4 Signs You Would Make A Good Personal Trainer

I know many of you have thought about becoming a personal trainer because you have reached out to me about it! I’m teaming up with ACE to let you know how awesome of a career this can be. I became a certified personal trainer in the spring of 2013 and I have loved it every step of the way but how do you know that being a personal trainer is the right career path for you? Well, besides the obvious things people think of when hearing “personal trainer” (knowing proper form and developing workout plans) below are four signs that might help you determine if you would make a good personal trainer!

4 Signs You Would Make A Good Personal Trainer

1. You love helping others

A lot of responsibility comes with being a personal trainer. Although the actual physical work is up to the client, you must enter the relationship wanting to help them reach their goals. You only see them for a short period of time a few days a week so you have to make that time really count! You need to develop a relationship so you learn what really drives them in order to fully help them realize what they are capable of doing.

2. You love learning about and experimenting with new techniques and tools

Continuing education is an important aspect of being a personal trainer. You should want to learn about all of the new science, workouts, tools, etc not because it is required but because it interests you. You may have to experiment with what works for you and your clients, and not everything will be a good fit, but you should always know what else is out there. It’s important to be familiar with different styles of training because you may need to use a different style of training depending on your client’s background and goals.

3. You live a healthy lifestyle yourself

If you want your clients to adopt healthy lifestyle changes then you should be setting that example. I’m not saying that you have to be super lean, shredded, out lift everyone in the gym, or run a six minute mile but you should live a healthy lifestyle. Most people don’t want a “perfect” trainer, they want someone they can relate to so if you are still on your own journey that is okay!

4. You are a great motivator and encourager

Some people might hire a trainer to prepare for a certain event (wedding, photo shoot, competition, etc.) but many people hire a trainer to learn their way around the gym and also to motivate and encourage them. Most people just need accountability to even show up. Also keep in mind that you might be the only positive influence someone has contact with all day if their friends and/or family are not supportive of them. Lead them and also let them know that you are there for them and, again, set that healthy example!

Shaking your head yes?!

If you are still reading you probably were shaking your head to all of the above because they describe you. That’s great because the demand for personal trainers is very high. It is expected that the employment for personal trainers will increase 13% between 2012 and 2022. Get this - I was shocked to learn that $52,537 was the full-time personal trainer average salary in 2013! Getting paid for doing something that you love and that truly changes lives is a win-win situation. Many of the trainers in the gym that I attend are part-time so you can still have your full-time job and use personal training as a way to make extra money on the side while helping people!

I am a certified personal trainer and I have trained in a small studio setting but most of my training is done online. There are so many different routes you can take with personal training; train clients one-on-one, in small groups, and/or online. Please note that laws governing what you can do will vary by state. The beauty of being a personal trainer is in the overall flexibility of days, hours, clients, etc.

Being a personal trainer is a very rewarding career. There’s nothing better than helping someone reach their goals and accomplish something they never thought possible. As with any career, you will want to do your research to really determine if this is the right fit for you. ACE has created an amazing ACE Personal Trainer Career Guide that talks about many of the statistics mentioned in this article and also different avenues you can take with your certificate.

Ready to read more about the actual certification? You can do that here: ACE Personal Trainer Certification

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of American Council on Exercise. The opinions and text are all mine.

How to Choose a Personal Trainer

Does the free weight section of the gym make your heart pound just thinking about it? Are you new to working out all together? Never fear! There are certified, knowledgeable people that can help you. You just have to find the right one for YOU!

Finding a Personal Trainer that you click with is not an easy task! You will not only rely on this person to help you reach your goals, but to motivate you when you are at your lowest, to encourage with out discouraging and to celebrate your successes with. Don't just call a gym and sign up with the first person they offer - here are a few tips for making sure this relationship is beneficial for both parties involved.

1. Find a Gym

- If you don't already have a gym, you definitely need to find one! If you do, you can skip this section. You will need to determine what type of gym you are interested in spending at least 5 hours of your week, each week in. There are a few types of gyms that offer personal training:

• The Chain Gym (Bally's, LA Fitness, Gold's, etc) - These gyms are typically lower in price and have pools, aerobics classes, childcare and plenty of people for you to make friends with. 
• The Athletic Club - These are typically full-service facilities. Want to be treated like a rock star? At these, you just might! They typically boast spas, cafes, and host a myriad of sports tournaments like tennis, swimming, racquetball and more. 
• The Personal Training Gym - Do you have a gym that specializes only in personal training in your area? The trainers at these gyms tend to be more experienced as they have to have their own clientele to start training - they do not have a pool of interested clients waiting in line at the front desk. Beware: MOST personal training specific gyms require that an individual work out ONLY with their trainer during their time in the gym. You will likely need an additional gym membership if you are not working out with your trainer four to six times per week.

2. Observe the Trainers at Your Gym

- Once you have picked a gym, observe the trainers. Do they pay attention to their clients? Does one trainer's style of coaching seem to be more motivating to you than others? Are they playing on their cell phone the entire session and leaving their client? Are they simply taking the client through exercises utilizing machines? Are the workouts something that you would be excited to try? Do they look different from client to client? Start to develop an opinion on the trainer that you think may work best with you - you are both their to get results for YOU! Remember that!

3. Schedule a Consultation

- Now that you have a trainer in mind, schedule a consultation with one. Here, you will likely go through a "free" workout and discuss pricing options. Here are some questions and/or items to discuss with your potential trainer: 

• Availability - What times can they make? Does that work with your schedule? What happens if you are late? What is their cancellation policy? Do they train more than one client at a time?
• Goals - Have a specific weight loss target? An event that you want to be in prime shape for? Tell them! They MUST know prior to starting so they can structure your workouts to meet these goals. 
• Medical Conditions - Do you have a medical condition that may impede your training? Back injury? Knee injury? Shortness of breath? You MUST disclose this information or you run the risk of further injuring yourself and putting your health at risk. If your trainer DOES NOT ask about this, RUN FAR, FAR AWAY!!
• Workouts - If you enjoy a certain type of workout, ie. circuit training, tell them! Trust me, as a trainer, we would much rather take you through an exercise you enjoy vs. one that you can't wait to end. Be realistic about your current abilities. Know your comfort level with weights and cardio machines and don't be afraid to suggest that you need a lighter or even heavier weight. 
• Pricing - This can definitely stun quite a few people! Gyms often take a hefty percentage of the monies made by personal trainers. Don't run as soon as you hear the price - really think about what is best for your life goals and your wallet. Do you need to cut back in another area of your life to afford the personal trainer? Check into packages - it's often much less expensive to purchase a larger amount of sessions. Your gym may also offer a payment plan. 
• Group Training - All of this making your heart pound? No problem! Perhaps your trainer of choice is willing to train you and a friend - this is often cheaper and a buddy is a good support system. (Watch out though. this can also be a detriment to your workout at times.) The trainer may also host their own larger training classes at night or on a weekend - it can't hurt to ask!

Do you have a personal trainer? What advice would you give to someone looking to hire a trainer?