Hi my name is Andy Payne, I am the Director of Three Pillars of Fitness, based in the (sometimes) sunny City of Brighton (an hour south of London). Three Pillars is born out of my own journey of weight loss. The Pillars are Mind : Diet and Exercise.
Here at Three Pillars we pride ourselves on coaching the things you'd expect such as movement and nourishment BUT we also help with sleep, restoration, relaxation and stress, as well as possible hormonal influences. We do this by building bespoke plans for each of our clients based on an agreed list of priorities.
Over the years I have worked with many Fitness Professionals, all of which do things their own way, when it comes to choosing a PT the market is saturated, so here's our guide to help.........
1. Shop around.....
Buying the professional services of a Personal Trainers is not a cheap business, it's no different to choosing any other professional. How would you employ a builder, a solicitor or any other professional. Our industry is saturated with thousands of trainers, of various qualities and skill sets. Contact at least three Personal Trainers and consider these things:
2. Personality......
Make contact with Trainers in your locality. An e-mail or generic "contact" request through the Trainers website will get the ball rolling, but don't leave it at that, make sure you speak in person, and always meet them before your first exercise session. Ask as many questions as you like, you are the client. Don't be afraid to ask even the simplest questions...now is the time.
-Once you have met them, ask yourself how did they make you feel? Note: you should be full of hope and looking forward to the first session, if you aren't you need to ask more questions.
(remember when you were at school? the subjects you did well in were the ones where you liked your teacher!)
3. Knowledge......
The barriers to entry into the Personal Training industry are pretty low, meaning anyone who can spend a small amount of money and time on education can get in. Ask questions like:
- What sort of clients do you currently work with?
There's no point hiring a fitness professional who works with competitive athletes if you wish to lose weight. Ask for testimonials and possibly even ask to speak with someone who has worked with them before.
- What is your speciality?
A Trainer who implies that they specialise in Weight loss, Athleticism, Strength, Hypertrophy, Yoga and Competitive sports is likely to underdeliver because they too are human and are unlikely to do all of these things well. Look for someone that has a couple of specialities which they are great at!
- How do you continue to improve your knowledge of the Health and Fitness industry?
Our industry is ever changing, the fundamentals remain the same but industry leaders are constantly offering new ideas and training, make sure that your Trainer is continuing to learn -Every day is a school day!
4. Expectations.....
Your goals, are yours! Not your Trainers, but they must be realistic. For example you may be getting Married in 3 months and want to lose weight before the big day, 3 stone weight loss in this time would be unrealistic. Tell your Trainer your goals and ask them what's realistic and why -set your goals together!
-Trainers are not magicians, you have to be prepared to work. If you see them once per week, you have 168 hours between sessions, what you do in that time will shape your success. We are catalysts, we will support you to achieve your goals and exceed them but the work is down to you.
-What sort of support will your Trainer give you? Every client of mine has weekly homework, that can be anything from: drinking more water, to learning about the importance of a nutrient.
- How often will you speak with your Trainer and by what means?
Make sure that you can contact your trainer between sessions at a time that suits you. Possibly booking a telephone catch up mid week between your sessions, this is bound to keep you on track and excel your progress.
-Ask us for a contract, this way both parties understand what is to come and you know what you are buying!
5. Pricing.....
You can't buy a Mercedes Benz for Ford money..... Personal Trainers are there to enhance your life, your health, your relationships, your self esteem and your fitness. Don't employ us on the basis of cost alone. Ask us the questions above and make a decision about value. Tell us your goals and let us design a programme, which will make that happen and agree a suitable cost. I recently employed a Chiropractor, and paid her £750 but I no longer have back pain = True value.
If you would like to know more about how we work at Three Pillars of Fitness, please CLICK HERE TO BOOK YOUR FREE CONSULTATION. We look forward to learning more about you!
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