A personal trainer is someone who motivates you, coaches you, challenges you and also gets very close to your hot and sweaty body while you are in some very compromising positions. Can you handle it?

Recently I started working out with a male personal trainer. It was very awkward in the beginning. I’d be in the sit-position and I would wonder where he was looking. Was he having a peak? Ewwwww! As soon as I would start to let my mind wander to a dark place I would get a super creepy feeling.

But then I would look over and notice my workout partner (female) who seemed very comfortable with him. She was laughing at his jokes, smiling, working hard… and looked totally at ease.

So after two sessions we were all great friends.

And then my friend fell ill one day and couldn’t come.

It was totally different. The workout was harder, there was no laughing and as it turns out a one on one session with a personal trainer isn’t for me.

But it’s not because I think he’s creepy. It’s just because I like to have social exercise sessions and one on one doesn’t allow that so much.

So with the things that you look for in a trainer, whether you are looking for a supportive and friendly workout buddy or a strong and hard coach, it doesn’t matter if it’s a woman or a man. It just matters what you’re comfortable with.