A good personal trainer does much more than holler at you to run faster or push harder. Professional trainers also have the background to evaluate your current fitness capabilities and design a program to suit you or adapt the program to accommodate injuries or other special conditions, such as pregnancy. Most certifying bodies provide a self-guided course of study or professionally led workshops, but you can prepare yourself for a successful training career by taking proactive measures.
CPR/AED Training
Almost all personal trainer certifications require you to show proof of current CPR and AED training before you receive your personal training certification even if you've already passed the certification test. Most certifying bodies for personal trainers don't offer the CPR and AED training directly, so contact organizations such as the American Red Cross and the American Heart Association for training possibilities.
Study Anatomy, Physiology and Kinesiology
Mastering the fine details of your body structure, body functions down to the cellular level, and body mechanics is one of the most intimidating and time-consuming parts of any personal training course of study. Yet this information is also critical to mastering the principles of exercise science. The more you study this information before you start a personal training course, the easier and faster the rest of your studies will go.
Hit the Gym
Having a basic knowledge of how gym equipment works is essential to developing the rest of your personal training skills. So hit the gym early and often, reading the placards on the weight machines and playing with the settings on the cardiovascular machines. Most gyms keep staff on hand to help you get familiar with the equipment. Ask them lots of questions and pay attention to not just what they say but also how they explain it because soon you'll be the one doing the explaining.
Take Workshops
Keep your eyes peeled at local gyms and fitness centers for seminars and workshops taught by certified trainers. This is an excellent way of learning new techniques and benefit from another trainer's experience. Select seminars that suit your current ability level and interests and always consider the source of information -- look for teachers who have years of expertise in their field or certifications from reputable organizations such as the American College of Sports Medicine or National Academy of Sports Medicine.
Practice
Many personal training courses are based on print or online materials, and your certification exam might not even include a hands-on portion. Don't subject new clients to your learning curve as you learn to handle skinfold calipers or calculate their one-rep maximum. Instead practice on your friends, workout buddies or other personal training candidates if you can find them. By the time you get to actual clients, you'll have the technique down pat.
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