We’re always amazed at how many of the soon-to-be trainers on our courses feel this as well, and we do our best to empower them as much as we can so that they leave us even more determined to make a difference in the world.

Think about the massive changes which become noticeable in a very short space of time after someone begins to become more active. It’s likely they’ll experience more energy, they might lose weight or inches, their ability to concentrate might improve, they might find they’re able to sleep better….this list could go on and on. The changes could be things which seem small to someone who’s always been fit and healthy, but when someone who has never been able to touch their toes suddenly finds that they’re now doing it with ease – that’s life changing stuff. And you’ll have played a huge part in helping them to achieve that.

As a trainer you’ll have a hundred different types of clients with different needs and backgrounds, but it’s safe to say that you’ll probably encounter many people who have felt powerless against their struggle to achieve a healthy mind and body for many years. Their families and their partner may well feel exactly the same, and they may have passed this attitude on to their children. This will be your time to come in to your own.

Using the knowledge and expertise you’ll have gained throughout your training and in other areas of your life, you’ll be able to share with them the magic that happens when they make those lifestyle changes. You’ll have the ability to motivate, encourage and empower them to such an extent that they feel compelled to pass the message on to those around them. Imagine how many people of all ages your training could have an impact on!

You might be one person, but make no mistake about it – throughout your career you’ll make a massive difference in the world.

Find out more about our fitness and personal trainer courses.

The government promised faithfully that it would be making long-term investments in encouraging and nurturing future sporting talent through schools, sports clubs and youth groups, but the wonderful thing about the notion of inspiring a generation is that we can all play a part.

As a personal trainer you may not get involved in young peoples’ fitness and wellbeing directly, but don’t let this deter you from finding opportunities to become part of our Olympic legacy.

There were many stories last summer of athletes who had only taken up their chosen discipline later in life. World-class athletes don’t only spring from children. Some of the adults you train in your career may show promise….so watch out for that glimmer of potential.

Your clients will have children, nieces, nephews and will know friends’ children who may show a flair for a particular sport. In conversation during sessions, why not get on to the subject of the Olympics and find out if they’re doing their part to inspire the young people they know to reach for the stars?

The Olympic legacy is much more than our chance to encourage the athletes of the future. It’s a real opportunity for us all to share in the spirit of the Games by becoming more active ourselves, and encouraging all the young people we know to do the same. The implications on our health as a nation could be massive, and that’s why we all have a part to play – especially those of us in the fitness industry.

Think about how you could motivate your clients to think about passing the lessons they’re learning through training with you about fitness on to the young people in their life. Could you run an Olympic-style tournament for some friendly competition?  Or how about organising a family sports day for your clients and their families?

Who knows? Maybe you’ll end up helping to train some of our future Olympic hopefuls!

Now is the time (if you haven’t done so already!) to begin giving some serious thought to what sort of trainer you’d like to become. There are a myriad of options open to you, and you have the opportunity now to specialise in an area you are truly passionate about. So many careers don’t offer this kind of choice, and thinking about this now can help you to create a career for yourself which you’ll find fulfilling, rewarding and motivating for many years to come.

What inspires you? What excites you enough to make you leap out of bed with a sense of enthusiasm and energy? Identifying this will help steer you in the right direction.

The first major decision is whether you’d prefer to be employed or start your own personal training business. There are many pros and cons to each option, and everyone’s priorities and lifestyles are different. Think about how each would benefit you, and what the pitfalls might be for you.

Next, think about whether you’d like to be a mobile trainer or work from a gym or studio. Both these options could be available to you whether you are employed or working for yourself, and again come down to personal preference. Do you see yourself seeing clients back to back in one location from a gym, for example, or would you quite fancy travelling around to see clients and going to their homes, training outside or meeting them in the park?

Would you like to teach classes or would one-on-one training suit you better? Every trainer has their own unique style and personality, and accordingly might be ideally suited to either one of these. Teaching classes successfully requires constant high energy, confidence and a strong motivational spirit which those taking the class will repay by working hard – which makes it incredibly rewarding! You’ll need to train in how to teach the classes you’d like to specialise in, whether that’s aerobic-based classes or combat, conditioning classes such as pump or kettle bells, spinning or Pilates and yoga.

Training your clients on a 1-2-1 basis can also be an extremely rewarding experience. You’ll get to know them on a much deeper level than if you teach classes, and can make a huge difference to them both in terms of their physical condition and their mental and emotional wellbeing. You’ll be able to work with them to create bespoke fitness and nutrition plans, track their progress, celebrate with them as they achieve those all-important goals and make tweaks as time goes by.

Another issue to consider is whether you’d like to specialise in a certain area of health and fitness when you become a trainer. Do you have a passion for elite sporting and performance fitness, showing people the difference nutrition can make, helping people to recover from injury or illness through training, or working with people to achieve their weight loss goals for their wedding? Or maybe you’d like to work with women on their pre- and post-natal fitness, run boot camps and other intense fitness improvement programmes, help your clients train for specific events such as triathlons or marathons, or become a specialist in meditation and spiritual wellbeing?

Whatever your passion, you can incorporate it into your exciting new career. You’re embarking on an adventure which could take you places and will hopefully be truly fulfilling. Now is the time to think about all of your options, make the right choices for you and – most importantly – make it happen for yourself! Read more about our fitness instructor courses and personal training diplomas.

Firstly, and perhaps most importantly, make sure that any course you consider taking is endorsed by REPs, the Register of Exercise Professionals. REPs is the UK health and fitness industry’s professional body and is backed by the government, so you can be confident that any course approved by REPs conforms to a set of national standards. If you choose a course which isn’t backed by REPs you may find it tough to find work – every credible fitness professional should have REPs approved qualifications.

Before you can begin working as a personal trainer, you’ll need to have completed at least a Level 2 Gym Instructor course and a Level 3 Personal Trainer course.  The majority of PT qualifications are available at colleges and through private training companies through City and Guilds, Active International Qualifications (Active IQ) and Central YMCA Qualifications (CYQ). Once you’ve successfully completed a qualification awarded by one of these bodies, you’ll be able to become registered with REPs as a qualified fitness professional so make sure that any course you choose allows you to become Level 3 REPs registered afterwards.

There are courses of different levels on offer, to cater for all skills levels and experience – from entry-level GCSE style courses to high level advanced specialist courses. Some are residential intensive courses, others are more flexible to suit your lifestyle and can be completed online. Some are work-based and require you to have experience of personal training, while others will provide work experience opportunities for you during the course.

Make sure the course covers the areas you are particularly interested in. Does it offer a good range of modules such as nutrition, group based exercise and other specialist components which you want to be trained in? Do some research about the units covered in a range of courses and then select the course which will best suit you and your ambitions for the type of trainer you want to become, and will help you to become a versatile fitness professional.

Find out what experience the people delivering the course have. If the trainer has worked in the industry themselves this will enable them to relay their real-life experiences to you, which is a fantastic way to learn. They’ll have knowledge and skills which will help you no-end once you start your career as a PT!

What ongoing support is offered by the training provider after the course is over? Are there forums you can join or people you can contact for advice and support once you’re out there on your own? Whether you choose to set up your own PT business or work for a company, you’re guaranteed to encounter some challenges. It’s invaluable to have a network of former tutors, colleagues and students to contact for advice, and to share ideas with. Sometimes all you need is a listening ear to run something past someone, and having this in place could help you many times.

Do the personal trainer courses offer practical experience to complement its theoretical elements? It’s vital to learn the theory behind personal training, but in order to cement your learning and truly put it into action it’s essential to get some practical experience working as a trainer under your belt. Before enrolling on a course, check that you’ll be able to complement your learning with a good proportion of practical work. This will help you to be better prepared and make sure you have all the necessary skills so you can fill any gaps before you start working with your clients for real. And, equally importantly, you’ll become more confident and appear experienced from day 1!

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Careers In Fitness