Measuring Up

The American College of Sports Medicine provides a brochure to help guide you when looking for a Personal Trainer. Below is a list of questions featured in that brochure to help you when selecting your Personal Trainer. We've listed GTHP responses so you can see how we measure up to our profession's largest and most strategic organization.

Certification and Education
ACSM: Does the personal trainer hold a four-year degree (from an accredited
                university) in Exercise Science, Kinesiology, Exercise Physiology, Physical
                Education, or a related health and fitness field? A trainer with a degree in
                one of these areas will have a better understanding of the body and how it
                responds to exercise.
GTHP: All our trainers have a masters degree or higher.

ACSM: Does the personal trainer have additional training and a certification by a
                nationally recognized organization, preferably a not-for-profit
                organization?
GTHP: All our trainers have additional certifications in their focus areas.

ACSM: What continuing education is required to maintain the certification?
GTHP: All GTHP trainers take courses specifically related to each of their
               specializations in order to maintain current status and keep abreast of new
               methodologies.

ACSM: Is the trainer certified in first aid and CPR?
GTHP: All our trainers are certified in first aid and CPR. Melanie is also a CPR
               Instructor

ACSM: Does the trainer have liability insurance?
GTHP: All our trainers have liability insurance.

Experience and References
ACSM: How long has he or she been a personal trainer?
GTHP: Employees of GTHP have at least five years of training in their field.

ACSM: What types of clients does he or she work with?
GTHP: Our clients include adults, seniors, adolescents, athletes, cardiac patients,
                post-rehab, and special populations.

ACSM: Can he or she provide you with a list of references?
GTHP: Yes, feel free to request a list of references and visit the testimonials page
                on our website.

Safety and Pre-activity Screening
The trainer should be able to respond to any reasonable and foreseeable emergency
situation that threatens the safety of a client. The trainer should be able to provide information regarding potential risks associated with exercise.

ACSM: Does the trainer ask specific questions, before the exercise program begins,
                about medical conditions, medications currently being taken, previous
                injuries, and surgery as it relates to exercise, and aches and pains?
GTHP: We work with clients only after a thorough consultation and assessment has
                been completed, which includes a detailed questionnaire listing health and
                exercise history, a thorough fitness assessment and physicians contacts.
                GTHP trainers also provide detailed contract, exercise and progress reports
                for physicians. We provide our clients with continued communication /
                assessments which can be shared with other medical professionals.