How to get into personal training?
July 30, 2015 4:50 PM Subscribe
Should I become a personal trainer, and if so, how?
I have never been an athletic, fit person, ever in my entire life - but am the fittest (and thinnest) I’ve ever been, at 35. Lost a lot of weight (on my own, almost entirely through getting in shape slowly over more than a year), kept it off for more than a year. I’m really proud of the way I’ve achieved my changes - without deprivation, without cutting out foods, starting VERY slow and incrementally increasing challenges, through and back up from injuries, modifying as needed, and by making myself strong and fit - as opposed to just “skinny."
I used to be obese, and now complete strangers are coming up to me in the park and asking me about my workouts. It’s kind of weird for me but also a really neat feeling. I learned to love exercise, challenging myself, try new things, feel much more confident, and all the usual stuff people with similar stories tell. The weightless is nice - but it’s almost the least of it, and I’ve gained so much more. While I’ve come a long way and learned a lot, I obviously know I have a whole lot yet to learn and don’t know much about this line of work.
I’m well aware that I will never be in a position to train elite athletes, but I think I have a lot of personal experience and motivation to work with, and to help others.
I’m also well aware that personal training isn’t financially lucrative for the vast majority of people. I’m fortunate enough to be in a position where I would not have to worry about solely relying on that income.
What are the major downsides that I’m unaware of? What challenges could I face? What’s the best certification path to take if I wanted to go into training “normal people” like myself? Is it necessary that I work for a gym, or can I go it alone? And if so, what kind of path should I take?
I have never been an athletic, fit person, ever in my entire life - but am the fittest (and thinnest) I’ve ever been, at 35. Lost a lot of weight (on my own, almost entirely through getting in shape slowly over more than a year), kept it off for more than a year. I’m really proud of the way I’ve achieved my changes - without deprivation, without cutting out foods, starting VERY slow and incrementally increasing challenges, through and back up from injuries, modifying as needed, and by making myself strong and fit - as opposed to just “skinny."
I used to be obese, and now complete strangers are coming up to me in the park and asking me about my workouts. It’s kind of weird for me but also a really neat feeling. I learned to love exercise, challenging myself, try new things, feel much more confident, and all the usual stuff people with similar stories tell. The weightless is nice - but it’s almost the least of it, and I’ve gained so much more. While I’ve come a long way and learned a lot, I obviously know I have a whole lot yet to learn and don’t know much about this line of work.
I’m well aware that I will never be in a position to train elite athletes, but I think I have a lot of personal experience and motivation to work with, and to help others.
I’m also well aware that personal training isn’t financially lucrative for the vast majority of people. I’m fortunate enough to be in a position where I would not have to worry about solely relying on that income.
What are the major downsides that I’m unaware of? What challenges could I face? What’s the best certification path to take if I wanted to go into training “normal people” like myself? Is it necessary that I work for a gym, or can I go it alone? And if so, what kind of path should I take?
I only know about this because the university I work at is apparently kicking around the idea of starting a master's program in it, but there's a thing called an an exercise physiologist, which is sort of like a medical personal trainer for people who need to start exercising in a clinically-supervised setting. The downside is that you'll probably need a master's degree, and the pay isn't stellar.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 5:43 PM on July 30, 2015
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 5:43 PM on July 30, 2015
What’s the best certification path to take if I wanted to go into training “normal people” like myself?
I generally avoid personal trainers, mainly because I'm an introvert who doesn't want a stranger in my face when I'm at the gym but also because my past (secondhand) experience had included listening to a lot of trainers yelling at their clients or spouting pseudoscientific bullshit. My perception of personal trainers changed dramatically when I went to a gym owned by a hospital network, where I was given three free personal-training sessions and then eavesdropped on other trainers and their clients. At that gym, the trainers were respectful (no shaming, flexible with suggestions depending on clients' goals), knowledgeable (I would often incorporate exercises I'd seen them teaching clients), and professional. That gym's website says that all of their trainers have BAs or MAs in exericise- or health-related fields and have certifications from American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), American Council on Exercise (ACE), National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), and/or National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). There were definitely clients with major disabilities, so some of those certifications may be more than you need or want, but you might want to poke around their requirements and see what resonates with you.
posted by jaguar at 6:19 PM on July 30, 2015
I generally avoid personal trainers, mainly because I'm an introvert who doesn't want a stranger in my face when I'm at the gym but also because my past (secondhand) experience had included listening to a lot of trainers yelling at their clients or spouting pseudoscientific bullshit. My perception of personal trainers changed dramatically when I went to a gym owned by a hospital network, where I was given three free personal-training sessions and then eavesdropped on other trainers and their clients. At that gym, the trainers were respectful (no shaming, flexible with suggestions depending on clients' goals), knowledgeable (I would often incorporate exercises I'd seen them teaching clients), and professional. That gym's website says that all of their trainers have BAs or MAs in exericise- or health-related fields and have certifications from American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), American Council on Exercise (ACE), National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), and/or National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). There were definitely clients with major disabilities, so some of those certifications may be more than you need or want, but you might want to poke around their requirements and see what resonates with you.
posted by jaguar at 6:19 PM on July 30, 2015
As a trainer, your body is your workplace. I used to work with a trainer and his body got a lot of wear & tear from working out with his clients. At one point, he had to have an operation which didn't go as well as expected and he couldn't work for some months, so you'd better have good health insurance as well as disability insurance.
posted by mogget at 7:46 PM on July 30, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by mogget at 7:46 PM on July 30, 2015 [1 favorite]
I think being a personal trainer could be wonderful for you. You are currently passionate about fitness and it may very well be the thing that helps you maintain your weight loss for a period. Maybe you could ask around at gyms and do some part time work and learn new tricks. If you love it, you can work on certification and degrees. Seems like a gift to share what you love!
posted by Kalmya at 8:35 PM on July 30, 2015
posted by Kalmya at 8:35 PM on July 30, 2015
When I got my training certification, the gold standard was ACSM, followed by NSCA, then ACE/NASM. (I have a CSCS--Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist from the NSCA.) When I got it, ACSM certification required that you have a BA in certain health-related fields, so it wasn't even an option for me, and I went for the next best thing. It's been about 10 years and I haven't kept up with my cert, so that might have changed slightly, but all of those are respectable.
I think the thing to know is that personal training isn't about you--it's about the client. So while it's great that you have this inspiring success story, that doesn't really mean you'll be a good trainer. To be a good trainer, you have to have a good knowledge of anatomy and physiology, a good understanding of how the body works, a solid reservoir of exercises to draw from, and the ability to synthesize all of this knowledge into developing individual plans for people to best fit their needs. What worked for you, and your own story, doesn't necessarily apply to other people, and you may find that some folks aren't even interested in hearing it.
A large part of personal training, and honestly, the part that turned me off of it, is that it's really a sales job. You're selling yourself, and your services, and unless you hook into a sweet gig with a chiropractor or an upscale gym or some other situation where clients are funneled directly to you, you'll spend a lot of time hustling for work. Maybe that suits you just fine, but it wasn't a good fit for me.
I went into personal training because I had a story similar to yours--I'd lost over 100 lbs on my own and was fired up about fitness. I took kinesiology and personal training courses at a local college, loved learning all of the theory and knowledge behind it, and got certified...then found out that while I loved training myself, I didn't actually love training other people, and I hated the hustle. I was also frustrated that other clients WEREN'T like me--I found a fair number who would come to the personal training sessions expecting miracles, but not put in the time on their own to work out or eat well, and then be frustrated to not see results. I wanted to change other people's lives the way mine had changed, but I found it difficult to work with some clients who just wanted to throw money at the problem but not make any real lifestyle changes. So even if you don't mind the sales aspect, and don't need to rely on it for a full-time income, that's one challenge you might face--clients who aren't as motivated as you were.
posted by Bella Sebastian at 12:57 AM on July 31, 2015
I think the thing to know is that personal training isn't about you--it's about the client. So while it's great that you have this inspiring success story, that doesn't really mean you'll be a good trainer. To be a good trainer, you have to have a good knowledge of anatomy and physiology, a good understanding of how the body works, a solid reservoir of exercises to draw from, and the ability to synthesize all of this knowledge into developing individual plans for people to best fit their needs. What worked for you, and your own story, doesn't necessarily apply to other people, and you may find that some folks aren't even interested in hearing it.
A large part of personal training, and honestly, the part that turned me off of it, is that it's really a sales job. You're selling yourself, and your services, and unless you hook into a sweet gig with a chiropractor or an upscale gym or some other situation where clients are funneled directly to you, you'll spend a lot of time hustling for work. Maybe that suits you just fine, but it wasn't a good fit for me.
I went into personal training because I had a story similar to yours--I'd lost over 100 lbs on my own and was fired up about fitness. I took kinesiology and personal training courses at a local college, loved learning all of the theory and knowledge behind it, and got certified...then found out that while I loved training myself, I didn't actually love training other people, and I hated the hustle. I was also frustrated that other clients WEREN'T like me--I found a fair number who would come to the personal training sessions expecting miracles, but not put in the time on their own to work out or eat well, and then be frustrated to not see results. I wanted to change other people's lives the way mine had changed, but I found it difficult to work with some clients who just wanted to throw money at the problem but not make any real lifestyle changes. So even if you don't mind the sales aspect, and don't need to rely on it for a full-time income, that's one challenge you might face--clients who aren't as motivated as you were.
posted by Bella Sebastian at 12:57 AM on July 31, 2015
I wrote this question a couple years ago, and you might find some of it very useful. I did actually pursue and complete my NASM certification, and am a mostly full time personal trainer right now. Here are my thoughts:
- I love it and this is totally what I was meant to do. Connecting with the clients and watching them grow more confident is the best thing in the world to me. I love reading about new techniques and whats going on with the industry and it doesn't feel like I'm doing "homework."
-My NASM is considered gold standard in terms of any gym pretty much welcoming me with open arms. I don't use a lot of their method on a day to day basis, but the fundamentals are very good. I wish I had also considered the CSCS, which I think is a little better, but skews more towards athletes, and thats not my usual client (women 40-75 who want to move/feel better, or are recreational runners/tennis players).
Here are the not so fun things I've found about being a trainer. Im not trying to disuade you in the least, we need more good knowledgeable trainers, but just putting them out there:
- The hours can suck. This morning is a great example, I was up at 5 to teach a 6:30 and 8:30 boot camp (which, I don't like doing, but have to as part of the gym I work at), have a break and then a 3:30. Most trainers have weird hours working from 6am to 10am and then back for 5pm to say 9pm. It wears you down after a while, and is something you just deal with when you are starting off.
- Its hard to find supportive good gyms. I worked at a gym that was full of great trainers, but run by someone who had no idea how to manage a business and never made payroll on time. Or you work at a big box where you are expected to be on the floor basically selling yourself. Bella Sebastian mentioned "the hustle" aspect and yeah, thats totally true. I like working somewhere that basically sells you to a client, but then they take a higher % of you hourly rate. You don't start making money till you go off on your own or really become senior at your gym. I still keep a part time desk job just to fill in the gaps.
- (While I just feel like I mentioned the awful parts about working at a gym, I do feel like it is the best place to start. Even after getting my certification I felt like I had no idea what I was doing, and being able to shadow trainers and see how the interact with clients/their methods is fantastic. I got lucky and the other woman trainer at the gym I started at had a very similar training style to mine, and I basically declared her my mentor and tried to learn everything I could. )
- It can be a ton of emotional labor. Each hour you are with a client you have to be ON. There is no having a crappy/meh day or hour. You learn a lot about your clients lives, and become their support (sometimes) more than "just their trainer." They get attached to you (which is good, and can help you help them towards healthier living) but I will come home after 6 clients back to back mentally wiped out.
I actually think your background can be a great pull for clients. I always worry that I dont look "trainer-y enough" (Im...not Jillian Michaels by any stretch), but I've actually found that has not been a problem, and might actually help me. Women seem more comfortable with someone who isn't barbie like, and I'm a bit more relatable than someone who has always been athletic. Having worked really hard to be where you are at now (also-awesome work, you should be so proud of yourself) will be a great story and motivator for clients.
So, I'm going to stop writing a novel, but feel free to memail me if you have any specific questions. Goodluck!
posted by zara at 11:09 AM on July 31, 2015
- I love it and this is totally what I was meant to do. Connecting with the clients and watching them grow more confident is the best thing in the world to me. I love reading about new techniques and whats going on with the industry and it doesn't feel like I'm doing "homework."
-My NASM is considered gold standard in terms of any gym pretty much welcoming me with open arms. I don't use a lot of their method on a day to day basis, but the fundamentals are very good. I wish I had also considered the CSCS, which I think is a little better, but skews more towards athletes, and thats not my usual client (women 40-75 who want to move/feel better, or are recreational runners/tennis players).
Here are the not so fun things I've found about being a trainer. Im not trying to disuade you in the least, we need more good knowledgeable trainers, but just putting them out there:
- The hours can suck. This morning is a great example, I was up at 5 to teach a 6:30 and 8:30 boot camp (which, I don't like doing, but have to as part of the gym I work at), have a break and then a 3:30. Most trainers have weird hours working from 6am to 10am and then back for 5pm to say 9pm. It wears you down after a while, and is something you just deal with when you are starting off.
- Its hard to find supportive good gyms. I worked at a gym that was full of great trainers, but run by someone who had no idea how to manage a business and never made payroll on time. Or you work at a big box where you are expected to be on the floor basically selling yourself. Bella Sebastian mentioned "the hustle" aspect and yeah, thats totally true. I like working somewhere that basically sells you to a client, but then they take a higher % of you hourly rate. You don't start making money till you go off on your own or really become senior at your gym. I still keep a part time desk job just to fill in the gaps.
- (While I just feel like I mentioned the awful parts about working at a gym, I do feel like it is the best place to start. Even after getting my certification I felt like I had no idea what I was doing, and being able to shadow trainers and see how the interact with clients/their methods is fantastic. I got lucky and the other woman trainer at the gym I started at had a very similar training style to mine, and I basically declared her my mentor and tried to learn everything I could. )
- It can be a ton of emotional labor. Each hour you are with a client you have to be ON. There is no having a crappy/meh day or hour. You learn a lot about your clients lives, and become their support (sometimes) more than "just their trainer." They get attached to you (which is good, and can help you help them towards healthier living) but I will come home after 6 clients back to back mentally wiped out.
I actually think your background can be a great pull for clients. I always worry that I dont look "trainer-y enough" (Im...not Jillian Michaels by any stretch), but I've actually found that has not been a problem, and might actually help me. Women seem more comfortable with someone who isn't barbie like, and I'm a bit more relatable than someone who has always been athletic. Having worked really hard to be where you are at now (also-awesome work, you should be so proud of yourself) will be a great story and motivator for clients.
So, I'm going to stop writing a novel, but feel free to memail me if you have any specific questions. Goodluck!
posted by zara at 11:09 AM on July 31, 2015
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I think the biggest challenge that you don't seem to have accounted for is that not all "normal people" are "like yourself." There is a wide variety of body configurations, a wide variety of default-bodymass, a wide variety of how-I-carry-my-fat. Simply put, the set of things that worked for you is probably not going to work for 80% (or more!) of the population.
What have you done to prepare for that? What techniques do you have to helpfully advise people who are Not You? People who already run 3 miles a day and still have a BMI over 30? People who can bench 200+ and have cut carbs but still have a big belly?
Frankly you can suck at all of these things and still "succeed" at personal training, since it is still a cosmetic thing in a lot of ways - if you look like you can lift, someone will hire you as a personal trainer. (As you observe, though, it is not that lucrative - never expect to make over like $35K a year.) But if you want to be good at it, you should be able to deal with these situations, to deal with people who have already been trying and have found they have it much harder than you. Personal success and enthusiasm are not enough.
posted by Joey Buttafoucault at 5:05 PM on July 30, 2015 [2 favorites]