Personal Training and Building Your Physique

Getting a Beginner’s Education

All personal trainers have to start somewhere. The good news is that this means you can become a personal trainer even if you have no fitness experience and aren’t in great shape; all you need to do is put in lots of hard work.
Start preparing for a career in this field by independently educating yourself on fitness and training. Read books on the subject, watch training videos and take affordable, relevant classes online or at community colleges near you. Keep a journal of everything you do and learn, and review it regularly to keep things fresh in your mind. If possible, find a personal trainer in your area who is willing to give you advice and guidance. If you can establish such a relationship, you might be able to shadow that trainer on the job or even earn an internship, which would provide you with invaluable experience.

Exploring Specialties, Career Paths and Certification Programs

Because the personal fitness training industry is booming, many trainers are differentiating themselves from their peers by pursuing training specialties. There are dozens of in-demand specialties out there, including physical therapy for people with disabilities and chronic diseases, sports training, massage therapy and weight loss counseling. Research the possibilities and see if any specialties jump out at you as being particularly interesting or close to your heart. If you can choose the right specialty for you, make plans to pursue specialized certification in that area later.

Becoming Fit

Personal trainers don’t need to be hulked with muscle or among the fastest runners in the world, but they do need to be in good shape. Preparation for a career in this field requires that you maintain a healthy diet, exercise regularly and generally maintain good health habits. If you smoke, quit. If you’re a little behind where you should be in terms of fitness, work hard to catch up. If you need help getting there, hire your own personal trainer. Seeing the job from a student’s perspective will teach you a great deal, too.