New Career in fitness (advice)

**maria** · 19-05-2009 06:57 PM

Hello.
This is my first post so im sorry if theres already a post about this, I did look but couldnt find anything.
Im looking for a change of career from care,

to fitness. But I have had so much conflicting advice that I thought I would find out from people who actually work in the industry.

I would love to be a personal trainer, but I would be more interested in teaching aerobics, boxercise etc.
Any advice for me please

**dope540** · 19-05-2009 07:00 PM

luffers, Martin Brown, James Copping may be able to off advice as they do personal training

**Luffers** · 19-05-2009 09:40 PM

Quote

Originally Posted by maria

Hello.
This is my first post so im sorry if theres already a post about this, I did look but couldnt find anything.
Im looking for a change of career from care,

to fitness. But I have had so much conflicting advice that I thought I would find out from people who actually work in the industry.

I would love to be a personal trainer, but I would be more interested in teaching aerobics, boxercise etc.
Any advice for me please

To teach boxercise or aerobics you only need to be certified to level 2, it would be worth doing a reps recognised course as more employers will be available to you. I did a course that combined level 2 and 3 together but is not a reps certified course. As such I would not get a job at David Lloyd, Fitness First, Esporta and maybe others, however there are gyms that do not require reps such as JJB's or L.A fitness. I would recomend you find the cheapest course available as level 2 is not difficult. Don't pay more than approx £700.

When you have done your level 2 you would then need to do a 1-2 day course to teach either of your chosen classes. Cost's vary but expect to pay up to £300.

The course I did cost £600, being a personal trainer is a great job, I have not been doing it long, the hours can be long but if you love being in the gym then who cares!

Good luck.

**maria** · 20-05-2009 12:12 PM

Quote

Originally Posted by Luffers

To teach boxercise or aerobics you only need to be certified to level 2, it would be worth doing a reps recognised course as more employers will be available to you. I did a course that combined level 2 and 3 together but is not a reps certified course. As such I would not get a job at David Lloyd, Fitness First, Esporta and maybe others, however there are gyms that do not require reps such as JJB's or L.A fitness. I would recomend you find the cheapest course available as level 2 is not difficult. Don't pay more than approx £700.

When you have done your level 2 you would then need to do a 1-2 day course to teach either of your chosen classes. Cost's vary but expect to pay up to £300.

The course I did cost £600, being a personal trainer is a great job, I have not been doing it long, the hours can be long but if you love being in the gym then who cares!

Good luck.

Wow, thats more expensive than I thought.
Theres been courses for £300/£400, but when I have called other providers their all slating the other.

Thanks for the advice, I will keep researching to find the best course for me. I LOVE working out and I know that once I start a career in fitness, I will never have the dread of going to work anymore

Do you ever teach the classes or just personal train?
Thanks again for the advice

**stronglikewood** · 20-05-2009 12:20 PM

I did reps 2 gym instructor last summer with YMCA Personal Trainer Courses | YMCA Fitness Instructor Training | Fitness Courses | Personal Training Courses | Fitness Instructor Courses

I did the 2 week intensive in Glasgow but they do the courses all over the country.

**Luffers** · 20-05-2009 09:19 PM

Quote

Originally Posted by maria

Wow, thats more expensive than I thought.
Theres been courses for £300/£400, but when I have called other providers their all slating the other.

Thanks for the advice, I will keep researching to find the best course for me. I LOVE working out and I know that once I start a career in fitness, I will never have the dread of going to work anymore

Do you ever teach the classes or just personal train?
Thanks again for the advice

The figures I have quoted are the maximum, of course you could find it much cheaper.

They all slag each other off in a bid to coax you into taking their course, go with the one that suits your budget, you will learn much more once you start working in the gym and gaining experience.

I only do personal training at the mo but am considering doing a kettlebell workshop to get certified to teach. I need to raise my fitness first though, to give a 40 min kettle bell class you need to be in very good shape.

**maria** · 20-05-2009 09:58 PM

Quote

Originally Posted by Luffers

The figures I have quoted are the maximum, of course you could find it much cheaper.

They all slag each other off in a bid to coax you into taking their course, go with the one that suits your budget, you will learn much more once you start working in the gym and gaining experience.

I only do personal training at the mo but am considering doing a kettlebell workshop to get certified to teach. I need to raise my fitness first though, to give a 40 min kettle bell class you need to be in very good shape.

I thought thats what they were doing,

its no help to me though all I want is their honesty!

Looks like ill be going with the cheapest one then, I will make sure I have checked the course content before I do so not to get any unpleasant surprises.

Never seen a kettleball class but I do know what they are, good luck with the course and your fitness.

Thanks for the advice, again.

**Indiscreet** · 23-05-2009 01:51 PM

Heh, I'm doing a beginner kettlebell workshop tomorrow, in fact.

I'm also wondering if I should go into fitness teaching as my current job isn't terribly secure - I took the YMCA fitness instructor course back in 1990 but aside from working Saturdays at my (then) local gym, I never put it into practise. Gym jobs seemed horribly underpaid even back then, which was when I was doing dull temp jobs for £4 an hour.

I will say that I had a blast doing the YMCA fitness instructor course - I'd recommend it, though it may have changed a bit as that was almost 20 years ago. (Ugh that makes me feel old!)

**Scouse** · 23-05-2009 03:25 PM

Quote

Originally Posted by Indiscreet

Heh, I'm doing a beginner kettlebell workshop tomorrow, in fact.

I'm also wondering if I should go into fitness teaching as my current job isn't terribly secure - I took the YMCA fitness instructor course back in 1990 but aside from working Saturdays at my (then) local gym, I never put it into practise. Gym jobs seemed horribly underpaid even back then, which was when I was doing dull temp jobs for £4 an hour.

I will say that I had a blast doing the YMCA fitness instructor course - I'd recommend it, though it may have changed a bit as that was almost 20 years ago. (Ugh that makes me feel old!)

Feel? ha ha.. admit it.. you ARE old!!