By Afa Omar
clove@thestar.com.my

Click to read the full article

By Afa Omar
clove@thestar.com.my

Click to read the full article

By OLIVIA LEE

Exercising for some is a must, every day. Of course, there are those who shun the very thought of it. Why?

For a number of reasons, like sheer laziness or perhaps, to give the benefit of the doubt, it’s because gym membership can sometimes be quite a hassle.

Yeah, that sounds more reasonable. That, and finding the time, a place to park, or the energy to keep up with the others.

Okay, mere excuses.

An incredible solution? Personal trainers who make house calls.

So no more excuses. It’s time to put on your gear and work out with your very own fitness instructor in the comforts of your home.

You may start with master trainer and founder of BodyDynamics Fitness Consultancy, Afa Omar.

The 33-year-old athlete and his team offer home visits for individuals or groups, seven days a week.

“This is catered to people who are intimidated by the gym. We make exercising fun for you with the workout that I draw up. I bring equipment like free weights … simple equipment to give you the results you desire,” he explains, adding that training can take place in your living room or at your residential club house.

So why should someone invest in a personal trainer that makes house call rather than hiring one at the gym?

“You pay the gym membership fees and you pay the fitness instructor for his services. With us, there is only one payment,” Afa says.

A one-hour session with Afa or any of his trainers costs between RM100 and RM130. Group sessions fees vary depending on the number of people and session.

Not sure if it will work for you?

No problem, there is a no-obligation first visit for you to assess if home training is your thing.

“We sit down with the client and discuss what he/she wishes to achieve. But be realistic. We are not the Biggest Loser hoping to lose kilos drastically. And after a short session, the client can decide whether to continue. No obligations,” assures Afa, who has been in the industry for five years now.

To maintain the quality and efficiency of home visits, Afa explains, he keeps the number of clients between five and seven so that he can monitor progress closely.

Afa has three other trainers and plans to expand his business now that the demand is there.

So far, his clients are in the areas of Petaling Jaya, Bangsar, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Kota Damansara, Shah Alam and Subang Jaya, and are from as young as 14 and up to 65.

If you are interested to learn more about Afa, exercising and his home visits, visit FemmeCity, a fair organised by Clove (The Star’s monthly women’s pullout).

There, Afa will speak on the importance of staying fit. He will also give tips on simple on-the-go exercises which you can do very quickly before going to work or after. The topic of core muscles and how to develop them will also be discussed.

What does Afa get out of training individuals from home?

“The satisfaction of seeing your client achieve the results they hope for, the joy of transforming someone or his life,” he says simply.

o At FemmeCity, Afa Omar will be presenting the workshop Easy and Effective Home Workout for People on the Go on July 31 (Saturday) at 5.30pm. To register, call (03) 7967 1388 ext.1456.

Read it on the publisher’s site here.

Master trainer Afa Omar let’s women in on tips to finding the right personal trainer

by Afa Omar

Walk into any fitness centre and you will find personal trainers plying their trade. There are also personal trainers who work privately visiting clients at their homes or office. Alternately, they conduct their training at recreational parks. With so many to choose from, how do you know which one is right for you?

A personal trainer is someone that motivates, guide and provide the client with the most effective fitness programs. For the client, it is an investment that should offer dividends along the way.

The dividends could be in the form of improved strength, better stamina, healthier lifestyle or any other set of realistic goal that the client would like to achieve.

Personal trainers are not created equal, so finding a personal trainer takes a bit of time and research. Before you put your trust and health in the hands of a personal trainer, make sure he is a true professional who is well prepared.

Finding a personal trainer shouldn’t be love at first sight. If you think the first trainer you meet is sweet and charming, so are the other 19 trainers working at that gym! It is part of their job to be friendly.

While it is essential to have chemistry and effective communication with your trainer, there are other important aspects to take into consideration.

You should never base your selection solely on looks; a trainer with a flawless body may know things that work for him or her but not know how to effectively apply it to others.

Picking a trainer that looks like he needs more training than you do is not that good of an idea either. Do a little bit of investigation and window-shopping given the opportunity; after all, you won’t buy a pair of shoes unless you try them on.

Most fitness centers offer you free personal training sessions as you sign up for membership.

Use these sessions to ”audition” two or three trainers to meet your criteria. If you’re given only one free trial or none at all, then ask other members of the club for their feedback.

Keep an open eye and observe other trainers at work while you’re at the gym. Make a note of how trainers interact with their clients, the ones that are fully involved make for good choices. Then request for an appointment and a trial workout.

Most trainers would be more than happy to give you 15 or 30 minutes of their time to demonstrate their skills.

Unlike some developed countries such as Australia, there is no regulating body that helps to standardise the industry in Malaysia. In other words, anyone with a nice physique can claim to be a trainer and take your money. There is no accreditation or licensing board to qualify trainers.

Some form of accreditation or qualification a trainer may have from a credible institution would provide a good platform for safe and effective workout. These institutions or agencies would normally have their own educational and testing modules that usually include written, oral and practical examinations.

Attending these schools are costly and time consuming, hence personal trainers with qualifications offer assurance that they are going to be in the business for a while. They are professionals who invest in their own self-development to help improve others. Although these credentials do not guarantee a trainer’s excellence, it is good to know that your trainer had actually put in effort to walk the talk.

Most professional personal trainers operating in Malaysia carry one or a combination of certificates. Familiar certifications found on a personal trainer would include a sport science degree or piploma, commonly from Mara Institute of Technology. American Council of Exercise (ACE) has a branch in Malaysia and offers multi-level and multi discipline fitness certificates, as does International Kickboxing Federation (IKF).

Good trainers will sit down for a chat with you about their training methods. Each client has different needs, so a trainer will go through a simple process of evaluating these requirements.

It is also up to you to ask as much you want about the program and what to expect. After all, you are going to pay for his time to provide you with a balanced lifestyle and push you out of your comfort zone. Before you put your trust in a personal trainer’s hand, make sure you are comfortable with how he works.

Before you start your program, the trainer will give you a fitness questionnaire. You can declare your doctor’s or therapist’s advice if you have any. Body measurements, postural assessment and health history is also noted. Take the opportunity to clarify anything you don’t understand. Depending on your fitness objectives, budget and preference, trainers will offer you short or long term programs. Some programs can be a one-hour session once a week while some require up to four times a week.

Trainers will charge by the hour and the prices can range from RM90 to RM200 per hour. For reference purpose, RM90 will normally be the price of hiring a junior trainer in a fitness center while a well-experienced specialist trainer can charge RM200 for coming to your home.

What you can do for your trainer

Be realistic in your expectations. Professional trainers work hard to provide you with the most suitable and pleasant program to achieve your objectives. Some results take longer than others.

While the trainer can supervise you as you work out and provide lifestyle advice, they are not in control of your life. You must do your part.

Most professional trainers are very punctual, and they do expect courtesy from their clients to come on time and finish on time as they have a schedule to meet.

If you decide not to come at all, tell them a day in advance so they can fill in your spot with someone else. If you have problems with your trainer, talk to them immediately.

Personal training is an effective and safe way to achieve your health and fitness goals. Making that step to hire a personal trainer is a good start to having a balanced lifestyle.

As with any profession, personal trainers has its fair share of bad apples, but the majority is dedicated to making your life better. Personal training, if done right, is a very rewarding experience provided there’s mutual understanding between the trainer and the client. Good luck and have a great workout!

* Afa Omar is a master trainer and certified instructor. At the upcoming FemmeCity, he will be giving a workshop ”Easy and effective home workout for people on the go” on July 31 (Saturday) at 5.30pm. To register for his workshop, call 03-7967 1388 ext.1456.

Read it on the publisher’s site here.

Body Dynamics will be involved in the FEMME City 2010