Becoming a Personal Trainer
It's not always a barrel of laughs, of course. I once had a client scream at me in the middle of the gym because I refused to train her that day (she had already done a two-hour workout and I suspected she had an eating disorder) and I even had a client throw up because he'd eaten to close to his workout. Yum.
Aside from the inevitable problems, fitness is a great career to get into if you're passionate and you have plenty of patience. If it's something you've been kicking around, my latest article, Becoming a Personal Trainer offers a few basics for how to get started and what you can expect. I've also updated a quiz to give you an idea of a few things you need to know when you become a trainer.
If you're interested in becoming a trainer or you are one, leave a comment and tell us about your experiences. Is it all it's cracked up to be?
Comments
Well, I am currently tossing around the idea of becoming a personal trainer. I have thought about it for quite awhile but at my age, seems hard to give up a career to start all over again. But, I am thinking of trying it part-time and kind of taking it from there. Are there any certifications that you would recommend I stay away from?
I became a physical therapist assistant instead of a personal trainer a couple years back. Now, though I love being a PTA, I’m still wanting to be a Personal trainer as well. I think I’ll end up getting that certificate in the next two years if not sooner.
I have thought about it as well, since getting serious about my own health and fitness..and all the wonderful things I have learned along the way, I would love to be able to “give back” and for me right now that would be in the form of helping another realize their own potential.
I became a CPT 2 years ago when a Y member had surgery to lose weight and wanted me to train her while she was losing it. I wanted to be certified first, so did an online course and became certified. I later found out our Y doesn’t allow PT and charging for it, so I am now a Fitness Trainer and teach Women on Weight classes as well as show people how to use our Y equipment and give them tips on form, diet, workout routines etc. It is my passion to help people and see them meet their goals. I love what I do (even if it isn’t actual PT per say)
Watch out for the online, quick-and-easy certifications. Look for nationally recognized personal training certifications. They usually offer workshops to prepare you for the examinations and get some hands-on experience so you know what to expect when you are working with people. I have been a personal trainer for 3 years and love it! I think there needs to be a passion for helping someone else achieve their fitness goals. NASM and ACE are two great organizations to consider. Continue your education after you are certified and you’ll reap the rewards of applying your knowledge to changing someone else’s life in a positive and healthy way.
I am not only a personal trainer but also teach/certify personal trainers. If I could give some advice to those considering this profession it would be this:
1. Stay educated. All certifications are essentially learners permits. Nobody can learn “everything” by passing a certification. I teach this stuff and I am constantly reading and studying trying to better myself.
2. As a personal trainer you are a part of the health care community. never underestimate that. You prescribe the most powerful “drug” in the world - exercise. Give it out it wisely and as mentioned in Paige’s article, know when to tell a client that they have had enough.
3. Find your niche. Those new to personal training work with a number of people. Eventually they will realize they enjoy working with some groups more than others. when you decide on the group/groups you enjoy working with, become an expert in that field. Just as their are doctors who specialize in hearts, brains and feet, so too can personal trainers specialize in the fields of fitness they enjoy most.
4. Don’t assume that the size of your muscles will get you clients or help you keep them. It can help - for about 15 minutes. After that you gotta know stuff. People ask me all sorts of questions. I try to address those questions in the seminars I give and books I write.
5. Dont get hung up on the “best certification”. most people dont know the difference between certs and all of them cover the same basic stuff. The important thing is to stay educated. Education is your key to not only becoming a personal trainer but making a very good living at it!
Joe Cannon, MS, CSCS, NSCA-CPT
my website http://www.Joe-Cannon.com