Tweet
So you want to be a personal trainer?
After being in the fitness industry for 9 years(yes, I know that is a very small time compared to some of you), I get asked very frequently about getting certified to train people. Many people think that the ability to shape your own body, and control your own nutrition, is enough knowledge to become a trainer, and while that may be true, there are quite a few other variables to consider.
So let me start at the beginning with just a little of background. I started researching exercising in 2004, at the ripe age of 15. I was a scrawny little runt, who had no interest in athletics. My main interest at the time was computer technology. After being pummled in a school fight, I thought it may be time to put on a little muscle. After recruiting the help of a local gym member who I respected, I got to work. I put on some muscle, and like most, thought, “Hey, training must be easy! I'll work at a gym and make tons of money.” Unfortunately, that's never the case. I've worked at 4 different locations, 2 family owned gyms(one for a year, the other for 4 years), an Anytime Fitness, and 2 and a half years ago opened my own personal training studio. I've trained a wide array of people, from 14 year old kids wanting to become more agile/athletic to 80 year old people wanting to improve mobility. Enough about me....
What do certifications mean?
There are a ton of certification agencies out there to look into. The most respected ones(NASM,ACE,ISSA), usually involve significant financial investment, and/or a bachelors degree to attend. As with any profession, you have the $20 online certifications that you can get in 20 minutes and say you are a “Certified Trainer.” I have seen this happen on more than one occasion, and usually the result is disastrous. The trainer in question has very basic knowledge of how they exercise, but no knowledge about form manipulation, corrective exercises, and program design.
After training the majority of my clients for three years or more, can you guess how many have asked me who I am certified with? Not one. That's right, the money I invested in becoming a trainer with ISSA has absolutely no relevance to them. Why? Because if you are friendly enough, and exude confidence(not cockiness) a client will trust you from day 1.
How have you built your clientele?
When you begin your first job as a personal trainer your first instinct may be, “All the other trainers at the gym are going to be super nice to me, and help me out, and get me clients!” Sad to say that is the furthest thing from the truth. Most personal trainers are vain, and extremely arrogant about their training methods. This means they will usually do anything to prevent you from gaining new clients. The best way to overcome this is with the old saying, “Kill them with kindness.” If you are out in the gym, talking to members, building relationships, offering members the opportunity to get to know you, and being nice to the other trainers at the same time, your clientele will grow, no doubt about it.
I would say above all if you are a new trainer trying to grow your clientele, get to know everyone in the gym by first name. One thing that I am very strict about at my studio is that my other trainers get to know everyone by name. The reason for this is that there is no better feeling than walking into a gym, which usually you are intimidated to be at, and have everyone greet you friendly and be genuinely happy you are there!
What are some of the frustrations of being a personal trainer?
It is very rare to run into clients that are into fitness as much as you are as a trainer. In a perfect world, every client would follow the nutrition guidelines you give them 100% of the time, do all the cardio that you ask them to do, get enough sleep, never miss a session, and love being there. In reality fitness for most clients is a very small priority.
What I mean by this is usually things like children, vacations, work related stress, and just general laziness will intervene at every possible opportunity. I could write a book on the excuses I have heard(and yes, I am working on that book as we speak) from clients. Everything ranging from “I'm feeling a little weak today, won't be in!” to “I have to miss my session tonight because I am so stressed out about the Presidential elections.”
Very rarely will you run into a client who will log their food as you ask them to. As you know, nutrition is 90% of results, and sadly it is very tough to get people to understand this concept. Most try to undereat to lose weight, with bad results.
The other largre frustration I run into is general whininess. Most people do not like to work hard to accomplish a goal, hence why America is so over weight. It is much easier to sit on the couch than show up for your appointment with your trainer.
This is a very basic run down of some of the things to consider when you are contemplating becoming a personal trainer. There are plenty of things I haven't covered and I urge you to please ask those questions that come up. I am sure there are other trainers on here who may disagree with my opinions, so it should be noted that at the end of the day they are just that, opinions.
I look forward to your thoughts.
After being in the fitness industry for 9 years(yes, I know that is a very small time compared to some of you), I get asked very frequently about getting certified to train people. Many people think that the ability to shape your own body, and control your own nutrition, is enough knowledge to become a trainer, and while that may be true, there are quite a few other variables to consider.
So let me start at the beginning with just a little of background. I started researching exercising in 2004, at the ripe age of 15. I was a scrawny little runt, who had no interest in athletics. My main interest at the time was computer technology. After being pummled in a school fight, I thought it may be time to put on a little muscle. After recruiting the help of a local gym member who I respected, I got to work. I put on some muscle, and like most, thought, “Hey, training must be easy! I'll work at a gym and make tons of money.” Unfortunately, that's never the case. I've worked at 4 different locations, 2 family owned gyms(one for a year, the other for 4 years), an Anytime Fitness, and 2 and a half years ago opened my own personal training studio. I've trained a wide array of people, from 14 year old kids wanting to become more agile/athletic to 80 year old people wanting to improve mobility. Enough about me....
What do certifications mean?
There are a ton of certification agencies out there to look into. The most respected ones(NASM,ACE,ISSA), usually involve significant financial investment, and/or a bachelors degree to attend. As with any profession, you have the $20 online certifications that you can get in 20 minutes and say you are a “Certified Trainer.” I have seen this happen on more than one occasion, and usually the result is disastrous. The trainer in question has very basic knowledge of how they exercise, but no knowledge about form manipulation, corrective exercises, and program design.
After training the majority of my clients for three years or more, can you guess how many have asked me who I am certified with? Not one. That's right, the money I invested in becoming a trainer with ISSA has absolutely no relevance to them. Why? Because if you are friendly enough, and exude confidence(not cockiness) a client will trust you from day 1.
How have you built your clientele?
When you begin your first job as a personal trainer your first instinct may be, “All the other trainers at the gym are going to be super nice to me, and help me out, and get me clients!” Sad to say that is the furthest thing from the truth. Most personal trainers are vain, and extremely arrogant about their training methods. This means they will usually do anything to prevent you from gaining new clients. The best way to overcome this is with the old saying, “Kill them with kindness.” If you are out in the gym, talking to members, building relationships, offering members the opportunity to get to know you, and being nice to the other trainers at the same time, your clientele will grow, no doubt about it.
I would say above all if you are a new trainer trying to grow your clientele, get to know everyone in the gym by first name. One thing that I am very strict about at my studio is that my other trainers get to know everyone by name. The reason for this is that there is no better feeling than walking into a gym, which usually you are intimidated to be at, and have everyone greet you friendly and be genuinely happy you are there!
What are some of the frustrations of being a personal trainer?
It is very rare to run into clients that are into fitness as much as you are as a trainer. In a perfect world, every client would follow the nutrition guidelines you give them 100% of the time, do all the cardio that you ask them to do, get enough sleep, never miss a session, and love being there. In reality fitness for most clients is a very small priority.
What I mean by this is usually things like children, vacations, work related stress, and just general laziness will intervene at every possible opportunity. I could write a book on the excuses I have heard(and yes, I am working on that book as we speak) from clients. Everything ranging from “I'm feeling a little weak today, won't be in!” to “I have to miss my session tonight because I am so stressed out about the Presidential elections.”
Very rarely will you run into a client who will log their food as you ask them to. As you know, nutrition is 90% of results, and sadly it is very tough to get people to understand this concept. Most try to undereat to lose weight, with bad results.
The other largre frustration I run into is general whininess. Most people do not like to work hard to accomplish a goal, hence why America is so over weight. It is much easier to sit on the couch than show up for your appointment with your trainer.
This is a very basic run down of some of the things to consider when you are contemplating becoming a personal trainer. There are plenty of things I haven't covered and I urge you to please ask those questions that come up. I am sure there are other trainers on here who may disagree with my opinions, so it should be noted that at the end of the day they are just that, opinions.
I look forward to your thoughts.
Comment