10 Ways to be a Personal Trainer’s Dream Client

1. Be consistent. If your schedule is all over the place, communicate with your trainer upfront and find out how flexible they can be. Try to reschedule sessions rather than cancel. If you have to cancel a session with no way to reschedule, make sure you work out by yourself whenever possible.

2. Be positive. Try not to complain just because it feels difficult. Sounds mean? Here’s why complaining doesn’t help you as a client: you’re not focusing on your form and how your body feels; the negativity you’re voicing makes you feel like you ‘can’t’ do the exercise and can be a self-fulfilling prophecy; complaining distracts your trainer because he or she is trying to work out if it’s just that it feels hard, or if they actually have to modify the exercise for you.

3. But make sure you do complain if you know something is wrong or you are in pain. You know your body best. Don’t ever wait until you’re done with your repetitions to mention you had a sharp pain in your shoulder during the exercise. A good trainer can and will modify any exercise to make sure you are safe.

4. Arrive early to warm up, or at least on time. You’re paying for the time, don’t miss out on any of it!

5. Work out on your own between training sessions. An ideal client will do cardio and some weights on their own. Most trainers are happy to put together a cardio plan for you to follow. For clients who only train with me once a week, I am happy to write a ‘homework’ program of strength training to do on their own.

6. Work hard. Work to the best of your ability. If you can’t complete a repetition because your muscles have reached fatigue and just won’t move, then your trainer is happy. If you rush through the last couple of reps in poor form to avoid fatigue, you’re not getting anything out of your session.

7. Be open-minded. Try not to discount a way of working out because your last trainer didn’t do it that way, or you’ve never used that equipment, or you’re afraid you won’t be good at it. If you’re really apprehensive about something, tell your trainer and ask them why they want you to do it that way. At least try before you refuse.

8. Stay focused. Some clients love chatting during their session; some never utter a word. So long as you are concentrating on your form, completing the exercises well and not losing focus, most trainers are okay either way. However, if you notice your trainer often breaks into your conversation to tell you to keep going, or has to constantly pull you back to your session, then ask yourself if you’re actually just paying your trainer to listen to you chit-chat.

9. Be honest with your trainer. Not mentioning health information because you think it doesn’t matter also counts. During your initial assessment, try to include any health information you can think of, even if it doesn’t seem pertinent to personal training.

10. Have fun! If you really aren’t enjoying your sessions, you’re not going to stick with it. Sometimes there can be a personality clash or no chemistry between a client and a trainer. If that’s the case, it’s okay to end the commitment and find a trainer with whom you’re happy. If it’s just that you’re bored or not enjoying the exercises, explain the reason why to your trainer, so he or she can revamp or rewrite your program.