How to find a personal trainer for seniors?

As we grow older, maintaining physical health becomes increasingly important as we age. Because it is important to maintain our mobility, independence, and quality of life, staying physically healthy is a top priority. One of the most effective and safest ways for seniors to get active is by using a certified personal trainer.

With a complete personal trainer and health and wellness system, it is then up to you to stay committed to an individualized exercise program designed for clear progression and outcomes. But finding that personal trainer who understands the specific needs of seniors can be a daunting task. If you or a loved one is thinking of starting their fitness journey, this post will provide a complete system for what to consider to find the personal trainer that will help you the most.

If you are already very familiar and adept at working out, a trainer can take your fitness to the next level and teach you movements you may not have attempted! All of the best athletes & performers in the world rely and depend on coaches — they must know what they are doing!

Let’s Get You a Personal Trainer

Since we have finally persuaded you to reap the benefits of a personal trainer, what should you be looking for? Are there some issues that are specific to older adults?

Let’s help you form a plan to find the best personal trainers.

Step 1: Find personal trainers in Austin.

Talk around your area to find the best personal trainers around you. You can search online for gyms and community centers in your area that have personal trainers. Many of these are places where you can find personal trainers that are focused specifically on older adults or community health/youth organizations that have a list of trainers. Soon, there will be many new, protective, dedicated personal training studios that are now emerging. You can go to the gym and ask to be connected to a few trainers that fit your criteria. Alternatively, you can talk to personal trainers Austin to find the best for yourself.

Step 2: Meet with prospective trainers for a consultation.

Try to meet with a couple of trainers for a consultation. Each trainer will have a different process, and some might offer a free session so you can get a feeling for their coaching style. Leave your credit card at home so you don’t feel pressured to buy, and be sure you are armed with questions (next steps tell you what to ask). 

Step 3: Check qualifications and education.

Credentials are not everything. Some of the best coaches in the world have the minimum qualifications, and some have every credential and are not coaches at all. Make sure your prospective trainer has the basics. A degree in kinesiology or exercise science is a good start. They will also need a professional fitness trainer certificate. Ask your prospective trainer about the last couple of books they read and the last course they took. You want to make sure your trainer is committed to lifetime learning.

Step 4: Be assured that a trainer is able to develop a program for the client.

We all have different items (things) that potential trainers may need to keep in mind when developing programs for us. If you have conditions such as osteoporosis, low back pain, you are recovering from an injury, or if any other conditions can be affected (your unique situational status), ask about them and see what their response is.

Step 5: Make sure your trainer has experience training seniors.

While it might seem obvious, look for a trainer who has worked with a considerable number of clients over the age of 50. Many trainers actually specialize in their work with older adults. You want to hire someone who understands the normal aging process (loss of bone density, menopause, potential joint issues, etc.), as well as understands your lifestyle and priorities (even if they are not of the same age group).

Step 6: Learn about the trainer’s nutrition background and scope of practice.

Ensure that your potential trainer is able to provide you with nutrition information such as pre- and post-workout nutrition, healthy meal ideas to support your fitness and physique goals, and habit-based nutrition coaching. Personal trainers cannot prescribe meal plans or sell supplements to their clients (although many of them do these things anyway!). Prescribing meal plans is outside of our scope of practice as fitness coaches, as only registered dietitians can legally do this. If your potential trainer recommends following their meal plan or is selling supplements, look for someone else.

Conclusion

A personal trainer will ensure that you perform each exercise using the proper form, so that you don’t have the risk of accidentally injuring yourself. A college student may be able to not have perfect form and not injure themselves in the moment, but an older individual may have some sort of mobility issues, joint pain, or be experiencing a decline in muscle and bone density due to aging. An unexpected injury could be a big setback for an older adult and something that takes weeks or months to be corrected.