If you are addicted to working out and are passionate about helping others learn how to work out responsibly as well, then becoming a personal trainer might just be the right career for you. The best part is, whiles you do what you love at your own hours, you are equally helping others get in shape and become healthier.
Though the path to becoming a personal trainer is not too cumbersome, you will need to put in a lot of work. From building the personal trainer mindset to the variety of personal trainer courses at your disposal, the choices are many. And this article will help you become a personal trainer. Read on.
Acquire the personal trainer mindset.
Once you make a decision to become a personal trainer, you have to change your mindset from being an amateur trainer into someone who helps others realize their workout and health goals. And what is this mindset? A people person, inspiring, patience, and motivated. These qualities will not just help you wake up every day with a refreshed body and mind to help others realize their goals, it will also build confidence and trust between you and whoever decides to hire you as a personal trainer. But just having a mindset won’t solve everything.
You need a certification
In your quest for a personal training certification, you will come across a range of personal trainer courses. Remember, however, that not all courses and certifications are the same. Whiles some do not give you recognition beyond your local jurisdiction, other certifications are nationally and internationally recognized, and your choice should depend on the type of trainer you would want to be. These are the things to consider in your certification journey:
- Type of Certification: Are you looking for strength and conditioning certifications, diet and nutrition certifications or certifications for a certain type of activity such as running, yoga, pilates or CrossFit for example. Determining the type of certification you’re after is a great place to start.
- Certification Requirements: What are the selection criteria? At least 18 years old, already acquired an AED and CPR certification, and other examining certifications? You should always check this before making your decision.
- The certifying body: Are certifications local, national or international? – You don’t know when you might need to move out of your current location, so it’s always good to chose national or international
- Mode of Examination: is it online or offline?
Getting a personal trainer job
After you’ve acquired your certification, your next stop is to get to work. As a personal trainer, you will have a lot of options at your disposal, including working as an independent trainer with your own studio or start off as an instructor at a public gym, a personal training studio, your local community center, cruise ships, as well as spas and resorts.
You might want to specialize after a while
As you go through the personal training career, you will come to love certain types of training sessions as well as develop the hate for others. This should be a good gauge for your next steps as a specialist. There are many specialties, including becoming a Pilates instructor, where you might need to take a Pilates instructor course or you might prefer athletic personal trainer. Whatever you develop liking for during training should be your guiding principle in getting a specialty knowledge and moving up the ladder.
Conclusion
There are a lot of jobs for personal trainers, either as independent contractors or as workers for a public gym, hospital or even a sports team. Your ultimate goal is to get into the field by preparing yourself, getting certified, and then moving up the ladder to becoming a professional in your chosen specialty.
