How Many Personal Trainers/ Gym Owners

**Inspire-pt** · 31-05-2010 11:33 AM

By the looks of the "here are the similar threads we found" list this may be a challenging thread to get people to comment on.

Just wondering how many PT's/ Gym owners there are on the forums, and what do you specialise in. Also what are your experiences being a PT in the UK....challenges, and success!

I'll start I guess.

I hold a Master Trainer qualification [Amongst others], and specialise in two things.

1) Strength and conditioning for endurance athletes. [Triathlon, ironman, football etc etc]

2) Body "recomposition"

Inparticular I work a lot on behaviour modification [Think Jason Bourne, unfortunately less guns!]

I constantly study why people achieve, or why people fail in their goals.

Look forward to hearing from a few others....

**MJ.23** · 31-05-2010 02:40 PM

Im not a trainer but i wouldnt mind being one! Im at university doing physics and quantum mechanics instead lol. I was wondering do they do part time courses for say nutrition or sport science that i could attend in my spare time as im so fascinated by it. Not looking for it to go anywhere just for my own pleasure. Or is it a full time intense course?

**Inspire-pt** · 31-05-2010 02:52 PM

I know the course I did was pretty intense, residential, with long days, and hard studying. [I trained in Europe at the European Institue of fitness in Spain] I am sure if you look around you'll find an online option, or part time weekend option through future fit, or premier [I wasn't impressed with the UK options myself...other disagree with me- So I guess it's down to what you are looking for]

**comanight2** · 31-05-2010 02:59 PM

I'm thinking of doing that - make a bit of cash on the side doing something i really love.

**khris** · 31-05-2010 03:21 PM

When I get the physique I want, Ill be doing some personal training on the side as I gather those who have good physiques tend to make alot more clients and can charge a surplus also. My friend currently earns up to £400 in a weekend for 8 hours work with clients. Thats not even his full time job lol

**Inspire-pt** · 31-05-2010 03:37 PM

Quote

Originally Posted by khris

When I get the physique I want, Ill be doing some personal training on the side as I gather those who have good physiques tend to make alot more clients and can charge a surplus also. My friend currently earns up to £400 in a weekend for 8 hours work with clients. Thats not even his full time job lol

You have no idea how wrong you are!!

Sorry mate...Just cos you look like you train yourself well, and look after yourself doesn't mean people will want to train with you [You will just be one of the thousands out there.... Be different, be unique...and learn how to sell, cos it's a sales job first and foremost!]

EDIT: I know some PT's with amazing physiques...You know what, some of them can't even hold a conversation with someone....That client is buying time and expertise, but if they can't build a rapport and relationship with you, then why would they want to spend an hour of their life with you....Those that charge a "surplus" are able to connect with clients, understand their wants, needs and lifestyle, and develop the indiviudal in the direction they want to go...Irrelevent or whether they look like they belong on mens fitness' cover! [/rant]

**MJ.23** · 31-05-2010 04:15 PM

Ive seen this. A trainer at our gym has recently started to do personal one to one training for £25 an hour! Has a queue out the door. His expertise i would say is a little shakey, but hes the friendliest guy you have ever met in your life!

Although the initial meeting with a potential client will also come down to looking reasonably fit. If you are catering to athletes then it will help to look more fit than them. But for the general gym goer i doubt they care.

**khris** · 31-05-2010 04:26 PM

Quote

Originally Posted by Inspire-pt

You have no idea how wrong you are!!

Sorry mate...Just cos you look like you train yourself well, and look after yourself doesn't mean people will want to train with you [You will just be one of the thousands out there.... Be different, be unique...and learn how to sell, cos it's a sales job first and foremost!]

EDIT: I know some PT's with amazing physiques...You know what, some of them can't even hold a conversation with someone....That client is buying time and expertise, but if they can't build a rapport and relationship with you, then why would they want to spend an hour of their life with you....Those that charge a "surplus" are able to connect with clients, understand their wants, needs and lifestyle, and develop the indiviudal in the direction they want to go...Irrelevent or whether they look like they belong on mens fitness' cover! [/rant]

Just going off a few guys I know whilst comparing them to P.Ts in bad shape, I also know that 95% of it is cleaver marketing which Is why I have some wick concepts and ideas which I know would sell, but the image can sell it alot more. Its like your not going to take dental advice off someone with brown teeth or a filling for every month of the year, same go's in this industry many people want to aspire to look like someone in great shape and the best place to start is training with someone who has already achieved just that.

**Inspire-pt** · 31-05-2010 04:27 PM

Depending on geographics £25 an hour is cheap.

Don't get me wrong you have to be reasonably fit, and walk the talk etc....but im not as big as the bodybuilders I train, and not as fit as the triathletes etc...I train to stay fit and healthy. But these individuals can communicate with me [And they are all different, and require different ways of being coimmunicated with. IE some would walk out if I swear in a session, other would if i didn't!]

Athletes are a different bread. Here's the thing. Show me one coach who is fitter than his athletes? That makes no sense for him to be, otherwise why isn't he the one competing, and being coached. You have to be bang on it with athletes though....expectations are high, and everything is results driven...