Although Lisa Barr looks like she could run miles and work out with the fittest of people, she said she liked having a personal trainer to keep her in line.

Barr said she would rather have someone to make her work out than have to rely on herself.

The Carbondale resident has taken part in the personal training program through the Recreation Center twice a week since July 2007. The center has 18 nationally certified trainers on staff and their services are available to students at a cost.

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Barr said she was skeptical when she started the workouts because she wasn’t sure what they would entail. But once she realized how much she enjoyed it, she started spreading word to her friends.

Barr said she likes to come see her trainer, Amanda Perkins, a second year graduate student from Louisville, Ky., studying sport and exercise psychology, because she likes to have someone to hold her accountable for her workouts.

Perkins said Barr’s situation is common.

“A lot of people need personal trainers for motivation,” she said.

Perkins said she has roughly eight clients on a regular basis. She does not have one certain routine, she said, and makes sure to use the program that would benefit the client the most.

“There’s not just a cookie-cutter training program for everybody,” she said.

Perkins said it is helpful to have a personal trainer because the Recreation Center can be intimidating to those who aren’t familiar with the equipment.

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Lynne Thompson-Cundiff, fitness coordinator at the center, said there are many types of training sessions offered. Students and community members can have sessions individually, with a partner or with a group of people up to eight.

All participants are required to get fitness tests before their sessions begin. After that, the price of the personal training sessions varies by the number that attend each session and how many sessions are purchased.

Thompson-Cundiff also said most of the 18 trainers are graduate students.

“It’s a great opportunity for those students to get that experience,” she said.

Those interested in purchasing time with a personal trainer can stop by the Lifestyle Enhancement Center at the Recreation Center or call 453-1272.

Daily Egyptian reporter Christian Holt can be reached at 536-3311 ext. 268 or [email protected].