Finding the right personal trainer is key to building a fitness routine that works for you. You want to find someone professional who makes you feel supported, understands your individual health and fitness goals and will gently push you to achieve them.

At SKILLR, we know that fitness isn’t all about how to lose weight and burn fat. While those things can be goals for some, fitness is, at its core, about feeling good in the body you have and learning to love and care for yourself.

So, if you’re searching “personal trainer near me” and feeling lost? You’ve come to the right place. We’ll get into how to find the right trainer and help you narrow down your options so you can feel confident and comfortable as you embark on your fitness journey.

Set your goals

Before you even begin your search for personal trainers, it’s important to put the focus on you. Think about why you want to get connected with a personal trainer in the first place. Write down your goals so you know what to look for.

Rachelle Goins is a personal trainer on the SKILLR App. She shared some tips with us on finding the perfect trainer for you (book her on the app). “Know your goals upfront and don’t be afraid to communicate what you want,” Rachelle shared.

Maybe you want to tone a specific area of your body, get your booty tight for hot girl summer, learn about managing exercise with a disability or simply feel better in your body every day. Whatever your goals are, get clear. Write them down.

This will help not only with knowing what you want, but will also give you a better idea of what to search for.

Consider the trainer’s specialties

Most trainers can help you meet general goals and walk you through things like an exercise routine, weight training, strength training and how to build muscle. All of these things are essential in a great personal trainer, of course.

But you can also consider specialized training or experience when looking for the right trainer for you. Maybe you want to work with a trainer who dedicates their time to working with women, someone who has experience training for different body types and ability levels. Or, perhaps you want to find someone who can help you keep in shape after an injury or shoulder pain.

For Rachelle, nutrition will also be a necessary step if you want to meet your goals. “When it comes to performance and achieving your goals, we know that nutrition plays a crucial role in how successful you are,” Rachelle said. “Make it a point to find a trainer who understands the basis of nutrition and is able to provide guidance—and finding one with a certification in nutrition is even better.”

Frequency and format

“Consider how you want to meet and interact with your trainer,” Rachelle shared. “We all have different lifestyle needs and schedules. Look for a trainer that will match yours…whether it’s virtual/online training, meeting with your trainer in a gym or having them travel to you. Knowing how and where you want to train will help you narrow down your search.”

When searching for personal training near you, it’s important to think about how often and how you’d like to meet with your personal trainer. Maybe you want a local personal trainer who you can make weekly appointments with at a nearby gym.

Or, maybe you want to do virtual training and work with a certified personal trainer online every few days for at-home workouts. However you want to do your personal training sessions is up to you and there’s no one right way to do it when it comes to frequency and format.

But asking yourself these questions can help you narrow down your search and bring you closer to finding the perfect personal training routine for you.

Check out their certifications and credentials

Once you’ve found a few options, you’ll want to check out their certifications and credentials. You can look at their website, bios or social media profiles to get a feel for their level of experience and any credentials they have.

In the U.S., personal trainers are usually certified through certifying bodies like American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) or the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM). You can ask your trainer about their past educational trainings and certifications or look them up online to learn more about their background.

Rachelle shared that this is the most important thing to check out when seeking a new trainer.

“When looking for a trainer, always make sure they are certified,” Rachelle said. “The most important factor that someone should consider when searching for a trainer is that they are certified in exercise science or personal training. In the age of social media, it is easy to find individuals who train others or create exercise training programs but it is crucial that you work with someone who is trained to do so.”

Safety first

When searching for a trainer, you’ll want to make sure you find someone who makes your safety the number one priority in the sessions. This means you’ll want to look for experienced personal trainers who aren’t going to push your body beyond what it can handle or have you do things that can cause injury.

Vibe check

Personality isn’t everything but it can be something to consider when talking to different trainers and trying to find a good match for you. Maybe you want someone who is super encouraging and friendly. Or maybe you want someone who will get down to business and be a little tough on you. Or perhaps you want to work with someone who inspires you in body confidence.

“Consider how you like to be motivated,” Rachelle explained. “Some people appreciate a more gentle approach while others need tough love. Look for a trainer who will motivate you in the ways that you need. Otherwise it can cause frustration with your training.”

Think about which personalities you vibe with most and how you best learn. Since you and your trainer are partnering to help you build strength, endurance, wellness and success, you’ll want to make sure you get along well with any personal trainers you’re considering.

Virtual 1:1 training with SKILLR

Want access to some of the best personal trainers across the country without having to leave home? Download the SKILLR App. Here, you can instantly book sessions with the trainer of your choosing. If you’re overwhelmed with choosing an option, don’t sweat it. You can also use our Instant Match feature and be matched with whoever is available.

Some of our trainers cater their one-on-one training offerings to creating more body positivity, preparing for marathons and helping you lose bodyfat. No matter your goals, our personal trainers will work to make you feel comfortable and create customized workouts based on your individual needs.

Fitness professionals on SKILLR can also consult with you if you have a question on how to safely do a certain workout, help you assess your fitness level and teach you proper technique for weight lifting to avoid injury.

During a Skillr session, your professional trainer can also help you build a program or routine to do a few days a week, either at your local gym or at home.

On SKILLR, in addition to doing personal training, you can further your wellness and fitness goals by doing nutritional counseling. Our nutrition coaches are there to support you in creating meal plans, setting specific and attainable nutrition goals and helping you find balance in your diet.

Download the SKILLR App today. Want more SKILLR? Check out our blog page to learn more about how to make the most of the app. Follow along with us on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn for all things SKILLR.

Personal Trainer Near Me: Finding the Right Trainer