What you need to be a successful personal trainer

A woman and her personal trainer.

The rise in lifestyle diseases and medical costs has made physical fitness an unavoidable necessity.

More people are looking for ways to make exercise a part of their daily routine, which has led to the proliferation of gyms and personal trainers in malls and residential areas.

A personal trainer designs a specific workout programme, offers professional fitness advice, motivates and instructs clients on systematic steps to help them achieve their exercise goals.

Jeff Anthony, an author, Big Brother Africa Kenya representative and the founder of Jeff’s Fitness Centre, spoke to Hustle about what it takes to become a personal trainer.

What you’ll need:

1. Get certified

The first rule to becoming a fitness trainer is to get certification from a reputable fitness institution or learning institution.

“Getting certified gives the trainer general knowledge on how to disseminate information and introduce gradual fitness challenges into a client’s workout programme,” Jeff says, adding that it also adds to your credibility.

2. Believe in fitness

It will be difficult to be a personal trainer if you’re not a firm believer in the benefits of exercise and fitness.

According to Jeff, it is important for a trainer to be practically enthusiastic about fitness and work out regularly. Witnessing their instructor’s physical and mental health that’s a result of a consistent fitness regimen will inspire clients, he says.

3. Be well informed on nutrition

In addition to being conversant with physical fitness, Jeff says, it is essential to know the nutritional combinations that contribute to the success of personally designed workout programmes.

“Constant reading and research of the latest reports from reputable websites on food combinations will help improve the results your clients get. Healthy eating is as much a part of a healthy lifestyle as exercise is.” 4. Know your fitness equipment

Being a fitness trainer requires continuous interaction with various fitness equipment, from treadmills and elliptical striders to dumbbells and barbells. You’ll need to know what the equipment does to better formulate a regime for your clients that tackles their problem areas.

“But keep in mind that while the knowledge of equipment is necessary, most clients prefer private personal training that doesn’t necessarily require the use of advanced machines. The most effective yet affordable workout equipment include the skipping rope, which costs less than Sh500 in most retail stores, the roller that costs less than Sh1,500, and the punching bag that costs about Sh14,000,” says Jeff.
“These are the best calorie burners, and when used intensively, produce astounding results.”

5. Professionalism

Jeff advises that you have broad knowledge of your industry to build rapport with your clients who’ll respect your knowledge.

“However excellent a physical trainer is, arrogance and inappropriate banter will sabotage their work and that of fitness trainers they’re affiliated to. Further, ignorance generally negates intelligence and breeds mistakes.”

6. Seek professional help when necessary

Occasionally, you’ll be required to seek professional advice from doctors regarding the ability of your clients to take part in a workout programme.

“A person with high blood pressure and diabetes requires clearance from a physiotherapist to take on a workout programme. Don’t try to fix serious health problems with exercise without seeking the advice of qualified medical professionals first,” says Jeff.