Looking for a Career Change? Become a Personal Trainer

I must admit, I first became a personal trainer for one reason: I wanted to be able to workout where I worked. Many years later with a degree and certification and many hours of training experience, I've discovered a career that has many more pay-offs than just a free gym membership and salary.

Each personal trainer that I have spoken with (and I have worked with a few hundred over the years) started his or her personal training career for many different reasons. But each of them stays in the business for one reason: they love helping people.

For those of you unfamiliar with what a personal trainer is, let me summarize. A personal trainer is someone that develops a fitness/workout routine to allow another person to lose weight and/or get in shape.

Being a personal trainer allows you to change lives. Most people that join a gym do it for aesthetic reasons, e.g. they want to look better. Usually the underlying reason is a recent divorce or an upcoming marriage, a high school re-union or something similar. But once a new fitness enthusiast actually begins working out and working with a personal trainer, many more benefits suddenly manifest. The new gym member now has a release for stress, is now getting in shape, their stamina is improving, their self-esteem goes up, etc. Herein lies the true motivation of a personal trainer. The personal trainer is the key for all these changes! He or she is the motivating factor! The driving force! And as the new gym member improves they realize each workout how crucial that personal trainer is and how important she/he is to improving the fitness enthusiast's life. This is a gift from trainer to client that is never forgotten.

Am I exaggerating? Not remotely. If anything, I'm downplaying the situation. Let me give you an example.

Early in my personal trainer career I began working with a new client (call her Anne). Anne was withdrawn, reserved, overweight and intimidated by the gym. As her personal trainer I set her up on a workout routine and welcomed her into the gym environment, showing her that it wasn't so bad once you understood what it was about. She took to the scene immediately, lost weight, became energetic and progressively became one of the most prominent members in the gym, spreading her energy to all those working out. Did Anne do all the work? Absolutely. As a personal trainer, did I play any part in her success? Again, absolutely.

Another example: a senior client that had fibromyalgia and scleroderma. It was difficult for her to even get up in the morning, let alone get her to come to the gym (let's call her Julie). But Julie's husband and her doctor got her to come to the gym. The first time we met, I told her that our sessions were typically an hour. Julie was very withdrawn, not liking the gym experience at all, and was certain that she couldn't work out for whole hour much less repeat the personal trainer sessions throughout the week.

Within a month she was energetic and a regular "gym rat." At the end of the hour long personal trainer sessions she would regularly complain, "It's time all ready?!"

As a personal trainer, this exciting experience happens ALL THE TIME. It is truly exhilarating to be able to work with someone and watch them change before your eyes into something that's even better than they expected.

What does it take to become a personal trainer? A love for fitness is first and foremost. Then achieve some type of national personal trainer certification. Some of the top personal trainer certifications are the American Council on Exercise (ACE), the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) and the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). Of course, a degree in a fitness field is always a good plus, but not always necessary depending upon drive, experience and other certifications. Check with a gym in your area and simply ask them what credentials they require. Becoming a good personal trainer requires enthusiasm and the willingness to learn fitness skills and marketing skills.

In the end, if you do choose to become a personal trainer, it is truly life changing, not only for you, but for your clients.