Personal training: Overview

Personal training in fitness is an individualized approach to the provision of services that aim at improving the health and fitness of the participants or rather the clients (Subhan, White, &Kane1987). Fitness needs are varied just like the individuals requiring these services. A personal fitness trainer provides training services to the clients according to individual requirements and conditions. He/She acts as a consultant, giving advise according to his/her assessment on the individual’s needs and health conditions. The programs are all designed to fit into different schedules and timetables.

A personal trainer gives services on a one-to-one basis and helps the trainee to achieve his/her set goals, which may include:

• Weight loss.
• Bodybuilding.
• Improving on physical appearance
• Preparations for sporting events.

According to personal training is valuable tool for those who desire fitness coaching and inspiration for goal achievement. Personal trainers can be found in various settings such as health clubs, gyms, and spas as well as in luxury yatches and cruise ships. Gyms are very common in all kinds of establishments such as hotels, learning institutions and member clubs.

Personal trainers are gaining popularity due to an increased awareness levels on the need to remain fit as well as health education programmes offered in the learning institutions which serve to enlighten the citizenry on health matters and their physical well-being. As a result, many are interested in joining health programmes and training therefore contributing to the popularity of personal training as a profession. In the US to practice as a personal trainer requires a certification. A personal trainer may also offer allied services such as:

• Testing for fitness Assessing clients’ lifestyle
• Training partners
• Helping clients to set goals as well as design appropriate programs
• Advising on nutritional requirements
• Assessing on clients progress.

There are several benefits associated with the profession, such as having the unique opportunity to achieve and sustain personal fitness (Carey, & Mason1996). As one helps others to keep fit, he/she will also be involved in the same activities hence he/she will keep fit in the process. It also helps the personal trainer to maintain a healthy lifestyle as a result of working out consistently and routinely.

Being a personal trainer also ensures that one engages in constructive activity when free and avoids idleness (Sherman, 1994). One is exposed to information and techniques of increasing performance in different areas such as endurance, strength, flexibility and so on. When one is involved in these constant activities, maintenance of vigor and stamina comes naturally. In addition, one is able to maintain great body shape and skin tone, and also it is easier to prepare and participate in physical activities such as athletics and sports (Raglin, Morgan, 1987).

Personal training is also a great career and the personal trainer is able to get a lot of satisfaction from helping others, avoid stress as well as anxiety (Maguire, 2000). It is also a good source of income since personal trainers can get to meet both their basic and secondary needs. Kate Williams a personal trainer working in the field of personal training was interviewed on personal training career and she reported that her job is a source of joy and happiness especially due to the effects of seeing a client achieve his/her goal, for example losing weight through exercise and achieving good physical fitness, vigor and stamina.

A personal trainer enjoys a flexible schedule depending on the settings, of where they work. Usually, nights and weekend work is not common (Maguire, 2002). The interviewee noted that, her busiest hours are from 15 hours to 20 hours although some clients are happy with morning workouts as well as early after noon workouts. The interviewee further noted that, she has four morning sessions every week. She has only one session on Saturday and two sessions on Sunday, but all the other days of the week are usually busy for her.

Her schedule is typical to common jobs of personal trainers and their fore the schedule should be viewed as standard representation of personal trainers timetable. Some personal trainers’ schedules are subject to availability of clients. Other trainers work in hotel gyms where they attend to guests and clients who may come at will and therefore they are always available to attend to the clients regardless of their schedules.. There are personal trainers who work for individuals and their working hours are fewer.

The interviewee was of the opinion that, many people should develop interest in personal training career so as to have more people reached out to something that likely to lead to a health and stress free nation. Schools. Personal trainers are required to be certified in personal training aerobics, weight training and other forms of physical training (Johnsgard, 1989). Becoming a personal trainer can be realized by attending training in several institutions that offer this training. There are different courses such as Bachelor’s degrees in exercise science and physical education.

There are also certificates offered in colleges and fitness institutes in America. Every state in America has several institutions that offer personal training. Some of these institutions include:

• FITA fitness, Inc. New port Beach.
• Bryan college- Sacramental/ Gold diver.
• Heritage college-Personal training- Denver
• Heritage institute – personal training- Fort Myers.
• Florida college natural health.
• CNI’s California personal fitness training school.
• National personal training institute.

All the above-mentioned institutions offer quite recommendable personal training programs, which have been of much help to those interested in personal training and have recorded high customer satisfaction levels. The interviewee recalled one of her clients reported that he had lost quite a recommendable amount of body weight, and that the programs had been a great one for him. These institutions also expose their clients to career opportunities of becoming personal fitness trainers by providing the required and relevant education that may result to certificate or degree award.

They employ an approach which is skill based something which helps the graduates to secure jobs in areas like healthcare, massage as well as in technical fields. The interviewee reported that personal training institutions were voted the best in the way they operated and in how they met the goals of their clients. The struggle to have and maintain all the essential facilities that are required for body building exercises and hire the best and qualified personal trainers. Like any other career, personal training provides a source of income to its’ beneficiaries specifically the personal trainers.

Agreement on payment basis is made between the personal trainers and the organizations for example, they may agree that the personal trainers be paid on monthly basis may be an approximate amount of $2,500 a month. In other institutions, payment may be done on daily basis, according to the number of clients who have turned up for the training. In addition, payment rates range on client status, for example students may be allowed to pay a little amount than the staff members, and guests.

This can be demonstrated in the table 1. 1below: Personal fitness training package rates. Number or session Rate per student Staff, Guest (per person) 1 $25 $35 2 $60 $90 5 $95 $125 10 $120 $200 Source: Personal interview. Conclusion Personal training is an interesting career that offers a very good working environment as well as returns. Personal trainers are able to avoid stress and anxiety and usually live relaxed lives due to regular exercises and they are usually physically fit. In addition, personal training is a well paying career and this is a key motivator those interested in that career path.