You’re healthy and fit and you’re constantly discussing nutrition with disinterested friends. If this sounds like you, it’s time you shared your knowledge and get paid.
Private gyms (and private gym instructors) have ballooned into a billion-dollar business over the past few decades. In the 70s, they looked about as appealing as a meat packing plant. But as technology has rocketed forward, so has the quality of gyms across the globe.
People are no longer using gyms solely to work out. They meet a friend for coffee in the foyer. They relax in the spa for a few hours. And they convene with their trainer to finesse a fitness plan.
The phenomenon of private gym memberships is simple to cash in on if you dream of becoming a fitness instructor or personal trainer. You can choose to work for a private gym and get paid a regular salary or you can promote yourself as a private instructor and live on freelance payment using services like PRIV.
The tricky part
None of this means you can simply wander into a gym, make the owner stroke your chiselled abs and demand a job (that strategy is more likely to get you a court order than any gainful employment). Instead, you’ll have to prove that you’re no cardiovascular greenhorn.
To start, you’ll require a fully accredited qualification that shows you’ve got the knowledge to be a personal trainer. Personal training courses can be completed online and will give you all the skills you need to train clients effectively.
You might think you already know everything there is to know about training, but fitness isn’t a one-size-fits-all situation. Thinner people will need to bulk up but might struggle. Larger people will need to eat less while maintaining good health.
Training and nutrition is more nuanced than most people appreciate, but you’ll have to know its ins and outs if you want your client to enjoy the height of fitness.
Finding the perfect job
Once you’ve achieved your qualification, it’s time to find a place to work. Your application will be bolstered by your qualifications, but employers will also be looking for one other attribute – the state of your health.
Indeed, imagine if Johnny Vegas or Jo Brand were your personal trainer – you’d be about as confident in their teaching as you’d have in a doctor who openly discussed being a serial killer while they gave you a check-up.
In order to bag a great position, you’ll have to look as good as your qualifications imply. Keep limber before your interview – your good health will instill confidence in clients for years to come.
Whether you train people in a private gym or a public park, these tips will keep you in good stead. So get out there and start helping people be as fit as you!