Posted December 4th, 2019
By Kris Powers
Personal fitness instructors, or personal trainers, work with clients of all ages and skill levels. They instruct individuals or groups with cardiovascular and strength training exercises. According to The Bureau of Labor Statistics, the following are common duties of a personal trainer:
- Demonstrate or explain how to perform various exercises and routines to minimize injuries and improve fitness
- Watch clients do exercises to ensure that they are using the correct techniques
- Provide alternative exercises during workouts or classes for different levels of fitness and skill
- Monitor clients’ progress and adapt programs as needed
- Explain and enforce safety rules and regulations on sports, recreational activities, and the use of exercise equipment
- Give clients information or resources about nutrition, weight control, and lifestyle issues
- Give emergency first aid if needed
Over half of all personal trainers work in standalone fitness centers or recreational sports centers. About 11% of all personal trainers are self employed according to BLS.gov. A personal trainer can be a general personal trainer and work with individuals or groups, but there are also specialized personal trainers who specialize in other fitness programs such as yoga or Pilates.
Breaking Muscle listed the five most alluring qualities that clients are looking for in their personal trainers including:
- Passion for Fitness and is Fit Themselves- ideally a personal trainer would be fit themselves. Being fit has to do with having passion, determination and dedication to personal fitness and a personal trainer must practice what they preach.
- Understanding of Push and Pull, Ebb and Flow and Periodization- as a personal trainer, you must know when to push a person farther than they would push themselves, but also understand when to pull back and let the client rest. They need to trust you and know that you are not going to hurt them but will push them to do their personal best.
- Knowledge and Know-How- having knowledge, certification and experience in personal training will help draw in clients. Continuing education is also important as things are always changing and if the trainer is not learning and growing, neither can the clients.
- Excellent Communication Skills- the personal trainer must get to know what the client has been through and what they are trying to achieve to help them effectively.
- Empathy and Compassion- helping someone who is already worried about working out and being judged for not being physically fit requires compassion. Beating them down because they are unable to do an exercise is not effective in helping them reach their goal. Empathy and compassion for your clients is essential in becoming a great physical trainer.
With the increased awareness of living a healthy lifestyle, more people are using gyms and personal trainers to get into shape. Begin your career as a personal trainer and start helping people today!
Ed4Career offers Complete Career Training Programs including the Personal Fitness Instructor Professional Program. This course bundle includes Personal Fitness Trainer Level 1, Personal Fitness Trainer Level 2, Start Your Own Personal Training Business, Coaching: Transforming Business and Personal Lives and Personal Excellence courses.
Upon successful completion of our Personal Fitness Trainer Level 1 and 2 courses, students will be prepared for an entry-level position as a Personal Fitness Trainer in a health & fitness setting and will be prepared to sit for the ACSM national certification exam to become a Certified Personal Trainer (CPT).
