We have endless articles and Instagram reels on how to find a good therapist.
What to ask. What to look for. How to know if they are the right fit for you.
But when it comes to finding a personal fitness trainer
Someone who works with your body every week
someone who can help you build a routine that changes your life there is barely any guidance. And whatever exists is usually written by folks in the West, whose fitness culture and lifestyle are very different from ours.
Hi, my name is Ishaan. I am one of the founders at fitin. Over the years, I have personally tried several trainers. A few were just after me to pay for personal training subscriptions. A few gave me trial sessions in such a way that I was too sore to show up the next day. And a few never bothered to listen to my story or context. They simply bucketed me into a random goal and gave me generic gyaan.
So if any of this sounds familiar, I am genuinely sorry you had to face that. Through this blog, I will try my best to give you clarity on the current fitness trainer landscape in India, and share a simple mental checklist to help you choose the right personal fitness trainer for yourself.
Before we talk about qualities, you should know your options
There are two broad kinds of trainers you will find in the market today:
1. Trainers with a degree or certification
These are people who have studied exercise science, biomechanics, anatomy, physical/ health education and movement. They may be working full-time in a gym/ fitness center or offering online training. Just know that a trainer with a degree will always be more knowledgeable.
2. People who transformed themselves and built a social media audience
These are influencers who have gone through their own fitness journey, posted their progress, built engagement, and now sell their own programmes.
Both these avatars usually sell similar kinds of offerings:
Live sessions (online or offline)
Nutrition guidance
Recorded sessions, feedback on form, accountability on WhatsApp
Usually, the influencer category focuses more on the third type of offering.
Now, I am telling you this because before you go hunting for a trainer, you must first decide what format you are comfortable with. If not, you will feel overwhelmed and distracted by the noise.
My personal tip: Choose a holistic solution.
Something that includes live session guidance (either online or offline) plus nutrition. Because you may spend 10 hours in the gym each week, but the remaining 100 plus hours when you are working, eating, commuting or at home matter more for your health. A good trainer will tell you this.
Now the real question: how do you know who is a good personal fitness trainer?
There are broadly three factors you can look at. Think of them as equal slices of the cake.
1. Education
Have they actually studied exercise science/ physical education/ sports sciences and human anatomy?
Most trainers in India either have a three year degree or a three to six month certification. I do not expect you to remember certification names or universities. Just ask the trainer one simple question: How long did you study for this?
Their answer will help you understand how much time and effort they have put into becoming capable of guiding someone. Shameless Plug: All fitin trainers hold a 3 year degree.
Weight this factor at around 33 percent.
Education is important, but practical application matters too.
Which is why the next factor is key.
2. Communication
Can they explain things to you in a simple way?
Most trainers can show you an exercise. But identifying exactly what muscle group is used for movement is tricky. You will rarely get it right just by watching.
A good trainer will break down the movement and simplify into steps, actions and placements.
They will tell you which muscle should feel the impact and which should not.
They will guide you through the small cues that actually make an exercise effective.
So ask yourself:
Are they explaining things simply?
Are they telling you the reason behind what they are asking you to do?
Are they making you feel handheld and guided?
If not, their communication may be weak and their understanding may be shallow.
3. Body language and approach
This is the most underrated factor.
Body language says a lot about a trainer. Ask yourself:
Are they maintaining a respectful distance?
Are they listening or are they cutting you off mid-sentence?
Are they actually asking enough questions on your medical history, routine, lifestyle, rest and your time preferences?
Do they look genuinely interested in your journey or are they distracted?
How do they respond when you take trials with different trainers or are they just pushing you to pay?
Your instinct will often tell you the truth before anything else.
One thing you can do here is speak to a past or current client of the trainer.
Ask them about their experience, consistency, support and results.
Nothing gives more clarity than hearing from someone they have already worked with.
So how do you actually go about finding the right trainer for yourself?
Start with clarity. Clarity on what you need and what kind of offering would suit you best.
1. Know what type of offering works for you
Do you prefer live sessions because you need real-time guidance?
Are you comfortable with recorded videos and WhatsApp accountability?
Do you want nutrition guidance or are you okay without it?
There is no right or wrong here. Just choose the format that you can realistically stick to.
2. Have an estimated budget in mind
Most offline trainers in India charge around Rs 10,000 to 25,000 per month This is on top of the membership fees of a gym/ fitness center.
Most online trainers charge around Rs 6,000 to 18,000 per month.
Knowing the above helps you in two ways: You will know if someone is overcharging you, and you will also understand how much you are comfortable spending each month.
3. Take trials, both online and offline
Before your trial session, please speak to the trainer.
Ask about their background, their education and their experience.
A short conversation will tell you a lot more than a heavy workout ever will. And a good trainer will always tell their approach and breakdown of session.
During the trial, focus less on how hard the session is and more on how well the trainer communicates and guides you.
4. Start with one month, not three
A three month package may look attractive, but you are human. You will make mistakes.
Your schedule might go haywire.
Your motivation may dip.
Your body may need time.
That mistake should not cost you an expensive three month commitment.
Start with one month.
See how you feel.
Then decide if you want to continue long term.
Most people quit fitness not because they are lazy, but because they never had the right support. The right trainer can make you feel capable again. The wrong one can make you doubt yourself for months.
So take your time. Speak to people. Observe their communication. Notice how you feel around them.
If you walk away from a trial session feeling understood, safe and a little more confident than when you walked in, that is a good sign. If you walk away feeling judged, confused or pressured, trust that instinct too.
Fitness is personal. Your trainer should respect that. And once you find the right one, you will realise how much easier consistency becomes.
If this helped you and you want me to share more on choosing coaches, building routines or starting slow, just let me know.
Happy training, Ishaan