Is it time for a personal trainer?

Your workouts have been steady, but not stimulating. The gym has become part of your routine, but your gym routine lacks focus.

You need encouragement. You need supervision. You need a tour guide on your journey to health and wellness.

You need a personal trainer.

As ubiquitous as a treadmill in a fitness club, the personal trainer is a key element to successful workout programs, giving clients one-on-one attention and encouragement.

“Working with a qualified personal trainer is an incredibly valuable investment for a person that is starting out on a fitness routine,” said Sam Berry, who directs personal training for Fitcorp. “Or for a person that wants to learn  some new exercises because they’ve reached a plateau with their current regimen.”

But finding the next Bob Harper or Jillian Michaels — or more realistically, a trainer that best fits your goals and needs — requires some legwork.

Berry listed three criteria as essential for finding the right personal trainer.

» Does the trainer have a degree in exercise science or a related field and have at least one nationally accredited personal-training certification?

» Does the trainer have clients that have been with them for a long time, with positive reviews?

»Does the trainer provide a complimentary session to meet with clients, discuss goals, injuries and exercise experience?

“If you can observe how the trainer interacts with their clientele or ask a client … what benefits they’ve gained, that’s ideal.”