We want to give you a run down on how to find a personal trainer in Plano, Texas.
The easy answer to find a personal trainer in Plano, TX:
1) Ask people you know to build up a list of recommendations.
2) Go and get a complimentary session with them.
3) See who you jive with and who does not work.
You could also call a gym in Plano and tell them what type of trainer you are looking for and see if there is someone who matches this criteria and do the same thing. Go try them out. The question is what are you looking for? What do you value? Check out our thoughts below and let us know if we can help in any way.
What we will cover in this article:
Different Personal Trainer Specialties/ Niches
What type of training do you want? Plano has much to offer.
How to find a personal trainer in Plano, TX: the interview
Certifications; this matters some
Location; closer to home or work
Price point and how many times do you want to train
The reality is there are several reasons to get a personal trainer in Plano, TX. It’s best if you are extremely honest with yourself on why you want someone according to the list below. Everyone will usually have a better and more focused workout if they are paying someone to be there. You will push yourself more and the trainer will/ should have an idea of what you can do and how hard to push you.
People get a trainer for a few main reasons:
Accountability.
To not look stupid.
Confidence in technique.
Friendship & Counseling (not a bad reason).
A better workout than if you would yourself.
Sports Performance
Pain
Most people pay for a good enough trainer. As long as they hit a standard of professionalism then what usually matters more is if you get along with them or not. If you don’t then you most likely will not stick with it.
Need a Gym Membership in Plano, Texas? Check out this article: Find a Gym Membership in Plano, TX
Why successful personal trainers in Plano, TX matter to you:
If the personal trainer is busy (they have several clients and are working 30-40 sessions/week) then usually they offer something that may interest you. This means they are good at what they do.
You will know if they are busy by just asking them how many sessions they work per week. This can lead to one of two thoughts. The first being that they may be overworked. If they have over 40-45 sessions a week that is a lot for a trainer to handle mentally and physically.
However, if they only have 10 sessions a week, this does not mean they aren’t good at what they do. They may have moved from another gym or just graduated. More questions will be needed to figure that out. Keep reading.
A mentor of mine mentioned that a great professional at anything in life will excel with at least 2 out of the 3 of the following:
Consistently on time
They have great
conversation skills
They are good at what they do
Usually 2 out of 3 is what you will find. If it is only 1 out of 3 then you’ll say it isn’t worth it. On the other hand, if it’s 2 out of 3 you’ll put up with the missing 3rd. You struck gold if this trainer has all 3.
Lastly, Personal trainers in Plano, TX or anywhere for that matter typically operate like a hair salon. There is some oversight but a lot of independence. Sometimes this creates an environment where you have a lack of discipline or consistency and you begin to see turnover at the gym with several personal trainers. This is another indicator of who you would be looking for in a trainer. Are they a career trainer or do they just dabble? Find a career trainer.
So just be aware of all this information so that there is a reasonable expectation.
Personal training Specialties/Niches:
Personal trainers in Plano, Texas do have quite a few different skill sets. Plano is an affluent area and information is unlimited in the 21st century. Personal trainers are more skilled than ever or they have the opportunity to be.
A few questions and thoughts to think through here:
What kind of training are you looking for? Is it to get healthy or do you like a competitive environment? Do you want “one on one” or do you like group sessions? Each has its pros and cons and flavors. Listed below are some different types of training and further thoughts.
Functional Training
This is a type of training that typically consists of movements like squats, deadlifts, romanian deadlifts, aka full body movements or movements that look like a specific sport. If you golf there may be some exercises that look like you are golfing etc.
Pros: It’s fun. There is more focus on technique. You can get stronger.
Cons: it can be easier to get hurt. You are not focusing on the weak links. If you are squatting then you will get from point a to point b however you are able to vs working independently the muscle groups that help a squat.
Isolated Muscle Training
This focus is on individual muscle groups. When you walk into a gym you see several pieces of equipment and these attempt to hold your body still while one part of the body is moving. That’s a long story short.
Pros: Finding the weak links in your body. Lower risk of injury (if performing the exercise correctly)
Cons: You definitely want to integrate your newly found strength into whatever sport technique you are into, even if it is just walking.
Personal trainers anywhere have their own preferences and philosophies when it comes to working out.
Nutrition:
Some trainers just know this better than others. It does not necessarily come with the territory. Precision nutrition is one of the bigger certifications. You can also just ask questions. Some trainers who are in great shape know how to get their body in great shape but maybe not yours. Find someone you can trust or find a nutritionist. Outside of just nutrition you need accountability with how to handle stress, sleep, cardio, weight lifting etc. All of these will change how your body processes food and regulates energy levels for your day to day life.
Have quick questions: Check out this blog: Precision Nutrition
Sports Specific for Adults:
In Plano, Texas this usually boils down to tennis or golf for the adult crowd. There are personal trainers in Plano who do focus solely on these. These sports specifically involve a lot of rotation and that can be a higher risk form of movement. You need someone who knows how to handle this and keep your form on point so you can take advantage of this type of training and not get hurt.
Female specific:
These people, male or female, have a deeper understanding of hormones and how the body works around the menstrual cycle (or lack thereof). They also may be able to point you to a great hormone specialist.
Look into this beginner workout: Gym Workout for Beginners
Post Natal:
The big difference with this is knowing how to work with the core of a post natal woman. Other issues that may come up are incontinence and joint laxity due to having a baby.
Pain:
There is truly a science to pain and if you have chronic pain (longer than 4 weeks) you have to take into account the bio/psycho/social model of pain. How you eat, how stressed out you are, how fulfilling and purposeful you feel in life. All of these topics and more contribute to how someone’s pain feels on a daily basis. There are certain modalities like MAT or ART that help with pain. These certifications allow some trainers to do more than physical therapists because insurance creates boundaries on what you can and cannot do in the medical umbrella of physical therapy clinics.
Got Pain? Check out this article: Why Bryson DeChambeau is Low Risk for Injury
Sign up for a consult today to heal your pain: Muscle Activation Fitness
Plano, Texas Personal Training can take on many hats. What do you want?
-group training
-one on one
-cross fit
-yoga
-sport vs output/workout
Major differences between groups and one on one is, of course, attention. How much attention do you need? How well do you know your body? Are you getting hurt frequently? What usually happens in many group training contexts is competition. Competition against others can create sport. Sports mean you push it harder and do not think about technique as much. Therefore, injuries occur at a much higher frequency. This does not mean Crossfit or Orange Theory is bad. It’s just something to be aware of.
The opposite of this is focusing on each muscle group and success in this philosophy is how hard you can contract the muscle.
Is group training for you?
-not one on one
-high risk of injury
-cardio and complex movement vs any isolated activity
How to find a Personal Trainer in Plano, Texas: Interview
Ray’s story on interviewing 3 trainers and seeing what they have to offer. I got contacted by Ray to interview me. If you are a personal trainer, you really don’t get interviewed. Most people just end up with someone and just stick with them regardless if the personalities fully match. Well Ray did what no one else does. He interviewed me and 2 other trainers at different gyms. He asked all sorts of questions and I did not know where he stood until a few weeks later.
Trainers don’t like to hear they are being interviewed but that is probably the best thing I have seen a client do. You can find out who the trainer is, what they like, hobbies, how they listen, etc. In the long term, many programs can work but it’s the one that you will stick with that will make all the difference in the world. So in the long run a personal trainer that you get along with will keep you focused on what you are there to do.
Certifications matter and yet they don’t; experience ultimately takes the cake.
Types of certifications to take into consideration:
Take into consideration what they are certified with in personal training or beyond. For example, NASM, ACSM, ACE, CSCS to name a few, these are standard entry level certifications. Each of these costs about 500 bucks and takes a month or 2 to study and to pass. T
here are others like Muscle Activation Techniques (MAT), Active Release Techniques (ART), Resistance Training Specialist (RTS), Massage Therapy License that cost anywhere from a few thousand dollars to 10 Thousand dollars. The education alone about muscles makes all the difference in how they can handle different types of bodies.
Other things to think about with Personal Trainers in Plano, Texas:
-Are they career trainers?
-How busy are they?
-what do they value in life
-are they willing to listen to you and change things as they see fit?
-what do you value?
We say we want it all but you may not.
What are the main 2 to 3 things you want?
Do you want a friend? Counselor? Drill Sergeant? Form Perfectionist? Pain Gone? Someone who enjoys music, travel, sports, tennis or golf-specific or all of the above. None of these are right or wrong but it is how you relate to this person long-term.
-form and technique, listening, common interests, corrective exercise, pain management
-sports specific
-budget (what if you had 1500/month for training and recovery)
Location in Plano Texas:
Yes, of course this matters. If you mainly live and work in Plano then find a gym that is close. A gym that is in your 2-3 mile radius and environment will be utilized way more than the gym 10 miles or more from your home. I had a client driving about 12 miles to come to see us. I knew in the back of my mind that this would not last long term. She made it consistently for about a year but, in the end, just could not keep the rhythm. One vacation and coming back to the realization of driving cut Plano, Texas off the map.
When it comes to habits and food, the environment makes all the difference in the world. If you want to learn how to play guitar then keep it out in the open, don’t put it in the closet. Same for juicing or making smoothies. Keep the Ninja on the counter. The harder it is to access the less you will do it.
This all points back to the location of your gym and personal trainer in Plano. The easier it is to access the more you will stick to it. Is it on the way home or on the way to work? All the better.
Price:
Plano, Texas is a wealthy area and the prices of Personal trainers will suggest that. However, the trainers in this city get weeded out because you can’t really fake it. Too many trainers are trying to “make it” in regards to a career.
It is when trainers try to make it for a year or 2 and then they can’t due to lack of skill, communication, marketing, business, etc. that they do not keep going on and start slacking.
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