Someone once annoyingly (yet accurately) told me that a lot of the questions in fitness can be answered with the phrase- “it depends”. That said, let's get into it ;)

Why work with a personal trainer?:

Working with a personal trainer is not for everyone at every point in their lives. As a trainer myself, I have times when I want to work with a trainer whether it’s for added inspiration/motivation, getting insight from another professional, getting specific guidance on a skillset or expertise I myself don’t possess. I will say that if one isn’t getting the results they want with what you are doing- you need to do something new. If you can’t figure out a new and impactful change to make, a trained and passionate trainer can be really really helpful.

How do I know if a personal trainer is right for me?:

There are thousands of trainers to choose from. Not all trainers may suit your needs, personal motivation style and or needed skill set. That is perfectly normal and okay! When you are starting your search for a trainer, I recommend you spend some time thinking about what you personally need to feel supported and what type of a person/energy motivates you. If you have a vague idea of what you do and don’t like to do training wise, this can be helpful as well as you look at different trainers and read their backgrounds and client reviews. Spend some time researching and thinking about any “must have” skillsets. For example, are you pregnant or postnatal? Are you recovering from an injury and are looking for a trainer to bridge you from post rehab into feeling athletic again? In answering questions like these, you can get an idea of the skills and certifications that are worth searching for in a certified personal trainer.

Once you have done the above research and pondering, come up with a short list of potential trainers and reach out. Check to see if any of them offer free or discounted consultation calls and go from there.

Does it matter if a trainer is certified or not?:

It really depends on the trainer ;). The truth is- I have worked alongside trainers who are certified and don’t have either the personal or technical know how. That said, I would think any career trainer who is passionate about what they are doing would be certified or have a degree in kinesiology. It’s an easy enough and logical screening tool- if a trainer is serious about their profession, they will have some sort of credentials. Also, to be insured, a trainer needs to be certified. It’s a good idea to have a trainer who is insured.

Is it better for me to do strength training or cardio?:

Why either or? I’m a firm believer that in the more ways one body is willing to move/train the better. Training for cardio vs for strength is generally going to access and challenge different energy systems. Both are useful to train individually as well as together. That being said, I understand some people don’t like to train and just want to know what is THE BEST one to do. Short answer to that for those individuals is, the one you are going to do most often.

Do I really need to stretch? If so when should I do it?:

The short answer to it is yes. I have heard other professionals say that “stretching is completely useless”. In my 10+ years of doing this for a living as well as having been a collegiate athlete I disagree. That said, there is a proper time and way to stretch. Stretching at the wrong time or poorly could actually backfire and lead to an injury. Mobility training and yoga are very good ways to incorporate a form of stretching into your workouts as either warmups or cool downs. Static stretching before a workout is a big no no and can lead to injury

Apart from working out, what else can I do to take care of my health?:

This is a huge laundry list of answers :). To name a few, please see below:

• Stay Hydrated (drinking plenty of water and getting in your electrolytes)

• Have a regular sleeping schedule. (This doesn’t mean you follow it 100% of the time, even following a schedule 80% of the time can balance out a life)

• Be mindful of your eating habits: You are what you eat, literally.

How often should I work out?:

Ready, I warned you… it depends.

We get what we put into working out (anything we do). If you put in an hour every week, you’ll feel that. Or if you never workout or workout 7x a week, you’ll feel accordingly. How often one should workout 100% depends on your goals, what you are capable of doing given your life's priorities, etc. I always encourage individuals to see what their goals are, be realistic about what it would take to achieve those goals and ask themselves if they are willing to do that. If not, the goals should be shifted.

Does online/virtual training really work?

If you have a generally skilled trainer who is confident in their ability to translate their skillets online, it can be really great! I have some people I do train online and they specifically perform better online vs. in person. Like everything, people are different and different circumstances can and can’t work. If you are curious, I recommend trying it and seeing if it can work for you.