Is this your question?
Over the last decade, we hear that Malaysians are getting fatter and how physical activity level has dropped. In fact, this is a global issue. Contrary, if I scroll down my news feed on Facebook, I see more people being aware about their eating habits, more people started running (be it recreational or competitive), and I think lean and athletic figure/body image is now more acceptable these days.
So, why the contrast?
Well, probably because 80% of my Facebook friends are fitness professionals or the inactivity/obesity epidemic has alarmed the public to lead a healthier lifestyle. Let’s see…
Fitness centres, personal training studios, privately owned gyms; `cross-fit studios’ and boot-camps (one of my friend calls it transformation camp) have mushroomed in most major cities of Malaysia. Many were motivated to inspire others to lead a healthier lifestyle, help others achieve their dream physique and push some individuals’ fitness level to a greater height.
Unfortunately, employers are still desperately looking for the `right’ fitness professionals to join their team while heaps of fitness professionals are still hunting for the `right’ place to work & grow. Some are very eager to find out ways to get started as a personal trainer and I personally know a handful of personal trainers contemplating if this is the `right’ career for them.
What’s my intention?
My intention is to help people discover this career which changed my life, show them the pathway on how to be a successful personal trainer and help employers find the `right’ candidate. Eventually, the general public will benefit most when more fitness professionals can help them lead healthier lifestyle the `right’ way.
So, what’s the role of a personal trainer?
A personal trainer leads an exerciser to achieve their health and fitness goal through a personalised, safe and effective programme. I love to define personal training role through the 3Cs of Personal Training:-
- We CREATE personalised journey towards client goals based on client physical background and psychological readiness (and well-being) through carefully selected assessments.
- We COACH safe and effective exercise techniques
- We COMMUNICATE, and support client throughout the journey
What it takes to be a successful personal trainer?
Over the last decade in this fitness industry, I’ve learnt from many employers and leading personal trainers, ‘To be a successful personal trainer, we need to have the `A-B-C-D-E’ of personal training”. They are:-
- Ability to build and maintain rapport throughout the journey
- Business and marketing skills to grow our personal training business thus meeting financial expectations
- Certified and continually educate to stay current in the industry
- Deep passion and experience in fitness
- Enjoy seeing others improve & transform
So how can you get started as a personal trainer?
Step 1
You have to simply understand that you are the product thus your first step is to train yourself and get certified first. Many are confused with which certification to take. You must aim to provide yourself with good foundation before you start to specialize. A good certification must be accredited, geared towards personal training job (not academic based), based on industry standards and trends, ensures continuing education to allow your certification to stay current as well as provides you with internationally accepted principles and guidelines of training.
Why international? – As a personal trainer, you will have diverse clientele from all walks of life. Here are some topics that should be included in the personal trainer certification:-
- Role, Legal Responsibilities & Scope of Practice of a Personal Trainer
- Client Assessment which covers all aspects of:-
- Health Screening
- Anthropometry
- Functional Assessments
- Physiological Assessments
- Lifestyle and Exercise Attitude
- Behaviour change, motivation skills and principles of adherence
- Communication skills in all phases of personal training
- Safe, Personalised, Enjoyable and Sustainable Programme Design in…
- Aerobic and Anaerobic
- Functional and Resistance Training
- Performance training
- Ability to modify programmes for clients with medical challenges
- Business and marketing ideas
Find a friend to train so you can gain experience while carefully select a mentor (could be your employer) to coach you. You should also decide what type of client you would like to train. Although most people cited weight management as their fitness goal, there are in fact, many areas you can help like in this areas of sports conditioning (be it recreational or competitive), postural correction, health improvement or disease prevention. Then, decide what type of trainer you want to be. Your choices are but not limited to:-
- PT in Fitness Centres
- PT in Studios
- Boot-camp Instructor
- Strength & Conditioning Specialists
- Post-Rehab Trainer
- Fitness Educator
- Group Personal Trainer
Step 2
Set your pricing. If you are an independent contractor, you can use the market rate as a bench mark. Consider your certification, experience, types of services, facility and popularity when making decision. Your price will be determined by your employer if you are working as an employee.
Step 3
Should you choose to be an independent personal trainer, you need to find a location to train. You either set-up your own studio, train at client facility, public area or rent from a personal training studio.
Step 4
Your final step before you start to count reps, is to promote yourself. You are the product, thus you are the best marketing tool. Carry yourself well by looking like a fitness professional. I don’t mean having a 21-inch biceps with rippling t-shirt but you have to look energetic, vibrant, neat, mannered and fit. Most leading fitness professionals would agree word of mouth is a very effective marketing strategy and it all starts from their very first client. Use social marketing tools and blogs as they are very effective marketing tools in this century. Remember to carry your name card everywhere you go. You must be seen; never be afraid!
Do you think it it’s time for you to inspire and enjoy seeing how others transform?
What are your first 3 steps? Should you need help, please drop me a line?
Good luck!
Written by Jerrican Tan (jerrican@fit.com.my)
Related Course Information
Personal Trainer Development Programme (PTDP)
This is the perfect blend of all that are essential to make you a competent personal trainer. Leave this 54-hour course feeling confident and ready to bring the best out of your client(s)
Upcoming: Price:
