If you are an aspiring personal trainer, you probably have a passion for helping others. Chances are you even went through your own struggles to getting fit and healthy. Maybe your personal experiences led you to a place of wanting to give others the knowledge you wish you had in the past. So, if you are passionate about health and fitness, that’s a great start. 

Keep reading and I’ll let you in on how to become a personal trainer.

Know Your “Why”

Contrary to popular belief, being a personal trainer is not “easy”. If you’re looking to be a trainer because you heard it’s flexible and effortless, think again. Some days trainers are working anywhere from 5am to 9pm with almost no breaks in between. Most days you don’t even get a break. Before you become a certified trainer, it’s important to know your why. If you are interested because you love health and fitness and you want to make a difference, this could be a good fit. But, if you’re just looking for quick money and no effort, re-evaluate your decision because more often than not, you will quickly become burnt out. Being a personal trainer has several responsibilities. Your clients are putting their trust in you to help them better their lives. You have to be willing to be their support system and fitness coach all in one. Even though it’s a difficult and tiring job sometimes, knowing you are making a difference in someone else’s life can be extremely rewarding. 

Choose A Program That’s Right for You

There are so many certifications and programs available these days, it can be overwhelming to figure out which one is right for you.  

Some certified programs worth researching are:

• NASM (National Academy of Sports Medicine)
• ACE (American Council on Exercise)
• CPPS (Certified Physical Preparation Specialist)
• NCI (Nutritional Coaching School) 

Check out this blog for in-depth descriptions of some of the programs listed!

If you’re wondering how important certifications really are in becoming a personal trainer, read this blog on: Do you need a certification to be a GOOD trainer?

Find Your Dream Job

The best part of the process is choosing where you want to work. Most people choose to work at a big box gym like 24 Hour Fitness. This is not the only option you have though. You can opt to train at wellness centers, resorts, spas and even take a shot at opening your own gym. If you are not interested in working with all kinds of people (young, old, injured, etc.), you can further your career by getting a specialty certification. This way you can focus on specific groups of people you’d like to work with such as high-performance athletes.

If you’re reading this and starting to feel overwhelmed, pause and remember your why. Becoming a personal trainer is an amazing way to help change lives. You are literally helping change the world even if it doesn’t feel that way. Remember, obesity is one of the biggest health issues in America today. Let that sink in...an alarming percentage of our country’s population are severely obese and unhealthy. Personal trainers have the chance to lower these rates. Most of the population that are obese don’t have a clear direction on how to improve their health. This is exactly why trainers are so important. You will be able to guide people towards a healthier lifestyle by developing a fitness program tailored to their needs and by holding them accountable to their goals. The goal of a personal trainer is to help and support their clients until they are confident and knowledgeable enough to continue doing it on their own.

So, if you’re looking to be a personal trainer, know that it is hard but rewarding work. You are a playing role in helping your community become a healthier one.