Those of you who work or have worked in the diverse industry of fitness will be well aware of the unique, fulfilling and evolving job Personal Trainers have and the positive effects you can have on the people and communities they serve.
For those of you looking to embark on a career in fitness and seeking insight into the typical day of a Personal Trainer then this is the article for you. Or if you already work as a Personal Trainer you can get some ideas about what other like-minded fitness professional do on a day-to-day basis.
TRAINFITNESS have interviewed two successful Personal Trainers, asking them to give use their view of ‘being a Personal Trainer’. These two very different yet talented Personal Trainers, have created niche products as PT’s as well as offering a wider range of services to diverse markets in their local areas.
Neil Cann
Business name
Pendulum Kettlebell Club
County you work in
Bedfordshire
Are you employed or self-employed?
Both
Qualifications
CYQ Level 2 Certificate in fitness instructing
CYQ Level 3 Personal Trainer
FIE Certificate in Kettlebell training
FASTER Advanced Functional trainer
Why did you want to become a personal trainer?
I wanted to become a personal trainer because I felt that it was my calling in life. I grew up as a son to a competitive bodybuilder, so have been around fitness, gyms and bodybuilding competitions since the age of about 6 years old. I was an active sportsperson as a youngster with athletics, track and field being my favourite sporting past times. I was rarely beaten and was able to apply my competitive nature to my fitness training as an adult, reaping fast measurable results. In 2010 I discovered Kettlebell training, and this was the turning point when I realised I had discovered something truly unique that I wanted to passionately share with others in order to allow them to experience the life changing results I had received. My body fat was dropping, my muscular tone was increasing, my self-confidence was growing and my quality of life was far better than I had previously thought possible. Personal training would be my way to ‘share the love’ and do what was inherently second nature to me.
Can you give an overview of your business?
My business is working in the fitness industry. In order to do that, I diversify my services to meet the market. Some clients prefer one on one training and others prefer group exercise, so I offer both in order to make my services available and accessible to all. My management role allows me to share my experiences with others and keep a commercial outlook. It also gives me a dependable, and regular form of income, which helps stabilise the financial side of the business.
Can you tell us what your roles are in the fitness industry?
Freelance Personal Trainer
Freelance group fitness instructor
Part time Health and fitness manager
Private hire Kettlebell class instructor
On average, how many hours a day do you spend Personal Training?
15-20 hours per week
What times does your average day begin and end?
8:00am start, 9:30pm finish, with varying vacant slots in between
How much do you charge per hour?
My hourly rate varies depending on the level of commitment from a client. I give discount for block bookings and also reward long-term loyalty with discounted rates. My rates vary between £25- £40 per hour
What is it like training such a variety of different personalities/backgrounds?
It is challenging training different types of people, however the whole concept of personal training is that the training and exercise prescription should be tailored to accommodate each individual’s needs. I spend a great deal of time during a consultation doing a needs analysis that probe deep into my client’s aspirations and emotional state. This allows me to really work with them and their personal preferences, increasing the quality of our relationship and indirectly their chances of success.
What is it like to train a spectrum of different fitness levels?
Very interesting. I discovered the term regression during training for a group fitness class, early on in my career and although I was familiar with the concept of adapting exercises to purpose, I had never considered how important it was to quickly adapt a training program with little or no notice. Use of regressions and progressive conditioning are the key to getting the most from people of all skill levels. Although exercise has and will continue to evolve, dynamic moving training still applies to a beginner and an advanced athlete. One client may do push ups on their knees and one may do weighted dips, my philosophy of prioritising closed chain movements before applying open chain remains the same. Mastering bodyweight before loading with isolated movements!
What do you love most about your job?
The environment… I work with clients who have a desire for self-improvement. The whole environment promotes emotional and physical self-improvement. I love that about the fitness industry.
Are there any aspects of your job that you don’t enjoy?
The disappointment of unreliable clients. They largely affect the cash flow of your business. The feeling of investing emotional time into a client who you know could achieve their goals if only they had self-belief and commitment. This can be disheartening, however, smart planning and encouraging block session helps to encourage commitment and aids management of this type of ‘drop-out’ which is key to overcoming this unavoidable element of personal training.
Where do you see yourself in 15-20 years?
Working in a strategic role within a large Fitness organisation, private or public sector. Six pack hopefully still intact!!
Hazel Anderson
Business name
Work at Maidstone YMCA with plans to launch own business alongside Anderson Personal Training & Nutrition
County you work in
Kent
Are you employed or self-employed?
Employed
Qualifications
Level 3 Personal Trainer
GP Exercise Referral Instructor
Les Mills Bodypump
Group Indoor Cycling
Power plate
Level 3 Diploma in Mat Pilates
Why did you want to become a personal trainer?
I spent 10 years working in a London office, which is something I said I would never do. After having my second child I started thinking about a career change, I wanted to do something that I enjoyed but could also work around my children.
Having always been into fitness I decided to train to become a Personal Trainer. I lost 3stone after my first two pregnancies and felt I could help others to do the same.
Can you tell us what your roles are in the fitness industry?
I work two days per week at the Maidstone YMCA gym where I design fitness programmes, work with GP referral clients, run a class for over 50’s, as well as teach HIIT classes, spin and Bodypump. The rest of the week is spent with personal training clients, and teaching more classes. I am also a Mum of 3 children.
On average, how many hours a day do you spend Personal Training?
At present I personal train 10 hours per week around my gym role and classes.
How much do you charge per hour?
I charge £25-£30 depending on location.
What is it like training such a variety of different personalities/backgrounds?
Amazing! I absolutely love meeting new people and working with my current clients, each with different goals, abilities, personalities. It keeps the job so interesting.
What is it like to train a spectrum of different fitness levels?
It has helped me to continue developing my knowledge in the industry. I train clients who love using HIIT but also train clients who suffer from conditions such as osteoporosis where many adaptations are needed.
What do you love most about your job?
Everything! The people, the buzz of classes, the sense of pride when my clients reach their goals. Being a good role model. I love the nutrition aspect and GP referral.
Are there any aspects of your job that you don’t enjoy?
No! I can truly say I love my job. I feel very lucky!
Where do you see yourself in 15-20 years?
I would like to become an Advanced Instructor in Bodypump, develop my own Personal Training/Pilates business.
