Personal Trainer, how much should I be paying ?
Discussion
Was at the gym thinking I had slipped into a terrible rut and should get a PT, and weirdly a minute or two later, having resolved to enquire about getting one, a chaps popped up and introduced himself as a PT who had recently started at the gym and was looking for victims, er clients.
So I thought why not, meeting him this evening for an hour.
Not had one for maybe 8 years, whats the going rate ? am thinking in the 30 to 60 quid an hour range ? With my expectation for being fairly new that would be near the lower end, not planning on making any long term commitment, just a few sessions to get some ideas and break my rut, maybe bring some new enthusiasm.
So I thought why not, meeting him this evening for an hour.
Not had one for maybe 8 years, whats the going rate ? am thinking in the 30 to 60 quid an hour range ? With my expectation for being fairly new that would be near the lower end, not planning on making any long term commitment, just a few sessions to get some ideas and break my rut, maybe bring some new enthusiasm.
simon_harris said:
what sort of gym?
I was paying £32 for an hour a david lloyd a few years ago, at a private 1 member at a time place I was paying £55 an hour a year ago. Now I pay £30 an hour at a small local gym with a few people in there at a time
Total Fitness so sort of mid range I guess ?I was paying £32 for an hour a david lloyd a few years ago, at a private 1 member at a time place I was paying £55 an hour a year ago. Now I pay £30 an hour at a small local gym with a few people in there at a time
Probably £30-£40 per hour i'd suggest, dependant on qualifications but a lot of PT's do the basic course required and off they go, usually they have qualified in a Pure Gym type place then set themselves up.
The gym I go to (Anytime Fitness) must have 8-9 personal trainers registered there currently, don't use them personally.
The gym I go to (Anytime Fitness) must have 8-9 personal trainers registered there currently, don't use them personally.
Clue is in the name
What are your personal needs and goals? The poster above citing a PT who has got middle aged women through longer distance triathlons is a good example. Suspect all they were doing is designing a training plan to provide structure, motivation, accountability and most of all confidence. Maybe they were providing very specific advice on strength and conditioning to avoid injury. Really depends on specific needs.
If your goal is weight reduction then maybe seeking out someone with nutrition qualifications. If you have specific niggles; have doubts about your capacity to make certain moves and goals or want to avoid injury then maybe a sports physio would be a good choice at least as a first step.
Another option is to join classes. Much cheaper and might help you talent spot someone who you click with. Once weekly yoga is a pretty harmless and undemanding adjunct to any training plan. There are loads of army fit type classes. I expect most of the instructors take private clients.
Knowing my own history, I know that I don't need any help making a training plan for aerobic activity or with the discipline to follow it. Where I'm a lazy whining baby is with strength and conditioning and if I can't get my act together soon will be looking for a strength and conditioning coach.
What are your personal needs and goals? The poster above citing a PT who has got middle aged women through longer distance triathlons is a good example. Suspect all they were doing is designing a training plan to provide structure, motivation, accountability and most of all confidence. Maybe they were providing very specific advice on strength and conditioning to avoid injury. Really depends on specific needs.
If your goal is weight reduction then maybe seeking out someone with nutrition qualifications. If you have specific niggles; have doubts about your capacity to make certain moves and goals or want to avoid injury then maybe a sports physio would be a good choice at least as a first step.
Another option is to join classes. Much cheaper and might help you talent spot someone who you click with. Once weekly yoga is a pretty harmless and undemanding adjunct to any training plan. There are loads of army fit type classes. I expect most of the instructors take private clients.
Knowing my own history, I know that I don't need any help making a training plan for aerobic activity or with the discipline to follow it. Where I'm a lazy whining baby is with strength and conditioning and if I can't get my act together soon will be looking for a strength and conditioning coach.
simon_harris said:
I would expect £35-40 then probably
This.I know it's obvious but do ask what kind of experience they have coaching. You can have all the quals in the world but still be a poor coach. Also don't fall for the 'have to be a member of the REPS (register of exercise professionals) scheme' - no they don't, but check they're insured. Some of the kids nowadays are quite good, the standard has improved since I was coaching PTs for ABC (!).
CG2020UK said:
Honestly I’d advise skipping the whole PT thing and finding a decent CrossFit gym.
Standard PTs in commercial gyms by and large are really poor.
Second this. Try out a few places if you can to get a good feel before choosing. Decent coaching and programming, and this will really help.Standard PTs in commercial gyms by and large are really poor.
gregs656 said:
CG2020UK said:
Honestly I’d advise skipping the whole PT thing and finding a decent CrossFit gym.
Standard PTs in commercial gyms by and large are really poor.
Crossfit on the other hand has a great reputation teaching proper form and not training people to injury Standard PTs in commercial gyms by and large are really poor.
Vastly different story now and would recommend it to anyone to try then make their own mind up.
CG2020UK said:
gregs656 said:
CG2020UK said:
Honestly I’d advise skipping the whole PT thing and finding a decent CrossFit gym.
Standard PTs in commercial gyms by and large are really poor.
Crossfit on the other hand has a great reputation teaching proper form and not training people to injury Standard PTs in commercial gyms by and large are really poor.
Vastly different story now and would recommend it to anyone to try then make their own mind up.
The PT’s I’ve had have been great. Going rate in London seems to be £35 to £60 an hour.
Worth it to learn the correct form and reduce injuries. In a class they can’t give you much individual attention and can only get you there abouts. My PT’s would always do tiny adjustments, tuck in an elbow, rotate a shoulder a touch etc that made everything 2x harder. The only times I’ve gotten injured are doing exercises on my own initiative to youtube or books etc.
Having a bit of a reprogram and checking in 3 months a year is well worth it.
Worth it to learn the correct form and reduce injuries. In a class they can’t give you much individual attention and can only get you there abouts. My PT’s would always do tiny adjustments, tuck in an elbow, rotate a shoulder a touch etc that made everything 2x harder. The only times I’ve gotten injured are doing exercises on my own initiative to youtube or books etc.
Having a bit of a reprogram and checking in 3 months a year is well worth it.
Where to start lol.. spent my life in gyms competent pts are hens teeth. A large proportion are downright dangerous when it comes to strength and conditioning.
Having the qualifications doesn’t mean much. I’d only listen to someone that obviously trained him or her self, seriously. Seen endless pts try and teach a squat, obviously have never lifted, and thus teach it wrong
If you just need motivation or someone to talk to while you are on the stairmaster, rock on
Having the qualifications doesn’t mean much. I’d only listen to someone that obviously trained him or her self, seriously. Seen endless pts try and teach a squat, obviously have never lifted, and thus teach it wrong
If you just need motivation or someone to talk to while you are on the stairmaster, rock on
Went ok, did an assessment and apparently not a total lost cause.
Will give it a month or two and see how far I get.
Legs currently painful from doing squats, I got into a bad habit of not doing much leg stuff as I cycle and run a bit, so he has said I need to do squats and dont need a squat rack and dont need to do massive weight, just to incorporate squats and lunges regularly.
Will give it a month or two and see how far I get.
Legs currently painful from doing squats, I got into a bad habit of not doing much leg stuff as I cycle and run a bit, so he has said I need to do squats and dont need a squat rack and dont need to do massive weight, just to incorporate squats and lunges regularly.
J4CKO said:
Went ok, did an assessment and apparently not a total lost cause.
Will give it a month or two and see how far I get.
Legs currently painful from doing squats, I got into a bad habit of not doing much leg stuff as I cycle and run a bit, so he has said I need to do squats and dont need a squat rack and dont need to do massive weight, just to incorporate squats and lunges regularly.
Good stuff.Will give it a month or two and see how far I get.
Legs currently painful from doing squats, I got into a bad habit of not doing much leg stuff as I cycle and run a bit, so he has said I need to do squats and dont need a squat rack and dont need to do massive weight, just to incorporate squats and lunges regularly.
Bodyweight squats and lunges (and doing some variations, including one leg and plyometric) can take you quite a way.
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