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Personal Training

The Five Cs: How to Choose a Personal Trainer in Koreatown

Dec 17, 2019
The Five Cs: How to Choose a Personal Trainer in Koreatown

It starts with an online search, usually something like "personal trainer Koreatown" or "personal trainer near me." As you scan the carefully curated listings on your screen, you realize it: you have no idea how to choose a personal trainer.

Now what?

First of all, don't worry. Instead, feel proud of yourself. Taking action to hire a personal trainer is an excellent step in the right direction for positive things in your life. Investing in your health and fitness is essential to your well-being.

Second, before you meet with anybody, you need to know what you want out of the relationship. So, start there. Whatever your goals are, define them so that you can find a trainer that can deliver them for you.

Finally, you need to know how you want to use the personal trainer. When you know what you want the trainer to do for you, you will ask better questions when you meet.

Remember the Five Cs: Credentials, Capability, Cost, Compatibility, and Contract.

Credentials are crucial in your decision process. If the prospective trainer cannot show you their fitness certification, we say you should show them your "nope" face. Certified trainers earn accreditation from organizations like the American Council on Exercise (ACE), the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), or the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). CrossFit trainers have four credentialing opportunities:
• Level 1: The introductory course to CrossFit focuses on CrossFit's philosophy and movements.
• Level 2: The intermediate course builds on the Level 1 training by diving deeper into the methodology and program design.
• Level 3: This credential advances coaches who have completed Levels 1 and 2 and then passed the CCFT (Certified CrossFit Trainer) written exam.
• Level 4: The highest credential offered, earned by passing the CCFC (Certified CrossFit Coach) assessment.

(For reference, Coach Kevin Kim is a CrossFit Level 3 Trainer.)

Capability is about the trainer's experience. The longer someone has been a personal trainer, the more they have perfected their style and optimized their process for getting results. Also, you want to know the trainer's area of expertise. If your goal is to run a marathon in under four hours, don't waste time with a bodybuilding coach.

Cost is also an essential consideration. Like any free-market business, the range is wide for personal training rates. You should know your budget before you start meeting with trainers.

Compatibility refers to whether the trainer has the right coaching style for you. Like any working relationship, you have to be able to communicate. It would help if you had a coach that can work with your learning style.

Contract means the details of your working relationship. You need to understand how they schedule and what they expect from you each week. The more you know going in, the better.

The Five Cs — Credentials, Capability, Cost, Compatibility, and Contract — should make it possible to narrow down the personal trainer candidates. Now, you have the information you need to decide which personal trainer is best for you.