As each decade passes, more technological advances are taking over physical chores for us, and more Americans—both adults and children—lack physical fitness. Statistics show that even though we spend billions of dollars on fitness equipment and exercise tapes, the majority of us remain unfit. Many start an exercise routine or regimen, but few maintain it over time. Family and job demands make it difficult to find even a few minutes to exercise. Lack of motivation and boredom with a fitness plan also diminish the desire to exercise.
Being physically fit is more than just a fad. It increases both mental and physical health, and helps prevent a myriad of health problems, including heart disease. Personal fitness trainers design custom fitness plans for individuals in such a way to keep clients motivated to stay fit. By guiding clients through their workouts on a regular basis, the probability of their getting bored and abandoning exercise is reduced. If you have the experience and expertise necessary, you can train athletes for the sports in which they compete. You can go to clients' homes, gyms, recreation facilities, or to businesses that have workout areas and equipment for their employees. You can plan fitness personal trainer training sessions or hold classes for groups, or go to schools and day care centers on a contract basis to give exercise classes. Market research will show you what age groups or people would be most likely to use your services.

Start-Up Costs

About $l,000-$2,000.

Pricing Guidelines

Some personal fitness trainers charge from $45 to $130 per session. Others charge $20~$35 an hour for classes. One option is to charge $250 for a six week, twice a week, program that teaches basic exercise principles and techniques (stretching, cross training, prevention of athletic injuries) plus instructs on the proper way to use fitness equipment.

Marketing And Advertising Methods And Tips

* Encourage personal referrals. Arrange for referrals from the gym you belong to. (You may even hold classes or training for members at the gym).
* Give talks, presentations, and demonstrations to community groups, hospital wellness fairs, workers at businesses that promote employee fitness.
* Advertise on local cable television. See if you can have a daily or weekly exercise program.
* Give workshops for coaches.
* Write a weekly column on fitness for your local newspapers.
* Be fit yourself!
* Put together a portfolio of before and after photos of clients.
* Send direct mail to nursery schools, day care centers, and senior citizen centers for fun fitness sessions.

Essential Equipment

A video player, portable tape player, portable fitness equipment (small weights, jump ropes, etc
Balls, hoops, etc., if teaching child
Exercise outfits; audio and video tapes; reference books on physical fitness, weight training, nutrition, games, and exercises; separate telephone line and answering machine or service; business cards; brochures.

Recommended Training, Experience, Or Needed Skills

* Know fitness and exercise basics and sensible nutrition either through your own sports experiences, training, and/or education or from taking community college courses on exercise, nutrition, sports psychology, and athletic training.
* Have a basic knowledge of human or child psychology, which helps you understand what motivates people.
* Enjoy working and teaching the age group(s) with which you are working.
* Become certified by the American Council on Exercise or the American College of Sports Medicine.

Income Potential

$20,000 to $80,000 a year, depending on your credentials, your clients, and what other classes or groups you teach or give talks to

Type Of Business

Most of your time is spent out-of-the-home for training and teaching. Some time is spent in-home managing your business and planning workouts.

Best Customers

Professionals who do not have the time or motivation to exercise by themselves, schools or centers that do not have the funds to hire a full-time exercise specialist, athletes who want specialized training for a competition, individuals who just want to look and feel better or are told by their physician to get into shape.

Helpful Tips

* Be able to design fitness programs that your clients will continue to do on their own. Educate them on the correct way to exercise and how to plan their own exercise programs that are both challenging and fun.
* Have your client's doctor's permission to start an exercise program if they have not been exercising previously.
* Check with your lawyer and insurance agent about liability coverage.

Evaluation Of Personal Fitness Training

Personal fitness trainers give very useful instructions to the individuals who are very conscious about their physical fitness. Personal fitness trainer certification is awarded to those personal fitness trainers who joined the authentic fitness training schools for the different kinds of courses to start the professional career in this field. Online fitness and nutrition personal trainers are giving full training for maintaining the physical fitness and tips of taking essential nutrients via internet services. Personal fitness trainer salary should be estimated in the view of other personal fitness trainers’ salary packages to maintain the reliance of customers. Personal fitness trainer in California has been growing with immense popularity with the modern fitness equipments and machinery. Fitness trainers personal trainer has been earning the profitable amount of wealth by training the people with all essential fitness equipments and tips of having nutrition. Personal fitness trainer insurance provides full protection with the warranty of indemnity in the case of any loss or injuries. Personal trainers fitness involves all kinds of training for maintenance of fitness by giving personal attention to the persons who are interested in physical fitness. Certified personal fitness trainer is very professional and expert to provide the authentic training skills for the learners. If you want to become a personal fitness trainer, you should join a reputable fitness training institute with certified courses so that you may satisfy your clients with your certified and professional skills.