This is our obligatory “how to choose a personal trainer” article. Naturally, it’s kind of self-serving, since we do indeed want you to train with us. The good news is that instead of listing a bunch of static criteria that we just so happen to meet at our facility (cue delighted surprise), I’m going to give you a bit more food for thought with some broader concepts.

I googled “how to choose a personal trainer” and was pleased to find than an article on my friend Krista’s site at the top of the chart. She offers a pretty solid overview of what to look for – far past generic platitudes, such as “they should be certified,” or “make sure they’re wearing pants.” There’s not a tremendous amount I can add to Krista’s observations (which you should read), but gosh, I’m sure going to try.

• Ask the trainer how their philosophy has evolved. Anyone who has put a lot of time into study and observation will have changed their approach over time. A good trainer should be able to tell you what they used to do wrong (or at least less right) and how they fixed it. This in itself will tell you a great deal.

• A good trainer will listen carefully to your ideas on how to best meet your goals. Then they will likely recommend something else entirely. There is a reason for this: your trainer should be far more knowledgeable than you – this is what they do for a living, after all. The caveat here, however, is that if they do want to take you in a different direction, they should be able to explain why – logically and understandably. It shouldn’t be an arbitrary decision and it shouldn’t be done without you being fully on board.

• It bears repeating that certification doesn’t really mean that much (although some certainly mean more than others). The truth is that even the top certifications don’t fully prepare people to work with clients. The best indicator, in my opinion, is the amount of time that a trainer regularly puts into study (assuming that they’re already experienced). Ask a prospective trainer what they’ve been reading. If it’s relatively academic, ask them how the theory applies to practice (i.e. you). If they’ve been gleaning all their wisdom from glossy fitness magazines, then you should probably run.

• Speaking of running, even if weight loss is your main goal, don’t get hung up on the idea of endurance sports or trainers who compete in them. It’s one thing if you enjoy running marathons or other long-distance events. However, if what you do is simply a means to an end, then there are more (and more effective) options out there.

• Whether it’s due to budget or personal preference, if you want to work toward exercising independently, a good trainer will help you develop the skills to do so. End of story.

• The most effective exercise program in the world won’t amount to diddly-squat if you don’t stick to it. A good trainer will temper an idealized approach with the reality of who you are and what you’re most likely to adhere to. This takes a good measure of empathy and creativity. It also negates the likelihood of a “one size fits all” approach.

I hope that this list (along with the article linked to above) has been enough to get you thinking about what really counts. However, I also hope that you don’t feel so hung up on details that you will spend months in limbo as you wait for the perfect trainer to descend from the heavens. Your brain is an amazing thing, but don’t let it get in the way of moving your body.

Geoff