Starting with a personal trainer can feel like a big step — especially if you’ve been away from exercise for a while, or you’re not sure what it will involve.

Many people wonder:

• Will I be pushed too hard?

• Do I need to be fit already?

• Will I feel out of place?

• Will it be like a gym or bootcamp?

Those are completely normal questions.

In reality, starting personal training is usually much simpler — and much more comfortable — than people expect.

Here’s how it usually works.

Finding a personal trainer

A good source for finding a personal trainer is the REPS (Register of Exercise Professionals) website. You can enter your city or region, and find a Registered Trainer. Some trainers have websites or Facebook pages, some advertise in community magazines and newspapers, some in TradeMe, and some drop flyers in your local area. 

Most of my clients have come to me by word of mouth and referral – so don’t forget to check with your friends and health professionals if they know of one. There are also, of course, trainers based at most gyms.

Specialties you may like

Personal Trainers tend to have quite different approaches and specialties. From hard out “Bootcamp” style training, HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training), Functional training, to more conservative careful training relevant to your health and injury profile. It’s good to chat with a prospective trainer to find out their particular approach and find someone who will suit your needs.

My approach is careful and tailored to your current ability.  I’m more interested in finding what will get you exercising regularly within your capability and add in manageable challenge when suitable.

Where will you train?

Mobile* – your place or the park - Some trainers will come to you, and bring the equipment you need.  This can be a good option if you want some privacy, and don’t like gyms.

Studio* - Some trainers have a studio that you can go to with all the equipment you need.  Again this can be a good option if you want to avoid competing for the equipment at a gym, and prefer some privacy and more focussed training.

Gym - Of course there are the big gyms who often have a number of Personal Trainers.  If you like the busy gym environment and don’t mind competing for equipment then this could be a suitable option. 

*I provide the first 2 options – studio or mobile sessions.

First call to a personal trainer

You start with an initial call where you discuss why you would like a trainer to help you.  Some goals may be:

• Lose weight for a date

• Get into shape for a wedding

• Feel better about my body shape

• Get stronger to help myself be independent

• Keep up with the kids

• Rehabilitation after an injury

• Prevent injuries

• Help maintain bone density

• Reduce risk of heart disease

In our first conversation, we’ll talk about how I can help you, and whether my approach feels like a good fit. We can also go over practical things like session options and your budget.  

If you decide to continue, I’ll usually ask you to complete a simple Health, Lifestyle, and Goals questionnaire before we meet for a consultation. 

The questionnaire helps me to: 

• keep you safe

• create a programme that will get you the results you want

• understand your current ability and circumstances so you can succeed and have fun exercising, rather than experience painful bootcamp which you are unlikely to sustain 

Consultation

The consultation is usually much more relaxed than people expect.   Some people perceive it as negative at first, but after pinning down your goals, and then planning them out, in my experience you become really motivated.  I think it is partly because you will see you can actually achieve the weight loss, or strength gain, and that there is an experienced professional on your side, working with you to get the most out of it.

The consultation is an opportunity for you to meet me, and see if you feel comfortable working together. We’ll talk through your situation, what you’d like to improve, and how we could approach it in a way that suits you. 

By the end of the consultation you both will have worked out:

• your goals

• timeframe

• how it will all work

• where you will work out?  Your place; trainers studio; park; or gym

• frequency and duration

• special needs or concerns you have

I will help and observe you performing some simple exercises, just to understand which exercises will help you, and which ones might be unsuitable, or what movements might be difficult for you to do.

First Day of exercise (The start of the journey)

The next time we get together will be your first training session.  At your first session, I’ll take you through a programme designed for you — at a pace that feels manageable. We can then adjust anything to make it work better for you.  

I will normally explain what the exercises do and what benefits they have, and will help you refine how you perform each exercise to get the most out of each movement and minimise risk of injury.

Ongoing (The journey)

During sessions that follow, I’ll help guide you and keep you progressing at a pace that works for you. 

There are a number of ways in which training can continue.  A lot will depend on your budget, and how self-motivated you are.

You might do 2 or 3 sessions a week with me;  do just one session each week, or start with a trainer, and then continue in a gym or at home on your own, checking in for a session once a month to check progress and technique, and adjust the program to reach that goal!

If you’d like to talk it through, I’m always happy to have a no-pressure chat.