Why become a personal trainer?
As a personal trainer, you could help a range of clients, from those competing in sport who need to improve specific areas of fitness, to those looking to improve their general health. As a personal trainer, you will be helping to improve people’s mind-sets as well as their physical health, including their attitude towards exercise and their relationship with food. In a time when disorders such as obesity, diabetes and coronary heart disease are on the increase, this is a particularly important role within society. What you do with your clients may not only affect them, but others around them, such as their family. As you instil new behaviours and new approaches in your clients, they in turn will pass these on to others. As a personal trainer, you may work for an organisation or on a self-employed basis- either way you will have an active job where no two days are the same.
Personal trainers will consult with clients to find out what their current health status is and what their goals are and how they can help them to achieve these. They will then provide their clients with progressive exercise programmes and diet plans. Within that programme, personal trainers will meet with their clients to deliver one to one sessions as well as providing sessions for them to complete when the trainer is not present. A personal trainer will monitor progress of their clients throughout their programmes, including asking about their progress or sending motivational thoughts via text, email or phone, and regular fitness testing, such as body fat measurements, aerobic tests and strength tests.
What does a personal trainer do?
Marketing
Carry out business planning
Goal setting
Fitness assessment
Client screening
Programme planning
Deliver one to one or small group sessions
Providing support and guidance
Recording of client progress
Liaising with clients
Maintaining financial records
How do I become a personal trainer?
To become a personal trainer, you have to complete the level 2 certificate in fitness instructing course followed by the level 3 certificate in personal training course (or the level 3 diploma in personal training which incorporates the two). The level 2 includes units such as anatomy and physiology, health, safety and security, and planning and instructing gym-based exercise. The level 3 includes anatomy and physiology, nutrition, and programme planning and delivery.
Where would I be based?
You would work in gym environments, including health clubs, sport centres, cruise ships and hotels or freelance in people’s homes, public spaces or online. Personal trainers are generally self-employed. If working in a gym environment, there may be options such as paying monthly rent to use the gym, completing a number of working hours for the gym or giving a percentage of earnings to the gym.
What am I likely to get paid?
£20- £40 per hour. Larger cities may offer more lucrative prices. If working for a gym, salaries could be anywhere from £15,000-£30,000.
What hours would I work?
Hours tend not to be set and will include early mornings, evenings and weekends. You can expect to work around 40+ hours per week.
What are my career progressions?
Progression routes include pre and post-natal exercise instructor, group exercise instructor, sports massage therapist, exercise referral and gym management roles.