Until recently, personal training was seen as a 'luxury good' of the rich and shameless, who were simply too bored to exercise by themselves. Lycra-clad 'dollies' of the male and female variety were invariably sought after for their aesthetic value and for their inane cries of 'one more rep' and 'you can do it' (under the guise of motivation) and paid very generously for their services as a 'rent-a-friend', the ultimate workout accessory!

Yet, in the last five years, personal training has undergone a real metamorphosis. It has emerged, phoenix-like from its uneducated and unskilled beginnings to become one of the most rapidly developing professions of modern times.

Today, fitness professionals (the good ones, anyway) are as well versed in anatomy and physiology as many of their medical counterparts. Indeed, in the highest echelons of the fitness industry are those qualified in rehabilitation, nutrition, psychology, life coaching and a multitude of therapies, as well as every manner of strength, conditioning and flexibility programme that the industry has to offer.

And far from being reserved for those with the deepest pockets, personal training is now being taken up by many more 'normal' folk, those with normal jobs and normal incomes who are fed up with achieving the normal results (very little) that they're getting from their exercise and nutritional plans. They figure that with a 'super trainer' results will come more rapidly and with less effort than ever before.

Are they right? Absolutely not!

Sorry to burst your bubble, but all a good trainer can do for you is motivate you, lead you, instruct you and guide you to making the right decisions. It's you who has to eat right, exercise and keep to the plan. In fact, with a good trainer you'll be working harder, more often and smarter than you ever have before – that's where the results come from, and there's nothing mysterious or magical about it!

That said, some trainers really are much better than others and can really get more out of you than you ever could if left to your own devices. The question is; how do you find such a creature? How do you separate the wheat from the chaff and find the best possible trainer to invest your time, money and efforts in?

Well, let's think about the following:

Certifications
There are literally hundreds of fitness-certifying agencies around the world, each with their own standards of study and assessment. Some courses can be studied and passed entirely within a weekend, while others can take three to four years to complete, yet they may both enable those who study them to call themselves a personal trainer.

Currently, the best-recognised and most highly sought-after qualifications are from:

National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) –
Certified personal trainer and performance enhancement specialist
Premier Training and Development Diploma –
Offering a full diploma in exercise, nutrition and sports therapy
Functionally Integrated Training Systems (FIT) –
Offering specialist advanced courses to certified trainers
CHEK Institute –
Levels 1-4 CHEK practitioner
American College of Sports Medicine –
Health fitness instructor
YMCA –
Diploma in personal training

There are, as mentioned, many other certifications and degree programmes as well as those listed. Whichever your trainer has, make sure it provides them with enough knowledge to safely and effectively train you for your specific requirements.

What is their experience?
To be honest, regardless of who they're certified with, their certifications count for very little until they've gained some industry experience.

Often, those with the best qualifications or degrees in the subject have never actually trained anyone in 'real life'. As such, they're not necessarily well-versed in the skills of communication and client empathy and often are more concerned with doing things 'by the book' than they are with delivering a truly personal approach. Sure, you'll get a safe workout, but you shouldn't expect to pay too much for it.

What is their area of specialisation?
All personal trainers are not the same. Just as medicine has various branches that doctors can progress along, so too does personal training. If you are serious about getting the results you desire, then you should consider looking for a trainer with a specialisation in your area of need.

Kinetic chain specialists and corrective exercise specialists are emerging as elite-level trainers with advanced assessment and programming skills that enable them to correct postural imbalances and muscle dysfunctions through holistic models of health. Famed for their 'no stone unturned' approach, everyone from athletes to those wanting relief from the symptoms of illness, injury or long-term health problems are now seeking out these highly trained professionals.

Performance enhancement specialists and strength and conditioning specialists are skilled in analysing the requirements of sporting activities and programming their athletes and clients accordingly. Along with a knowledge of injury prevention and rehabilitation techniques, these trainers are able to provide full support for those seeking the best possible gains in fitness and performance in the shortest possible time.