Chapter 4
Chapter 4: Hiring a Trainer ............................................................................................
In This Chapter
Identifying good reasons to hire a trainer
Screening potential trainers
Knowing how much a trainer should cost
Recognizing the signs of a quality trainer
Being a good client
O
perating exercise equipment isn’t nuclear physics, but neither is it
something you should attempt to figure out on your own. We recom-
mend signing up with a trainer — for at least one session — to get yourself
started on a strength and cardiovascular program suited to your goals. Even
workout veterans have plenty to gain from a session or two with a trainer.A trainer can teach you the subtleties of using exercise equipment: how to
grip a barbell, how far to pull down a rope, and how to adjust a machine to fit
your body — stuff that’s tough to glean from a book or video. We know a
woman who hired a trainer just to teach her how to use the new technology
in her gym, like the computerized weight machines, the wireless TV/radio
headphones, and the fancy treadmill programs.A good trainer can teach you all this and more. Unfortunately, the industry
has its share of quacks. This chapter explains how you can benefit from a
trainer and discusses how to find a qualified one.Five Smart Reasons to Hire a Trainer .........................................................
Trainers do a lot more than just whip wimpy actors into shape for their next
action movie, and they don’t all charge $200 an hour. (We tell you more about
how much you should expect to pay in the “Trainer fees” section later in this
chapter.) Consider hiring a trainer if you’re in any of the following situations: