I’ve been debating for some time whether to write this post. But I think it is a topic that needs exploring.
In recent months, I have heard numerous stories of people who have had bad experiences with personal trainers (PTs). From programs which aren’t tailored to suit the client’s likes & dislikes, getting the “hard sell” to buy nutrients, supplements and training sessions through to people suffering from injuries caused by inappropriate training methods, dissatisfaction with PTs seems high. Interestingly, (qualified) coaches don’t seem to suffer from the same (bad) reputation. I wonder why that is, especially given that the duration of some coaching courses is far shorter than some of the PT courses out there.
I will be the first to admit – a lot of personal trainers, quite simply, suck.
I have seen PTs put their clients through training sessions which would make my hair curl (if it wasn’t already curly!). Dangerous programs which clearly do not take into account the client’s posture, strengths & weaknesses seem to be common, as are programs which don’t take into account a client’s lifestyle or personality.
Making clients train in the same way that the PT likes to train – aka the “one size fits all” or the “I love training this way so you will too” approach – also appear to be common. Any of these sound familiar to you?
Now my intention is not to turn this into a PT bashing exercise (as fun as it might be for some).
Instead I would like this to be a learning experience for myself & other personal trainers reading this. It is only with the honest & open feedback of clients (and potential clients) that the standard and reputation of the industry can be improved.
Although I am (somewhat) biased, I cannot help but think that the health & fitness industry is becoming even more important as obesity levels, and the rate of preventable diseases like heart disease & diabetes, increase. Any improvement in the standard of the fitness industry and the services we provide can only benefit the community in the long term.
So it is over to you. I would appreciate it if you could please share -
- what experiences (good and bad) you have had with personal trainers?
- what was it about the good experiences that made them good or memorable for you?
- in relation to the bad experiences you have had, what could the PT have done to improve or change the situation?
I look forward to learning from you. Thanks for dropping by 
Your 5th paragraph is so true – it also applies to teaching.
Thanks for your comment Plu. I suspect it applies to a lot of professions; it does to law as well!
I think one of the issues is that many PTs are not actually practising athletes. They have the paper qualifications, but haven’t shared the sweat, the pain, the stress of real competition in their chosen sport.
From which comes the lesson. If you’re a runner, choose a PT who is a decent runner. If you’re a swimmer, if you’re a weight-lifter …
Thanks for your comment Craig. I agree with you that it is one thing to have the (theoretical) knowledge of a sport’s requirements & another thing completely to have participated in it & have actual knowledge of its demands.
But why do you think it needs to be someone “decent” at the sport? What would constitute “decent”?
Well I don’t want to overstate the word ‘decent’. I don’t mean ‘champion’. I’m a runner. If I were looking for a PT, I’d want to find someone who runs. Perhaps as part of triathlon. I don’t mean that they’d have to be faster than me. But I would not consider someone whose running career comprised no more than a few neighbourhood fun runs.
You asked Louise “Do you think that the relatively young age of most personal trainers is a factor? Does age & experience bring with it (for most people) better communication skills and increased empathy?”
Absolutely.
Thanks for expanding on that Craig. It certainly seems to me that the fact that the majority of personal trainers are young – many straight out of school – is certainly one part of the problem.
So do you think it is possible to teach better communication skills and/or empathy to personal trainers or is it only (or largely) acquired by age? How do we improve the standard of the industry without changing the demographic of it?
It’s difficult for me to answer that question, knowing little as I do of the content of PT training courses. How much, if any, of the typical course is ‘practice management’, and ‘client relations’? I would hope there’s some.
I think the simple act of listening is the most important (and obvious? to me anyway). If I say that I want to use free weights, then don’t give me a program full of machines. If I have just run to the gym from home, I do not need to warm up on the bike for 10 minutes while you finish your coffee and get your shit together. Oh yeah, and if I make the effort to be on time, I expect you to be ready for me. You need me a lot more than I need you.
The best PT I’ve had was when I was a guinea pig for a student at the local polytech. She hadn’t got jaded, frustrated, and burned out yet.
Hi Louise! Thanks for dropping by. I completely agree with you on all of those points. And like you, those points seem ‘obvious’ to me, yet I can’t understand why I continue to hear of people experiencing similiar things. Perhaps it is connected with the way PTs are trained by most organisations.
Do you think that the relatively young age of most personal trainers is a factor? Does age & experience bring with it (for most people) better communication skills and increased empathy?
From personal experience I pretty much think it boils down to them not listening and not knowing how to effectively translate the theory into practice. But I also think it boils down to whether they really feel their profession from the heart. If you are really in tune with what you do and have a genuine desire you are better able to care for your clientele wholistically. Looking at them as a whole versus another number of the client booking sheet.
Hi Barb,
I know we have spoken it before but thank you for sharing your experience here. Perhaps it is a reflection of the fact that personal trainers are taught about parts of the body but not actually about ‘people’ if that makes sense?
Do you think the relatively young age of most personal trainers is a factor? Or does there need to be more theory vs practical application?
I think they probably need more theory. But sometimes I think it boils down to person’s innate ability to be able to relate to people. You either have it or you don’t. I don’t want to say that age is a factor because you can get some young people with a really big heart and good head on their shoulders, I think maybe more training and followup from the course instructors for their first year post grad. Kind of like nurses having a post graduate year to make sure your transition is going effectively.
Hi Barb
The idea of a follow up after the course (like a post-grad year for nurses!) is a brilliant idea. Personally I would love to have that opportunity and I know my own skills and, as a result, my clients, would benefit enormously from it. As with most courses, it is one thing to know and understand the theory. It is a completely different experience when you need to apply it in the ‘real world’
Thanks again,
Jen
I’ve had a few PTs on and off over the years.
I had one that was arrogant and disrespectful, never showed up on time and after totally forgetting about one of my sessions I decided that was the final straw and I asked for my money back – he was shocked and said he’d never had to refund a session before. I didn’t provide him with the real reasons as I was even less confident than I am now…but a little respect goes a long way!
The PT I enjoyed was female and I don’t know where she differed but I enjoyed my sessions and felt motivated and encouraged by her – she was fun while still pushing me to my limits.
My most recent experience was a PT who steamrolled me with his opinions and didn’t really seem interested in where I was at or what I wanted to achieve. Admittedly the interaction wasn’t a standard PT arrangement as he wasn’t training me but advising me…and the worst part was being ‘forced’ to buy supplements which weren’t cheap (which I later returned). Strangely (well, maybe not!) although I was meant to be being assessed over 3 months I haven’t heard from them again!
Hi Stella
Thanks for sharing your experience. I really appreciate it.
You certainly have had good & bad experiences with PTs. I struggle to understand how people, never mind PTs, can display such disrepect to someone who has come to them for help.
In relation to your (good) experience with the female PT, can you explain what made her different from the others? What did she do well? How often, and for how long, did you see her?
Hi
I just tried to post a reply but I think it was too big.
Trying again in two parts:
The only negative experience I’ve had also involves the trainer/s not really listening to me and not accepting that after 46 years, I probably knew more about my body than they did after 15 minutes.
I joined up with this company with some reservations, knowing that I had some physical restrictions that may have precluded me from some aspects of their usual training regime. After doing everything I could to be to be proactive, (arranging a preliminary meeting to explain my issues; confirming that they would be willing to liaise with my treating physios etc), they assured me that they could provide a suitable program for me.
I also expressed concern about their policy (which I could understand for financial reasons) that they couldn’t guarantee that clients would always have the same trainer, but at our initial meeting they said that, as I had fairly specific needs, they would make sure that I had the same trainer unless an emergency occurred.
In the end they didn’t meet any of the commitments they made at our original meeting. I had a series of sessions with their trainers, all of whom were very nice and quite professional (young, enthusiastic, courteous and knowledgeable about the basics) but who were out of their depth dealing with someone who couldn’t do the full range of exercises in the prescribed format. It was very much a ‘one size fits all’ model.
Despite my repeated attempts to link them up to my physio, they weren’t really interested so we were clearly a wrong fit. The only thing I was irritated about is that I was quite explicit about all that in the beginning and they wasted all our time by saying they would do something that clearly wasn’t in their scope.
Hi Yvette,
Thanks so much for your comment.
I have to disagree with you on one (minor) point; your last sentence talks about things which were outside their ‘scope’. Personally I think that training you, with proper guidance, supervision & input from your physio is within their scope, not outside of it.
There is no reason why PTs cannot train client’s with physical restrictions with guidance & input from other professions (like physio or exercise physiologists). I am very sorry that you had that experience & I must say that I am surprised you had it after all you did to ensure that they completely understood your issues.
Would your experience put you off using a PT again in the future?
Regards
Jen
No, it definitely wouldn’t put me off using a PT again. I still think having a one-on-one relationship with someone who can help with both training and motivation is incredibly valuable.
At the moment I’m working with an exercise physiologist, but when (if?) that level of intervention is no longer necessary I’d love to continue my training with a PT who was willing to continue a program that me, my physios and my Dr’s were all happy with.
Hi Yvette,
I am really pleased to hear that your experience would not put you off using a PT again. I know many other people would be!
When the time comes, I (really) hope you find the right PT
Jen x
As an older athlete (51) and a newbie to endurance sports (2nd year) my needs and goals are different than that of other athletes and wouldn’t want to be involved in some of the situation I am reading. My personal trainers are from the club I have been going to for over a year. In fact one is my boot camp instructor. So I already had a good idea of their style and level of commitment to training as observed in their classes. They geared their plans and expectations to my goals and abilities. May not always be able to screen a PT that well but it sure helps to go in with the confidence that they have YOUR best interest in mind but still able to push you to a new level of improvement.
Hi Larry
Thanks for sharing your experience & view.
You are right. It can be difficult to screen a PT unless you have an opportunity to observe them whilst they are training other clients or speak to client’s of these. But I am glad that you have found a PT who suits you, your goals & abilities. Best of luck with your sporting goals. What is your next goal event?
Regards
Jen
Hi,
My first experience with PTs was great – I was taught basic exercises, technique & the whys of what we were doing, given programs, checked up out outside of sessions, etc. I was taught how to train myself. These were old school instructors who came from sports/exercise backgrounds, who had competed at national level, had done Bodybuilding comps, had martial arts & boxing backgrounds. My last PT experience was a waste of money – I had a 1/2hr a week with no other contact, my sessions didn’t match my goals & no program was ever given. I watch PTs give complicated exercises & programs to newbies, boxing sessions with terrible technique & no idea of the reason behind the movements. I wouldn’t train with 99% of the PTs in my gym – they may have the passion but they only have the booksmarts, they aren’t athletes. I feel a big part of it is the zero to hero component of the certification.
Hi Janine,
Thanks for dropping by & for sharing your experience.
I’m pleased to hear that your first experience with a personal trainer was a positive one. There are many others out there who, unfortunately, have not had a positive experience.
What do you think the difference was? The fact they were athletes, that they had considerable training experience, age or a combination of all 3?
Would you use a (good) personal trainer again or have you been scared off the experience?
Regards
Jen
For me, it’s not that PTs suck, it’s just that they don’t seem to add much value. I’ve been training for a while now – running, lifting & stretching for over 30 years & triathlons on- and off-road for the past 7. I’ve made a point of studying proper form, technique, nutrition, performance & recovery pretty closely during that time and always am looking to learn more from any knowledgeable source. I have tried a few trainers now and again, especially for the swim, which is my weakest event, but I don’t seem to get any better or get much new information from them.
Hi Charlie,
Nice to meet you & thank you for taking the time to comment.
I’m sorry – but not particularly surprised – to hear that you don’t think PTs add much value. Unfortunately there are a lot out there who aren’t open to learning next concepts & ways of thinking. Unfortunately this ‘profession’ seems to track people who cling to certain teachings & don’t – or who aren’t able to – add value beyond what you can read in a magazine every day of the week.
I hope you are able to find some new information here. If you have any questions or queries, please don’t hesitate to let me know. I’m more than happy to chat.
Regards,
Jen
hi
i would like to share my experience with everyone about my first personal trainer who i’m no longer with. my reason for getting a personal trainer was simply just to try it out. i’m in my twenties and in shape, i eat right so i thought maybe this could help take me to the next level in fitness. i should have backed out at the first sign but i didnt. When i signed up they wanted me to pay $2,000 for 36 sessions and i told them i cant afford it so i told them im leaving and then they MAGICALLY lowered it to $300 for 6 sessions. then they wanted me to buy all these supplements and then the trainer always wanted to workout at 7a.m. i was like WTF
And then he had me lifting all these heavy weights i mean i know i told him i wanted to build more muscle but not that much that required all that weight. I’m not weak but he had me bicep curling 60 lbs weights in each hand and i’m not a big guy. so when my sessions came to an end he said to come in and sign up again. When i decided not to he completely ignored me in the gym afterwards. i mean i know we weren’t suppose to be friends but that’s the wrong attitude to have especially if you want to have a retention in clientle. Anyway he was far too serious of a dude, it didnt even look like he enjoyed his job. I did learn how to use other eqipment and do other exercises and that was what i wanted.
Bottom line personal trainers to me aren’t that far from any other salesperson. They don’t care about the client they just care about the $$$$$. there nice to you as long as your buying from them and when your not they could care less about you or your fitness. There too serious and need to learn to lighten up, I know its a gym but Come on not everyone in the gym is aspiring to be a Pro bodybuilder on Steroids.
and then on top of it after every session i would be SORE AS HELL all over for the next couple of days and that was no fun at all. It wasnt worth it to me and at the end of the day if you want to get into shape there are other ways of doing it on ur own. You dont need a trainer
Hi Daniel
Thank you for taking the time to share your story. I am really sorry to hear that you had a horrendous experience with a personal trainer who clearly was not in the job with the best intentions. It is unfortunate that the personal trainer you encountered has tarnished the industry as a whole.
I wish you all the best with your future training endeavours.
Regards
Jen