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.

6 Tips to Get Over Your Fear of the Weight Room

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When I say that I understand what it's like being afraid of the weight room, I am NOT kidding. I am very shy and introverted. I didn't walk into a restaurant by myself until I was in my 20's. The thought of walking into a gym, mostly dominated by men, terrified me. I wouldn't even go into the gym to do cardio...I was terrified of the whole gym! So, I get it BUT I bet your fear is probably not even as extreme as mine was! I know I seem to be talking to you ladies here but some men are shy as well. Men typically don't like the weight area because of the "meathead" type. Although I do believe you can get an amazing workout at home (some of our best She Sweats transformations were made using our at-home plan!), having access to all of the equipment a gym offers is a great benefit! If you have access to a gym, make the most of it! Use these tips to slowly build your confidence to go into the weight room (or even gym for that matter!).

Below are the strategies I used (along with "fake it until you make it") to conquer my extreme fear of the gym. However, I still get anxious if we have to go to a new gym or go at a different time. Although I know what I'm doing, I like the familiarity of the same group of people and going at the same time!

6 Tips to Get Over Your Fear of the Weight Room

1. Join a Small{er} Gym

We live about 20 minutes away from a large gym, which is a good thing because I would probably STILL (to this day) never set foot in a large gym. Luckily, since I started my transformation we've been members at a small local gym (Anytime Fitness franchise). In some aspects this can be a negative thing, we do not have all of the fancy machines and equipment that a larger gym has and the gym doesn't offer very many classes or have any add-on options such as a pool. But for someone who is shy, I've found that this is actually a good thing. There isn't as much space to "learn my way around" and I pretty much know where everything is and how to use it. Just knowing where the equipment is that you need will be a huge confidence booster for you! If you can't join a smaller gym...don't worry...I still have some tips for you!

2. Go When It Is Not As Crowded

Although this may be hard for some people, getting to the gym while it's not very busy will definitely help because you won't feel like everyone is watching you (they aren't anyway!). When we first started working out we went later in the evening (around 9 PM) but then started going right after work. I think going late to begin with was good for me though because it wasn't as crowded. Peak times for gyms are usually before work, during lunch, and right after work. If your schedule allows, go late morning or early afternoon to beat the crowds.

3. Go at the Same Time Each Day

When someone asks "What time should I workout?" my answer is always ANY TIME! Any time that you can workout is the best time to workout. If this means that some days you go in the mornings and other days you go in the evenings that is fine as long as you get it done! However, for someone who has a fear of the weight room going at the same time each day is the best option. When you go at the same time you get to know the people who also workout at that time. Getting to know others around you will make you feel more comfortable and be even more open to asking questions, if needed.

4. Find an Empty Room

Even though our gym is small we do have one classroom. If it isn't being used I will get what I need (don't take all the weights though!) and go into that room to do my workout. When I first stared working out, our gym was in a different location and we actually didn't even have a classroom! There was a tiny area that had a wall that was probably 4 ft high where the trainer's desk, bands and exercise balls were located. Even though it wasn't an enclosed room this space provided me with the privacy that I needed in order to familiarize myself with the equipment and workouts in general. Take advantage of an empty room or space so that you can concentrate on your workout instead of worrying about other people (again, they aren't paying attention to you like you think they are!).

5. Take a Friend

I hesitated to include this one because sometimes a partner is not a good thing. I actually prefer to workout alone but having a friend with you might take some of the pressure off of you. You can navigate the machines and not feel like you are alone. If you do want a workout buddy, try to find one that has your same intensity, schedule, etc.

6. Take a Few Sessions with a Personal Trainer

I am a Certified Personal Trainer and I still do not believe that everyone needs a personal trainer. I honestly think that most people can do this on their own but understand that a personal trainer is necessary in some situations. A situation that comes to mind is someone who is shy in the gym! Even if you don't want to workout with a trainer all the time, see if you can purchase a few sessions so that they can show you around and explain how to use all of the equipment. This will help prevent frustration and possibly injury down the road. After your sessions with the trainer, having a plan in place is the best option so you don't wander around the gym wasting time trying to figure out what to do next. Try one of our She Sweats Workout Plans that lays out exactly what you need to do each day!

Are you scared of the weight room or gym in general? What have you done to overcome your fears?

Let us be your personal trainers with our detailed 4, 6 and 12 week She Sweats Workout plans! We guide your workout each day, telling you exactly what to do and what intensity to work at. We have everything you need! Find out more!

Build Your Home Gym For Less Than $100 + Full Body At Home Workout

Do you have limited time to work out due to a busy schedule? We understand completely! While we suggest that people try to join a gym if possible it’s nice to have some equipment at home for when you can’t make it to the gym or if there isn’t a gym nearby. In most gyms you have options like machines, racks, and cables but you can create a home gym that will get the job done without all the bells and whistles! You can STILL get in a great workout at home. Some of our best transformations have come from our at-home workout plan transformation winners!

Since we want you to #MakeYourMove wherever you are, we want to give you some options of things to keep around the house. Over time you can even add different items and equipment so that you can continue to improve your own gym at home!

BUILD YOUR HOME GYM FOR LESS THAN $100

40-lb Dumbbell Set - $42.99

Resistance Tubes with Handles - $24.99

Anti-Burst Gym Ball - $17.99

You’ll even have some money left over to snag a Speed Rope for $7.99 (it’s great for cardio bursts)!

Although coffee tables (or even the ground!) can work for some exercises, if possible it is best to have a bench to use. If funds and space allow consider adding one of these benches below to your home gym. Bonus, they come with weights!

Crunch Board & Vinyl Dumbbell Set - $89.99

Weight Bench & 80-lb Weight Set - $129.99

If a bench is out of the question and you are a little more advanced, the exercise ball is great for things like curls, chest press, etc. The ball forces you to stabilize your core while performing the movement.

FULL BODY AT HOME WORKOUT

Want a fun new workout to try with your new equipment? We put this Full Body At Home Workout together for you!

You will perform the circuit as listed and repeat the entire circuit 2-3 times (depending on how much time you have).

Band Bicep Curls X 15

Overhead Dumbbell Triceps Extensions X 15

Dumbbell Lateral Raise X 15

Exercise Ball Roll-Ins X 20

Jump Rope 30 Seconds

REST 30 SECONDS

Dumbbell Chest Press X 15

Band Rows X 15

Dumbbell Pile Squats X 15

Exercise Ball Crunches X 20

Jumping Jacks 30 Seconds

REST 30 SECONDS

P.S. You might need a towel to wipe off all of your sweat!

This post is sponsored by FitFluential on behalf of Kohl's.