stand poised to grab the weight and give you some help if your muscles give out.

- Reassesses your goals and measures your progress: A good trainer retests you after the first six weeks of training and, if you’ve been working out consistently, every two to three months thereafter. A trainer who is really on the ball also reassesses your goals every few weeks to keep you motivated.

- Listens to you: If you mention that an exercise doesn’t feel right, your trainer should figure out why and show you an alternative move for the same body part. There’s no single exercise you absolutely must do. If you tell him you’re feeling stagnant, overtrained, or underchallenged, he should alter your program.

- Teaches you to be independent: Ironically, good trainers train themselves out of a job by teaching you how to do everything on your own. After a few months, you should be able to set the correct amount of weight, adjust the machines, use proper form, and modify your routine as needed. Of course, if you’d never exercise by yourself, you’re welcome to hire your trainer for life; she’ll be glad to accommodate you. Regardless, you should know how to do everything on your own. This way, if you’re out of town on business or vacation, you can keep up your workouts at a hotel or local gym. And if, heaven forbid, your trainer goes on vacation, you won’t have an excuse to stop working out.

- Speaks English, not jargon: Some trainers say things like, “Your patella edema is a limiting factor in increasing your volume of oxygen uptake.” Translation: “You can’t run faster because you have bad knees.” If you can’t understand what your trainer is saying, find someone new. You shouldn’t expend extra energy just trying to figure out what the heck you’re being asked to do. Trainers with jargonitis tend to be really insecure. Occasionally, however, a small dose of fitness verbiage is good for you; a trainer may be trying to teach you something that you actually should know, like where your triceps are.