GETTING THE RIGHT FIT IN FITNESS
(or how to find a trainer that’s going to help you be your best you!)
Let’s talk about chemistry.
Interpersonal chemistry. How you feel about how you interact with the people in your life. The little jokes and the asides and the way you relate to people. Specifically, let’s talk about a relationship that can make or break some happy habits: your relationship with your fitness guru. That could be your personal trainer, your favorite fit YouTube personality whom you follow for weekly workouts, or the fitness blogger you regularly pin and religiously follow. Whoever you look to for fitness guidance – THAT’S who I’m talking about today.
It can be really easy to get overwhelmed by the health and wellness resources out there – to suffer fitwhelm, if you will – and it’s important to note that finding the right fit of personality can be just as important as finding the right fit of workout. You can spend weeks, months, heck YEARS trying different types of fitness and workouts before you find the thing that just feels oh-so-good (and let’s be real, it’s probably going to change throughout your life). And once you find that thing that makes your body rock, it’s just as important to find your guide, your mentor, your guru. Finding someone you jive with, someone you can be honest with, and someone you don’t mind kicking your butt is integral to fit success. Honestly, it’s kind of like dating. Sometimes you’ll know from the first time you meet, sometimes it’ll take a few meetings to feel good about it, sometimes it takes a year of keeping it casual before BAM you know it’s just right.
So what are the things to look for to see if the chemistry is right? To name a few…
- Sense of humor. Yeah, I know, this seems like it has nothing to do with working out and getting fit. But it has everything to do with working out and getting fit. It’s how you relate to each other and get to know each other. It makes those hours of body-work either fly by or dra-a-a-a-a-g. It’s also a pretty strong indicator of how you’ll each handle setbacks or misunderstandings (cuz you’re only human – I guarantee it’ll happen at some point).
- How do YOU measure your success? Are you looking to lose inches or pounds? Find someone who will give you meticulous record keeping along with programming. Want someone to keep you accountable? Find a trainer who will text or email or engage via social media (and among those options, what’s your accountability jam?). Have some specific goals? Find the instructor who’s going to be with you for the long haul rather than a short New Years Resolution blip. Think about what your goals are or what it is you want to get out your 2017 fitness journey, and find the trainer or instructor that’s not only going to make it happen but one that’s going to help you love the journey.
- Education. Certification. Credibility. This is something of a personal note, but find someone who has some level of training or certification. It’s a safety thing. But if you’re doing your body the service of personal training, you absolutely deserve to work with someone who will push YOUR body to the best of its abilities while keeping your body safe.
And there are no doubt other things that are make or break for YOU! So make a list! Spend a few minutes in the shower thinking about what it is about your favorite friendships and find a trainer that’s going to gel with that and go get it!
2017 is going to be incredible. Let’s do this!
BIO
Megan is a STOTT PILATES® Certified Instructor, here to help you feel the best you possibly can in the rockin’ bod you were born with. She’s your virtual personal trainer, your online Pilates pro, your bodywork cheerleader.
She’ll be your fitness Leslie Knope.
… and she’ll make you do that plank.
IG: megandoespilates