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Do you love your time at the gym? Maybe you can’t imagine going a week without visiting your favorite workout spot a few times.
Perhaps as you’re on your last rep, really feeling the burn, you think, ‘I love this. I wish I could get paid to do this’.
Believe it or not, you can!
Becoming a fitness instructor is one of the smartest and healthiest decisions you’ll make in your life. By devoting your career to fitness, you’ll get to reap all the benefits of a great workout while getting paid to do so.
But there are tons of other reasons why you should consider getting certified!
With a little bit of time and some dedication, you can be part of one of the U.S.’s fastest growing industries.
Keep reading to find out some of the biggest reasons why it’s time for you to make a healthy new career change.
9 Reasons to Become a Fitness Instructor
1. The Fitness Industry is Extremely Lucrative
The first thing you’re probably wondering is just how much money is there in personal training? As it turns out, quite a bit.
In fact, the industry has seen a ton of growth throughout the last few years. The total amount of health club visits in the U.S. went up by a whopping 25% since 2009!
Even better news — the industry is expected to continue growing throughout the next few years.
More people in health clubs means more people working out. And more people working out means more opportunities as an instructor.
Yes, the fitness industry is still extremely competitive like any other business. But more people working out means that there’s enough business for every instructor.
2. Fitness Instructor Training is Quick and Affordable
Okay, the job growth is there, and you like the idea of being your own boss. But how exactly are you supposed to get certified?
Especially if you’re already working, even part time, the money and time necessary seem like a big investment. Well, to some extent you’d be correct.
It will require a small investment of your time, energy, and even money.
But becoming a certified personal trainer doesn’t have to be nearly as costly as you may think. In fact, there are tons of services that offer quick, affordable training online.
In fact, the online certification process is so robust that you can even choose specific subsets of personal training. You may even save money by doubling up on the certification process.
You already practice the discipline each and every time you enter the gym. Why not use that same mindset to invest in your own future?
Best of all, you’ll get to learn at your own pace. There’s no need to stress or worry about the certification process!
3. A Fitness Instructor Sets Their Own Schedule
At one point or another, everyone has dreamed about becoming their own boss.
And when it gets down to it, one of the best things about being your own boss is setting your own schedule. That means that you won’t even have to give up your previous career!
You’ll still get all the time with family and friends you want, as you’ll get to work on your terms and your time.
Some of us work out better during specific parts of the time.
For instance, many of us use working out as a form of stress relief after work. Others prefer to get their day started on the right track with a strong workout.
By setting your own schedule, you’ll get to customize your schedule according to your own preferences. If you’re clever, you may even be able to sneak in a quick workout before!
4. You Get to Help People Change Their Lives
Becoming a fitness instructor means you’ll gain a tremendous amount of power. You can help people change their lives for the better!
One of the absolute best reasons to become a fitness instructor is because it’s so very rewarding.
You may remember the beginning of your own fitness journey. It doesn’t matter if you were overweight, underweight, or just wanted to get leaner. You had to start somewhere.
And as you likely remember, the beginning of that process was no easy journey. It involved a lot of sweat, tears, and dedication.
But you persisted, and you felt a sense of pride like nothing you’ve ever felt before.
Now you’ll have the exact same power to help someone along on their own fitness journey. You’ll get to watch your clients achieve their goals and get a sense of personal pride and accomplishment.
After all, becoming a fitness instructor isn’t just about working out. It’s about the clients and having a tremendously positive impact on their lives.
5. You Can Prevent Injuries
One of the most frustrating things for any gym-goer is seeing someone with improper form. This isn’t snooty, or high-strung, it can be flat out dangerous.
Sore muscles are to be expected. Injuries, however, are an entirely different subject.
And injuries during a workout are common but entirely avoidable. After all, there’s a fine line between pushing yourself and actively harming your body.
You may remember that CrossFit sparked a bit of a controversy last year. The incredibly popular exercise regimen resulted in numerous injuries.
Bloggers and instructors alike came out of the woodwork to try and educate the public.
Thankfully, as a fitness instructor, you’ll have the ability to prevent such unnecessary injuries.
By becoming a fitness instructor, you’ll be able to educate people on how they can safely work out. This includes everything from pre-workout stretching, to a post-workout cooldown.
You’ll have the power to educate the public on how to make their bodies work for them.
6. You’ll Get to Stay in Shape
Why let the clients have all of the fun? Perhaps the biggest perk of becoming a fitness instructor is that you’ll get to stay in shape — and get paid for it.
Between work, family life, and various social obligations, it can be tough to squeeze in a workout. But many fitness instructors get to work out with their clients.
You’ll be able to keep your body and wallet in shape at the same time!
7. You’ll Meet Tons of New People
While working out is fun and rewarding in its own right, one of the nicest perks is getting to be more social. A career in fitness allows you to meet all sorts of people from all different walks of life.
You’ll get to interact with people and form friendships in new and exciting ways.
There are studies that suggest having a healthy social life can be just as beneficial as a great workout. After all, your fitness has to do with more than just your body.
And it’s a commonly held belief that one of the best things an instructor can do for their clients is to bond with them.
Nurturing a professional relationship with a client is great for a few reasons.
First, it helps build a sense of trust and rapport between you and your client. It can be embarrassing, especially for those of us who are overweight, to enter a gym. It’s important that a client is able to trust you.
Second, it can result in referrals. These will be the bread and butter of your career as a fitness instructor. A great relationship with one client means more opportunities down the line.
8. You Have Options
As a fitness instructor, you’ll get to choose what type of fitness you specialize in.
There’s nothing stopping you from becoming a generalist. In fact, it may have its own set of perks. But you’ll do far better if you specialize in one specific thing.
For instance, you can specialize in aerobic training or weight training. You may choose to teach a popular class like Zumba or Pilates.
And what better way to take the stress off of a day than with a great yoga class? You’ll get to help others find a healthier balance while keeping yourself limber.
You may even choose to work with seniors. In fact, senior fitness is quickly becoming one of the largest markets in all of the fitness industry.
Or you can set your focus to a certain set of goals.
If you’d like to help those training for 5Ks or triathlons, for instance, that’s an option. Or if you’re interested in combatting obesity, you can focus on weight loss.
The specializations of an instructor are as wide and varied as the equipment in a gym. It’s all up to you and what your preferences are as an instructor.
9. An Instructor has Job Security
Sadly, obesity rates in the U.S. are only rising. It’s estimated that two-thirds of adults are overweight or obese. While this is a shocking stat, it means that there’s more need than ever for fitness instructors.
This means you’ll have job security wherever you go. Even if you move across the country you’ll be able to continue working as an instructor.
Since job security is one of the biggest factors people look for in a career, make a smart move. Consider getting your certification for personal training today.
Your Career on Your Time
At ExpertRating, we understand how important it is to work at your own pace. That’s why we’ve made the certification process easier than ever.
Become a part of one of the fastest growing industries. Get in touch today and begin your certification process.