Full Time Personal Trainer Jobs

Finding full-time personal trainer jobs will require qualifications, usually some experience and, if you want the plum jobs, some diligence. Whilst there are lots of freelance positions available, good full time jobs are harder to come by.

What Makes a Full-Time Job?

So there's actually two types of full-time personal trainer jobs. There's the kind where you work for a gym / studio and you are contracted to be there from say 7am - 3pm or 12pm - 8pm to fulfil training hours as well as other duties. Or, there's working for yourself where full-time means you are working 40+ hours per week at all sorts of times.

The latter is more usual as many clients are only available on evenings and weekends, thus requiring you to work irregular hours.

Working in a Gym to Normalise Hours

The more 'traditional' full time positions tend to be restricted to up-market health clubs that have a steady stream of clients throughout the day. Likewise, corporate gyms also offer the right vacancies as they have employees that are able to attend at different times during the day.

When you're employed the actual reality for most is a steady gym instructor position, with some private clients fitted in around their shifts at the gym.

Full Time as Self Employed or Freelance

This is where you're simply looking at the number of hours you'll need to put in each week - to classify the job as full time. You will probably have to work early mornings, some lunches and then post-work each day, plus some weekends. However, the rewards are more money, your own client base and 'some' flexibility over timings.

What Qualifications are Needed?

To work in this field you need a recognised qualification, ideally one that will allow you entry to the Register of Exercise Professionals (REPs). Examples of qualifications that would allow you to join REPs at level 3 include:

• NVQ Level 3 in Instructing Physical Activity and Exercise (awarded by City and Guilds, Active IQ, OCR, VTCT and CYQ)
• Level 3 Certificate in Advanced Fitness Instructing (awarded by Active IQ, City & Guilds, CYQ, NCFE, VTCT and OCR)
• Level 3 Certificate in Personal Training (awarded by Active IQ and CYQ) However, if your goal is to make yourself more marketable, then you will need to consider further training at Level 4 - as your technical skills increase this will open up a variety of other positions.

In Summary

A full time PT job can be found either for an employer or yourself. How you want to work your week will depend on your circumstances and preferences. You will make most money by being your own boss and putting the hours in!

10 Reasons You Should Work Out With a Personal Trainer

10 reasons why working out with a personal trainer helps you get the most out of your fitness routine.

Personal Trainer Pro #1: They teach you new things

If you're new to the gym experience, getting a personal trainer is a smart idea. Many gyms offer a free session at sign-up to help you get familiar with the machines, and more in-depth sessions can help perfect your form.

Personal Trainer Pro #2: They're sometimes your therapist

Having friend drama? Your trainer can be the perfect person to talk it out with while you're bending, balancing, and lifting.

Personal Trainer Pro #3: They are an objective eye

We all have areas we'd like to work on, and personal trainers can not only tell you realistically what to expect with each workout, but also how to optimize a session to target different muscle groups.

Personal Trainer Pro #4: They're better than a mirror

Watching yourself while you work out can help you make sure your form is correct, but it's even better when someone is there to tweak it while you work.

Personal Trainer Pro #5: They push your limits

Just when you think you can't go anymore, you'll be told to "hold for another minute" or do "10 more reps." And what do you do? You do it, and are all the better for it.

Personal Trainer Pro #6: They hold you accountable

This one can be important for me, especially when happy hour is calling my name. It's much harder to justify blowing off an appointment with a personal trainer than just your own freestyling time at the gym.

Personal Trainer Pro #7: They keep you from plateauing

A personal trainer always has a new workout up her sleeve to keep you having fun and seeing results!

Personal Trainer Pro #8: They keep count

OK, maybe this is just me being lazy, but I just love the fact that someone else is keeping track of my reps, especially when I can barely lift my arms (let alone think) anymore.

Personal Trainer Pro #9: They can be eye candy

Are you a fan of one of these gym stereotypes? Finding one that fits the bill while challenging your fitness goals can be an added bonus. In any case, someone so dedicated to healthy living can be a real-life inspiration to help you meet your goals!

Personal Trainer Pro #10: They love to see you sweat

Who loves to see you at your disheveled worst more than your trainer? All those huffs, puffs, and sweaty faces just tell them that they're doing their jobs!

What Fitness Trainers and Instructors Do

Fitness trainers and instructors lead, instruct, and motivate individuals or groups in exercise activities, including cardiovascular exercises (exercises for the heart and blood circulation), strength training, and stretching. They work with people of all ages and skill levels.

Duties

Fitness trainers and instructors typically do the following:

• Demonstrate how to perform various exercises and routines
• Watch clients do exercises
• Demonstrate or explain correct exercise techniques to minimize injuries and improve fitness
• Provide alternative exercises during workouts or classes for different levels of fitness and skill
• Monitor clients’ progress and adapt programs as needed
• Explain and enforce safety rules and regulations on sports, recreational activities, and the use of exercise equipment
• Give clients information or resources about nutrition, weight control, and lifestyle issues
• Give emergency first aid if needed

Both group fitness instructors and specialized fitness instructors plan or choreograph their own classes. Classes may include cardiovascular exercises, such as aerobics or dance; strength training, such as lifting weights; or both. Instructors choose music that is appropriate for their exercise class and create a routine or a set of moves for participants to follow. Some may teach prechoreographed routines that were originally created by fitness companies or other organizations.

Personal fitness trainers design and carry out workout routines specific to the needs of their clients. They may work with individual clients or teach group classes. In larger facilities, personal trainers often sell their training sessions to gym members. They start by evaluating their clients’ current fitness level, personal goals, and skills. Then, they develop personalized training programs for their clients to follow, and they monitor the clients’ progress.

Fitness trainers and instructors in smaller facilities often do a variety of tasks in addition to their fitness duties, such as tending the front desk, signing up new members, giving tours of the facility, or supervising the weight-training and cardiovascular equipment areas. Fitness trainers and instructors also may promote their facilities and instruction by various means, such as through social media, by writing newsletters or blog articles, or by creating posters and flyers.

Gyms and other types of health clubs offer many different activities for clients. However, trainers and instructors frequently specialize in only a few areas. The following are examples of types of fitness trainers and instructors:

Personal fitness trainers work with an individual client or a small group. They may train in a gym or in the clients’ homes. Personal fitness trainers assess the clients’ level of physical fitness and help them set and reach their fitness goals.

Group fitness instructors organize and lead group exercise classes, which can include aerobic exercises, stretching, or muscle conditioning. Some classes are set to music. In these classes, instructors may select the music and choreograph an exercise sequence.

Specialized fitness instructors teach popular conditioning methods, such as Pilates or yoga. In these classes, instructors show the different moves and positions of the particular method. They also watch students and correct those who are doing the exercises improperly.

Fitness directors oversee the fitness-related aspects of a gym or other type of health club. They often handle administrative duties, such as scheduling personal training sessions for clients and creating workout incentive programs. They may select and order fitness equipment for their facility.

How Much Should You Charge for Personal Training?

You might find yourself wondering how much you can ‘get away with’ when figuring out how much to charge for personal training. But you will see that it’s easier than you think…

Most personal trainers are concerned at some level about how much they can or ‘should‘ charge. I’m asked all the time: “How much do personal trainers make per hour/client/day/etc.?”

New trainers can be uneasy at the mere mention of the topic of what to charge for personal training and established trainers sometimes still find themselves charging the same rate after a few years, so it’s not entirely about experience. And nor should it be. Let’s look at the effect that this concern has on the trainer and their business.

More than anything, the concern will manifest as an ongoing anxiety when talking money with a client. You might find yourself wondering how much you can ‘get away with’ or being concerned about charging too much (don’t want to appear greedy or arrogant) or charging too little (don’t want to appear desperate).

Typically, the trainer will answer the question by comparing their rates to other personal trainers, making adjustments based on where they fit in terms of experience versus the other trainer. But this is a flawed model and doesn’t explain why some trainers might effectively charge $400/hour or more while others languish at $50/hour. After all, can they really be eight times ‘better’, or have eight times the impact?

Regardless of what you charge for personal training, your ideal outcome is to be totally comfortable about your rates, to be able to maintain eye contact with the customer and communicate the price without flinching, and to have them pay happily because your offer represents a fair exchange.

To help you decide what to charge, there are three principles that you must understand.

3 Principles for Personal Trainers to Understand about Pricing

To get that ideal outcome I’d invite to you consider these three principles.

#1 – Customers don’t buy on price, they buy on value

Most of us have a problem understanding the distinction between price and value. At least we think we do, but the truth is we all buy on value every day.

You’ve had the experience of paying a premium to buy goods from the convenience store when you could’ve bought the same thing from a supermarket for 20, 30, maybe even 50% less. That’s because you put a value on the ‘convenience’ of the store that the supermarket couldn’t offer.

It isn’t always convenience that we value. Value can also be increased by:

• Exclusivity
• Time
• Timing
• Location
• Presentation
• And even trends or color

We might even value the fact that something isn’t the cheapest simply because it isn’t the cheapest.

Services like personal training are subject to the same evaluations as anything else we buy and each prospect you deal with will be making their valuation on criteria that’s important to them.

#2 – It’s not about you

Many people, when they’re in a sales transaction, are too focused on their own experience and their own fears. This is why the fear of rejection is supposedly so predominant in sales.

But even though the customer might be buying a ‘personal’ trainer the actual buying decision isn’t personal. It’s personal in the sense that they will want to work with someone they know, like, and trust but their ultimate decision will be based on the delivery and value they anticipate getting out of the transaction.

They aren’t paying for companionship; they’re paying for results so don’t take it personally if a prospect decides not to go ahead with an offer.

The key point is to adopt this position at the start of the sales process rather than resigning yourself to it at the end when the prospect has walked away. If you adopt it at the start, you can let go of any anxiety about rejection that might be troubling you. The sales conversation will then flow much more freely without the anxiety hanging over your head.

#3 – You can’t lose what you don’t have

I’ve seen clients in all service industries concern themselves with the idea that they might ‘lose’ a prospect if they price themselves too high, push too hard, or even price themselves too low.

As a result they second-guess themselves, worrying about what the right or wrong thing might be to say to ‘keep’ them.

It’s a bogus notion though because you can’t lose what you don’t have — they aren’t a client until they’ve agreed to your offer.

For the transaction to happen, you want fair exchange on both sides. If you’re worried about ‘losing’ a prospect, it probably means you aren’t convinced that your offer is equal to what the client is willing/able to pay. In that case, you need to work harder on understanding your own value, but in either case, if the client walks away, it won’t be because you lost them.

So keep an ear out for that little voice in your head telling you that you’re afraid of losing them and use it as motivation to up your game rather than lower your price.

Some Simple Tips for a Personal Trainer to Understand and Communicate Value

Before you can communicate value to a client, you need to understand what it is they value so you can shape the language of your offer to appeal to them. These tips will help with that process.

Qualify the prospect

Many people have unrealistic expectations about what a service might be worth and what they can afford so a simple question about budget can help establish if the prospect is ‘real’ or not. “Do you have a budget in mind for your personal training?” should suffice.

It’s not critical that they have a number but if they do, you can judge whether they have a realistic amount in mind.

If they come back with x per hour, get them to be more specific and share how many hours per week they plan on being trained. Though they may come with a specific idea of how many hours they think they want, they aren’t really in a position to judge yet as they don’t know what they can achieve with you in that hour.

This question though will give you a weekly sum that you know they have allocated for their personal training program and you can decide if they’re a fit for your pricing structure.

Determine the desired outcome       

“What’s the outcome you are after from your personal training/coaching?”

This question is key and the answer will form the basis of your offer. You want as much detail as possible from the client and then you want to drill down and get what that would mean to the prospect.

“I want to fit my size x wedding dress within six months” is the detail, but find out what that would mean in emotive terms. “My wedding is important to me and I want to feel special as the center of attention. I want to know I’m looking at my best and to be able to look back at my wedding photos with pride.”

“I want to lose six inches off my gut” is the detail, but the real goal might be to move away from being at high risk of developing diabetes so they can feel vital and energetic in their older years.

Every prospect will have an emotive driver that tells you what they value. Your job is to understand what those drivers are and demonstrate how you can help them achieve the desired result.

Understand the Impediment

“What’s preventing you from getting that result yourself?” is another key question to ask the prospect.

They’ll then tell you in their own words why they need you. This answer will be key so try to remember as much detail about it as you can. Write it down if necessary because when you repeat them back to the client, they will already be pre-primed to agree with you.

Communicate the Value

Now that you know what’s important to the prospect and what they value, you can communicate your offer in terms of that value. Wherever possible, use the language they have used.

“So let me check in and see if I’ve got this correct. What you’re after is a program that will help you achieve [enter desired result here] so that you can [enter emotive expression of desired result here].

You told me that you don’t think you can get the results on your own because you don’t think you’d push yourself hard enough and you’re also concerned that you might injure yourself through poor technique. Is that correct? Great, based on that, what I’d recommend is [enter program details and pricing here]. Does that sound like something you’d be able to commit to?”

If all the boxes have been ticked, the client will have a clear understanding that you can deliver what it is that they want. The value will have been communicated and the deal will very likely be done.

Quit Being Anxious

There’s too much unnecessary anxiety about pricing in pretty much every service industry, not just personal training.

We all value time and money differently so some folks are going to be a match for what you offer and some aren’t. It’s not personal and you can make the offer as ‘clean’ as possible by eliminating personal baggage in the conversion process and understanding as much as you can about the client and what’s important to them.

Bottom line, communicate your value in terms of what they value to get the buy in.

Get this right and you can be sure that your pricing will represent fair exchange and you’ll attract clients that feel the same way.

Personal Training Seen As Boom Business In Next Five Years

When Karen Siebert began her career as a personal trainer three decades ago, most clients wanted to muscle up or slim down. 

Today she encounters clients with a different motivation: to get healthy. 

That change is helping fuel a boom in the personal training business. Baby boomers are seeking trainers as they look to keep active, lower their resting heart rate or lower their cholesterol, she said. The rising number of boomers, along with people searching for solutions to the country's growing obesity epidemic, is making personal training a lucrative career, industry observers say. 

"More people are hiring trainers for the reasons of good health -- not to look like Arnold Schwarzenegger," said Siebert, athletic director at the Dayton Racquet Club. "I think that's why personal training is growing."  

The number of personal trainers is expected to grow by 46 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Labor, which listed personal training as one of its top 15 most desirable fields in which to work. 

And with growing awareness of the country's ever expanding waistline, more people are signing up for gym memberships and being exposed to the possibility of personal training. Many gyms offer free or discounted sessions to lure members to pay for the training later on. 

"Nine out of 10 times people will take advantage of that and continue," Siebert said. 

The earning potential is strong. Most trainers can charge about $50 per hour. Working for a fitness club, the trainer takes home about $35 an hour after the club takes its share, said Fabio Comana, exercise physiologist with the San Diego-based American Council on Exercise, one of the largest and well-respected accrediting organizations for trainers. 

Siebert said she earned the most when training people in their own homes. While lucrative, going to client's homes often creates an erratic schedule for trainers, she said. Now all but two of her clients are Racquet Club members who come to the gym to exercise. 

"I found it was better to have one location," she said. 

Personal trainers create and oversee workout routines for their clients. Instead of simply going to a gym and lifting weights, clients get personlized workouts catered to their specific phyiscal needs. Plus, personal trainers watch their clients and make sure they're following through. 

Most trainers grow their clients by word-of-mouth marketing, said Scott Beeson, general manager of NeoLimits Fitness Inc.'s gym in Centerville, which has about a dozen personal trainers on staff. Once they show results with one client, others follow, he said. 

"After a couple years, a personal trainer doesn't have to do a lot of advertising because they have a network of people," Beeson said. 

Personal training has gone from a cottage industry -- Siebert started as an aerobics instructor at her church -- to a field requiring certification and continuing education. It's also become more specialized, with trainers marketing themselves as experts in golf conditioning or pilates. 

Another factor driving the growth of the industry is how easy it can be to enter, Comana said. 

It takes about a year to study and complete certification, he said. 

Trainers also are benefiting from professionals such as Dan Fischer, president of Key Bank in Dayton, who want to fit exercise into their busy schedules. 

Fischer has been working with a trainer for about five years. Since moving to Dayton in January, he started working with Siebert, whom he jokingly calls the "workout nazi." 

He likes the variety and expertise that comes with working with a trainer. 

"I'm a person who doesn't have a lot time," he said. "For me it works because it's a scheduled appointment." 

How To Earn A Serious Salary As A Personal Trainer!

If you are serious about making a living, a great living, as a fitness professional then you need to put in place systems and strategies that will increase your profits while decreasing your time involved.

In the past few years a few people promoting fitness marketing programs that promise $100,000 a year or more. The problem is that most, if not all, of these programs are just rehashed materials, which fail to mention one major factor ... even the best marketing program in the world will still fail if you don't put forth the effort.

Marketing = Money

I often have trainers ask me, "How come I'm not getting the results you talked about?" When I ask them how much time they are spending on their marketing I can't help but laugh! You can't implement one strategy forget about it, and then expect it to make you thousands. If you really want to be successful you need to have a well thought out plan ... both a general business plan and a detailed marketing plan.

It's easy to burn out in this business and even easier to forget about your marketing or put it on the back burner. You can't do that if you want to be successful and stay successful.

You need to focus on your marketing just as much if not more than you focus on other aspects of your business because with out clients you don't have a business.

Automating = Time

Another area I feel is critical to your success is automating your business. What I mean is developing and putting in place systems to increase your efficiency and decrease the amount of time you spend running your business. What good is running your own business if you are working more than you would if you had a job?

So, if you are serious about making a living, a great living, as a fitness professional then you need to put in place systems and strategies that will increase your profits while decreasing your time involved.

One of the easiest and most effective ways to do this is to create your own products. For those of you who are already doing this ... hats off to you! It is key if you want to be able to make a serious income while still having time to enjoy it.

Strategy = Results

OK ... let's get to it. Here are the 3 strategies that cost little if anything and are the most important when it comes to making serious money as a fitness professional: 

• Keeping A Database
• Client Newsletter
• Relationship Marketing

Apply these 3 strategies effectively and I will personally guarantee your success!

Test Your Trainer!

Here are some suggestions for questions to ask. Find out what to ask your personal trainer to make sure he or she is right for you!

So you've decided to hire a Personal Trainer to get off this annoying plateau once and for all. Or perhaps it is an injury that prompted you to seek some professional assistance. Either way, you know how to weed out the wannabes from the real McCoy. Right?

Let's recap: Your PT should be certified by a reputable organization (no watch-five-tapes-at-home-and-start-working deals). He should have a few years of experience under his belt. When asked for referrals, coming up with a list of happy clients should be a breeze. Last but not least, your trainer should have proper insurance and otherwise have his business in order. Piece of cake, can't go wrong.

Unless...What if you're out of luck, and the PT in question is the kind who forgets quickly and becomes sloppy with his training advice? What if the referrals consist of bored housewives more interested in his biceps than the actual advice they receive, and therefore sing his praises for other reasons than you may have?

Most likely, this is not the case, of course. In all likelihood, anyone who passes the previously mentioned tests will do a good job. But just to be sure, why not spring a little quiz on your trainer before handing him your check? A good, professional PT won't mind and may even appreciate the opportunity to build confidence and trust in his expertise.

Here are some suggestions for questions to ask. Five or six questions should be sufficient. The red flags you should be looking out for is baloney to conceal ignorance, a lot of "uhhs", and of course drawing a total blank on all questions. It's not realistic to expect your PT to know everything off the top of his head, but in those cases the correct response is: "I don't know, but I'll look it up for you!" not "I dunno, who cares?" or "That's because _____ (made-up response to cover the fact that he doesn't know)".

Questions To Ask Your PT!

[ Q ] I want to gain 40 lbs of muscle in a year. Can you help me?

Wrong answer: "Sure! Just gimme your money and you'll be there in no-time!"

Right answer: "Gaining 40 lbs of muscle in a year is unrealistic, but I can help you gain as much as possible in that time."

[ Q ] What is the latin name for the crease where the pectoralis minor ties into the humerus (upper arm bone)?

It's a trick question. The pec minor doesn't tie into humerus, which your trainer should know.

[ Q ] How does Guggulsterones work?

Guggulsterones stimulates the thyroid to release more thyroid hormones, which in turn puts the metabolism in overdrive. This is to see if your PT is up to speed on more obscure supplements.

[ Q ] How do you stretch medial (middle) delts?

A tough one! If he can demonstrate a way that actually works, be impressed! If not, don't worry about it.

[ Q ] How many water-soluble vs. fat-soluble vitamins are there?

Right answer: 10 water-soluble (including retinol), 4 fat-soluble. If your PT knows this level of detail, he has a firm grasp of nutrition basics and does more than just skim the "nutrition" section of Flex every month.

[ Q ] Rhomboideus is a synergist to what muscles?

Trapezius should be an obvious answer, but watch what else he says. If he continues rattling off muscles like posterior delts and lats, he doesn't know his anatomy. Rhomboideus doesn't connect to the humerus (upper arm bone) and therefore can't help delts or lats at all.

[ Q ] My calfs won't grow. Should I hit'em every day?

The answer should be no, and no more than 3 times per week if you're a beginner, twice a week - at most - if you're intermediate or advanced.

[ Q ] Is ketosis a good thing?

No; it's a bodily emergency mode caused by prolonged carbohydrate deprivation that cannibalizes muscle mass. It's good to know whether your trainer recognizes that this type of extreme dieting is bad or not.

[ Q ] Which one of these minerals is toxic if overdosed: Iron, zinc or potassium?

Another trick question; they're all toxic if overdosed.

[ Q ] What is the antagonist of biceps femoris?

Don't point to your leg when you ask this question - if he starts pointing at his triceps, he just goofed, big-time. Biceps femoris is a part of the hamstrings, which makes the antagonist quadriceps.

[ Q ] How does Chrysin work?

Chrysin is an isoflavone chemically extracted from plants with the potential to increase testosterone levels in athletes. As opposed to DHEA, andro and other prehormones, chrysin works by preventing the conversion (aromatization) of testosterone into estrogen. Another obscure-supplement question to check how current his information is.

[ Q ] What has a higher GI (Glycemic Index) value, bran flakes or oatmeal cookies?

Oatmeal cookies have a GI in the neighborhood of 50-60, while bran flakes come in around 70 or above. This means the cookies, largely thanks to the oatmeal fiber, most likely take longer to digest and produce less of an insulin response than the bran flakes.

If your PT doesn't know this off the top of his head, don't worry - what you're looking for is honesty ("I don't know") and familiarity with the GI scale. If he DOES know, he obviously knows his nutrition very well!

NOTE: Specific brands vary, of course. This is a somewhat generalized example, hence the rough estimates used.

[ Q ] What is Adenosine Triphosphate?

Also known as ATP - the biochemically stored instant energy you use to work out. You take creatine supplements to indirectly boost this supply, and if your PT continues by explaining the phosphagen system, that's a good sign.

[ Q ] How do you train tibialis anterior?

This is the small but important muscle on the outer/front part of your shins, flexing the foot upwards. There are machines for this (Hammer Strength makes an excellent one) or, the simplest version, just stand with your heel on an elevated surface and raise the foot as far up as you can.

How is not that important, you just want to know that your PT knows where the muscle is and has a basic idea of how to train it.

Conclusion

These were just some of the question you can ask. You can also look up specific muscles and ask where they tie into the bone, grill him about HIT training philosophy, or read up on prohormones and ask him to explain the differences. Again, the point is not to "nail" him for not knowing, it's about how he handles the situation.

On the other hand, if he can answer everything you throw at him, you can rest assured you're dealing with a seasoned professional. Hand over that check with confidence and get ready for some serious lifting!

How To Set Your Training Rates For Maximum Profitability!

The information I am about to cover is for personal trainers who are serious about making money, and no, just because you want to make money doesn't mean you don't care about your clients.

Personal training is a business, just like any other, and the goal is to make money while helping others achieve their fitness goals. If you believe otherwise, then personal training for you is a hobby and there's no need to read the rest of this report.

The information I am about to cover is for personal trainers who are serious about making money, and no, just because you want to make money doesn't mean you don't care about your clients. It is totally possible to help them by giving an excellent service and in the process make a ton of cash!

Packages Or Series Of Sessions

The "hot" debate right now seems to be whether or not to sell "packages" of your personal training service. Some people are saying that it's better to sell a "series" of sessions rather than the traditional "packages".

First, let's talk about the differences between a "package" of sessions and a "series". An example of a package might be "10 session package for $600". With a package, usually the client pays in advance for a certain number of sessions.

Whereas, a series consist of an initial down payment or "retainer fee" and then payment for each session. If the client doesn't show up for a session you keep the retainer fee.

Flaws With The Series Approach

Here are a few of the major flaws with the series approach:

Flaw # 1: You are always having to collect money from clients.

I don't know about you, but collecting money isn't one of my favorite things to do. Making money is one thing, but constantly having to ask people for it is something totally different.

Flaw # 2: People are less likely to stay committed to their program.

The larger the financial cost the greater the commitment (usually) and when you are working with a new client, often times they get discouraged during the first few weeks because they aren't seeing progress fast enough.

With the series, they pay as they go and they are far more likely to quit. On the other hand, if they have already paid, they are much more likely to stick it out and then they start to see the results and feel much better about the service.

Flaw # 3: Some clients may have the money to afford your service now but may not in the future.

Your client may be able to afford your service now, but in three weeks, they may be tight for cash. If they pay in advance for a package of sessions, the money is gone and they aren't worried about whether or not they can continue. Again, with the series, they are far more likely to stop training.

There are some advantages to the series approach but they just don't out weight the disadvantages.

Reasons Why A Package Works Better

Here are a few more reasons why I feel a package works better:

Reason # 1: You get the money upfront.

Cash is king in all small businesses and if you have the money now, you can use it if you need to for other things like expenses, or even better, marketing!

Reason # 2: Client retention is much higher.

You won't lose people nearly as often when you sell a package of sessions. They will be more committed to their program and remember, you want to be able to make as much money as possible from that client.

Finding new clients is usually not easy or cheap, so why put a system in place where they are more likely to quit?

Reason # 3: You can sell packages WITHOUT offering a discount.

One of the reasons people say it's better to sell a series is because most people discount their fees for larger packages. You DO NOT have to do this, although it's not a bad idea because you are giving them an incentive to spend more than they might otherwise, and again, you are getting more money now when you need it. But you can also just offer larger training packages without discounting your fees.

While we are on the subject of discounting your fees, let's talk about it...

Trainers who believe that offering a discount is unprofessional and devalues your value often use this argument: "medial doctors don't offer a discount if you come more frequently". Well, guess what? We are not doctors, we are not working with sick people who actually NEED the help of a doctor, and most importantly, who ever said doctors know anything about business!

The key to offering a discount is to do it the right way. I agree, to drop your rates from $50 an hour for 1 session to $30 for 10 sessions doesn't make sense. However, if you use a discount wisely, you can use it to persuade your prospect to make a larger purchase which means you make more money and they get better results. Now what's wrong with that?

Recommendations

Offer a single session at an inflated rate. For example, if you want to charge $50 per hour, charge $75 for a single session. Then, offer a just a few different packages and offer a slight discount for the largest one. For example, 10 sessions for $600 ($60 an hour) and 20 sessions for $1000 ($50 an hour).

Many people will go for the larger package because it's a great deal, and again, they are getting more from your service and you are getting a larger purchase than they may have gone with.

Small Details For Personal Trainers!

What is currently happening in our fitness society? Find out some great tips that are good to help attract more clients and much more...

What is currently happening in our fitness society is an ongoing challenge among personal trainers for acquiring as much new information as they can acquire. Their objective is clearly to keep their knowledge as up to date and as thorough as possible through scientific researches and continuing education courses.

Why update their knowledge? Most of them do it for attracting more clients and raising their income. But unfortunately a significant number of trainers don't know the minimum requirements for working efficiently with their clients and forego small details which should be followed if they want to provide them with the best services and earn a good reputation. Adapting these tips is a good way to improve and to attract more clients.

The Behavior Of A Personal Trainer...

A personal trainer must be present in the gym a good ten minutes ahead of time for the following reasons:

• Reviewing the program.
• Preparing the materials.
• Arranging substitutes for some exercises if some machines were out of order or occupied for long periods.

A personal trainer must assure that his clients obtain the right warm-up before getting to resistance training. During this interval, communication plays a crucial role and serves to detect if the client had an injury during the past days or hours following the last session 1. Also, you can find out if he is suffering from fatigue. This will avoid problems or injuries that could appear during or after the session.

Make sure that he is mentally prepared for the session and try to find his degree of motivation through many questions you can ask for example:

1. "Do you carry a positive mind-set into your training sessions and performances?" 2
2. "Today we will learn a new beneficial technique/system, are you ready to do it?"

If he is not motivated you must create the essential good mood and stimulation to make the session a successful and fruitful one.

There are many methods for motivating him including verbal encouragement:

1. "Today your muscles look healthier than the day of your last session!"
2. "Your lifting technique or movement execution has improved!"
3. "Look at yourself how you were performing before, and how you are now!"

Discuss with him the program for the current session including short term goals, body parts being worked, techniques, and intensity.

Check up if he brought all his equipment with him such as the belt, wraps, water or energy drink, or supplement if he is taking any.

Ask him what he ate before coming and at what time, so if he suffers of low energy levels during the session, you will bring him back to his nutrition plan and teach him the importance of what to eat before and after training with the proper timing.

During the session, simplify or make your explanation brief to avoid confusion or waste of time and annoyance. Do not expect from your client to do the exercise 100 percent correctly from the first time. Simply make sure that he is performing safely, and little by little he will be able to perform perfectly.

If it is the first time that the client comes, do not force him to breath correctly, in other words inhale on the eccentric portion of the movement and exhale on the exertion part; simply tell him to do so and make sure that he is inhaling and exhaling in every exercise. Soon he will do it unconsciously. So give him a chance to make it a habit and not a matter to always think about. Don't be afraid from Valsalva maneuver; it takes effect only if he holds his breath or doesn't breathe at all. 3

If your client feels tired and you think that your program may lead him to overtraining, simply increase his resting time or change the routine to an easier one; inversely, if he feels very energetic decrease resting time. If you want to be a leader in this business, DON'T CAUSE AN INJURY to your client. If you want to increase the volume and load of training, do it wisely.

If your client dislikes an exercise, don't obligate him to do it, instead move quickly to an identical movement but with another device or equipment.

Make your client avoid distractions with other members trying to build social relationships, this could increase rest time and ruin the program and goals.

Spotting must be practiced regularly by the trainer to gain experience in it because it is something that needs professional touch particularly with heavy weights. When your client holds a certain weight, make sure that he is controlling the grip and has a proper hold. Fix its position if needed. Also encourage him when lifting heavy weights, help with forced repetitions and certainly don't be distracted within this whole process.

After the session, make sure that you stretch his muscles, and give him a relaxation technique or provide him with an alternative, such as Jacuzzi. And for sure do not forget to tell him to eat and rest well in order to recover for his next sessions.

Don't forget to ask him about his impression before leaving. Also encourage him by saying: "You did well today!", "You muscles look much better after workout!"...

My last word to all personal trainers who will be using these tips is to stay close to small details that distinguish you from uncertified and unprofessional trainers who are found in all areas trying to infiltrate this business, and who lower the esteem of this profession in regards of some people. Remember, we, as personal trainers should strive to maintain and project an impeccable image of proficient and successful professionals, for both our own benefit as well as that of the industry.

Tips For Being A Better Personal Trainer!

The tips here will assist you in providing clients added value beyond education, and will help you to deliver to the client a rewarding experience. They will assist you, as a trainer, to be proactive regarding client needs, and they will help set you apar

In the competitive world of personal training, setting yourself apart from the competition means offering added value to the client. This is not easy to achieve in a profession that is constantly changing.

Unlike days past, today's trainer must be equipped with a solid education that is frequently updated. But being educated is no longer an option: it's the expected standard. Even if a trainer is educated, an education does not offer the leverage it used to. So, aside from more educational courses, what can a trainer do to stand apart from the rest of the pack?

More than ever before, consumers are informed. Gone are the days where consumers trusted and relied upon authority blindly. Personal trainers today are forced by market conditions to be both educated, and to be educators. Trainers are now, more than ever, assuming the role of the teacher.

For some professionals, these expectations are a welcome change from times past. Not only do these expectations challenge the personal trainer to be constantly learning, but they also serve to weed out those less professional trainers who are out to make money on the ignorance of the consumer.

Today, a trainer of quality will not desire his client to be dependant upon him for continued progress. Instead, the trainer will offer the client added value by not only being a guide or coach, but also by functioning as an educator when regarding healthy lifestyle habits.

The job of today's trainer is one of being a lifelong learner and teacher. It means being a learner of, and an ambassador for, the active lifestyle. These roles can be fulfilled only through the application of sound theory and example.

Accordingly, then, tips are provided here on how to be more effective as a personal trainer who is teaching others about the lifestyle.

The tips here will assist you in providing clients added value beyond education, and will help you to deliver to the client a rewarding experience. They will assist you, as a trainer, to be proactive regarding client needs, and they will help set you apart from the rest of the profession.

1. You Are There For Them, They Are Not There For You 

It is an unfortunate fact, but some personal trainers approach their jobs with arrogance and often look down upon their clients, believing them to be uneducated empty vessels lacking knowledge. But personal training is not a profession one should enter simply to improve ones self-esteem by putting others down.

It Is A Profession That One Should Enter To:

1. Make a wage doing productive and beneficial work
2. To provide a service and to serve the needs of the client

The points above find their meaning in the words "beneficial" and "serve." For the work of the personal trainer to be beneficial, that work must be geared to meet the needs of the client. For all effective personal trainers, serving the clients needs will be the primary focus. But being a servant does not mean being a slave.

As a personal trainer, one is expected to serve the client by providing both guidance and the social supports needed by clients looking to make activity a part of their lives. For some clients, providing guidance on technical matters will suffice.

For others technical guidance is not enough; guidance on exercise-related social matters will also be necessary, to initiate the client into the sub-culture of the active lifestyle. So servitude is an essential step to master if one wishes to deliver the best value to the client.

Effective servitude can come only when the trainer understands his or her roles.

These roles are:

• The expert
• The formal authority
• A mechanism of socialization
• A facilitator
• An ego ideal
• A person

The Expert

As a trainer, your knowledge base sets you apart from other members of the fitness community. You not only exercise for health and recreation, but you have formal education and certifications that show your commitment to making wellness, through exercise, a profession.

In the role of an expert, the focus is to communicate technical knowledge and to answer the questions of the client. Naturally, maintaining a level of expertise that is current in ones profession is necessary in this role. Failing to do so will make one irrelevant and ineffective.

A Formal Authority

Within the fitness community, truly professional personal trainers are known not only as experts, but also as formal authorities. Personal trainers in this capacity function as agents of instruction, control and evaluation.

A trainer must constantly be evaluating the progress and practice of ones clients and methods against currently accepted scientific opinion.

As a formal authority, one has a responsibility to play a protective role. Frequently, exercise or nutrition fads emerge in the industry, and less knowledgeable persons may fall victim to them. As an authority with good standing in your profession, you can protect your clients from harm, and save them months or years of progress.

A Mechanism Of Socialization

The bodybuilding and fitness industries are a sub-culture of society. These sub-cultures have their own language and accepted behavioural practices. New initiates can find it intimidating to make their way through rows of exercise equipment, and may find the technical jargon of the lifestyle complicated and difficult to master.

As a mechanism of socialization, the trainer can assist the client by ensuring that the client is versed in the sub-cultures terminology, as well as on the proper application of exercise technique.

Thus, the trainer, through his or her expertise, will function as a mechanism or mediating force of socialization. Enculturation will be successful only to the degree to which the trainer is cognisant of their function as a professional, is responsive to client needs, and the degree to which their responses are cogent in the mind of the client.

A Facilitator

As a facilitator, the trainers function is to ensure that the client has an efficacious experience. Put another way, the trainers function in this role is to ensure that the client gets the results that are both within the clients immediate grasp, and that these immediate results are within the context of the goals that the client has set at the beginning of their tutelage under the trainer.

This necessitates that the trainer is aware of the clients health and conditioning at all times. To be aware of both the clients current state and his or her future potential, drawing analogies from the field of child development psychology may prove beneficial.

An Ego Ideal

It is common for clients to look up to the trainer. This is understandable when one considers ones total appearance and function as a professional in the gym or club environment.

Clients or perspective clients often view the trainer as a person who has knowledge, education and prestige. These perceptions may be correct or incorrect, but often they are nothing more than projections from members of the public. Regardless, the power of perception influences behaviour, and the trainer must deal with the perceptions of the public.

Often, so powerful can perceptions be, that many think the personal trainer posseses "secrets" unavailable to members of the general public about how to achieve health and wellness. The public is willing to pay handsomely for these secrets, and they expect a return on their investment.

Naturally, the trainer can satisfy or disappoint these perceptions. If the trainer fails to play a charismatic role in the course of his or her duties, he or she may find a disillusioned and client. Successfully exploiting clients perceptions comes through the use of charisma. The goal of using charisma to play on client admiration should always be to deliver the exercise experience to the client in a meaningful way.

Using charisma in this way to obtain the desired result can be achieved by focusing on one's expertise, on one's high status in one's profession, or on one's commitment or enthusiasm.

If it is clear to the client that the trainer enjoys his or her profession, is knowledgeable, enjoys client interaction, and is client centered instead of ego centered, the trainer will be able to lead by example.

This kind of leadership will help convince the client that their admiration is well-placed. This kind of admiration will make the job of the trainer much easier as clients will be more apt to comply with trainer-provided direction.

A Person

All things considered, the trainer is also a person, alike in many ways to the client.

As a person, the trainer has the need to have his or her work succeed - i.e. to deliver a successful outcome to the client. Most trainers enjoy their profession and work in their field because their path is one of self-actualization.

The desire to see one's work deemed efficacious speaks to a need for validation and acceptance.

But people seek the fulfillment of these needs through other mechanisms aside from productive work - chiefly through social relationships. So it is obvious that the client-trainer relationship is a social microcosm of human needs, and therefore that the full range of human needs exist within the client-trainer relationship.

However, within the context of the client-trainer relationship, boundaries exist that place limits upon the extent to which personal needs can be satisfied, without destroying the relationship entirely.

This discussion of a trainer's roles returns us to be subject of point one: the trainer is there for the client, the client is not there for the trainer.

The final role - the role of the trainer as a person - can cause a breakdown in the trainer-client relationship if the either party loses sight of the other roles required of him or her, and instead allows training sessions and mutual admiration to turn into an ego-feed.

These roles and ethical boundaries necessitate professional distance, and this is best achieved by the trainer being cognizant of the roles discussed above.

How To Position Yourself As The Leading Fitness Expert!

Learn how to position yourself as the leading fitness expert in your area and earn thousands of dollars or more in the process!

What if I told you that in six months or less you could be recognized as leading fitness expert in your area? What impact would that have on your business?

There are many potential ways to position yourself as an expert and rather than cover all the possibilities, I'm going to give you what I feel is the easiest and fastest way. Before I get into the steps you need to take, I want to first reinforce the benefits and ensure you recognize how powerful it can be!

Why you need positioning as an expert

Here are just a few of the many benefits or reasons why you need to position yourself as an expert:

Media exposure / publicity

A positive piece of publicity is far more effective than any form of advertising or promotion out there. When people are told by their local paper/ TV news about how great your service is, they think much more of it because it's coming from a trusted/credible source.

Instant credibility

In addition to the positive media exposure, being and expert adds instant credibility and allows you to get your message in front of many more people. You can do radio/TV interviews, write articles, perform demonstrations, and even end up hosting your own radio/TV show - the possibilities are endless.

Your chances of receiving the above benefits is much harder, If not impossible unless you position yourself as an expert.

WOW large numbers of people

Another benefit is that you have the ability to get your message in front of more people. For example, would you rather meet with one potential client/customer a week or dozens? It's a no brainer ... plus, you don't even need to be a great speaker!

How to position yourself as an expert

So how do you position yourself as an expert? It's easy ... here's what you need to do:

1 : Write one new article each week/month

You should sit down at least once a month and write a short, but information packed fitness article. Then send it to your local media, put it on your website, use it in your newsletter, and submit it to other fitness websites.

You can also sometimes get contracts to write articles for magazines, newsletters, journals, other organizations, etc. After 

a while (usually a short while) you'll find that you'll be getting all sorts of requests to use your articles and tons of exposure. There's nothing like being a popular, fitness author!

2 : Speak to groups, classes, seminars, workshops

Way to position yourself as an expert with public speaking.

Here's what you do ...

Go online and do a search for "Adult learning in (your city)". You should come across quite a few organizations that offer numerous classes and workshops for adults. Check them out and see if they are offering any fitness classes.

If not, great ... contact them and offer to teach a class. If they already are offering some fitness classes, that's great too - this means there is definitely the demand and they see the value in offering fitness classes.

Not only will you get the chance to WOW a group of people (possibly your ideal clients), but you will often also receive a commission based on the number of students.

3 : Write a book or produce a video

I know you're thinking that this is too expensive or takes too much time - you're wrong! You can sit down and write a small book in a few weeks. You could even compile all those articles you've written and do a little editing and there you go!

Hiring A Personal Trainer!

This article is presented as the first of a two part series to help you choose a trainer in a rapidly changing environment.

Legislative action to regulate the personal training industry is underway. How fast will changes occur? Remember ephedra? That's how fast we can see a change in the industry.

As a newly nominated member of the National Board of Fitness Experts, a cohort of industry experts in the process of steering the personal training industry towards national standards, this article is presented as the first of a two part series to help you choose a trainer in a rapidly changing environment.

You count yourself among the throngs of baby boomers and seniors that are finally understanding and implementing the message that regular physical activity leads to a healthier lifestyle. Looking to reduce the risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer, you head to the gym in search of fit and healthy lifestyle.

The commitment is made, you're ready to lose bodyfat, increase lean muscle mass and begin down the lifetime path of sound nutrition. And in this quest a certified fitness trainer is hired to help you meet your goals. But, is your newly hired trainer qualified? Certified, yes. But, qualified?

What's The Difference?

Independent fitness trainers have been around for a long time, but became an independent unit of the fitness industry in the 1970s. Just a decade later, personal training was the fastest growing segment of the fitness industry. According to a five-year-old IDEA fact sheet, a company designed to provide trainers a forum for education and services to be effective fitness professional, "there are over 60,000 certified personal trainers practicing in the United States."

Today, the number of trainers is in the hundreds of thousands. Based on that fact, gym members think that gaining access to a qualified trainer is easy. Think again.

As a result of the enormous growth within this segment of the fitness industry, literally dozens of companies have been formed to certify trainers. But, without industry standards, large profit margins can be gained by certification companies that depend on profits from selling certifications programs rather than producing qualified trainers.

Currently, each certification company determines the criteria needed and method off testing to produce certified fitness trainers. And therein is the problem with certification companies. Some are in the business of maintaining a high level of excellence through a complete and continuing education of their clients, while others are simply in the business of making money by selling programs.

However, this is all about to change with new forthcoming legislative action geared towards regulating the personal training industry.

In the meantime, before regulations take place in the industry, you as a gym member in search of a qualified fitness trainer need to look for trainers with certifications from companies that maintain their reputation of selling programs of excellence that produce certified and qualified trainers.

Quality Certification Companies Should:

• Have pre-requisites before candidates sit for the exam
• Offer workshops that last for several days
• Provide valuable educational materials for study
• Have a broad range of company experts that cover a wide range of topics
• Use valid tests given in a sound testing environment
• Be technologically innovative with vast educational materials and online support
• Require continuing education courses
• Offer additional certifications and specializations
• Provide information on the business side of personal training
• Have a Code of Ethics for trainers to follow

Several Legitimate Certification Companies Meet Most Or All Of The Above Criteria:

• National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM)
• Aerobics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA)
• American Fitness Professional and Associates (AFPA)
• International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA)
• American Council on Exercise (ACE)
• American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)
• National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA)

So, you've located a trainer that's obtained a certification from a reputable certification company. Ready to go sign on the dotted line now? Not so fast!

Now, it's time to evaluate that individual trainer. Can you work with him? Will she have the ability to teach you skills that will lead you down the path of improved physical fitness? Remember, not all that are educated are gifted to convey the message. Keep the following points in mind when evaluating an individual trainer.

Certified Personal Trainers Should Possess

• Certification from a quality company.
• Insurance that covers them in all locations in which they train clients. Want to workout in your own home? Be sure your trainer is insured while training in your home as well as in the gym. Not only do you need to be protected in case of injury, but the trainer needs to be insured for damage caused to your home. Ask to see the insurance policy.
• Current CPR and First-Aid training certificates. Most certification companies will require this. But, do they ask for updated CPR certificates?
• Business policies. Work with a trainer that takes the time to obtain your goals, concerns and medical history. A qualified trainer will provide you with written policies that outline your working relationship.
• Professionalism at all times. Trainers should be focused on the needs of their clients. Walk onto the gym floor and just watch. You'll quickly spot trainers that are attentive and those that are easily distracted. Trainers should be on time for appointments, have a groomed appearance, be fit and keep thorough and accurate records of progress.
• An allegiance with local health care professionals. Members of the health care community are well aware of the lack of industry standards in fitness training. When these health care professionals do form an allegiance with a trainer, it's based upon the trainer's skills, reputation for excellence and professionalism.
• References. Be sure to check out the references! And don't be afraid to ask fellow gym members questions about the trainer you are about to hire.
• Enthusiasm

As you venture along your journey towards fitness, remember that choosing a trainer in an industry where instant online certifications can be had for as little as $39.00, will require you to take an active role in the decision making process.

Your health and the ability to remain injury free while engaging in physical activity needs to be given the time and attention it deserves. So, choose a trainer wisely and enjoy the benefits of a vigorous, fit and healthy lifestyle. You deserve it!