How to Pick the Right Coach for You

  It's the new year and many individuals are getting a start on their New Year's Resolutions. Looking through YouTube channel after channel, buying pre-made programs off of bodybuilding.com and even hiring trainers/coaches. I want to talk about how to pick the right coach or trainer for you. This is a very common question I receive often, is, "Kaie, how do I know I've chosen the right coach/trainer for me?" Let's explore that. 

  1. Research the coach you're interested in and grill them. Listen, if you want to work with someone then you need to quiz them. Research them. Ask them questions like, "How did you get started?" and "How can you help me better than another coach?" Asking questions also allows you to know the coach you're interested in. 

  2. You must vibe! Coaches and trainers do not sell training, they sell themselves. Think about it! If you've had a coach/trainer before then you know you purchased that service from them because you liked them. Not every coach is going to vibe with you. They could be giving textbook cues they learned in school that just aren't registering with you. The style of training could be what you're looking for, but the conversations and understanding are lacking. It is okay to let a coach/trainer know that you don't think you will be a good fit for one another. The coach you took that free session with or consultation with is going to respect and like you even more for just being honest. 

  3. Is their style right for you? Not all trainers are created equally. While we should all know the basics of training someone and lifting, fitness, and exercise, this does not mean we all carry the same knowledge in other areas. If a trainer/coach tells you that they know everything about a subject or everything about everything in the fitness world, run. Find another trainer to research and possibly work with. This is a huge red flag. You want to find someone who is knowledgeable in the area of fitness you are interested in. This could be lifting, powerlifting, bodybuilding, functional training, or even just guidance to understanding how the machines in the gym work to begin with. 

  4. Do they look the part? This is a pretty big one for myself. If I approach a coach that doesn't look like they are healthy and fit, I DO NOT WANT TO WORK WITH THEM. There is a very big difference between knowing something and being able to apply it. If a trainer cannot apply what they have learned in school to themselves, that shows me they cannot fully apply it to me. 

   5. A good coach/trainer will let you go. I said it! Yes, a good coach will let you go. They understand that some clients outgrow them, change interests, change goals, or even just feel educated enough and confident enough to continue on their own. This is my own goal with my clients, to educate you to the point that you no longer need me. A good coach also knows when it is time to let you go and informs you of this. I have let clients go in the past because we no longer vibed together, we passed our prime and they are no longer learning anything that is progressing them further from me. So it's important to find someone willing to let go. 

  6. Not all trainers want to hear your problems. In my training sessions I often talk to my clients about their day, emotions, and any situations that go on. I have formed myself into a type of coach that is also a mentor and counselor of sorts. Or as I like to call it, a friendselor. Not every coach/trainer wants to have these kind of discussions during your session. Often times they want to see you through the session and focus only on this. So if you are looking for someone who is willing to listen to you during your session, make sure you do that. Otherwise you are going to hate your sessions, they will be unenjoyable and you won't see progress.

  7. Cookie cutters are for cookies not bodies. I worked the front desk of Gold's Gym for 5 years before finally being transferred to training. I sat back there and watched trainer after trainer hand out the SAME WORKOUT TO EVERY CLIENT! Now, this is no way to get your monies worth! Your body is not like my body. And my body is not their his body or her body. You see? Finding a coach who is knowledgeable enough to personalize a program for you is going to allow you more bang for you buck. 

   8.Coaches who give 8 week transformations. While I offer pre-made programs I do not push them or promote them often. I do this because I prefer to work with individuals one on one. I want to see what you're doing and how we can correct it if need be. The 8-week transformations are often just a marketing ploy to suck you in. Those people who do them are not fulfilled or happy. And if they are, often times it's very temporary as many do not continue to seek what will keep them going down the right path. An 8-week transformation program can be motivational, however it is not personalized. This is another reason I hesitate to give online training programs as well. If you have not worked with me in person, I won't be able to keep you safe. To know what your movement patterns are. I have several clients that began with me in person and have moved to online. They have the experience not only with myself as a trainer but also just being in the gym and comfortable in their movements and sessions. Without seeing in person, it is too difficult to program for deviations and corrections. Every program works if you follow it. When you finish it... that's the real test. Where are you going next?

  9. A good couch preaches and teaches self-love. A great coach/trainer will teach and preach self-love all day long! Why? You will see better results if you become confident and learn to love yourself. It's not about trusting the process, it's about trusting that your trainer knows what they are doing for you and it's the right style for your goals. This is what you hired them for. You must trust they will help you achieve confidence and learn that self-love so that you may continue training in any regard happy. 


  10. A program is only as valuable as you think it is. This is a huge one for me. When someone asks me "How much is your training?" I already know I am not the right fit for them. Someone who is ready to make solid changes or reach a goal doesn't look at cost. They know that a great coach/trainer has the knowledge, experience, and drive to get you to your goals. They are worth the value that YOU place on them, not the cost of the plan. 

  So now that you have a few tips on how to pick the coach who is going to better you, I hope you find the person who you need at this moment in time. If you'd like even more ways to spot a great coach for you, I suggest the wonderful podcast Level Up, Episode 27. These awesome ladies will give you some amazing insight and may even sway your mind a bit toward investing into a coach versus an online program.