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Personal trainers help people with physical exercise activities. They guide people with cardiovascular exercises, strength training, and stretching. Personal trainers are required to interact with people of all ages from diverse backgrounds.
Personal Trainer Job Description
These tasks will provide an overview as to what personal trainers do:
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Demonstrate how to exercise and carry out various routines.
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Keep an eye on clients and help them adopt correct procedures.
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Provide clients with alternate exercises according to their fitness level.
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Check the client's progress and adapt programs accordingly.
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Explain and implement safety rules.
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Provide clients the resources for nutrition and a healthy lifestyle.
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Give emergency first aid if required.
How to Become a Personal Trainer?
Certification
The training and certification required by the fitness trainers can vary according to their specialty and employers often prefer trainers who have acquired a certification. Personal trainers start with taking classes in order to be certified. They work with a certified and experienced trainer before they can be allowed to train the clients alone. Most trainers are required to have a certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) before they can apply for a certification in physical fitness. Trainers usually prepare for certification with the help of study materials provided by the certification organizations. Preparation can be done from books, CDs, seminars, and workshops.
Education
Trainers are required to have a high school diploma before entering the field. Personal trainers with associate's or bachelor's degree in health related fields are preferred by the employers. Personal trainers can attain degrees in fields such as exercise science, kinesiology, or physical education. These programs are based on courses such as nutrition, exercise techniques, and group fitness. Personals trainers can also opt for online education, as it is quite convenient as well as cost effective for those looking to become personal trainers.
Working Conditions
Personal trainers usually have to work for long hours and late into the night. They also have to deal with diverse people with varying fitness expectations. However, personal trainers have a certain amount of flexibility in their jobs and can easily avoid monotonous routines. It is also a great job for those who are passionate about keeping themselves fit. It is also psychologically rewarding for the personal trainers when they positively impact the lives of others.
Essential Skills and Traits
Following are the skills and traits personal trainers need to have:
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Customer service skills
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Physical fitness
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Empathy and listening skills
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Motivational skills
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Problem solving skills
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Speaking skills
Career Outlook and Salary
There is a positive career outlook for the personal trainers. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of personal trainers is likely to grow by 24 percent between the years 2010 to 2020, which is actually faster than the average for all occupations. The median annual wage for personal trainers was around $31,000 in May 2010. The lowest 10 percent trainers earned less than $17,000, while the highest 10 percent earned more than $60,000.