How do you find a personal trainer? Hiring a personal fitness trainer or online trainer might seem like a luxury, but if you really want to get the most out of your fitness journey hiring a good personal trainer is a great investment. In this article, I’ll create a clear path for you on how to find a personal trainer that works for you and your lifestyle.
Taking your time to do your own research on a trainer will save you money and time in the long run. It gives you a chance to dig deeper to ask any questions you have and find out about their client results, experience and history.
Whether you’re aiming to improve your relationship with food or get in your best shape yet you can find a local or online personal trainer by using my tips in this blog. You’ll be able to find a trainer that is well suited to you and your goals and has your best interest at heart.
Start by determining your needs
One of the most important things to consider when choosing a personal trainer is your own goals. And yep, that means you’re going to have to pick some goals in the first place to get the ball rolling.
Like with anything in life there is a massive amount of choice but zoning in on what you want to achieve and how you want to achieve it is key. Do you want to be tortured into it like David Goggins or take your time and approach it with acceptance like my client Gary?
If a coach is a competitive bodybuilder who eats and breathes bodybuilding they may not be the right coach for you if you’re a lifestyle client. Take some time to research why you want a personal trainer and if they’re the right match for you and your personality type.
Determining your goals will help guide you in the right direction to find a coach that is right for you.
- Are you trying to get away from the weighing scales?
- Are you trying to lose 100 lbs or more?
- Do you want to be a competitive bodybuilder?
- Do you just want to gain some clarity over food and exercise and enjoy your training and food again?
Having a clear idea of your goals and the type of coach you want to work with will get your journey off on the right foot and help you feel at ease.
Where to find a personal trainer?
Thanks to Google and word of mouth, finding a personal trainer can be a relatively easy task nowadays. You don’t just have to just go along with the trainer who is on the poster in your nearest local gym and hope for the best. There are so many options to find someone who you truly connect with.
Let’s get into detail about some of the best ways to find a trainer that works well for you.
Ask your friends & family
My first suggestion would be to ask your family or friends for their recommendations. Most people know someone who has had success with a trainer. Many of my current clients have been referrals from older clients who had great results and experiences with me. I’m in the business of helping people feel better about themselves and I think that shows through for myself and other passionate trainers.
Be sure to enquire about their style of coaching, how they educate their clients and their ability to communicate. Having a personal trainer is a learning process and a two-way relationship. Getting advice from people you trust who have had the experience of working with a trainer is a great place to start.
Search on Google
Searching on Google is a significant first step to finding a personal trainer. By typing in the service you want and your locality you can see all the top-rated personal trainers along with reviews and links and the click of a button.
For example, when you type in Personal Training in Corrandulla Galway, Google will pull up the following results, where you can see my business and client reviews within the first 3 results.
From here you can research the trainer and find out important information about their business, including their experience, working hours, contact details or a link to their website to read their blog posts, see results and listen to their podcast. All to give you a deeper insight into if they’re the right trainer for you.
Search on Social Media
Searching on Social Media can also give a deeper insight into the coach you may choose to work with. I love to share my thoughts and values on Instagram. My coaching has a deep focus on mental health and consistency over perfectionism.
I make daily reels with quick tips on how to navigate big feelings, anxieties and stress when it comes to your fitness and nutrition that I post on my social media channels. It’s what I’m deeply passionate about and for me, it attracts the kind of client I love to help.
Someone who wants to progress and learn but not at the cost of their social life or mental health. I promote a holistic approach to training and diet and from scrolling through my Instagram you can pick up on that.
As I mentioned earlier it’s important to hire a coach that is on the same wavelength as you. Following someone on Social Media can give you a real insight into their values as a coach and their approach to clients.
Ask your local gym
If you are already a member of a gym or thinking about joining, most gyms will have personal trainers available at their locations. They tend to hire in-house personal trainers and run off a standard set free for a certain amount of sessions. They can have several personal trainers available with varying specialities and availability.
Big gyms tend to hire in-house personal trainers and run off a standard set fee for a certain amount of sessions. Whilst smaller gyms may have independent freelance personal trainers who pay them a fee to use the premises, receive referrals and bring in their clients. A gym might offer information on their website about the trainers they have available.
Chatting with the staff at your local gym and highlighting your goals is a great way to find the right trainer for you. Always remember though it’s your time and money and if you don’t feel comfortable with a trainer you’ve been paired up with to voice that.
When doing your research, it’s important to ask any questions you have in terms of how they work so you feel confident in your decision.
Where to find an online personal trainer
Before I break down where to find an online personal trainer, I think it’s important to outline how online personal training works. I know I often get bemused faces when explaining what I do (as an Online Personal Trainer) to friends and family.
An Online Personal Trainer acts much like an in-person trainer but rather than just focusing on your form and intensity within the session we offer a lot more. There is a massive focus on accountability, tracking, mindset, recording sessions for form, exercise guide videos and long-term goal setting.
We usually do this by having a weekly check-in where we follow up with clients on their programme, training and diet for the past and coming week. Offering advice, educating clients on diet and training points and helping them see the bigger picture when it comes to their health and fitness.
As I mentioned with an in-person coach finding an online personal trainer follows the same protocol
- Search Online through Google and read past client reviews
- Word of mouth with friends who have worked with an online coach and have been happy with the service
- Search on Social Media for a coach with a good record of results and a good attitude towards clients and their individual goals
Below you can see some of the success and reviews I’ve had with my online clients. Although it may be a tricky concept to wrap your head around at first, online training is a sure-fire way to receive support and progress in your health and fitness.
FAQ
How much does personal training cost?
So how much does a personal trainer cost, and are they worth it? With the cost of living ever increasing it can be easy to think personal trainers are expensive, especially if you need to see one in person for several sessions per week.
Personal trainers are costly in the short term because you’re paying them to give you their undivided attention for 30-60 minutes or a detailed check-in online. Many trainers also have advanced degrees, and additional certifications, attend upskilling courses and invest in software to help their clients.
If you’re working with a Personal Trainer twice per week in person it could work out at roughly €50- €100 per week.
Compare that to working with an Online Coach from Ireland and you could be looking at anywhere from €35 to €75 per week for personalised support.
Is an online personal trainer worth it?
With everything in the world going up in price it can be hard to justify the luxury of a personal trainer. When we break it down though we see that it is truly an investment in ourselves and our future.
A personal trainer can give you the tools and support that you need to reach and maintain a health and fitness goal well into the future,
They can provide support, accountability, education, and a personalized plan so your initial investment is well worth it and will stand the test of time.
Conclusion
So there you have it. A clear guide on how to find the right personal trainer for you. Whether you prefer to research yourself or go on the opinions of trusted friends and family there are many ways to find a personal trainer.
One thing that’s really important to me as a trainer is that clients have a good idea of what kind of coach I am. I always encourage them to sign up for a consultation call so I can ensure we’re on the same page in terms of expectations before we start our coaching relationship.
I encourage you to spend your time researching to find a personal trainer that’s right for you as in the long term it’s such an amazing investment that will bring freedom and balance to your health and wellness. Something we all truly want.
