Personal trainers can cost a lot of money, and a bad trainer may hurt you more than help you. Deciding whether a personal trainer is worth the money comes down to two factors: how important it is to you to accomplish your fitness-related goals, and whether you can find the right trainer to help you accomplish those goals.
Goals
Know what your goals are before you hire a trainer. According to Certified Athletic Trainer Keith Scott, a personal trainer's only goal is to help you accomplish your fitness-related goals. Knowing what you want to get out of the relationship before you get started can make the cost of hiring a personal trainer worthwhile.
Qualifications
Find a trainer who is certified, reputable and, most importantly, one you feel comfortable with. CSCS, NASM, ACSM, ACE, ISSA, and NSCA are all organizations that certify personal trainers and have good reputations. According to Leigh Peele, NASM certified personal trainer, the way to find the right trainer is talk to various trainers until you find one that you feel comfortable with. She also suggests getting a referral as the best way to find the right trainer.
Cost
According to Fitness and Health Tips Today, the average cost of a personal trainer is $60 per hour. Individual sessions with the trainer may be either 30 or 60 minutes. This does not include the cost of a gym membership, which varies depending on location. You can hire a trainer to come to your home, and many trainers offer long-term packages which bring the cost down considerably.
Tips
If you find that the cost of a personal trainer is just too great, consider options that can help you lower the costs, like taking group classes or getting a friend or two to join you for semi-private sessions. Some gyms and personal training studios allow people to intern in exchange for discounted or even free sessions as well.
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