Fitness career training

Description

Earn your Wexford University Personal Trainer Certification with an Emphasis in Sports Performance.

Informations

• Publié par: bgren191
• Publié le: 01 août 2014
• Nombre de lectures: 19
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 7 Mo

Extrait

Discover exactly how to start a successful personal training career!  

  Table of Contents:  Introduction  Chapter 1: Personal Training – The Basics  Chapter 2: Getting Certified  Chapter 3: Developing Your Business  Chapter 4: Networking –Marketing Yourself & Your Business  Chapter 5: Your Varied Clients & Programming  Conclusion   

INTRODUCTION  Personal training is one of the fastest-growing careers in America. With obesity rates higher than ever, and obesity-related illnesses on the rise, the need for individuals in the health industry is imperative. For those with an entrepreneurial spirit, a career as a Personal Trainer can be lucrative - with potential to make upwards of $130,000/year. By choosing to be a Professional Personal Trainer, you can expect career satisfaction immediately and job growth within the first year. If youre ready to become personally and professionally successful, than a career in the Personal Training field may just be for you. There are many different options for you to take full advantage of all that a career in the fitness industry has to offer. This book will help you explore all the possibilities.  Despite what the movies, television and magazines portray, Personal Trainers come in all shapes and sizes. Besides being healthy and fit, there is not a certain “look” that a professional Personal Trainer must possess. This industry caters to a variety of different personality types, body types, ages and both sexes. Staying fit, knowing your stuff, and being able to work well with a variety of people will get you far in this career. When you choose to be a Personal Trainer, you not only choose a career, but you choose a lifestyle. It is important that you live the healthy, active lifestyle you are encouraging your clientele to do. You are a walking billboard and your own marketing machine, the more you look the part, the more people will want to train with you. And, when you thoroughly know your stuff and excel in your craft, the more clients you will be able to retain and the more referrals you will get.  Throughout this eBook, you will learn the basics behind what it takes to become a Personal Trainer. You will learn about the types of clients you will encounter, various training methods, and how to become properly educated through an online certification program at Wexford University. You will also learn about the NESTA certification and what that means for you and your career. Even after you receive your certifications, you will discover that continued education helps you to stay informed and knowledgeable about your field. This eBook gives you the tools you need to successfully structure your business to get the most out of each day and make the most money you possibly can.  It is important to understand that “being fit” is only a small portion of what it takes to be a successful Personal Trainer. There is a lot of hard work, studying and experience that goes into this career. The fitness industry will test your patience, drive, motivation, stamina, emotional and mental toughness, as well as your physical body.  As you begin your journey into Personal Training, know that, like anything, the hardest part is the unknown. Now that youve taken the first step by buying this book, you can rest assured that through hard work and dedication, you can join the many others who

have taken the leap and be a part of one of the most financially stable industries in the world.  Quick bullet points are placed throughout the book so you can get the information you need in a hurry. We know youve got a busy schedule!

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CHAPTER 1: Personal Training Basics  While you may know what a Personal Trainer is and does, you will find that with all the predetermined ideas about personal training out there that everyone from your boss at the gym, to your clients, to your mom has a different idea about what a Personal Trainer does. Gratefully, the core principles of what the job involves is true for every one – client, trainer, gym and session.  In your career as a Personal Trainer, you will:

Guarantee that your client continually works toward their fitness goals every day.

Safely motivate each client to work harder and do more than he or she would do if they were working out on their own.

Create lifelong skills that will help your clients live a healthier lifestyle than before they met you.

 Potentially break unhealthy lifelong habits your clients possess and exchange them for health and wellness.

Push, motivate, inspire, and listen to your clients to help them reach the optimum success. 

Doing all of those things is not as easy as they sound. However, the more fitness plays in your own lifestyle, the more you will inspire others just by working hard and having infectious motivation and energy. Have you ever noticed how some people just give off such an energetic vibe that you cant help but feel inspired? The more money you make as a trainer, the more you will find that the energy you give off is what you will get back in return. Just as no one wants to be around a deadbeat, negative or depressing person, people will flock to you and want to train with you because of the positivity and energy you bring to the table. Part of your job is motivating yourself as well as motivating your own clients.  Everyone from Hollywood celebrities to new moms know the fantastic benefits of training with a  Personal Trainer. As a Personal Trainer you will have numerous clients with a variety of goals. The more versatile you are as a trainer, the more clients you will have. The broader range of your expertise, the bigger and fuller a book you will have. Because you already have a love of fitness, you will have an easier time engaging with others. Anyone can study and develop technique, but to be truly successful and thrive in the industry it is important that you can transfer your passion with others through encouragement and motivation. 

There are certain basics you must know in order to properly and safely Personal Train an individual or group. You must know how the body works. Through your education at Wexford University, you will develop the skills you need to properly and safely do that. Here are some of things you must know as a professional Personal Trainer:  Anatomy  This is the foundation of wellness. By understanding anatomy and physiology, you will have the knowledge to create the necessary exercises in a program for your clients. Knowing the proper use and function of each muscle, you will be able to knowledgably help your clients. It is important to understand anatomy so you are aware of proper angles and ranges of motions for your clients to comfortably and correctly do each one of the exercises you give them. Through your studies, you will be able to recognize different body alignments and different types of imbalances in strength and stability of muscle groups that need to be improved. Thoroughly understanding this information will allow you to create successful programs for your vast clientele. Anatomy is not simply about muscles and bones, you will also need a great deal of knowledge about the cardiovascular system and how exercise effects the oxygenation of the blood and working muscle groups. Although it may seem overwhelming at first, the more you study – both in and out of the gym – you will find your grasp on the subject will grow. And, the more you can use the anatomy vocabulary and verbiage, the more your clients will trust you. It is in your best interest to completely understand this subject. Once you have completed your certifications you will know this stuff inside and out.   Kinesiology  Kinesiology, or kinetics, is the foundation of human movement. Everything you need to know about the way the body moves is based on the principles in Kinesiology. If a client has irregular movements or has a special condition, than you may be required to create a special program for them. Effectively knowing how the body moves will allow you to adjust postures and provide your clients with a more efficient use of their body. Another special group of people who benefit greatly from Personal Trainers are athletes mainly because of a Personal Trainers extreme knowledge of movement. Athletes wanting to maximize their potential will hire a Personal Trainer to help them because of their extensive knowledge in this very specific area.    Nutrition  As you know,everything you eat impacts the way your body performs. While you may eat healthy and have a pretty good understanding of nutrition, you will be surprised how much there is to learn. At Wexford University, you will learn everything you need to

know to understand proper nutrition and well-being. The knowledge you gain will assist you in properly helping your clients choose the best foods to eat before and after their workouts. You will also have a deeper understanding of working with special populations such as diabetics and those on the border-line of high, low sugar problems. By having the proper training, you will be able to recognize early signs of these very specific problems and keep your clients safe.  Safety  Safety should always be your number one concern. Along with a Personal Training Certification many gyms require First Aid, CPR and AED training. It is in your best interest to have proper training when it comes to emergency situations. As a trainer, you will often people pushing people past what they typically will do – out of their comfort zones. Because your client trusts you with their health, you need to be prepared at all ties.

 Before You Get Certified  Most gyms, studios and spas will not hire you as a Personal Trainer unless you are certified. That is whyNESTAandWexford Universityare so important to the success of your professional career. Doing an internship at the gym or simply having a strong presence is a great way to start. If you work out every day and are friendly to the staff and members of the gym, you have a better chance of being hired and developing a strong clientele. Developing your contacts early will help you get on the right track when it comes to building your book later.  

Personal Trainer Insurance  You may be wondering what Personal Trainer Insurance is and why it is needed or, if it really is needed. Because you are working with people and their bodies, often out of shape and/or fragile, it is important to protect yourself in case your client gets injured while you are training. Typically, if you are employed by a gym, studio or spa, you will be covered under the insurance policy of the business and will not need to purchase Personal Trainer insurance for yourself. However, you will need to check with the management directly to be sure that is the case. If you are planning to go into business for yourself – typically the most lucrative way to earn a living as a Personal Trainer, than it would be in your best interest to have insurance coverage before  beginning work with any client. If you independently train outside of the gym, it is wise to purchase liability

insurance to protect yourself in case of a lawsuit. Even if you are the best trainer in the world and have the nicest clients ever to exist, things happen and you need to be ready – just in case. Purchasing Personal Trainer insurance is essentially purchasing peace of mind. You may be able to purchase discounted insurance through your NESTA certification. Check their website for details.  Another thing you may want to consider is Personal Trainer liability insurance. As a Personal Trainer, your body is your office. Meaning, the demands you put on your body every day – from training yourself to regularly training multiple clients day after day is rough. There may be some days that you do not even get an opportunity to sit down for a lunch break. Any time you see a Personal Trainer eating, he or she will probably always be standing. There is not a lot of down time in this industry. So, if you get injured – either in the gym or out – and are unable to train and run the day-to-day operations of your company, then you will not be able to make money. By having disability insurance you will be covered while you are not working. Disability insurance typically costs less than liability insurance (anywhere from $1/day to $1/month) but it is worth it if you find yourself disabled and unable to work. When you get your Personal Trainer Insurance, check the NESTA site to see if they give discounts on this as well so you can easily add it to your policy.  Daily Schedule  One of the many perks ofworking as a Personal Traineris your schedule. Although you may start your day early and end in the late evening, for the most part, you make your own hours. The peak hours for a trainer are before and after the “typical work day.” Meaning, you will be busiest before 9am and after 5pm. A successful personal trainer makes the most of this prime time. Of course you will have trainers at other times too, including the weekends. Mid-day is an off time, but you will find that you can work out during this time. People who work from home, have a flexible schedule, and many stay- at-home moms will work out in the middle of the day. These types of clients are great because they are not working around the schedule of their desk jobs. They are perfect to place in time slots that are harder to fill such as 11am and 3pm.  Unless you work at a gym, studio or spa that pays you for floor hours or has a base, you will not make money unless you are training. This is especially true if you work for yourself. You will need to make the most of your schedule and be efficient with your time. That said, it is also important that you allow yourself to take breaks and days off. It can be very easy to want to work all the time, but you also need to make time for yourself. If you let yourself get run down, you will get sick, and then you wont be able to work. To stay healthy, motivated and avoid burn out, it is very important to take time for yourself.  

Sick Time and Vacation   As mentioned, in most cases, if you do not work, you do not get paid. There is a small exception for when a client cancels and gives you less than a 24 hour notice. At some gyms you may charge for that. In some gyms, studios or spas, after a certain probation period, you will get a certain amount of vacation and/or sick days.  One way to accommodate your clients, is to try and vacation when your clients vacation. Typically around the holidays in the winter and during the summer this is much easier to do. People have a lot going on during these times anyway and may cancel. The longer you are a trainer the more you will get to notice trends and know when your clients take their vacations. It is certainly fine to ask months in advance about vacations and time off so you can arrange your schedule. Your clients will appreciate you doing so as it helps their schedules as well.  Planning a vacation is fun, but you wont be able to plan when youre sick. If you notice yourself feeling under the weather, let your clients know as soon as you can so you can reschedule them a few days out. Most clients will be understanding. To help them, you might want to suggest a replacement workout they could do on their own on the day they would have been working with you. As a Personal Trainer you will get very close to your clients and want them to have the best experience possible. Going the extra mile will always benefit you and your business. If you have to cancel for sickness or any other emergency, be sure that you try to reschedule your client within the same week, if possible. That way, neither you nor the gym will lose money because a day of training was not lost, it was simply shifted. As a Personal Trainer you make your own schedule and have the ability to make up for missed sessions by filling up a less busy day.  

Quick Chapter Review Points:  

1. As a Personal Trainer you will have numerous clients with a variety of goals. Keep this in mind as you train. Not everyone has the same fitness goals so a different program for each client is crucial. 2. Anatomy, Kinesiology and Nutrition are three major subjects that you need to know thoroughly to successfully create programs and give your clients the important information they need. 3. Safety should always be your top priority. Always keep your clients safe and know what exercise are appropriate for them and what they are limited in doing. 4. Get certified. You will need a Wexford University Degree and in almost all cases a NESTA national certification as well. 5. While you make your own schedule, take advantage of the “prime times” of training

and get people in before 9am and after 5pm. This is when you will make most of your money. 6. If you dont work, you dont get paid. Plan vacations accordingly. If you are sick, take time off. You do not want to make your clients sick or burn out. You always need to be on top of your game.

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http://www.nestacertified.com

http://www.wexford.edu

Chapter 2: Getting Certified   For many who consider becoming certified Personal Trainers, they will go online and do research. You will see there are many different types of certifications and a variety of levels to consider. Each one requires a different level of commitment and some are better than others. Some course can look very authentic and sufficient through fancy marketing and sales wording, however not all certifications are created equal.  Many states require that you pass a recognized certification which can only be achieved from one of a few well-monitored and standardized organizations that lead the fitness industry. Preparation and hard work is what it takes to pass the required tests which is why now that you are embarking on the life changing path of becoming a Certified Personal Trainer, its time to get motivated and start studying so you can get certified .  Most gyms will not hire you unless you have some form of certification. Many gyms require more than one certification. Before you even submit a resume, make sure you have completed your online certification program and passed an exam. You can have all the experience in the world, but your chances of being hired are much greater if you are certified.  By enrolling in Wexford University, you turn your passion into a profession. And, because it is an online university, you can study at your own pace and on your own schedule. Even if you are currently working a full time job in a completely unrelated field, you can get your personal training certification in no time because of the innovative technology used in their degree programs.  Once you have completed your education at Wexford University, you may still want a nationally accredited personal training certification. The best place to get that is with the National Exercise and Sports Trainers Association, or NESTA. Unlike other national personal trainer certifications, a NESTA certification lasts 4 years. Most other certifications are only good for 2 years. The continuing education programs through NESTA are fantastic because not only do they help you stay on top of your game in the industry, but they also keep your certification up-to-date. With the correct number of continuing education credits, you will not have to re-take theNESTA personal training exam. Instead of spending your time testing, you will be learning valuable information and training – two things you enjoy doing anyway!  Being NESTA certified means you have an organization full of resources at your fingertips. Be sure to take advantage of the FAQs and helplines on the website. These can be a great resource before you take the exam. If you have any questions or are unsure of a specific detail, you will find all the answer through the website. The customer service departments are more than willing to help answer your questions and