Personal Trainer
Top Jobs, p1
Personal trainers raise the bar to achieve clients’ fitness goals
Besides
“money to burn,” what do Tina Turner, Paula Abdul, Tom Hanks and Oprah
Winfrey have in common? Personal trainers: fitness gurus who provide
individualized exercise coaching.
Celebrities aren’t the only
ones who want to look great. People in our community, at all fitness
levels, can get more from their workouts with the assistance of a
personal trainer.
During one-hour sessions, personal trainers
determine each clients’ fitness level, lifestyle and goals (weight loss,
toning, flexibility, muscle building, competitive sports preparation,
etc.), then develop a customized program, which can include health and
nutritional advice. The trainer educates and motivates clients during
workout sessions in a fitness facility (or client’s home), emphasizing
technique and monitoring progress.
“I love what I do,” says Cliff
Peaker, certified personal trainer and director of Post-Rehab for
Gold’s Gym (www.GGymModesto.com) on Pelandale in Modesto, “You change
people’s lives.” He gets to know his clients. “They rely on me to change
them. They do the work, but I’m the one who sets them on the right
path.”
Exercise your options
Education and
certification are the first steps toward becoming a personal trainer.
It’s important to learn all you can about processes of the human body so
you can develop effective fitness and nutrition programs.
“The
more you can learn about how to train different body types, the more you
can empower your clients,” says Traci Cerda, certified personal trainer
with Modesto Fitness & Racquet Club (www.brendaathletics.com). “I
recommend going to MJC (Modesto Junior College) and taking physiology,
anatomy and exercise physiology, health and nutrition classes, even yoga
– anything to empower people to reach their goals.”
According to
www.MonsterLearning.com, in addition to certification, hiring managers
prefer a bachelor’s degree in exercise science, physical education,
sports medicine or a related field. Peaker says a degree is nice to
have, but isn’t necessarily a requirement. He adds once you have your
certification, you can become a trainer anywhere in the U.S.
Certifications
are available in personal training, weight training, aerobics and
related fields. Some employers also require CPR (cardiopulmonary
resuscitation) and first aid documentation. Certifications vary widely
in credibility. For more information, check with major certifying bodies
such as the American College of Sports Medicine (www.acsm.org), The
American Council on Exercise (www.acefitness.org) and the National
Strength and Conditioning Association (www.nsca-lift.org).
Multiple
certifications among several types are available, from entry-level to
degreed versions. Usually, certifications must be renewed every two
years, with continuing education credits required. For example, “ACE
might have workshops in Swiss ball training or core training, that you
can take towards your continuing education,” Peaker says.
To
enhance your credibility and service options, choose a specialty and
obtain additional qualifications. A specialty also allows you to charge a
bit more for your services.
A job vs. your own business
When
starting out, it’s more economical to work for a health club, where you
can receive a salary, commission or a combination of the two. The club
furnishes equipment, workspace, liability insurance, a regular paycheck
and client traffic. Earnings fluctuate depending on your number of
weekly sessions, customer satisfaction, etc.
The health clubs we
checked with hire only candidates who are certified by nationally
recognized organizations. Contact local health clubs to find out about
their certification policies, education and experience requirements, job
availability and how to apply.
At the Modesto Court Room
(www.modestocourtroom.net), floor trainers are available to answer
members’ questions and offer assistance. Individual training is also
available and new members receive a free personal training session upon
joining. Georgia Chituras, human resources director, says she looks for
candidates who are “physically fit, self-motivated, have a positive
attitude,” and offer “good communication and customer service skills.”
The
Bureau of Labor Statistics (www.bls.gov) shows that due to rising
interest in personal training, aerobics instruction and other fitness
activities, job prospects for personal trainers are expected to grow
faster than average through 2012.
The website
www.MonsterLearning.com lists salary information at $11.63 an hour –
significantly more for self-employed personal trainers.
Once they
gain experience, some personal trainers become private contractors
working independently with their clients in clubs where outside trainers
are allowed.
About 5 percent of personal trainers start their
own fitness centers. If you go this route you will need to name and
register your company, rent space, obtain and set up equipment, purchase
liability insurance and build clientele. Tax advantages and per-session
earnings for the self-employed are excellent.
Characteristics and skills
Successful
personal trainers “look the part” by having a healthy, well-conditioned
body, are outgoing, work well with various people and personalities,
know how to listen and motivate, and are organized, patient and
persistent. “The turnover is pretty high. You have to get your own
clients and be consistent. This is the kind of job that you do because
you want to help people and you care about the success of your clients,”
Cerda says.
The flexible hours are another thing to consider.
“If you’re not a morning person, it’s going to be a tough change,” she
says. “Some of my earliest appointments are at 6 a.m. or even 5:30.” She
adds that it helps to have a sense of humor. “It never hurts to be with
a trainer who can make you laugh while you’re in pain.”
Cerda
points out that if you go into this field, you must follow your own
advice. “If I don’t practice what I preach, I have no business guiding
anybody on the path to better fitness.”
Where else can you use
these skills? If health clubs don’t float your boat, try cruise ships,
spas, resorts, universities and corporate fitness opportunities. Check
out www.fitnessmanagement.com, www.resortjobs.com or
www.funkycareers.com.
Make a name for yourself
Whether
you are employed or independent, you’ll want to spread the word about
your services. Create a website, pass out flyers and business cards,
offer workshops. It’s up to you to attract and retain clients.
Combining
his physical therapy background with fitness training, Cliff Peaker
works with many types of clients, including teenagers and special
populations, “people coming out of rehab, chiropractic care or
orthopedic surgery. If a person has had a knee replacement or back or
shoulder problems, they come straight to me,” explains the 15-year
fitness veteran.
cutlines:
Traci Cerda, certified
personal trainer for Modesto Fitness & Racquet Club, meets early
with client Mike Purnell, MD, a local orthopedic and sports medicine
physician.
Bosu ball and Swiss ball push-ups build Sandy
Phipper’s stabilization skills and core training, says Cliff Peaker,
certified personal trainer and director of Post-Rehab for Gold’s Gym.
© HHWS for The Modesto Bee
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