There are two common choices when becoming more fit and healthy, join a group fitness class or hire a personal trainer. While you may prefer one over the other, basically there are two groups of people, those that need individualized attention and those that do not; those that need a personal trainer and those that do not. Besides your personal preference, logically the choice is really quite simple, you either need a trainer or you don’t.
Take this simple screening test to determine whether or not you require a personal trainer.
Are you new to the gym setting?
Do you lack experience in the gym? (<1yr)
Are you injured or susceptible to injury?
Do you perform one or more of the following basic movement patterns with pain, compensation or dysfunction?
Squat
Forward Lunge
Lateral Lunge
Forward Bend
Side Bend
Leg Lower
Cobra
Vertical Push
Horizontal Push
Vertical Pull
Horizontal Pull
Upper Body Twist
Lower Body Twist
Run
Do you have specific weaknesses that you’d like to address (Ie. postural, muscular, cardiovascular)?
Do you have very specific fitness or performance goals?
Answering yes to one or more of the above questions warrants hiring a personal trainer, otherwise you should be ok to participate in group fitness classes.
