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Health, Fitness Clubs Get Personal

Posted on: Monday, 15 November 2004, 03:00 CST

More people hiring own trainers to set, guide, reach workout goals

Fitness trainer Joe Horwat guides Jens Hustetl through a workout at Flatiron Athletic Club in Boulder. At right, Lindsay Yaw, a certified personal trainer at Pulse Fitness Center in Boulder, directs Beth Payne on her form during a squat exercise using a fitness ball. The number of people hiring personal trainers is on the increase, according to the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association, a Boston-based trade association for the health and fitness club industry.

Elite athletes and the wealthy are no longer the only ones who employ personal trainers. Today, more of the general public uses fitness coaches to improve their overall health than ever before.

Nationwide, the number of personal training clients rose from 4 million in 1998 to 5.3 million in 2003, according to Brooke Maclnnis, a spokeswoman of the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association, a Boston-based trade association for the health and fitness club industry.

"We see personal training as the No. 1 program and service that's offered by clubs," she says. "Ninety-four percent (of clubs) offer it."

While there are lots of individual reasons why people turn to personal training, Maclnnis says many consumers often seek help to achieve results that they have been unable to obtain on their own.

In demand

At Boulder's Flatiron Athletic Club, coowner Jens Husted says he typically sees members hire trainers to lose weight, though he adds that increasingly more women employ trainers to overcome intimidation of the weight room.

To handle an increased demand from members, Husted says the club has increased its number of trainers from five to 15 during the past three years. With more trainers on staff from which to choose, the challenge for consumers becomes how to select someone who will best help them achieve their goals.

Because there are no state or federal licensing requirements for fitness trainers, it can be difficult to know what it means to be a "qualified" trainer. And while there are dozens of different certifications, not all are created equal.

According to Nan Fitzgerald, a personal trainer at Boulder's Pulse Fitness Center, the most common certification is through the American Council on Exercise, which requires a passing grade on a written test but does not include any practical experience. Other certifications, such as those through the National Academy of Sports Medicine and the American College of Sports Medicine, provide trainers with more in-depth knowledge, she says.

To identify which certifications might be most relevant to an individual's needs, Fitzgerald suggests that consumers research the credentials of prospective trainers online.

"All certifications require continuing education. The ones who go after it, who attend seminars, are the busiest trainers in the club," says Joe Horwat, director of training at Flatiron Athletic Club.

Clients such as Boulder resident Frank de Vall attest that hiring a trainer who is dedicated to learning the latest approaches can play a critical role in the results achieved. Though de Vall used a trainer before, he felt that he reached a plateau with the coach's abilities to improve his performance. Three months ago, he started to work with Horwat.

"In the short length of time with him, I've reached a new level I haven't been at before," he says, attributing Horwat's use of new strength training and endurance exercises, de VaIl works with a trainer to stay in shape for activities he loves, such as downhill skiing, hiking and running. "I want to stay physically active as long as possible; strength training is a secondary thing," he explains.

For those who are self-motivated, a trainer can assist with establishing well-rounded routines. For others who tend to overdo it when they enter a gym or for those who suffer from injuries, a trainer can help select the right exercises.

"Find someone who has worked with similar goals," Horwat advises. "If you have an injury, look for people who have worked with similar injuries. If your goal is weight loss, look for someone who specializes in weight loss. Trainers have different niches."

Depending on the goal, trainers also take different perspectives about ways to measure progress. If shedding some pounds is the objective, Fitzgerald often suggests using body fat testing and circumference measurements of areas such as the biceps and thighs.

"It's good to do that to see if they are getting the results," she says. "If they are following the program to a T after two months and not seeing any results ... then we need to change the program."

Meanwhile, some trainers encourage clients to rely on other barometers for their progress.

"I ask (clients) 'How do you feel?' How are your pants fitting?' Because to me that's more important," says Becca Blay, a personal trainer at the Pulse. "You may have 3 percent less body fat and not feet good." Likewise, she adds, a client may have 18 percent body fat and feel fit and lean.

Attitude check

Another important consideration when selecting a trainer is attitude and interpersonal skills. A trainer's job is to motivate, improve technique and keep workouts fun and effective. But if the trainer's style and approach to fitness do not feel right, Blay says look elsewhere.

"My suggestion when evaluating a personal trainer is be honest with yourself," she explains. "It's like a relationship. I know from the start whether or not it's going to click. If our energies aren't similar, it's not going to work."

Horwat adds that it's also important to choose a personal trainer who maintains a positive spirit during the workouts and has a knack for listening to customize workouts for individual goals.

"Personal training is an art and a science. I treat clients differently, one client to the next," he says. "There's no cookie- cutter approach."

Typical costs for hiring a personal trainer range from $55 to $85 per hour, depending on the trainer's education and experience. Some trainers give discounts for multiple sessions. To decide the amount of sessions needed, the Pulse's Fitzgerald recommends that clients take several criteria into consideration.

"I talk with them about their budget, motivation level, needs and comfort level, and I let them decide how often," she says. For those who are still unsure, she usually suggests sessions twice a week to establish continuity with their workouts.

"Some people don't have that kind of money, which I totally understand," she says. "For them, I say it's more important that they self-motivate."

Beyond weightlifting and cardio exercises, it's a lesser-known fact that trainers can be resources for clients on how to make healthy lifestyle choices.

"One of the biggest misconceptions is that trainers are just there to take you through a hard workout," Horwat says. "But trainers can help improve your lifestyle, talk to you about how you sleep and how to live healthier."

As part of training, Fitzgerald says she regularly talks to clients about their diets, using general guidelines.

"I think that food is 75 percent of the equation in weight loss and maintenance," she says. "It's important for us all to stay active, but if you're pretty active and eat (poorly) then you need to make changes."

"One of the biggest misconceptions is that trainers are just there to take you through a hard workout. But trainers can help 'improve your lifestyle, talk to you about how you sleep, and how to live healthier."

Joe Horwat

DIRECTOR OF TRAINING, FLATIRON ATHLETIC CLUB

"I think that food is 75 percent of the equation in weight loss and maintenance. It's important for us all to stay active, but if you re pretty active and eat (poorly) then you need to make changes"

Nan Fitzgerald

PERSONAL TRAINER,

PULSE FITNESS CENTER

BY STACY FREEBORG

Business Report Correspondent

Copyright The Boulder County Business Report Oct 15-Oct 28, 2004

Source: Boulder County Business Report

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