Why Hire a Personal Trainer for Your Teenagers

Do you wish that your teen will finally leave the couch and start exercising? Unfortunately, it is easier said than done. Maybe you have already cajoled, bribed, or even threatened your kid to engage in some physical activity – but to no avail. Instead, they may only become resentful and increasingly resistant to the idea of working out. The situation may seem hopeless, but there is one ingenious solution: hiring a personal trainer for your teenager. Read on to find out more about how it can help.

How Hiring a Personal Trainer Can Benefit Your Teen

Hiring a competent personal trainer can be advantageous to your teenager in a plethora of ways. By and large, it has something to do with helping your child stay fit, healthy, and well-nourished, as well as teaching them how to create healthy habits that can last a lifetime.

1. Staying Fit and Healthy

Overweight and obesity among teenagers are a pressing problem in Canada and several other nations. In fact, they are now considered a worldwide epidemic. Statistics show that nearly 1 in 7 Canadian children and youth is obese, while globally, about 1 in 5 children are overweight.

These conditions occur when there is an excessive amount of fat in the body. Often, they stem from poor dietary habits and a lack of physical activity. If left unaddressed, being overweight and obese can increase the risk of certain health conditions, including:

• Diabetes
• Cardiovascular diseases
• Musculoskeletal disorders
• Some types of cancer

Even worse, obesity in children and adolescents is also linked to a higher likelihood of premature death and disability later in adulthood.

It may sound terrifying, but there is a way to avoid this. That is, by encouraging a healthy diet and personal fitness in your teenage child. The thing is, educating your teen is no easy feat, especially if you are not well-versed in these topics. And even if you manage to get the message across, there is still a bigger issue at hand: will the knowledge be enough to get your kid to leave the couch and start moving?

This is where personal training coaches come in. They will stress the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle and help your child develop an understanding of the human body, including muscular functions and proper nutrition.

Furthermore, the trainer will come up with an exercise routine that aligns with your child’s needs, fitness goals, and personal capacity, among others. Finally, they will also work with parents to ensure that teens can improve their overall physical health and well-being and acquire a positive self-image.

2. Staying Motivated

For grown adults, being consistent with their workout routine is hard enough to pull off. So, imagine how much more difficult staying motivated can be for teens who probably don’t even want to exercise in the first place. A trainer may be the remedy for your inactive and uninspired kid.

Aside from having a well-structured plan, a competent personal trainer will also document your child’s progress and perform regular assessments. Once your teen sees how far they have come, they will certainly become more motivated to push forward.

Another benefit to working with a personal trainer is that there is no judgment. Although some teenagers are interested in sports, they may balk at the idea of working out at the gym, where other people are watching. This rings especially true for those who are overweight (who may have been bullied at school) and those who feel uncomfortable in their own skin in general. Often, they may feel embarrassed about their appearance, particularly while exercising.

A personal trainer is well-equipped to help your child while ensuring that they are comfortable every step of the way. If they don’t want to be around others in the gym, you have the option of enrolling your child either in an in-home or virtual personal training program, where they can work with a fitness coach in the comfort and privacy of your home.

Best of all, trainers are more than just physical fitness coaches – they also provide a sense of camaraderie. After establishing a bond, you won’t have to goad your child to show up in their workouts. They will probably want to attend it themselves, learn new things, and be around someone who always encourages and cheers them on.

Related Article: Avoid COVID-19 by Having a Personal Trainer at Home

3. Building Healthy Habits

One of the best things about hiring a personal trainer is that they can help with the formation of healthy habits. This includes regularly exercising and eating more nourishing meals. Likewise, they can also assist your teen in breaking bad habits, including snacking on unhealthy food and having a sedentary lifestyle.

As the workout sessions progress, your child will become more accustomed to their new routine and will probably want to stick with it long after the training program is over. Best of all, the habits that your child will acquire during the training are something that will stay with them until adulthood. In other words, hiring a personal coach will be a priceless investment for your kid.

Hiring a Personal Trainer for Teenagers FAQs

What Should Parents Look for in a Personal Trainer?

Teenagers have very specific needs. Hence, a personal trainer who typically works with adults may not always be equipped to deal with younger clients. Not to mention that securing the services of a personal coach can be costly.

The last thing you want is to pay them upfront – only for your child to bail at the last minute or for you to realize that you chose the wrong person. To avoid these, make sure you know the qualities of a capable personal coach for teenagers.

Here are some criteria for finding the best personal trainer for your teen:

• The trainer should have an appropriate degree and/or certifications from nationally-recognized organizations. In Canada, some of the most respected ones include the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP), the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), and the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA).
• The trainer should have experience working with teenagers.
• The trainer should possess the right demeanour and attitude towards teens, such as being patient and having a sense of humour.
• The trainer should match your child’s needs and personality.
• The trainer should create a training routine specially formulated for teenagers. Aside from offering a balance of strength, cardio, and core exercises, the activities should also be fun and manageable. In addition, they should seek and include input from your kid.
• The trainer should have references from past clients, including parents and other teenagers. If they do not have any referrals or are unwilling to provide one, you should look for someone else to work with.

What Are Some Tips to Keep in Mind When Looking for a Personal Trainer?

It does not end with satisfying the above-mentioned criteria. As a parent, you have to be proactive when seeking the best personal trainer for your teen. Often, this means looking beyond degrees and credentials, and gauging whether the trainer is an appropriate fit for you and your child’s needs.

Here are some recommendations to ensure that you are choosing the right person:

• Choosing a suitable personal trainer for your teenager can be overwhelming, especially if you don’t know anything about fitness. This is why it is critical to do your research beforehand, including the best qualities and credentials to look out for, as well as the right questions you should ask to gauge if they are a good fit for your child.
• There is no need to stick to one fitness trainer from the get-go. Instead, consider trying a few different trainers before making a decision.
• Ask the trainer about their approach and philosophy when it comes to working with teens and other younger clients. Make sure that you agree with their methodology.
• Pick a trainer who is suitable for your teen’s needs and goals. For example, if your child wants to shed off a few pounds, it only makes sense to hire someone who specializes in weight loss.
• Attend the first couple of exercise sessions with your teenager and see if everything meets your needs and expectations.

What Kind of Activities Do Personal Coaches Do During Training Sessions?

Here at First Class Personal Training, we focus primarily on the following:

• Bodyweight exercises
• Plyometrics
• Agility drills
• Core strength

You can rest assured that all of the activities are not only fun but also appropriate to your child’s age and fitness level. For kids and other young clients, it may involve the use of balls or even made-up games. Meanwhile, for older teens, circuits or training with resistance bands may be more suitable.

The trainer will instruct and guide your teen, ensuring that every exercise is performed safely and correctly. Furthermore, the coach will take extra measures to guarantee that your kid is comfortable and won’t push them beyond their limits and capacities.

Related Article: Your First Personal Training Session: What Happens and How to Prepare

The Right Personal Trainer for Healthy and Fit Teens

Urging your teenager to start exercising is no easy feat. More often than not, they will just want to stay glued to their smartphone and lounge comfortably on the couch.

By this point, you probably already know that no amounts of pleas and threats will spur them to action. Fortunately, by hiring a personal trainer, they may finally say goodbye to that sedentary lifestyle once and for all.

But let’s get this out of the way: enlisting the help of a fitness coach can be expensive. As such, make sure to research beforehand and choose the best person for your child’s needs, goals, and personality.

However, you have to remember that every teen is different. Although hiring a personal trainer is incredibly useful and efficient, this approach is not for everyone. This is why it is important to carefully assess the situation before committing to a youth training program.

February 18, 2021