PersHaving a personal trainer can be a real boon to your workout routine. A properly trained professional can help you decide what exercises are best for your fitness goals as well as motivating and encouraging you.

However, there are no federal or state requirements for personal trainer certification. Case and point -- a friend of mine lost his corporate (completely non-fitness related) job a few years ago. He went to his gym, asked if they were looking for more trainers and was hired right away even though he had no experience, no training and no qualifications other than being familiar with the gym's equipment. (My friend is a hard worker, however, and he immediately began getting his personal trainer certification. He has multiple licenses now).

So how do you know if you can trust your personal trainer?

• Do your research. Ask the gym what their hiring practices are and if their trainers are certified. Also, ask for personal trainer recommendations. Even trainers with the same qualifications may not be right for you.
• Check for certifications. You wouldn't go to a doctor who didn't have a medical license, so why not check into the certifications your potential personal trainer has. Some reputable organizations that certify trainers are the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) and ACE Fitness. Your trainer may also have received a related college degree.
• Ask for referrals. Trainers worth their salt will have a number of clients who are willing to talk to you and give you a referral.
• Trust your instincts. It's a trainer's job to push you and encourage you, but good trainers will not push anyone beyond safe limits. If your gut instinct is telling you something is wrong, trust that.

Just like personal trainer certifications, yoga instructor certifications are essential to making sure that you're working with professionals who can help you.