Of all places, I found my first personal trainer in my Ordinary/Partial Differential Equations class. Big Tony was the body-building math major who took all willing science nerds under his wing on the gym floor, myself included. Those of us who went to Tony did so because we realized we needed a workout routine that could balance the hours we spent sitting in front of our books. But we needed someone to show us the ropes, and it had to be someone who could make the university weight room, dubbed the bomb shelter, a comfortable space that was free of judgment. Tony was awesome. When I d frown at my three-pound weights, which I thought were embarrassingly light, he d simply say, “Everybody starts somewhere.”

Know the two most important rules before working out

Tony taught me two very important lessons about working out in a gym. Safety first - always. Tony was very passionate about this. Make sure you know exactly how to use a weight machine. If you can t figure out how to adjust the joints of the machine to line up with the joints of your body properly, or if you don t know how large your range of motion should be per exercise, then you will likely suffer injury due to hyperextension. When you exercise, know that your muscles and joint structures can adapt to progressive stresses, but please remember the key word here is “progressive.” Under the guidance of a trainer who understands the impact of various exercises on your body, you can save yourself sore knees, or an aching back. Next is, good form for an efficient workout. Good form ensures a safe and productive workout then targeting the muscle group you are exercising. Perhaps a simple bend of the wrist in the right direction can put the bull s-eye on your triceps. You want a trainer who will tweak your form, and give you a sense of how each exercise activates your muscles.

Truthfully communicate your lifestyle to your personal trainer

Once you ve worked enough sessions (two to six) with a trainer, you should have established a comfortable understanding of a workout routine that is tailored to your fitness needs. After two to three months on your own, it s essential to meet with a trainer to reassess your fitness level and build from there.

Know what your personal goals are when you first meet with your trainer. Perhaps you want to trim off that extra holiday fat. Your core muscles may need extra strengthening to counteract the wear and tear of sitting hunched over a keyboard at work. Sports might require you to build up strength for improved endurance. Whatever you want to get out of your workout, your trainer needs to know about it. If you don t feel comfortable enough with your trainer to talk about your goals, or if your trainer does not seem to take them seriously, then you need to find a new trainer who will.

There is such a thing as exercise science, and like all sciences, theories are constantly being built and then cut down. It s not easy to navigate through this wealth of information, and that s why you turn to an informed professional. I m not saying your trainer needs to be an exercise scientist, however, like any good teacher, the ideal trainer will refresh his or her knowledge through classes, seminars, and books.

Depending on factors such as competition, qualification, or location, fees can vary from roughly as low as $35 and up to $200. As with most things that are determined by the intersection of supply and demand in the marketplace, it will take a little research on your part to figure out what is a fair price.

A quick glance at bureaucracy (not to worry, it is quick)

For your safety, it is key that your personal trainer has insured himself or herself and his or her services against personal injury and property loss.

It is important that your trainer be certified by one of the following well-known organizations:

- Aerobic and Fitness Association of America (AFAA)
- American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)
- American Council on Exercise (ACE)
- Cooper Institute for Aerobics Research (CIAR)
- International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA)
- National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM)
- National Council of Strength &amp Fitness (NCSF)
- National Federation of Professional Trainers (NFPT)
- National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA)
Such certification ensures that your trainer has a current knowledge of physiology and nutrition. In general, this also ensures that your trainer is certified in CPR and first aid.

Now that you re equipped with this knowledge, go out there and have fun finding the personal trainer who will be the Yin to the Yang of your fitness needs . . . or the yang to your yin. That s right, I m not an expert on ancient Chinese metaphysics, but what I mean to say is keep a balance to your workout plan. When you exercise, let your mind focus on the form of your body s motions, and don t be too hard on yourself!

PhatGuru.com Inc.
Queen of Cool

PhatPeople@phatguru.com

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