Personal Training
Turn your passion into a career and become a personal trainer. Find out more about becoming a personal trainer.
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A personal trainer (PT) is a certified individual who has knowledge, skills and abilities to design safe and effective exercise programmes and deliver one-to-one training.
PTs have varying degrees of knowledge but must pass a level 3 certificate in personal training.
PTs help their clients to achieve their health and fitness goals, such as weight loss, fat loss and improved sports performance.
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The cost of a personal training session varies. As a benchmark, a session costs between £30-£65 and is 45 minutes to one hour long. Prices in London are usually higher, costing £40-65 per session.
This cost of a personal training session is separate to your membership – you pay the PT directly.
Speak to a PT directly about how much they charge. Some PTs offer discounts for bulk sessions.
Go to the Personal Trainers tab on your home gym page to find out more about the PTs at your gym.
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How long you need a PT will depend on your goal. If you're new to the gym or want to learn specific equipment, you'll need less time than if you're training to boost performance or preparing for a competition, race etc.
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Yes, especially if you're new to the gym, have a specific training goal or want to improve quickly. PTs keep you accountable to your fitness goals and motivate you to push yourself further.
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There are several benefits of personal training. These include:
- Teaching you the correct form: A personal trainer will guide you on how to perform exercises correctly and safely. If you're new to the gym or new to lifting weights, getting the technique right is vital.
- Hold an objective eye: When working out alone, you can't always tell if you need to adjust your posture, position, or range of movement. Personal trainers monitor your form during your training and correct you if necessary.
- Knowledge and experience: PTs must stay up to date with industry trends and training methods, which will save you time from doing all the research yourself.
- Push your limits: Personal trainers are passionate and supportive, but they'll also challenge and motivate you to push yourself further.
- Hold you accountable: Sometimes, the toughest battle is getting to the gym. A personal trainer will hold you accountable; it's not so easy to cancel the gym if you have a personal training session.
- Design a training programme: Personal trainers will create a tailored training programme to suit your needs, abilities and goals. For example, if your goal is to lose weight, your programme will include specific weight-loss exercises.Your personal trainer will monitor and adapt your plan based on your progress.
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How long you need a PT depends on your fitness goals. Chat to your PT about their packages and agree on a timeframe upfront. Some PTs offer discounts when you buy sessions in bulk.
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The average personal training session lasts between 45 and 60 minutes, depending on the PT's schedule. Some PTs offer 30-minute or 90-minute sessions. You can agree on a training schedule before you start.
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It's uncommon for PTs to offer nutrition advice. However, some PTs might suggest small lifestyle and diet changes. PTs are not nutritionists, and it's always a good idea to seek professional advice.
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- Fitness test: You might find your personal trainer will ask you to perform some exercises and body measurements to evaluate and record your fitness level. Don’t be worried about how well you do in these, just do your best. It’s about understanding your baseline, and a way to keep track of your progress.
- What to wear and bring: Just as you would do training alone in the gym, make sure to wear proper attire so you’re geared up for your training session. Wear breathable and lightweight clothing and non-slip supportive trainers. Bring a towel and bottle of water with you, along with anything the personal trainer suggests you to bring. The last thing you want to be is to feel uncomfortable or ill-prepared.
- How long does a PT session usually last? A personal training session usually is a 45-minute to an hour session. Speak with your personal trainer to check how long their training sessions are.
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Some personal trainers at PureGym offer group personal training sessions at a cheaper cost than 1-2-1 training session. We recommend that you speak directly to the personal trainers at your gym to find out if they offer this, and at what cost.
If you prefer working out in a group, you can also join our fitness classes, from Cycle to Pure Abs, which are free for members. We offer over 50 free fitness classes every week at all our gyms so there's plenty of times you can get a workout in that is guided by a personal trainer. For more information our exercise classes, check out our classes section which outlines the benefits, what to expect, and what you should bring to each of our classes.
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How many personal training sessions you have depends on your fitness goal, your budget and the PT's schedule. The average schedule is 1-2 sessions per week; each session lasts 45 minutes to one-hour.
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Before you start, make it clear what your goals are. Be honest about your previous experience and speak up if you're struggling. It's okay to ask your PT questions; no question is too silly. Bring a pen and paper to take notes so you can continue learning after your session. And always cancel your session in good time if you can't make it.
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- There are over 2000 PTs across PureGym so you’re sure to find someone who suits you. If you’d like to get in touch with a PT at our gyms, then they’re more than happy for you to talk to them directly for a chat. You can also find Personal Trainers' profiles on our gym pages. To find this information on our website, go to find your gym, click on the ‘Personal Trainer’s tab, and click the photo of the PT you’d like to contact. You will be asked to log in to see the personal trainer's profile and contact details.
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If you are looking to hire a personal trainer here are some things you may wish to consider:
- Credentials and specialties: Some personal trainers have qualifications and expertise in particular areas, such as weight loss, sports coaching, nutrition, pre and post-natal exercise etc. You may wish to consider what goals you’d like to achieve and if there is a PT who has the expertise to help you with your goals. To find out the PTs’ specialist areas, you can go to our gym pages, click on the Personal Trainer tab and click on the PTs’ profiles to find out their areas of expertise.
- Experience: Some trainers may have experience training specialist or specific population groups (age, physical or medical conditions, sports activity). It's always good to ask the personal trainer about their levels of experience and expertise if you have any concerns or particular goals you'd like to work towards.
- Availability: Do you prefer to work out in the morning, afternoon or evening? Or on weeknights or weekends? It’s a good idea to check the personal trainer you are looking to hire is available at times you’re able to train.
- Philosophy: Different personal trainers will have different approaches to training, and this is just a matter of opinion. Ask the personal trainer what his/her values are when it comes to health, training, and diet, and find a personal trainer who best suits your needs.
- Personality: We all have different preferred learning styles and personalities we get along most with. Do you prefer to be shouted out to help you push yourself or would you prefer someone who is reinforces how well you’re doing with positive encouragement? Would you like to be with someone who is just as serious about training or is your focus to enjoy training? At the end of the day, you’re going to be spending time with your personal trainer, so seek someone who you think you would get along well with.
- If you’re set on having a personal trainer, it’s worth having an idea of what goal/s you’d like to achieve, and discussing cost and the number of sessions you’d like to schedule per week.
- For more tips on finding the right personal trainer for you, check out our blog piece 'How to choose a Personal Trainer'.
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Your PT will ask you to perform some exercises and body measurements to evaluate and record your fitness level. Don’t be worried about how well you do in these; do your best. It’s about understanding your baseline, and a way to keep track of your progress.
Just as you would do training alone in the gym, wear breathable sportswear and trainers. Bring a towel and a bottle of water with you, along with anything else your PT suggests.
A personal training session is typically 45-minute to an hour-long.
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Yes. The cost of a personal trainer is not included in your PureGym membership. PTs charge different rates depending on their experience and expertise. Speak to your PT to discuss prices.
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We’re always on the lookout for new PTs.
Not yet qualified? If you’re looking to turn your career into passion and become a personal trainer, please register your interest here. When the next personal trainer courses is available we will be in touch.
Already qualified? See available Personal Trainer vacancies.
Personal trainer reviews
Here are some of the things our members who have taken up personal training have said about their personal trainers:
‘My PT has helped me become a much more confident person in just a matter of months. I am doing things that I never thought possible.'
- Helen Ferguson, member at PureGym Edinburgh Waterfront
'My PT has worked with me on weights and other pieces of equipment that scared me and has shown me how to use these safely on my own.'
– Elaine Calder, member at PureGym Paisley
'My PT not only helped me with my training but also taught me so much about fitness and nutrition, different ways to work out, and more.'
– Mairi Scobie, member at PureGym Edinburgh Ocean Terminal
“My personal trainer has helped me gain confidence in myself, find my love of exercise and the gym that I thought I had lost.”
- Jessica Stevens, member at PureGym Woking
‘I have PT sessions once a week. My PT has really helped me in achieving my goals and keeping me highly motivated. My PT sessions are always challenging (in a good way) and different. I wouldn’t be where I am without his help!'
'Finding the right trainer for me is what has helped me realise what I can achieve. My personal trainer has been with me through the ups and the downs, during the sessions where I felt drained or the ones where I questioned my capabilities, he has no matter what my concerns are, continued to motivate me and challenge me.'
– Shelly Pollard, member at PureGym London Bromley