Career in Personal Training
Posted by personaltrainer | 3 Oct, 2008As health and fitness centers mushroom in cities, and awareness about fitness increases, a number of people have begun looking at a career in personal training . There was a time when only athletes would hit the gym. Now, with growing clientele, there is an increase in demand for fitness professionals like aerobics instructors, yoga instructors and personal trainer .
The Personal Trainer Career :
When you choose to become a personal trainer, you will train people in different aspects of physical fitness, helping them get into shape and stay fit. You can instruct an individual or group in exercise routines such as weights, aerobics or the various machines available in a gymnasium. You will also give them basic advice on health and nutrition, including posture, change in lifestyle if required, etc. You will also be involved in designing specific training programs for people keeping in mind their age, lifestyle, fitness levels and health parameters.
As a certified personal trainer, you will help clients assess their level of physical fitness and help clients set & reach fitness goals, demonstrate exercise routines and help them improve their technique. Personal trainers work with clients on a one-on-one basis, either at a gym or at a client's home. The workout is specially tailored to suit the client's specific health and fitness requirements. Some personal fitness club conduct group workout sessions that involve aerobics, stretching and muscle conditioning exercises. You could even conduct these classes in a gym or at your own studio.
Employment Opportunities - Certified Personal Trainer :
The demand for certified personal trainers is an all-time high, which is great news for those aiming to pursue a career in personal training. From hardworking executives to housewives, older to younger, the number of health conscious people spans across ages and professions.
Today, fitness has become a flourishing business, with more and more health centers coming up. There is also a wide array of fitness regimes -- such as aerobics, kickboxing, yoga, Pilates, Spinning -- to choose from. The affluent are also keen on setting up gymnasiums at home, creating additional job opportunities for certified personal trainers.
Certified personal trainers work in gyms, big hotels, health clubs, fitness centers, spas, tourist resorts, housing societies and large companies as well. After gaining some experience, you could also choose to run your own centre. You can specialize in any of the huge variety of exercise routines such as weightlifting, aerobics, karate, kickboxing, spin cycling, yoga, pilates or tai chi, spinning and be a specialist fitness trainer.
You can earn a lot once you establish yourself and your clients know you well. In addition to actual training, one can also earn by conducting various guest sessions for corporate houses, write about it and, if things go well, even conduct television shows.
The Qualifications For Becoming a Personal Trainer :
Apart from personal trainer school and courses as a fitness instructor, there are some essential requisites you must posses. You deal with teenagers as well as senior citizens, so you can imagine the kind of tolerance and understanding a trainer needs.
You must love to sweat it out. If you are the type who loves sitting by a desk, this job is definitely not for you. You must also be physically fit! Flaunting a paunch or being breathless after 5 minutes of working out will not encourage your clients to work on the treadmill. A good physique and determination to spend long hours working out is essential. You must also have a good knowledge of human anatomy, and be aware of basic effects of lifestyle, diet, nutrition and stress on the body.
You also need to be innovative enough to vary the exercise routine in order to avoid monotony. You have to make sure exercise does not become a boring activity for the client by introducing change and fun in the workouts.
Personal trainer also need good communication and interpersonal skills, as they have to deal with all kinds of people. Be aware of the latest developments in health science and fitness equipment. Also get some basic knowledge about nutrition and injury rehabilitation. Be patient and motivating to help clients to be physically fit. You need to constantly counsel them to stick to their routine, to go in for 10 more push-ups, to restrain them from having that extra helping of cake...
And yes, you must love music because, except for a few exercises like yoga, one cannot think of exercise without loud, blaring music.
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