Chapter 4: Hiring a Trainer 51
An interview .........................................................................................
To make sure that you’re compatible with your trainer, talk with him at length
and ask questions before hiring him. A trainer may look good on paper but
may not be able to speak in complete sentences. Or you may have a personal-
ity conflict — the trainer may have too much or too little enthusiasm for your
taste. Liz knows a woman who won’t work with a particular trainer because
the trainer laughs too loudly; she’s afraid he’ll draw too much attention to
her when she already feels self-conscious about working out.
Don’t judge your potential trainer by looks alone. Just because someone’s
a chiseled workout god doesn’t mean he knows which exercises are best for
you or even how to teach them to you. A great teacher can live in a less-than-
godlike body.
A trial session ......................................................................................
Before you commit to several sessions with a trainer, ask for a free or dis-
counted trial workout. Also look for a money-back guarantee if you’re not
fully satisfied with your trainer or the session. Many trainers will comply in
the hopes of getting a long-term client. Most gyms that offer personal training
either offer a first session free or a discounted session before making you
commit to a package of sessions.
Trainer fees ..........................................................................................
Fees vary from region to region, and from big cities to small towns. In Des
Moines, you may pay $30 an hour; in New York, the going rate is between $85
and $105 per hour, and trainers charging as much as $120 per hour is not
uncommon. (Charges depend on experience and popularity; the more experi-
enced and popular a client, the higher the fee.) Ask friends or call gyms to get
a sense of rates in your area, so you know if a trainer’s fees are way out of the
ballpark.
On the off chance that someone is charging too little, watch out. Your so-called
trainer may just be a pizza-delivery guy who happens to work out in his spare
time and thinks he can make extra cash on the side.
If you belong to a health club, you’ll probably save money by hiring a trainer
through the club. Good gyms thoroughly screen their trainers and keep an
eye on them. However, follow the rules we list in the preceding section for
weeding out bad trainers: Don’t assume that the club hires trainers who are
certified and experienced.