How to Become a Personal Trainer?
Being a gym instructor is, nowadays, a profession with a future… and a present. A healthy lifestyle has become a fully consolidated current trend. There is an increasing demand for professionals capable of creating activities, advising, and helping people who are going to do sports.
In this article, we want to explain everything related to these physical activity specialists. We are going to tell you everything you need to know if you are thinking of making a living as a fitness and weight training instructor. Shall we read on?
Most in-demand sports professionals
If you want to make sport your professional activity, currently the most demanded specialists are:
- Physical trainer
They are in charge of enhancing strength, endurance, speed, elasticity, agility, and mobility. They can work in clubs or sports centers, in gyms, and as personal trainers capable of designing personalized training for each individual.
- Expert in sports nutrition
Nutrition is essential for any athlete. It is clear to trainers that these specialists are essential to improve performance and resilience. The demand for these professionals has never been greater.
- Pilates instructor
People of different ages, styles, conditions, and characteristics are fascinated by this discipline. If you prepare yourself to teach these sessions you will have many possibilities of finding work, both in gyms and in social centers or residences for the elderly.
Of course, you must be a person:
– Empathetic.
– With enough leadership to lead group classes.
– In good physical shape.
- Sports entertainer
This profession consists of being a dynamizer of multiple sports games and entertainment. Hotel establishments, recreational centers, and, of course, sports facilities become the workplace for those who embrace this profession.
- Fitness and weight training instructor
All gyms need this type of professional, capable of guiding clients and guiding them in the right direction at all times.
- The day-to-day work of these sports professionals
A gym instructor or physical trainer of any kind is never bored. They live in constant activity, interact with colleagues and clients around physical exercise and, of course, they are forced to always keep themselves in perfect shape, as well as to research and experience the sporting innovations that arise in the world.
Giving classic aerobics, step, spinning, or Zumba classes, pioneering disciplines such as body jam or Jukari Fit to Flex, teaching in sports centers, becoming a physical education teacher in schools, or being hired as a sports coach are some of the job options available to you if you choose this job.
You’ll always be on the move and surrounded by active people, just like you. And what specific jobs will you have to perform? Take note:
– Plan and schedule activities.
– Assess the physical condition of clients.
– Design personalized or group training routines.
– Stimulate to improve performance.
– Implement good habits and healthy behaviors.
– Inform and educate on health.
– Supervise safety.
– Be an example of sports commitment and activity.
What does it take to be a gym instructor?
What should we study to qualify for this profession? Although it is not essential to have a university degree in Physical Activity and Sports Sciences or the degrees available in Vocational
Training to work in a gymnasium, the truth is that this preparation is usually highly valued in the highest level wellness and sports centers (those that seek to provide an elite service to their customers).
These are precisely the establishments that pay their employees the best and provide the greatest possibilities for growth and career advancement.
In a society where the Internet is gaining importance and face-to-face training is not always compatible with our daily routine, online courses are becoming a more attractive alternative.
How much does a gym instructor charge?
In principle, a gym instructor is paid around 30 dollars per hour on average. In the most elite fitness and wellness centers, the hourly wage can even double.
If you decide to become a personal trainer, your remuneration will depend on your ability to attract and keep your clients, as well as on the reputation you achieve with your personal brand.
We must tell you, in any case, that it is an option in which you can earn little or a lot of money, depending on your circumstances and abilities.
Some sports coaches who work with celebrities, millionaires, or wealthy people get a VIP remuneration, according to their clientele. However, there are also coaches who work by the hour and find it difficult to make ends meet, as in any other employment sector.
What distinguishes the best fitness professionals?
It doesn’t matter if you work as a fitness and weight training instructor. As a sports nutrition specialist. As an expert in personalized training or in any other activity related to physical activity. The best sports professionals have clearly recognizable attributes and qualities. These are as follows:
Qualities of a sports instructor
- Dynamism. Activity, energy, and physical and mental rhythm are part of their daily routine.
- Preparation. It is not enough to want to, you have to know how to do things. If you have the training, you will be able to do your job with excellence.
- Commitment and enthusiasm.
- Ability to motivate
- Creativity and rigor to design customized training for each athlete.
- Anatomical mastery.
- Empathy and the ability to adapt to the needs of each user.
- Curiosity and eagerness for research and implementation, in order to keep up to date with the latest sporting developments.
The sport of life
Those of us who love sport know that it is an exceptional learning experience for life. Through it, we develop values such as self-improvement, teamwork, perseverance, sacrifice, willpower, commitment, and many others.
When we turn it into our profession, the sport we love so much becomes the epicenter of our existence, the point of arrival and departure of our daily lives.