Picking a personal trainer here in the Seattle area is a big decision, and even though I feel whole-heartedly in my fitness program, I want you to have all the tools you need in order to make the selection that is right for you.

With countless personal trainers in Seattle to choose from, and with over 400 personal training certification programs available, it's easy to see why finding a good fitness pro can be difficult.

So what should you look for in a personal trainer? What separates one fitness trainer from another?

Where in Seattle can you find a personal trainer who is best qualified to accommodate your personal fitness goals?

The first thing to do is to do your homework and ask around. Look at all the different personal training websites, visit fitness clubs throughout Seattle and/or the greater Seattle area. Remember, you're going to invest not only your money, but your life to this training program, so your personal trainer should fit all your fitness needs.

Do any of your friends or work mates have personal trainers? If so, how was their experience? Gather names and contact info with trainers who are in your area.

After you’ve narrowed down the selection to a few personal trainers, look for accreditation to see if their personal training certification is legitimate. Now, accreditation doesn't necessarily mean that one training certification program produces better trainers than another. But it's a good sign that a company's personal training certification is sound. This is extremely important because I've personally known personal trainers who receive their certifications from online courses they took in a single day!

Good certifications typically come from the American College of Sports Medicine, the National Academy of Sports Medicine (my alma mater), the National Strength and Conditioning Association, and the American Council on Exercise.

Be sure to ask about experience, particularly experience with people like you. If you're interested in losing fat and toning, go to someone who's specialization is in fat loss or muscle gain, etc.

Also, ask how well your prospective trainer keeps up with developments in health and fitness through continuing education. Ask them if they have a college-level experience in exercise physiology or a related fitness field.

Now that you've done some research and have narrowed down a few personal trainers and gyms, set up interviews. Yes, interviews! This is your body and your fitness and YOU get to decide who's best suited for you. Ask them specific questions about their training techniques, their methods of exercise, and how they plan to help you with YOUR fitness goals. Remember, you're going to be spending hours working out with your trainer so be confident in your selection.

If you have any questions at all about fitness, or more about selecting a personal trainer here in Seattle, please reach out! I will be more than happy to answer any and all of your questions.
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Sincerely,
Peter Feysa - The Seattle Personal Trainer