If you’re on the path to becoming a personal trainer… take a moment and be proud of yourself!
Personal training is an extremely rewarding experience. You have the power to help people transform their lives. I know, you probably think that sounds dramatic, but it’s true. Almost half of the USA’s population is obese. Yes, you heard that right… almost half. Helping your clients change their daily habits makes a bigger difference than you think. It’s the little daily changes that allow people to live healthier lifestyles. So, if you’re interested in training clients as a career, but you’re unsure where to start...keep reading.
You don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars on multiple certifications, books and programs fitness influencers are advertising on how to become a trainer. It will, however, be beneficial to get at least one certification in order to work at gyms (whether that’s big box or private gyms). Nowadays there are a variety of resources available to help you gain the knowledge and tools you need to become a successful trainer.
Let’s start with certifications.
The three most common and liked programs Mind Pump suggests are:
NASM (National Academy of Sports Medicine): This one tends to be the most popular among big box gyms. So, if you know that you want to train at 24 Hour Fitness, for example, this would be a great certification to get when applying for the position.
CPPS (Certified Physical Preparation Specialist): This program is considered the “gold standard” for athletic performance coaches, physical therapists, personal trainers and strength coaches. This is a great path for someone who may want to work with high-performance athletes or even clients with chronic injuries.
C.H.E.K. Institute: Here at Mind Pump, we are big Paul Chek fans! The C.H.E.K. Institute follows a holistic approach on fitness and health. If you’re a personal trainer or fitness professional, it’s important to understand that a healthy lifestyle does not only mean dieting and lifting weights. There are several other factors when it comes to living a healthy lifestyle. This is a very beneficial certification if you’re interested in learning how diet, movement and rest all impact our health in multiple ways.
Once you decide on the certification that’s best for you, the learning doesn’t stop there. Before you start spending loads of money on books, don’t forget about all the helpful free resources you can find online. If you’re an aspiring or current personal trainer, check out Mind Pump’s podcast and blog. Shameless plug over here…but seriously!
With over a thousand episodes, you’re going to find tremendous value from tuning in to Mind Pump’s podcast. Use the search engine to look up an array of topics the guys have discussed. If you want more information to read, there’s several blog articles that are published each week on various topics. You can check out the blog here!
Even more content includes:
Mind Pump TV with over 500+ YouTube videos
Free Guides on building muscle, fat loss and more
As you can see, Mind Pump has an abundance of free information that you can use and present to your clients. The whole reason this platform was created is to support personal trainers like yourself. Don’t think that sharing Mind Pump’s content will take your clients away from buying your fitness programs or supporting you. If anything, your clients will appreciate the extra resources and support. In the long run, this creates a trusting relationship between you and your clients.
If you're a new trainer and you’re feeling insecure that you don't know enough to help your clients, remember to stay in your lane and communicate what you do know. Get yourself certified in a reputable program and use the free resources given to you - that should be more than enough to set you up to become a successful fitness trainer.
