Contact us, Personal Trainer Match

The personal trainers on this site come from all types of businesses. Some work out of their own studio or travel to people’s homes or work places. Others work at fitness clubs, and of course, you’ve got some doing a little bit of both.

So, if you’re interested in getting a gym membership—or if you already have one, consider the trainers that can train in your club or at a club where you’d like to become a member.

First step: Enter the zip code of where you’d like to be trained.

Then, consider why you want to hire a trainer? Do you just want to get started and needed a little butt-kicking—and a little assurance that you’re going about it the right way? Or are you working towards a specific goal—maybe weight-loss, endurance running, sports conditioning? These are the key words to help refine your search.

Should my personal trainer have experience?

You might consider yourself a gambler hiring a newly certified personal trainer. Or you might consider yourself extremely fortunate. Just because a personal trainer is new on the scene doesn’t mean he or she is not good. In fact, he or she may be more excited than ever to have you as a client. This excitement will transfer to you and you can benefit. He or she may make a few mistakes--mistakes you'll probably not notice, but he or she may be more cautious and more humble than the experienced. And who knows, you might train with the next Jillian Michaels!!!

How can I make sure my personal training experience is a safe experience?

There are some precautions to take before hiring a personal trainer. Here at PTM, we do our best to make sure our members are certified and up-to-date on all personal training requirements, including CPR and First Aid. However, it is up to the client to check with their personal trainer to make sure that the trainer’s certification is still in good standing and that his or her certifications have not expired.

Also, ask if the trainer is insured. Fitness and liability insurance owned by the trainer increases credibility as only credential professionals can apply.

If you’re a little nervous about hiring a trainer in a situation where you feel vulnerable, like in-home training, it’s always a good idea to ask for references.

And finally, remember this: A personal trainer is not a doctor, chiropractor, physical therapist or registered dietician! Use them for their particular area of expertise only.

Do I have to have gym equipment if I want an in-home trainer?

No. Resourceful trainers turn common household items into fitness equipment and will often have on hand a few favorite pieces of equipment. Of course, your own body is one of the best sources for resistance training.

Do I have to have a lot of space if I want an in-home trainer?

If you have enough floor space to lie down, sprawled out, then you probably have plenty of room to exercise. Resourceful personal trainers not only need little equipment but can also make do with small spaces.

What if my “perfect match” lives outside of my zip code (and proximate zip code) zone?

In-home personal trainers are often willing to travel, depending on how far out of their normal service area they would have to travel. It never hurts to ask. Although, they might charge a mileage fee on top of the session fee.

What are all those abbreviations and acronyms for?

PFT – short for the title: personal fitness trainer

GFI – short for the title: group fitness instructor

PFT, ACE – normally after the title acronym, the trainer will list the company name of whom he or she has been certified with. There are all kinds of certifying agency. Please see www.noca.org for more information on these agencies.

What kind of certification should a trainer have?

There are all kinds of certifications out there. ACE is one of the most recognized, but there are many other reputable certifying agencies. Most trainers will have a nationally recognized certification—to allow them more flexibility for career opportunities. The nationally recognized certifying agencies for personal fitness training can be found here at: www.noca.org

That said, there are many other certifications with excellent education programs. For instance, in Michigan we have a local personal training school that offers an excellent personal training education. Trainers graduating from this academy are certainly qualified, but their certification is only recognized in the state of Michigan.

How much does personal training cost—what’s a fair range?

Prices vary. Dependant factors are: what city and region you live in and where the trainer will be training you. Often trainers at clubs are a little less expensive, but you travel to them and often pay a membership fee. Trainers that go to you may be a tad more expensive due to client convenience factors.

Should personal trainers have a college degree or be certified with a certain certifying agency?

Not necessarily. A college degree adds to the credibility of the trainer and is what most people suggest as a requirement when hiring personal trainers. But they may do so simply to save face… Sometimes experience and passion build a stronger education experience than a formal education with a person who lacks curiosity or ingenuity.

Let’s leave the fitness world for a second: Consider gardeners. Some of the best gardeners never had a formal education. Their hands are always in the dirt—they live and breathe gardening. The read, they experiment, and they are the best resources for garden information.

Same thing for personal trainers! You can gauge a person’s qualification by their passion.

That said, never hire a trainer without the proper certification.

How often should I hire a personal trainer?

This depends on so many things—your budget, your goal, your DIY capability… If you lack the motivation you may want to have a trainer up to 5 times a week. You can play it by ear… If you find that you really love to jog and feel clumsy doing toning and resistance work, you may just hire a trainer specifically to get you through your week’s strength training program. And vice versa. Talk with your trainer and remember, most trainers are flexible, just ask. Or if you have a lot of motivation, but need a coach every now and then, meet with your trainer once a week. Some may even schedule appointments every 3 weeks just for the sake of accountability. Exercise should be done 3-5 times a week, but you don’t necessarily have to hire a trainer for each session.

Can I find personal trainers that can come to my home?

Absolutely. We list fitness professionals of all kinds, including but not limited to corporate group, in-home, studio and gym trainers.

Are sessions always one-hour sessions?

Time is just as valuable as health, isn’t it? Most trainers offer 30 minute sessions, and 90 minute sessions, but don’t list the price. Go ahead and ask if you’d like something other than the traditional one-hour session.

Are all the trainers listed in-home and studio trainers?

We have all kinds of trainers included in our listing, those who work for themselves and those who work for large and small fitness clubs, including studios. The profiles of the trainers will let you know this information.

What to expect from a one-on-one personal training session?

This depends on the trainer and your goals. Remember that being fit includes all aspects of fitness: strength, cardiovascular endurance and flexibility. So many traditional trainers will provide a program for all of the above. Whether or not you hire them to go through all of the aspects of the program is up to you.

An initial consultation may give you a better idea of what you may expect from the trainer you hire.

What is an initial consultation?

Trainers often set-up initial consultations to (1) meet the client (2) to go over the client’s goals and medical history (3) to go over what a program with a trainer would be like, including cancellation policies, client benefits, etc., and (4) to fill out necessary paperwork. This is also a great time for the client and the trainer to gauge the compatibility of a potential relationship.

Should I consult with my personal trainer on nutrition?

It’s very important to remember that your fitness professional is just that—a professional specialized in fitness. Nowadays, many personal trainers have access to software programs created by properly qualified professionals, which allows them to help out in other areas, like nutrition. And some trainers have additional education certifications to help you with your nutrition. But unless they're also registered dieticians, they cannot prescribe meal plans, diets or supplements. They can suggest or recommend, but understand that if you follow their advice, it's at your own risk.

What is the standard for cancellation policies?

Be sure to go over with the trainer any cancellation policies he or she may have. Many require a 24-hour notice. If they are driving out of their normal service area, please take that into consideration. Cancellation fees may apply.

What if I can’t afford a personal trainer, but still want some help?

There are lots of options to help people get started on a fitness program, and some of them come at a lower price than a one-on-one personal training session.

First, consider group training. Lots of personal trainers will train small groups, and although the price may be higher, once divvied up, it’s actually a lot more economical.

Secondly, realize that you don’t have to hire a trainer for every single work out. Once you become a client, the trainer will most likely assign a program for you to work on when you’re alone. You could hire a trainer once every two weeks just to keep you on your toes.

Thirdly, many personal trainers offer other programs—maybe they do large fitness classes that might interest you, or maybe they have online personal training. Remember, these fitness professionals have a lot to offer in terms of motivational tools and educational experiences.