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2005/04/20, 10:10 PM
-------Ron, Ivan, Asimmer, Menace, Phylia, all others welcome to respond too-------
All, this site has tremendously increased my desire to get back out there and get back in shape. I am very excited about fitness and health, and I believe I want to make this my carreer as a personal fitness trainer. I know I have alot to learn. I want to help others in attaining their fitness goals, and also it'd be a great reason to stay fit myself if it was my job:big_smile:
As for certifications, I've done some research. I've come up with some (in my unexperienced opinion) to at least seem better- ISSA, NASM, NESTA, and ACSM. IF you believe I left any out that you know outranks those above, by all means let me know.
And in general, I'd like to know what makes one trainer 'alright' and the other one a dynamic influence to others. I will just be starting out in the next couple months, as I leave the military in July or August right after I return from Iraq. Is this a plausible means to make a living and support a family? What's the basic expectations I should have as far as money goes, and should I start by employment through a gym?
I'd like to just seek basic advice on all the qualities that you know make for a good or bad trainer. You all seem to know it all pretty much!
As always thanks for your continuing support and guidance.
I'm finishing up my 1st 8-week program and will have the final results posted soon, and look forward to the next one!
Josh
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Josh Hollers
hollers2@freetrainers.com
-We get out of life what we put into it. Be thankful we've been given alot more than we deserve.
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2005/04/21, 05:04 AM
I'm not a PT, but from a client's perspective, I think the most important thing is to listen to and respect peoples' individual goals. Good PTs know that not all women want to "tone" (don't get me started :angry:), and not all men want to bulk.
Good Luck, I think it must be an incredibly rewarding career.
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2005/04/21, 06:39 AM
BS/BA in Kinesilogy/sports science is great, but other certifications like ISSA, ACE,NASM, and ACSM are also very good...
pay varies from about 15/h to 100/h for top of the line trainers or those who own their own business...more certifications you have the more rounded you are and more likely clubs will be to hire you....
Try to get started in any club....just to get going...some clubs are crappy 24hrs, fitness usa....they got poor level of PT....and are more sales based....YMCA, CLub ONE, and other upscale clubs and health centers are much better...but get staretd anywehere u can...
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2005/04/21, 06:41 AM
you also need to hold current CPR certification...
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2005/04/21, 07:10 AM
some tips for being successful..
be accessible and convenienent to your client
encourage participation and support from family/friends to your client
keep the workouts you design fun and enjoyable
educate the client about the health benefits
teach the client the proper technique
develop a flexible program with lots of options
challenge your client and provide lots of opportunity for success
develop an exercise program at the correct level for your client
the possibilities are endless. in a nutshell, you are there to teach, educate, advise, supervise, and support your client. just be personable, organized, compassionate, interesting, and deliver the results they want. through your certification (as ive already done mine through can-fit pro) you'll learn the basics behind everything, and its all open to your own imagination. i'm sure you'll do great.. and best of luck!
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2005/04/21, 06:08 PM
Good point Menace! Before any organization or association will certify you, you MUST prove you have the CPR training.
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Scales are for dead weight: We are not dead yet!
Still trying to find out how to do the Hollywood Free Press.
Ivan
Montreal Canada
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2005/04/21, 06:52 PM
Carivan I think the organizations will still certify you, but the clubs/gyms won't allow you to work until you get CPR certified......
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2005/04/21, 10:04 PM
Princess, Bropie, Menace, good points. Thanks. Noted...
You're ISSA right Ivan? Don't they make you prove CPR cert before giving you a certification? And, did you get my last email?
Princess-THIS IS NOT A KNOCK ON WOMEN. Please don't get upset:)- What do I say to the person, man or woman, who really doesn't know what they want? What if I believe the client should tone first and he/she wants to put on mass...Do I say, "As you wish? :surprised:
What do you pay for trainers on average and what would you consider a top notch trainer NOT counting his/her knowledge of proper lifting, form, etc?
Menace-15/hr???? I thought it was slightly more than that, 35/hr and up.What about Gold's? And by poor level PT you mean they're not really worth paying or they don't have many available at the clubs?
As I've said before, you guys rock. I love coming back here to take part in this. You have helped out tremendously already. Thanks!
Josh
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Josh Hollers
hollers2@freetrainers.com
-We get out of life what we put into it. Be thankful we've been given alot more than we deserve.
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2005/04/22, 03:29 AM
Hollers...when you start out at 24hrs for example...they will take u in with no certifications or anything and certify you with their own certification......etc....and pay you like 12-15$...as you get other certifications...they up your hourly wage by 3$ for every certification...at this club you're unliekly will get paid a lot...and i am talking about a general wage...you'll probably get % of the PT sessions that person signs up for ....most of it will go to the club...this is why having your own club is so much more profitable...
by poor PT I mean that they are probably pimply 18 yr olds...skinny or flabby...barely know anything(if you been working out for a while , you'll catch on quickly)....etc...oh yea...and the good looking male/female trainers who just look at themselves in the mirror as their clients are working out...cracks me up....
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2005/04/22, 04:53 AM
I'm not sure what you do for the person who doesn't know what they want - I suppose it is your job to explore that with them - they must have some idea to come and see a PT in the first place. Maybe they have an idea of what (or who) they want to look like.
I think the point I was trying to make is that you need clearly defined goals first or the rest of the stuff is irrellevant, and unless the person has some ownership of those goals they will lose motivation.
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2005/04/22, 07:20 AM
I remember a few years ago when I looked in the mirror and just watned to look different and be healthier. I had no idea of what that meant or how to do it. Honestly, tearms like bulk, tone, cutting, etc., had no meaning in my life, it was through FT that I began to learn what they meant and how to progress in those directons.
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2005/04/22, 02:29 PM
fsdsk...same here...I used to work out but didn't know the details of what I was doing or how to do it. Found this site and I'm learning something new every day. Best thing about it is when I start something I have to learn everything about it...usually when I learn all there is to know about something then I get bored with it...however with fitness there's always something new to learn so I just keep soaking in information and putting it to use.
I would love to pursue this carreer sometime in the future...obviously after I get in shape myself. So keep us posted as to how it goes Holler! Good luck and try not to be one of those pushy annoying PT's at 24Hr fitness.
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2005/04/22, 08:39 PM
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Quoting from menace3000:
....most of it will go to the club...this is why having your own club is so much more profitable...
...and the good looking male/female trainers who just look at themselves in the mirror as their clients are working out...cracks me up....
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That's the end state right there, owning my own club, but I'm just starting out and I have NO IDEA what the expectations of that would be. I think by starting as a PT I'd be able to get a feel for what the industry is like and go from there. I may just like to stay as a PT.
So conceitedness exists outside of military gyms too?
:laugh: No...:)
Menace-Princess-FSDK and Stump- I really appreciate your responses. I'll try and continue my research (even from over here, it's possible by the click of a button!). I want to kind of paraphrase key points from your responses in my words in another thread, maybe just so I can see them and write them down. Right now, there's a war going on :angry: and I can't seem to break free from it for some reason. Somebody please make the bad man stop!
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Josh Hollers
hollers2@freetrainers.com
-We get out of life what we put into it. Be thankful we've been given alot more than we deserve.
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2005/04/22, 09:08 PM
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Quoting from hollers2:
Princess, Bropie, Menace, good points. Thanks. Noted...
You're ISSA right Ivan? Don't they make you prove CPR cert before giving you a certification? And, did you get my last email?
Princess-THIS IS NOT A KNOCK ON WOMEN. Please don't get upset:)- What do I say to the person, man or woman, who really doesn't know what they want? What if I believe the client should tone first and he/she wants to put on mass...Do I say, "As you wish? :surprised:
What do you pay for trainers on average and what would you consider a top notch trainer NOT counting his/her knowledge of proper lifting, form, etc?
Menace-15/hr???? I thought it was slightly more than that, 35/hr and up.What about Gold's? And by poor level PT you mean they're not really worth paying or they don't have many available at the clubs?
As I've said before, you guys rock. I love coming back here to take part in this. You have helped out tremendously already. Thanks!
Josh
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Josh....to answer both your questions, yes I'm certified ISSA and they will NOT certify unless you provide current proof at exam time and the CPR has to be done with a recognised organization. I haven't received an email from you for at least 2 weeks.
When a client comes to a PT, they usually have a goal. It is the PT's job at this point to provide the means. It does not necessarily have to be at a gym. It could be at the clients home, or even office at lunch time. We have to think creatively and try and get away from just working for a gym/club. Club certification is meaningless. I weouldn't work for less than 25$ per hr and that would require a workshop session.
Think of the 3 I's Impress...Instruct...Implicate!
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Scales are for dead weight: We are not dead yet!
Still trying to find out how to do the Hollywood Free Press.
Ivan
Montreal Canada
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2005/04/23, 04:45 AM
I think many clubs also have different types of trainers...
some clubs like the YMCA have general club trainers that help people free of charge and then trainers that train people 1 on 1...(although many clubs have people that do both)
I think requiring CPR certification before getting the PT certification is a good idea...but ISSA is one of the few that actually requires it...I know NASM doesn't, nor does AAAI...
Carivan when you work for the club...what % of the money do you get to keep? or do you pay a fee to use their facilities?
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