How to find a Personal Trainer in Cheltenham and Gloucestershire

Personal trainers seem to be everywhere these days, and if you've decided to spend your hard earned cash getting fit and healthy, you need to know that your money will be well spent, because there are plenty of trainers out there who simply wont be able to meet your needs, and there are some (unfortunately) who are more likley to injure you than get you fit.

But how do you tell the difference?

There are some things you need to know before you sign up with a personal trainer. Firstly, legally speaking, anyone can call themselves a personal trainer, so make sure you find one who is suitably qualified. At the very least they should have a Level 3 Personal Training qualification which is approved by the Register of Exercise Professionals (REPs), so their certifcate should have a logo similar to the one on my homepage. Without this type of qualification they will not have suitable insurance. But to be honest, this qualification is designed to be passed by almost everyone, so it isn't as strict or as detailed as it perhaps should be. An 18 year old college student with fairly average (or even poor in some cases) qualifications can complete this qualification in a couple of months.

So what else do you need to know? Look for other qualifications, sports massage or a coaching qualification for example. This shows they are commited to developing themselves and giving you the best service they can. A degree in a relevant area (usually sport) is a great thing for a personal trainer to have, as it gives them a much broader and more detailed knowledge base compared with just having the Level 3 qualification.

As well as qualifications, how much experience does your personal trainer have? Have they worked with people in your situation before? Have they worked with a wide range of clients, or do they limit themselves to certain types of clients (usually those who already train like they like to train)? Do they also work as a strength and conditioning coach or similar?

Obviously this is my own personal view, but I have seen so many things done badly and dangerously by other trainers.

Perhaps the most important thing in finding a personal trainer, is finding one you can get on with and have fun. If you are going to be spending an hour or two most weeks with this person, you need to enjoy that time. Sometimes not enough emphasis is put on the 'personal' bit of personal training. The only way to do this is to contact a few trainers and ask to meet for a chat. They should be only too happy to do this AT ABSOLUTELY NO COST!!! If they ask for money simply for a chat, put the phone down.

To have a look at my quaifications and experience, and read about my teaching around the country, please contact me now.