A personal trainer app is an application for your smartphone or smart device that offers live, one-on-one personal training sessions to guide and enhance your exercise routine and help you meet your wellness goals. Unlike other physical fitness apps that have libraries of pre-recorded workouts, personal trainer apps set you up for live sessions with a certified coach or trainer who then develops a customized workout and wellness plan that meets your needs and fits your schedule. Most apps also include on-demand videos to enhance your workout routine between live sessions, as well as nutrition and/or wellness coaching.
Are Personal Trainers in the Apps Certified?
All of the apps featured in this list work exclusively with personal trainers or coaches who are certified by U.S.-based personal training organizations. Not all apps adhere to this standard, however.
Personal trainers are not required to be certified by law, but many gyms and other fitness studios only hire trainers certified by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA), according to the International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA), an organization that offers NCCA-approved personal training certifications.
“When someone successfully passes an accredited personal trainer certification exam, you can trust that you’re working with a person who has achieved a certain level of professional competence to safely and effectively work with a variety of different types of people,” says Sabrena Jo, Ph.D, the former senior director of science and research for the American Council on Exercise (ACE) and aForbes Health Advisory Board member. “Working with a personal trainer in general is helpful because they will have an understanding of how to personalize an exercise program for you based on your unique needs, which typically are determined through a detailed consultation with you and a series of assessments (if you desire to be assessed).”
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