Often the first question people ask when starting out on a fitness program is, "Should I hire a personal trainer?" I should stress right now that you don't need to hire a trainer. But, beginners and experienced trainers alike can indeed benefit from skilled coaching and motivation. If you know you're someone who does better when someone is guiding you, if you would like some skills instruction and don't feel you can learn yourself, if you would like specialized services like bodyfat assessment or the development of a training program, then you might consider finding a personal trainer.  There are many Personal Trainers in the Ottawa Area, some of them are quite good. Too Many ain’t so good!

If you decide you would like a trainer, the next question is invariably, "How do I find a good one?" Well now. That is a big ugly minefield. I work myself as a personal trainer and I am shocked at the level of ignorance displayed by trainers. Approach the search for a trainer as you would a search for a used car: buyer beware. Some things to think about:

Certification. Because the training industry is unregulated, just about anyone can call themselves a trainer. There are a variety of certifications that one can get in Ottawa and few of them really demand a high level of expertise, experience, and/or education. Many certifications can be obtained from certifying bodies that are years behind on current research, and will provide you with a shiny certificate after you write a short test. What you want to look for:

-ASCM, CSCS or another NSCA certification, ISSA, CK (Certified Kinesiologist)

-a university degree in an applicable field (Physical Education, Kinesiology, Exercise Physiology, etc.)

-a canfit pro Trainer specialist

Experience. Many trainers are fly-by-night, students trying to make an extra buck, people filling time till they get a "real" job. There's nothing wrong with working part time as a trainer but often it results in people with minimal hands-on experience. If possible, find someone who has experience working with various types of people, and if you get really lucky, someone who has powerlifting or Olympic lifting experience.

Adaptability to your needs. This is the big one. Lots of Personal trainers in the Ottawa area have prefab plans that they hand out to everyone, regardless of who clients are, or what their needs are. A good trainer will consult you about your needs before you set foot in the gym. I personally sit down with clients for a 30-60 minute consultation before starting any activity. A personal trainer in Ottawa should ask you about:

-your medical history in detail, not just a cursory, "Are you healthy?" A trainer should ask about past medical history and current medical status. They don't need to know about the yeast infection you had at age 14 or the time you had nose warts, but they should get a clear picture of things like any problems with heart, respiratory, and circulatory system, structural system (bones, joints, connective tissue), balance and coordination, fatigue and energy levels, chronic conditions, medications taken (including oral or injected contraceptives), injuries and surgeries you have had. I also ask about family history but that might be a little detailed for most folks. I just try to get a sense of what susceptibilities I'm working with (so for example, if I know that the trainee's entire family has diabetes, I'm going to be on the lookout for possible blood sugar issues with the trainee).

-past physical activity. Are you a fit person, formerly fit person, former competitive athlete, former couchwarmer, etc.?

-your daily activity, including work practices, day-to-day home tasks, etc. This often reveals naggy little injuries, owchies, and bad movement habits which I can help alleviate.

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