
How to become a personal trainer
Friendly, patient, with leadership skills, video camera for filming sports, are some of the characteristics that a personal trainer should have. A profession that has grown thanks to the fact that every day more people understand the importance of leading an active and healthy life. If you want to know how to become a personal trainer you are interested in this information from your online sportswear store.
What is a personal trainer?
Personal trainers are professionals with the skills needed to design customized training routines. They take into account the client’s objectives and physical condition.
Although the main focus of this profession is fitness, their knowledge is not limited to fitness. Among the tasks of a personal trainer is also to motivate his clients. Having knowledge of anatomy, how the body works and nutrition. He also knows how to avoid injuries, what to do in case they happen and how to work for a faster recovery. They will even need to recommend the equipment and type of sneakers they need.
In a world that is increasingly concerned with staying fit and leading a healthier life, this profession is in high demand. Working with a personal trainer allows for faster results, a greater variety of exercises and routines, and discipline. The sessions are not routine, the trainer designs them taking into account what has been worked on so far and what will be worked on later.
A good personal trainer doesn’t just give you a list of exercises to do. He encourages his clients, becomes their motivator and develops a good affinity with them. He is patient and has a lot of energy. He teaches the right way to combine strength and cardio exercises, why an exercise is good or not, which muscles are worked, etc.
What are the advantages of being a personal trainer?
If you love fitness and sport and like to share that passion with others, perhaps you have thought about a career as a personal trainer. As we mentioned, the demand for this profession has grown in recent years. More and more people want a personalized workout.
People who train others at home or in gyms enjoy the following advantages:
- They can choose between working as an employee or self-employed. Depending on their interests and the opportunities they have
- If you are self-employed, you can better manage your schedule.
- In addition, you can define how many clients you will work with, whether you will serve them individually or in groups, etc.
- The growth in demand is another advantage. There are always clients looking for personalized training.
How to become a personal trainer
In Spain you can work as a personal trainer without having any specific training in sport. This leaves open the possibility for anyone to call themselves a coach. However, practicing without knowledge puts at risk the health of clients and, therefore, the reputation of coaches.
There are studies related to sport and recognized by Spanish law that will support this profession. Among these we can mention the following:
- Degree in Physical Activity and Sport Sciences.
- Higher Technician in Physical Activity and Sport Animation.
- Degree in Sports Science.
- Sports Technician.
There are also institutions that offer courses to become a personal trainer with which you can keep updated.
Opportunities to work as a coach
There are many opportunities to work as a coach. You can do it in a sports center or in a gym as an employee. In this case it will be the center itself that will determine the schedule you will be at and the people you will serve.
Within a gymnasium you can work as a monitor, sport animator, area manager, sport trainer, among others. And you have the opportunity to climb the ladder.
If you prefer to work on your own, you can choose what kind of clients you will have and how many you will attend. The self-employed usually work at home, but they can also reach an agreement with a gym. There are also routines that are done outdoors.
You can provide services in a company, training the workers of the same. Or look for opportunities in neighborhood associations that want to offer exercise programs to their members.
With dedication you can also have your own gym. There is the alternative of specializing in a specific area, such as working with older adults, pre- and post-natal workouts. Dedicate yourself to a specific discipline such as yoga, crossfit, pilates, etc. As a gym owner you could also combine this with another profession such as a physical therapist or sports nutritionist.
People who are looking for a sports trainer are becoming more and more familiar with the subject. That’s why you have to be up to date with the requirements to be a personal trainer that clients demand and that are implemented in other centers.
How much does a coach earn?
This is one of the hardest questions to answer if you want to be a coach. The scale is very variable and depends, among other factors, on the preparation you have. So the better training you have, the more you earn. So you have to know what to study to be a gym trainer and worry about doing it.
It also depends on the type of clients you have. If they are wealthy and looking for exclusive programs you can charge more for each one. In a sports center you will have an established salary.