Personal Training Blog with Douglasville Personal Trainer David Hansey

You are a unique creature. Not trying to be corny here — it is just that you are the only person on the Earth who has your genetics as well as your unique set of circumstances from your life.

Did you break your arm in 4th grade?

Are you allergic to shellfish?

Did you have rheumatic fever (most people don’t even know what that is anymore but my father had it when he was a child and it shaped his whole life)

What I am trying to say is that only you have your unique set of circumstances. So a program designed for you SPECIFICALLY is going to be the best for you. Classes may be fun and they can be a great addition but they are just that — an addition. The best workout is one designed for you. It is like custom made clothing – always better.

Now a comment to people who have medical conditions. A personal trainer cannot “give you some moves” This really goes for anyone but it is CRITICAL for anyone with hypertension, arthritis, joint issues, diabetes and a host of other conditions. I have people who are in cardio surgery rehab who have asked me “for a few moves” ARE YOU SERIOUS???

Believe me I fully understand that there are financial considerations and you want to keep your training within a budget. But I cannot effectively give you any exercise without knowing you.

It is one of the reasons that my new group fitness classes is restricted to personal training clients only. I am just more comfortable with ensuring your safety and giving you an effective workout.

Yes, I would rather give you nothing at all than suggest something that may not work for you. And that is not cruel — that is SAFETY.

Ok — How confusing for a consumer to figure out the mess of personal training certifications. And the fitness and personal training industries have not made it any easier — UNTIL RECENTLY.

Some states have been pushing for personal trainers to be certified….. that proposal sadly failed in Georgia. But as a response to that, IHRSA, which is the industry organization decided to look at how to determine the REALITY of when someone is a qualified personal trainer.

And board certification was born. There are only 6 certifications that are board certified. And ALL OF THESE ARE GOVERNED BY THE NCCA, which is the 3rd party chosen to monitor these certifications. So the board certification is NCCA and the actual certifications that qualify for board certification are NASM, ACE, NCSF, NFPT, NSCA and the Cooper Institute. It is YOUR MONEY — why not double check to make sure your trainer holds their certification from one of these and know that you are getting not only the best trainers but also trainers that have had to be held accountable to an industry standard and 3rd party testing.

ASK your trainer to show you their certifications if you are not sure. And compare it to the list — and gee ASK them why they do not feel the need to do the work to get one of these. No, they are not easy but like in any industry, there are TOOLS that you need.

If you would like to read the entire article from IHRSA and how Board Certified Personal Training came to be — then CLICK HERE!!

And YES, I am board certified and feel free to come by, I have my certificates out for you to look at and review ANY TIME YOU WANT

I have seen some SAD ASS personal trainers in my days at the gym here in Douglasville. They show up (often late!) unprepared, unprofessionally dressed and without a personalized workout for the client. Then they float around the gym with their client in tow dishing out some of their half-assed advice.

Sorry to be so blunt, but that is NOT a personal trainer!!!

A personal trainer is professional. They are on time and expect you to be too. They have a customized, personalized workout prepared for you based on your goals, your needs, your limitations and your medical history. This workout is WRITTEN DOWN so your progress can be tracked.

A professional personal trainer also is board certified. If you are not sure what I mean by board certified, there are INDUSTRY STANDARDS that you want your personal trainer to have. To not only get you a good workout but to get you a safe and effective workout. Click Here for more info on board certified personal training.

Sorry if this is a bit of a rant. But I see people making their decisions every day based on less than the ideal amount of information. Don’t based your decision on friendship, sex, looks or price. There is no reason to work out with a male or female, old or young or a friend.

Get the BEST personal trainer you can afford. One session a week with a highly qualified personal trainer will do more for you than 3 sessions a week with a mediocre one.

I hope that helps you in finding the PERFECT personal trainer for you!!

I push certifications a lot and there are MANY reasons for it. First, your trainer may be great at training their own body but be clueless about yours. Certification ensures they have training on how to develop programs for particular circumstances.

When I say “Certified Personal Trainer” I have a narrow view. I am referring to BOARD CERTIFIED PERSONAL TRAINERS which use 3rd party testing to ensure the industry standard. The industry standard as laid out by The International Health Club, Racquet and Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) requires a third party board to give accredited certification.

There are only 6 certifying bodies who are currently board certified by the NCCA which is the board chosen to oversea the testing. These certifications are from the following organizations:

* – NASM
* -ACE
* -NCSF
* -NFPT
* -NSCA
* – Cooper Institute

If your trainer does not hold certification from one of these organizations, then you may not be getting safe and effective training per IHRSA.

PLAIN AND SIMPLE.

If your trainer tries to justify not having one of these, ask yourself why. If they are serious about personal training and about giving you THE BEST PERSONAL TRAINING, why would they not do everything they could to ensure they have the most knowledge possible. A professional personal trainer should be just that, professional, and these certifications make sure they meet the standards.

So whether you train with me, another trainer in Douglasville or somewhere else, ensure you are getting the best by making your trainer prove they have the education to back up their talk.

I hope you are enjoying my new personal training blog! Until next time! Dave Hansey