Personal Training Business » personal trainer profession

The Future of Fitness

Johnny Fitness — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 23:44:31 +0000

8 Ways the Personal Training Industry Will Change in the Next Decade

Increased acceptance of the link between exercise & health will create huge demand for exercise professionals.

The fitness industry, while still in its infancy, is changing at an accelerate rate. The next 10 years will be a crucial period, one where the importance of our industry will become widely accepted and increased pressures and demand for our services will force us out of our infancy and into childhood and greater maturity.

While that maturity will manifest itself in several positive trends, other negative trends will continue and even increase at the same time. Each one of these trends represents MAJOR OPPORTUNITIES for the personal trainer who is ready to meet them head on.

Prevention vs. Treatment- Doctors can heal you when you are sick, but a great personal trainer can prevent you from getting sick in the first place. Personal trainers understand this, and the world will too in the next decade. As much as 75% of our health care costs are due to preventable lifestyle related diseases, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and obesity. Corporations and small businesses will continue to invest more and more in the health of their employees, while health insurance companies will continue to increase rewards for people who engage in healthy activities. This will create major opportunities for entrepreneurial trainers. Unfortunately, despite this increased focus on prevention and exercise, the rate of obesity will continue to increase until the commercial food industry is radically transformed

Health & Fitness Professionals Will Integrate- The number of personal trainer, doctors, physical therapist, nutritionists, massage therapists, and chiropractors who work together to provide comprehensive solutions for their clients/patients will increase dramatically. This increase will be driven by the fact that this trend is both good for business and great for the patient/client.

Increased injuries, in particular chronic joint pain, will increase the number of lawsuits, as well as the demand for personal trainers who work with physical therapists and know how to train people post rehab.

Dramatic Increase in Exercise Related Injuries & Lawsuits, Creating Increased Pressure for Regulation- the explosion of group fitness and bootcamps , in particular ones with ineffective screening methods and a “high intensity for everyone” mentality, will result in an exponential increase in injuries caused by personal trainers and increase lawsuits. Coupled with the increased pressure from the public to make exercise take less time and an increasingly unhealthy/sedentary population, these injuries may reach pandemic proportions, which will increase the pressure on lawmakers to regulate the industry. The increased use of Exercise Games, such as the Wii Fit, will also increase the number of injuries people sustain each year while exercising, but also help some people get in shape while having fun.

The Rate of Obesity Will Continue to Increase- while 60% of Americans are already either overweight or obese, this number will creep up towards 80% by the end of the decade. This trend will not turn around until the commercial food industry is changed and proper nutrition, health, and exercise is made a priority in the lessons taught throughout the education system from Kindergarten through High school. The increased rate of obesity will result in new kinds of “obesity lawsuits” and new tactics by other institutions to curb the trend. These attempts will be, for the most part, ineffective.

The quality of food we eat has to get better for the obesity rate to decrease.

The Number of Personal Trainers with Small Businesses Will Increase- due to the increased need/demand for our services, the primary role of a leading personal trainer will be that of educator, community exerciser, and consultant. To meet this demand, more trainers will become self-employed and start businesses, allowing them to create new and effective solutions, while making more money, without the constraints and restrictions of the existing corporate fitness powerhouses. More personal training only studios will go into business each year, and more personal trainers will be working full time and making a successful career in the industry (many trainers are part time right now). Most importantly, more personal trainers will team up with others in the technology industry to create effective tools and software to help keep track of their client’s goals, exercise routine, lifestyle, and diet, helping these trainers reach more people.

Major opportunites abound, including the opportunity of making a career out of helping people change their lives for the better.

Childhood Obesity & Diabetes Will Continue to Increase Dramatically- children will become a critical population in need; the reduction of physical education programs, combined with the commercial food served in most schools (and everywhere else), will result in epic levels of childhood obesity and diabetes. This trend will be a major opportunity for personal trainers who want to make a difference. The critical role of daily exercise, not sports, for increased self-development, maturation, and health will become an integral part of any school that wishes to buck this trend, and savvy personal trainer will help schools integrate these principles into the foundation of their curriculum.

New Kinds of Competitions & Challenges- new kinds of races and competitions will increase over the next decade. While the increase in endurance and ultra-endurance races have already increased dramatically, the need for large scale community solutions for the average JOE will create the need for a great number and variety of lower intensity races and competitions. Personal trainers will use these competitions and other kinds of social events that take place outside of a gym to increase the commitment and accountability of their clients. These trainers will achieve great results with their clients.

More “Fitness Coaches” Who Are Not Personal Trainers- more non personal trainers will become involved in the personal training industry. Programs like Team Beachbody will increase the number of “fitness coaches” who serve the purpose of increase accountability and motivation, not exercise prescription, technique, or program development. These coaches will provide a great referral network for personal trainers.

I hope you are prepared to harness these trends and make a difference!

Less Time For Exercise?

One other quick note. ACE (American Council on Exercise) did an annual survey to predict the trends for next year. The biggest trend they found was that people would be looking to spend less money and less time on exercise due to tighter budgets and hectic schedules, and that the most successful trainers would adapt to these trends.

I couldn’t disagree more! They are a great organization, but I definitely beg to differ in this case.

While it is important to meet the demands of the market, it is also important to educate our clients. The simple fact of the matter is that catering to highly impractical demands is negligent. One of our jobs as educators is to diffuse unrealistic expectations immediately. So when a sedentary client who is over worked, over stressed, and undernourished comes in and says “I have 30 minutes to exercise 2x/week, work me out as hard as you”, we say “Hell NO!” not “Yes of course, the client is always right”. If we cater to these impractical demands, we risk a much greater chance of injury and mediocre results, not to mention invalidation.

Our job is to protect our clients from themselves and give them a better understanding of reality. Yes, we need to adapt to market forces, but within reason. The most successful trainers will have the best clients, clients who listen to them and are empowered by them. Successful personal trainers are not bossed around by their clients nor do they adapt to their unrealistic expectations.

As the personal trainer, you are the LEADER!

I do agree that these market forces will increase the number of cost conscious gyms and group exercise offerings.

What do you think? Leave some comments and let us know!

What are your expectations for the next decade in the fitness industry?

What trend will you try to take advantage of?

How will you be helping people achieve their goals 10 years from now?

Until next time, keep your business fit.

Johnny Fitness

Professional Personal Training

Johnny Fitness — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 15:22:33 +0000

How to Make a Career as a Professional Personal Trainer

Have you ever wondered?

• Can personal training really be a career?
• What is the average salary of a personal trainer?
• How much money can I make as a personal trainer?
• How do I make a career out of personal training?
• Is there a difference between a personal trainer and a fitness professional?
• What is the fastest way to build my fitness career?

From Part-Time to Full-Time to Career

That is the path many of us take.

I overheard my friend, a trainer, talking the other day about how he got into being a personal trainer. Like most of us, he started part-time, after a while he was able to build up to being a full time personal trainer. Now he is making a career as a very successful trainer.

My path was very similar! I didn’t look for a job in a gym because I wanted to make a career out of personal training, I just loved exercise, wanted to have a gym to workout in, didn’t have any money for a gym membership, and needed a job (because of that “didn’t have any money” part.J)

I suspect that most personal trainers are the same. Yes, some of us out there went to college for personal training (and that trend is growing fast), but most of us naturally gravitated towards the industry for similar reasons;

• “I can’t work behind a desk!”
• “I love working with people and helping them reach their goals!”
• “I love working out, being active, and playing sports!”

Where does this passion for health, fitness, and exercise come from?

Often it is based on our own experience with the transformative powers of exercise. I personally went from a scrawny, shy, fearful kid to a successful, happy, fit, and confident personal trainer with an awesome career and celebrity clients.

And you can too!

As long as you have that passion, are committed to investing in yourself with continuing education, and have a sincere desire to help people, then you can have a very successful career in this industry. Recently, I have heard a lot of trainers telling me they are frustrated with their business and need more clients. They are barely working or working part-time and really just want to help more people.

If this sounds like you, I hope you are encouraged by the idea that most trainers started out the same way! I didn’t train full-time until 2 years into my fitness career (I was a full-time student in college at the time).

Focus on Helping Others and the Money Will Follow

If you are just getting started, take it one step at a time. Even if you only have one client, work hard to consistently exceed that client’s expectations, and more clients will come. Our industry is literally exploding right now, right along with our nation’s average belt size, the number of people who need your help is increasing rapidly;

• According to IDEA Health & Fitness, the personal training industry grew 21% from
1996 - 2000, and continues to grow, coincidentally, with the United States obesity rate which has increased every year for the past ten years.
• According to the Center for Disease Control, 67% of Americans are either overweight or obese!
• Not to mention that there are plenty of people with “skinny genes” who are still really unhealthy (although these people are less likely to seek our help until later on when their bodies literally start breaking down.)

There is so much opportunity out there but because our industry is relatively new and unorganized, there are very few examples of successful personal trainers who have already blazed the path. Our job is just coming to the forefront of our national conscience as the obesity epidemic explodes and the limitation of “sick care” (waiting until someone is already sick) is becoming more apparent to the masses.

The 3 Keys to Building a Successful Career in Personal Training

All you need to build a successful career is to:

Continually investing in yourself with good education.

Realize and harness the power of exercise to transform people.

Be passionate about helping people.

The money, success, and lifestyle will follow if you focus on helping people first.

When I Grow Up, I Want to be A Personal Trainer!

Has anyone ever heard a child say this?!

I know I haven’t (if you have, leave a comment at the bottom, I would love to hear about it). As trainers, we are often mocked by popular media. And our industry is just getting started.

I want future generation of children to say it, as much as they say it about being a fireman, policeman, doctor, astronaut, or pilot.

Why? Because we are just as important, creative, and powerful as anyone of those jobs, if not more so!

But in order for that to happen, we must push our industry forward, hold ourselves and our clients to the highest standards, and redefine what it means to be a professional personal trainer. Even if you are just getting started, it is always a good idea to start with the end in mind and dream big.

Unfortunately, there are a lot of personal trainers out there who give the profession a bad name because they are not passionate about helping people and/or committed to learning. They are stuck in the same pattern and the same way of training, whether it is due to a large ego or imbalanced self-image or who knows. They don’t realize that there is a BIG difference between 15 years experience, and 1 year of experience repeated 15 times!

This is a challenge, because we must overcome people’s preconceived notions of what a personal trainer is, but it is also an opportunity to differentiate ourselves and rise to the top. The best way to do that is to set a high standard for yourself and build a business around that foundation.

What is a Professional Personal Trainer?

Have you ever asked yourself this question? If you have not, now is a great time to do so. Defining your own mission statement, moral code, and standard of practice will provide the foundation of a successful personal training career.

Below is “The Client Bill of Rights”, a set of standards I hold myself up to when working with clients. I expect all of my trainers to exceed these standards as well. For my business, this is the minimum standard of professionalism, not the maximum, and must be met consistently.

The Client's Bill of Right’s states that the client is entitled to a personal trainer who:

Continually Tracks Your Progress and Goals as They Evolve.

Helps You Define & Achieve Goals that are S.M.A.R.T (specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and timely).

Keeps You Engaged With Fun & Interesting Workouts.

Stays Attentive and Focused Every Session.

Confirms Every Appointment.

Has Excellent Communication and Listening Skills.

Provides Safe and Effective Workouts.

Effectively Teaches You Exercise Knowledge (so you know how to work out better on your own.)

Is Always On Time, Prepared, With Good Hygiene and Looking Professional.

Has Good Availability for Your Schedule, Rarely Cancels, and Provides Advanced Notice When Canceling.

Responds to all Email, Text Messages, and Voice Mail Communications Promptly.

Provides Motivation, Inspiration, and Leadership.

Consistently Provides a Customized Workout Program.

Challenges You to Work Out on Your Own, Be More Self-reliant with Exercise, and Addresses Lifestyle Habits.

Comprehensively Addresses Your Health and Fitness by Collaborating with a Network of Health Professionals.

You may not agree with everything above, and that is totally cool. Not ever fitness business should be the same. But go ahead and take what you like from above, change it, add whatever you feel is necessary for your business, and make a commitment to that standard. (I would love to hear what you are adding or changing in the comments below. Let me know!)

Professionalism: The Ultimate Sales Tool And Fastest Way to Building Awesome Client Relationships

Print out your own “Client Bill of Rights”. Share it with potential clients. Write a blog post about it, or put it into your mission statement on your website. I like sharing this “Bill of Rights” with prospects who are about to buy, right before I ask them what size package they would like to invest in.

It is great to have a printed version to give to them, something for them to look at when they go home because it:

assure them that you are committed to their success.

different than the average personal trainer.

leaves them with something to take home and remind them of their experience with you.

I also put my business logo and picture on it; I think it sends a powerful message that I am committed to these standards and their success. By showing them your level of commitment, it will inspire them to step their game up and make the commitment to themselves!

The “Client Bill of Rights” is also a good tool to weed out bad prospects. Ideally, you will have weeded out anyone who is not serious about training before giving them a complimentary session to avoid wasting your time. So before setting up a complimentary session, share it with them, and ask them if they will be able to match your level of commitment! This is a great way to turn the tables on them; they aren’t shopping for a good trainer, you are shopping for a good client :)

Yes, you will scare off some people, but the people who stick around have great potential, and if you help them realize that potential, more clients will follow naturally. Turning the tables in this way helps not only weed out bad prospects that are a waste of time, but will inspire and attract good prospects.

I hope this is helpful, will inspire anyone who is frustrated out there to stick with it, and provide a path for creating more success in your life.

Our Personal Training Business Software, when used with the "Client Bill of Rights", is a great way to stay organized and accelerate your pace down the path to success and happiness.

Leave me some questions in the comments and I will get right back to you. SHOW ME YOU ARE ALIVE!

• Why did you become a personal trainer?
• Did you/do you plan on making this a career?
• What challenges are you facing?
• What stage are you in your career development?
• What other professionals, personal trainer or otherwise, helped inspire you to become a trainer?

Until next time, keep your business fit.

Johnny Fitness