Personal Training – What really makes a good personal trainer

Personal training then and now

Twenty years ago, the term "personal training" was barely used in German-speaking countries. Today, it's established, and many people appreciate the value of this individualized form of coaching. Nevertheless, there's a crucial difference between high-quality personal training and the services offered by amateur athletes who call themselves personal trainers after just a few months of training.

What does personal training mean?

Personal training is far more than a single training session. It's a service based on experience, knowledge, and responsibility .

Professional personal training means:

• Flexibility : Appointments that can be integrated into the customer’s daily routine.

• Individualization : Training methods adapted to goals, physical requirements and living conditions.

• Holistic : Inclusion of training, nutrition and lifestyle.

A good personal trainer develops pragmatic solutions and uses proven methods to sustainably guide the client to greater health, performance, and quality of life.

Personal training and costs

Personal training is generally not covered by health insurance. Therefore, prices vary widely—the market determines the value.

A fitting comparison is management consulting: Here, too, the fee is not based on the number of hours, but on the size of the company, the complexity of the problems, and the consultant's expertise. A consultant who specializes in corporations will charge different fees than one who works with startups – because specialization, experience, and speed in finding solutions determine value.

The same applies to personal training:

• There are trainers who specialize in general fitness.

• Others focus on specific target groups – such as women, older people or top athletes.

• Depending on the specialization, the depth of expertise, the solutions and the speed with which results are achieved vary.

A customer therefore does not pay a personal trainer for the hour of time , but for the value that the trainer conveys: experience, expertise, reputation and the ability to develop individual solutions efficiently.

This means that it's hardly possible to calculate an "hourly fee" in the traditional sense. It's all about the value of the service – and that is defined by specialization and expertise.

This raises the crucial question for the customer:

• What is my monthly budget for my health?

• How much time can I invest in my goals?

• What is my realistic goal?

Only those who can clearly answer these questions for themselves can create a healthy balance between professional care, a healthy lifestyle and realistic expectations.

What should you look for in a personal trainer?

After more than 20 years of experience as a coach, mentor and entrepreneur, I have developed clear criteria of what matters:

• Professional experience: At least two years of experience in a larger gym is essential to achieve the necessary frequency (daily customer experience) and volume (multiple workouts per day).

• Practical experience: Theory is valuable, but nothing replaces the real work on the training floor. Multiple client meetings daily over years lay the foundation for true competence.

• Passion and curiosity: A good personal trainer is hungry for knowledge about training, nutrition, and health. Without this passion, a sustainable career is almost impossible.

• Long-term experience: A very good personal trainer has at least ten years of professional experience in order to confidently handle even complex issues.

• Personal stability: Those who support others in their health, performance, and well-being must also have their own life under control. Personal problems must not compromise the quality of the coaching.

Conclusion – Personal training with added value

The title of personal trainer isn't protected. Anyone can call themselves that—but only a few manage to remain successful and recognized for years.

A truly good personal trainer is characterized by experience, passion, professionalism, and a sense of responsibility . Personal training is not a short-term fad, but a long-term investment in health, performance, and quality of life.

At Squat School Basel, personal training stands for quality, structure, and measurable results – with one clear goal: to make people stronger, healthier, and more efficient.
If you're looking for a good, excellent, or even the perfect personal trainer, contact YourTrainerBasel immediately. If you're looking for advice and coaching in the area of ​​strength and conditioning , or if you're pursuing a more ambitious goal, visit the Squat School Basel and register for the opening.