A Better Trainer

By Debbie Wilson
Debbie.Wilson@MedicalHealthCareCareerSchools.com
Medical Health Care Career Schools Columnist

Pumping your way toward your ideal body isn't always easy. With so many constraints on your daily schedule, who has time to workout, let alone hire a personal trainer? However, according to the American College of Sports Medicine, working out with a trainer has been shown to increase strength gains and help people reach their fitness goals more effectively. If you enjoy fitness and love to work with people, a career as a personal trainer could be the perfect one for you.

Trainer Duties

As a personal trainer, you'll do much more than simply help clients break a sweat; you'll monitor their progress, customize their workouts to fit their schedule and ability, offer nutritional advice, and help them develop life-altering habits that will stick with them long after their training sessions. Additionally, you can make fitness programs fun and exciting again. Today, too many Americans rush into exercise and nutrition programs, only to give up or fail because they get bored or lack the enthusiasm to keep going. As a personal trainer, you can motivate your clients to succeed and rejuvenate themselves to unimaginable extents.

Personal Trainer Credentials

If you're considering becoming a personal trainer, you'll want to make sure you have the proper training credentials. First and foremost, you should obtain a degree in a related field, such as physical education, exercise science, physical therapy, or exercise physiology. Next, you'll want to become certified by a reputable organization. Three such reputable organizations include the American College of Sports Medicine, the National Strength and Conditioning Association, or the American Council on Exercise. Each of these organizations requires you to be CPR-certified and pass rigorous exams, which can go a long way when trying to obtain a quality job as a trainer. Finally, you'll need to maintain your certification with continuing-education courses throughout the year.

Go ahead and help your clients get stronger and fitter than ever. As a personal trainer, you can offer them more than their money's worth from their fitness program--you can provide them with a healthier, more fulfilling lifestyle.

About the Author
Debbie Wilson operates a lakeside resort. Her previous experience includes profitability consulting for a national health-care company. Debbie holds a B.A. in Business Management with a minor in Physical Education.

Posted on: May 11, 2006