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McKennah Genovese Fall Research Paper
Project Name : McKennah Genovese Fall Research Paper
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Fitness Trainer
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Don't people feel great after they achieved a work out goal, or just finished exercising? A large amount of those people, however, are not self motivated. They need a push. The job of motivating and helping people achieve their goals is the job of a fitness trainer. Becoming a fitness trainer involves a long process that takes time, effort, and a lot of research. However, if the process is done correctly, the outcome is extraordinary. Fitness trainers are "fitness professionals who assess their clients' fitness needs and help them meet their goals. Some fitness trainers work at health clubs, while others work out of private studios or their clients' homes" (Mercer, 2010, 1). They need to earn certification in various areas before actually teaching and coaching the clients at any of the previously listed places.

As a fitness trainer, it is the trainer's job to help guide clients to achieve their personal goals. The first step that one must do when working with a new client, "is to analyze and test the physical condition of the client" (Kulkarni, 2011, 3). After finalizing those results, the fitness trainer must design a exercise routine for the client to follow. They must be sure they are the most effective exercises for them. Also, the client must understand how to do them. The trainer must be sure the equipment is in "good condition" (Kulkarni, 2011, 4). Every day, the trainer must "track the daily progress record and analyze accordingly" (Kulkarni, 2011, 3). The trainer needs to "be punctual and ensure that the workout routine is followed properly" (Kulkarni, 2011, 4). In case of injury, they must prepare a rehabilitation program. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, the trainer must "provide nutrition and fitness tips to the client to enhance the workout program" (Kulkarni, 2011, 4). Every time one of a trainer's clients step into that gym and workout out, they are decreasing their chances of getting cardiovascular disease or any other serious illnesses.

There are many preparations and certifications that one must have in order to even think about becoming a fitness trainer. First, one "must be disciplined, responsible and have good organizational skills" (Rail, 2011, 1). A fitness trainer must have a positive attitude to the job.  This is essential because the clients will be more focused and have their mind set on reaching their goal to become more like the trainer. On average, "it takes anywhere from 3 to 6 months to study for the certification exam" (Rail, 2011, 2). To even be eligible to take the certification exam, the "usual minimum age to get certified is eighteen. Some even ask that a high school diploma is present" (Rail, 2011, 3). In addition to that requirement, they need to have CPR certification. "You are allowed to get your CPR certification before or during the study period, but you cannot get your trainer certification without it" (Rail, 2011, 4). If you are thinking about becoming an independent contractor prior to getting certified, the person must obtain liability insurance. "Gyms will sometimes cover this for you, but it is still a good idea to have it independently for your own protection" (Rail, 2011, 5). Finally, one must take into account that many organizations will require to have both CPR and AED certification before becoming a fitness trainer. These preparations and certifications that one must accomplish before becoming a fitness trainer are crucial if someone would like to do this as their occupation.

If becoming a fitness trainer sounds interesting, then taking time to research various schools is pivotal. There are many schools all over the country, and even some in Canada, to choose from. The tuition to enter these schools varies, however. The average tuition to enter colleges with this major available is $12,834.00 (Anonymous , 2011 C, 1) per year. That tuition does NOT include the dorm and the board of the school. Where can one find a school? There's hundreds and hundreds of schools out there. The hard part, however, is choosing the right one. Research the school very well before deciding. Some examples of schools in California are the National Personal Training Institute in Costa Mesa, the National Personal Training Institute in Dublin, Bryan College in Los Angeles, the California Healing Arts College in Los Angeles, Bryan College online, Carrington College California in Pleasant Hill, Byran College in Sacramento, Mueller College in San Diego, the National Personal Training Institute in San Diego, the National Personal Training Institute in Santa Monica, PCI Online, and the National Personal Training Institute in West Sacramento (Anonymous, 2011 B, 1). But, those are just all of the options in the state of California. There are many more colleges and institutes that are out there. It's not limited just to the state of California.  Be vigilant and do the research! It will be worth it in the end. 

The salary for this occupation varies, depending on how much education and what degree is earned. For example, people who only have a high school diploma make only make $45, 516 annually, and $22.14 per hour (Anonymous, 2010, 2). That annual rate slowly climbs up if a Master's Degree is earned. If someone obtains an Associate's Degree, the salary increases to $47,356 annually, and $23.39 per hour (Anonymous, 2010, 2). Next, if the person receives a Bachelor's Degree, the pay jumps up to $50,597 annually, and $24.42 per hour (Anonymous, 2010, 2). Finally, obtaining the highest degree, which is a Master's Degree, enables the pay to rise to $67,287 annually, and $31.77 per hour (Anonymous, 2010, 2). At the end of the year, though $67,000 may sound like a lot, it is not as much as it seems. A big portion of that annual pay goes towards taxes, bills, and other places of need. Choosing the right path, and the right amount of education, is the best, safest way to go when dealing with the occupation of a fitness trainer.

Careers in fitness training are growing very quickly, and increasing in the pay each year. "Since people are becoming more aware of health issues everyday and want to change the way they live, now is a good time to seek a career in personal fitness training" (Stein 2007, 2). Because the public is becoming more aware of the health problems people are having, such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and many more serious and fatal illnesses, the demand for becoming a fitness trainer is skyrocketing. Why is this so? More people want to get into exercising to reduce the risk of these diseases, however, many are not motivated by themselves. They need to be motivated and pushed by another person, and who do they go to? A fitness trainer. The fitness trainer keeps them on track and on task to what they must be doing at that certain point and on that certain day. The public realizes that being a fitness trainer is like owning a business. The more clients or customers that are generated only leads to more money. If the trainer achieves results and is passionate about the job, clients will remain loyal and word of mouth will spread. This will create a vast client base and solidify a solid career in a society that demands better health. Clearly, there will be a growing demand for becoming a fitness trainer in the coming years as people are choosing a healthier lifestyle.

Several innovations have been newly introduced to this occupation. There are new, entertaining workout programs to vary clients exercise routines. There is also innovative, cutting-edge equipment appearing on the market to enhance the training experience. There is even rehab equipment, like the Anti-Gravity treadmill, if the client happens to become injured. Also, companies are expanding further in the exercise field. For example, "Life Fitness," is a company that is leading more new trends in exercise technology.  It has been in business since 1977, "when the company produced the world's first piece of electrical fitness equipment, the LifeCycle Exercise Bike" (Peplin, 2011, 1). This year, the company is introducing a new piece of technology. They are "preparing to officially announce the release of the first-ever iPhone app to work in direct communication with their premier line of cardio machines" (Peplin, 2011, 1). The equipment will send workout results directly to the phone, and it is quite simple to keep track of the workout for that day. It's very handy for a fitness trainer to have connected with their client, for that exact reason. For exercisers that cannot workout without music encouraging them, there is a special feature to this just for them. "Two playlists are pre-loaded in the app but unfortunately, they are not free. Each playlist can be purchased for $3.99 a mix. Along with music, the app also arrives with 12 free pre-programmed workouts ranging from “Tuesday’s Fat Burn Treadmill” to “Beach Body 15 min Bike Workout.” A bevy of additional recommended programs are available for purchase at $2.99 each. For iPhone users without access to gym equipment, for only $0.99 the “Outdoor Workout” feature utilizes GPS to track the time, place, and distance of a walk, run, or bike ride" (Peplin, 2011, 6).
In conclusion, the job of a fitness trainer is an admirable and rewarding profession to pursue. The requirement for the amount of schooling that one needs is strictly up to that person. However, remember that the annual salary and health benefits increase with each degree obtained. If one does NOT like working around others and helping people day in and day out, this job is not the right job. With the demand of becoming a fitness trainer increasing each year, it would be smart to get involved with this occupation soon. Personal gyms, commercial gyms and fitness studios are increasing each year.  Getting in on the ground floor can lead to a solid professional career filled with opportunities. Also, over time, there will continue to be new and improved equipment and innovations coming to market  that help with training and keeping the personal training field fun and exciting, not only for the clients but for the trainer as well. The hard work and amounts of time spent into becoming successful in this occupation will be worthwhile when it is all over.

There are, however, many positives and negatives to getting involved in this occupation. The positive side to this occupation, to me is, helping others achieve their personal fitness goals. It can be very gratifying to see clients reach higher fitness levels and gain self esteem.  Another positive side to this occupation, that I see, is the flexibility of work hours. This is a very advantageous perk to this job. Clients can be scheduled to work around my own schedule. This is especially beneficial if I were to have kids or school to attend to.  The final benefit to becoming a fitness trainer is, the love of exercise. The trainer is consistently involved in weights and cardiovascular exercises. This keeps the trainer personally motivated in order to be a role model for clients and gym members. I, as a trainer,  would always be motivated to stay in peak shape. In contrast, however,  there are negatives to this occupation. One negative is the annual salary. It does not pay enough for me personally. "Your average trainer only makes $29,000 a year" (McCombs, 2011, 1). However, if I pursued a higher degree of education, then the annual pay increases to a higher amount, which improves it as a career choice. To sum up, this job has more levels to it than it would seem and it is incentive based. I have learned, if a trainer pursues the job with vigor and extreme effort, personal fulfillment and a secure income can be achieved.
Bibliography:
1. Anonymous 2010. "2010 Salary Survey Results." Web.
http://www.acefitness.org/salary/

2. Anonymous 2011 B. "Physical Trainer Schools." Web.
http://www.naturalhealers.com/qa/personaltraining.html

3. Anonymous 2011 C. "Education." Web.
http://www.myfuture.com/careers/education/39-9031.00?ss-region=1&Update=Update&location_search=region&cs-major%5B%5D=13.1314&type-ten=size

4. Kulkarni 2011. "Personal Trainer Job Description." Web.
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/personal-trainer-job-description.html''

5. McCombs 2011. "Personal Fitness Training Marketing Strategies, Techniques, Ideas, and Tips." Web.
http://www.kickbacklife.com/personal-fitness-training-internet-marketing/
6. Mercer 2010. "Personal Fitness Trainer Information." Web.
http://www.livestrong.com/article/76364-personal-fitness-trainer-information/

7. Peplin 2011. "Life Fitness To Introduce New Technology With 'Virtual Trainer' App." Web.
http://tincmag.com/2011/06/23/life-fitness-to-introduce-new-technology-with-%E2%80%9Cvirtual-trainer%E2%80%9D-app/

8. Stein 2007. "Personal Fitness Trainer Job Description." Web.
http://www.degreesource.com/articles/82/1/Personal-Fitness-Trainer-Job-Description/Page1.html

9. Rail 2011. "Requirements." Web.
http://www.ehow.com/facts_4855903_personal-trainer-certification-requirements.html

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