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As Americans generally live longer and are more concerned
about their health and physical fitness than ever before,
the demand for fitness trainers is exploding. The field is
expected to grow 27% through 2016. The average annual salary
of a fitness trainer was $34,310 in 2008, but there are other
non-monetary benefits to becoming a fitness trainer. Many
fitness trainers work as much or as little as they want to
by piecing together class instruction at different facilities
with working in clients' private homes. Some go on to management
positions, and all have access to free workout equipment and
classes, which can save a lot of money in gym membership fees.
Fitness trainers develop workout routines for clients.
The main job of a fitness trainer is to develop workout routines
that are both interesting and challenging for their clients.
Some come up with and lead whole class lessons, while others
design activities catering to an individual client's preferences
and needs.
Most fitness trainers have specialties. The workout routines
they design are usually for clients who want to use a particular
form of exercise like aerobics, yoga, tae bo, spinning, weightlifting,
or kickboxing. Fitness trainers who work with individuals
who are concerned primarily with weight loss may develop a
personalized fitness plan that incorporates several forms
of exercise.
Fitness trainers can work in a variety of places.
In addition to gyms and clients' homes, fitness trainers can
find employment in many venues, thanks to the growing trend
of people seeking help to get fit and the aging population
in the United States. Fitness trainers are sometimes employed
by large companies to help their employees stay active. Some
find work in nursing facilities helping the elderly retain
mobility and muscle mass. There, they might lead water aerobics,
stretching, and other low-impact exercise groups. Hospitals
employ fitness trainers to help long-term patients. Still
others work in resorts and country clubs.
Fitness trainers need to be certified.
To be an effective fitness trainer, you must understand how
the body works and responds to various exercises. While aerobics
instructors and personal trainers used to get their jobs by
working out at gyms with their own fitness trainers until
they were ready to teach classes or take on clients, many
gyms now require more formal certification. Some forms of
exercise like yoga and Pilates can be particularly dangerous
if not taught correctly, and certification is almost always
required to be a fitness trainer for certain populations like
children or the elderly.
A good fitness trainer certification program will teach you
about how different systems in the body functions and how
to effectively work each of the major muscle groups. In addition,
fitness trainer programs also teach general health and nutrition
to help their graduates be that much more effective in helping
clients achieve fitness goals.
To see a list of certification programs, check out the Fitness
Trainer Schools directory.
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