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For that personal touch

A personal trainer can help turn your life around

PHOTO: S. THANTHONI

ONE-ON-ONE Personal guidance

Have you ever joined a gym and never looked at the membership card again? Ever skipped your evening walk for your favourite TV programme? Or given your morning yoga stretches a miss for an extra half-an-hour of sleep? You may want to consider investing in a personal trainer.

"When your personal trainer is at the door, the chances are that you will actually do the work-out," says Dr. Kannan Pugazhendi, sports medicine doctor Personal trainers are no longer only part of celebrity entourages, and motivation is just one of the reasons why. More and more regular folk — businessmen, IT professionals, students, housewives — are hiring trainers to create a fitness programme that caters to their particular needs.

The fitness industry in the city has seen a massive boom in the last few years, as people have realised the need for exercise to balance their stressful, sedentary lifestyle. However, with many, this awareness is not accompanied by knowledge, and that can lead to problems. "They often go to a gym and suffer an injury," says Sumeer Kumar, a freelance personal trainer, almost all of whose clients are non-celebrities. "Especially those with health problems like diabetes, arthritis or blood pressure, or those with injuries need guidance and more specific, targeted training."

A good personal trainer will do a health assessment, help you identify your fitness goals and then tailor a daily fitness regimen that best suits your requirements. Even more important, he or she will be on hand to monitor your workout. "When there's someone watching over you, observing every little move or change in posture, it makes a huge difference," says Nita Santosh, a personal trainer to stars and non-celebrities alike. "Technique is crucial and can go a long way towards preventing injury."

Working with a personal trainer can cost you anywhere between Rs. 2,000 and Rs. 20,000 per month depending on various factors such as number of sessions, needs of the client and credentials and/or exclusivity of the trainer. While some believe the benefits of good health outweigh the cost of the training, others choose a middle ground. "I often suggest that clients train with me for a month," says Nita. "I try to educate them so that they can then continue on their own."

While personal trainers are available at some gyms having a trainer come to your home to conduct fitness sessions is the more attractive option. "It can be particularly useful for housewives, and for women who, for cultural reasons, feel uncomfortable about working out in a public gym," says Dr. Pugazhendi.

Buyer beware

However, a major concern in India's nascent fitness industry is a lack of standard accreditation and qualifications for fitness professionals, and this is true of personal trainers as well. "There are a lot of self-styled trainers and con men out there," says Shanker Basu, a fitness advisor with certification from the American Council on Exercise (ACE) and the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). "Make sure you ask for and check your trainer's certification before you hire him." In a city like Kochi, this trend is yet to pick up and fitness trainers with such qualifications are yet to be popular.

"We've jumped into the fitness era in an instantaneous manner, and problems are cropping up," says Dr. Pugazhendi. Fitness is important, and a personal trainer can help turn your life around. But as with any service that you use, keep your eyes open, and evaluate your options before jumping in. Be fit and be safe!

DIVYA KUMAR

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