Being a fitness instructor can be a very fulfilling job. Working to help people with disabilities improve their lifestyle or encourage others to build confidence, there’s no end to what a fitness instructor can do!
In Australia, the market size of personal trainers will be nearly $458.5 million in 2022, which is quite huge. If you also wish to join this industry, here are some tips for you!
1. Do your research
The first step in becoming a fitness instructor is deciding what kind of an instructor you would like to be. Many instructors take groups of small people and teach them together (group fitness instructors), while many others prefer to be personal trainers.
Also, you should decide where you’d like to teach people. Will it be a recreation center, home, or a small studio? Nowadays, many even do virtual fitness classes, so you might want to try it out!
2. Try for a degree
Most instructors typically have a high school diploma, but it will be wise to enroll in some health courses after completing your high school education. Many reputed institutes prefer candidates who have specialized in fields like exercise science, physical education, or kinesiology.
A good course on human physiology, basic biology, or common exercises can be greatly beneficial while you assist clients.
3. Develop your skills
Developing your soft skills is extremely important since you’ll have to interact with others almost daily. Here are some of the most important skills that you should sharpen.
Motivational skills: For most clients, training every day can be hard, so you’ll need to motivate them constantly.
Communication skills: A big chunk of your work involves demonstrating exercises, answering others’ questions, and talking to clients about their needs. For this, your communication skills should be very sharp.
Listening skills: It is important to talk, but it is equally important to listen. Through proper listening skills, you will be able to understand what your clients want and how to solve their problems.
Customer service: Treating customers well is your number one priority. Since they are your everything, it pays to have good customer service skills.
4. Get certified
Many professional fitness instructing companies require their instructors to have skills in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and automated external defibrillator (AED). Make sure you know how to properly do these techniques and get yourself certified for the very same.
5. Choose a specialization
Any good instructing class will have lots of fitness specializations like pilates, dance, HIIT, weight lifting, and so much more. It is up to you to decide which specialization you would like to pursue. Here is a list of some of the common ones.
- Strength training: This focuses on exercises meant to strengthen your muscles. It may also be known as resistance or weight training.
- Cardio: Cardio has become very popular nowadays. It focuses on step aerobics, cycling, or exercises meant to strengthen your cardiovascular system.
- High-intensity interval training (HIIT): This is an intense exercise that involves short bursts of high-energy exercises followed by periods of relaxation.
- Functional fitness: This includes CrossFit to help you perform daily activities faster and more easily.
- Yoga: Yoga is meant to calm both the mind and the body. It has special breathing as well as meditation techniques.
- Senior fitness: As the name suggests, this is meant to help seniors or elderly people to lead healthier lives.
6. Talk to a certified organization
As mentioned earlier, it helps to get certified by reputed institutions. You will be able to validate your skills and impress any potential clients or employers. Most fitness professionals begin with a general certification.
Gyms require certificates specialized for group instructors, while personal trainers need to get certified before they start working with any client. Try to find out the institutions in your area that provide certification regarding fitness instructions and enroll yourself.
7. Start with a part-time job
Fitness instructors mostly work flexible hours, and this includes weekends and nights. So you’ll be able to start off with a part-time position if you feel that your schedule is too hectic. If you have just started working in this field, working part-time will also help you to gain experience.
Over to you…
One of the most important things about being a successful fitness instructor is to keep learning. The more you learn, the better you teach. So always remember to be social, learn new techniques, and try your best!
