Personal Trainers or PTs don’t just help to boost your results in terms of fitness, strength and endurance they also help to keep you accountable and will create personalised workouts designed to enhance your performance. But how do you choose the perfect PT for you, especially if you’re a regular business traveller and consequently can’t commit to a regular session each week?
What do you really, really want
Start with getting clear on what you want and why.
Do you want to focus on resistance training to improve your strength; do you want to lose weight so you can get into your favourite summer top; do you want to run faster so you can beat your 10k PB or perhaps run longer so you can enter an autumn marathon?
Different PTs have different specialisations so be sure to choose a PT whose expertise aligns with your goals.
Availability
The most important quality for you has got to be can they work around your unpredictable business travel schedule. Ask how flexible they are when it comes to rescheduling and what is the cancellation policy if you have to miss a session at the last minute due to work commitments.
Philosophy
If the PT you’re considering is gym based and focused on working out with machines or equipment they’re probably not right for you.
When you work from varying locations you can’t guarantee you’ll have access to a gym or certain types of equipment. You need a PT who can teach you to train with minimal equipment in between sessions wherever you are.
Personality
What motivates you?
Do you work harder with gentle encouragement, enthusiastic cheerleading or hardcore army drill style instructions? Choose a PT whose motivational techniques will inspire you to trainer harder.
How realistic are they
Are they promising fast results even though you’re typically away for two weeks out of every four?
Pick a PT with a realistic outlook who can design a progressive training plan that will produce long term results despite your business travel schedule.
What are their views on nutrition
Whilst you might not be hiring a personal trainer for nutrition advice it will inevitably come up in conversation during training sessions. So, if you are a vegan you are unlikely to be suited to a PT who is obsessive about paleo style eating.
Interview your potential PT
In fact, I’d recommend you talk to at least three to ensure you find a good fit for what you need.
Are they interested in you as a person, your injury history, your likes and dislikes? Or is your potential personal trainer’s philosophy ‘it’s their way or the high way.’
Reputation
As a final check before you hire your personal trainer, speak to a couple of their current clients. It’s the quickest way to find out if their promises match the reality.
The right personal trainer and fitness plan will accelerate your fitness despite your hectic travel schedule and consequently elevate the quality of work you produce too. It’s a win-win!
© 2019 Executive Travel Vitality
