Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Mackensie Mastor
Mr. Alburger
22 February 2018
Mastor 1
Mackensie Mastor
Mr. Alburger
22 February 2018
Personal Training
The United States of America consists of roughly three hundred twenty million people,
with over one third of that population consisting of overweight adults. The American Obesity
Association claims sixty million of those overweight adults qualify as obese (Career). During a
time when maintaining a healthy lifestyle seems difficult, personal trainers aid others in creating
the healthiest versions of themselves. Personal trainers act as the relief and service that many
people spend years searching for. The world today creates an environment in which a career in
personal training can thrive, and it has done so for years, because with the proper flexibility in
the workforce, training, coursework, and qualities, one can make a tremendous and positive
Surprisingly, personal training has its origin in Ancient China between the years 3600
and 2500 B.C. Early Chinese texts reveal that Chinese emperors required their subjects to
exercise daily. Additionally, during the Chou dynasty, aspiring soldiers had to pass a sequence
of weight lifting tests (Career). The Egyptians, Indians, Persians, and Greeks also utilized
personal training, physical activity, and weight training. Fitness training grew in popularity
during the Renaissance period as well, due to a renewed appreciation for human life that
evolved. Intellectual leaders in the Renaissance believed keeping a high fitness level heightened
active showed strength and respect for one’s body, mind, and spirit. Ancient generations of
people believed having a high fitness capacity remained a vital aspect of everyday life, and that
view remains prevalent today as more and more individuals seek personal trainers.
Personal training has continued throughout recent history as well. For example, the
United States’ founding fathers supported and recommended physical activity. Thomas
Jefferson, as a matter of fact, advised at least two hours of exercise or activity a day, no matter
schools and universities after the Civil War allowed for physical education and the personal
training career to thrive. Multiple organizations, such as the American Association for the
Advancement of Physical Education, also allowed for the increase and spread of the personal
training career (Career). The more modern aspect of the personal training career reflects the
importance of keeping up with fitness goals through consistent physical activity. It also reflects
As stated before, personal training has existed for quite some time. The career as it
stands today has only recently gained popularity. As a matter of fact, many people barely
recognized personal training as a legitimate business two decades ago (Coltrin). That view has
significantly changed recently, and millions now seek the aid of a personal trainer. People have
finally started to recognize the importance of this career, and its relevance in today’s society.
The career has recently experienced a major growth to become much more prevalent than ever.
This profession now stands greatly recognized, and it has become a career that requires much
education and credentials (Coltrin). Clients do not want to hire a trainer without official
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credentials. People see personal training as a valuable and legitimate business, and clients
The personal training career will continue to advance and improve. The career can thrive
as long as there remains a consistent supply of clients. Therefore, personal training will continue
to remain relevant for generations to come. Clients will continue to seek healthier lives, and
someone to help achieve their goals. Personal trainers love to watch their clients’ confidence
grow. They love to see the positive growth in body language that accompanies a transformation
to a healthy lifestyle (Arrandt). The positive change in clients’ lives brings trainers so much joy.
Individuals struggle to make the change to a healthier lifestyle alone, and thankfully personal
trainers can help provide that enthusiastic, supportive, and encouraging energy to those in need.
popular. According to the University of Chicago, personal training ranks as one of the top
professions of the twenty-first century (Rankin). As a matter of fact, the personal training career
job outlook grows faster than the average according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (U.S.).
With personal trainers in high demand, the salaries and wages offered to personal trainers remain
satisfactory. The 2016 median pay stood at over 18 dollars per hour, however industry observers
claim average trainers usually charge from 30 to 75 dollars for an hour-long workout session
(U.S.). This number represents only a general and broad estimate. Prices can escalate for
in-home visits, and can increase or decrease depending on the differing levels of training
received (Rankin). In addition, some trainers become highly sought after for having good
reputations and creating major client transformations. These trainers can raise their service
Furthermore, the job location of a personal trainer can also affect the earnings that a
trainer can make. One interesting and unique aspect of personal training provides trainers with
the opportunity to work as resort fitness instructors. Resort fitness instructors get to work as a
personal trainer teaching classes in a beautiful spa or resort. Resort fitness instructors, in Hawaii
for example, can earn 20 to 50 dollars per class. Working as a resort fitness instructor holds a
unique benefit as well: an assured paycheck (Wicker). This means the personal trainer would
receive a paycheck regardless of how many people attend a particular class. Resort fitness
instructors exemplify a different strand of personal training that, nonetheless, pays well.
Similar to salaries and wages, the hours a personal trainer works vary. The personal
training career allows trainers in the profession to live flexible lifestyles. A Certified Group
Fitness Instructor claims some days book from six o’clock in the morning until two in the
afternoon. However, some days last much longer, and have frequent breaks in the schedule
(Career). On the other hand, some trainers’ days start at five o’clock in the morning, and end at
eight o’clock at night (Arrandt). Due to all of the possibilities, one cannot accurately describe a
typical day in the life of a personal trainer. The differing schedules and breaks during the day
reflect the ever-changing needs of clients. For example, early morning and late afternoon
sessions attract clients with busy work schedules. Personal trainers work to cater to the client’s
schedule, which can lead to long work days. However, the unique schedule of a personal trainer
Personal trainers also have the ability to choose between working part-time and full-time,
just like countless other professions. Some personal trainers might work twenty hour-long
however, do not earn as much money as personal trainers working full time. On the other hand,
loads of personal trainers work full-time. Full-time personal trainers may work hours from five
in the morning until nine o’clock at night (Rankin). This shows personal trainers sometimes
work much longer days when compared with other professions. Personal trainers can make good
money, but they can also pay a personal price when hours get long.
The overall responsibility of a personal trainer consists of working with their clients to
improve their overall fitness and health. Trainers guide clients not only through exercises, but
also in maintaining a long-term healthy lifestyle. Trainers work in a number of different areas
designed for the exercises they will aid their clients in doing. For example, personal trainers that
wish to focus on weight training with a client will work in a place equipped with barbells,
dumbbells, weight machines, and other strength based equipment (Career). Trainers must also
aid clients in performing these exercises correctly, in order to ensure client safety. Teaching
proper form and technique remains a major aspect of the personal training career. This means
trainers must perform exercises correctly in order to serve as a model for the client. As
previously stated, trainers want to create a long term healthy lifestyle for their clients. Therefore,
personal trainers must also aid in teaching clients about proper nutrition and diet for their fitness
goals. To do this, they can create and provide individualized diet portfolios for their clients
(Chapter). Personal trainers must have a firm understanding of the nutrition and health
requirements of their clients in order to provide accurate and helpful advice to further accelerate
Great flexibility in the workforce exemplifies a major advantage of the personal training
profession. Personal trainers have the opportunity to work in a number of different locations.
Mastor 6
Trainers work in multi-purpose health clubs, homes, personal training facilities, community
wellness centers, recreation centers, and much more (Career). The ever changing work
environment keeps a personal trainer’s job interesting and fun. Furthermore, personal trainers
can reach a greater amount of people and clients when they work in a number of different
locations. Changing the work environment allows a personal trainer to work in a space that
caters to their needs, and also caters to what the client wishes. Sometimes a trainer might work
in a gym teaching about weight training, whereas other times a trainer might make an in-home
visit to a client. Additionally, a personal trainer might sometimes begin a day working with
in-home clients, and later move to a health club to meet clients (Arrandt). This allows trainers to
help people of all ages reach their fitness goals. Whatever they desire, a personal trainer has
As aforesaid, personal trainers have the option to work out of homes in a resort. One
unique opportunity a personal trainer has remains the ability to work as a resort fitness instructor.
Resort fitness instructors have a one-of-a-kind job that does not resemble any other job. These
personal trainers work at beautiful spas or resorts, and teach interesting classes not usually
offered at home. They get to teach a variety of fun and different classes, and have to ability to
act friendly and engaging, and not “hardcore” (Wicker). Personal trainers at a resort have an
audience that wants to have fun, and get a good, yet relaxing workout. Their clients do not wish
to see progress in one class, therefore resort fitness instructors have the ability to experiment and
have fun. Resort personal trainers can also network themselves, and gain useful job experience
for the future. Working at a resort represents just one unique opportunity available to personal
trainers.
Mastor 7
Personal training requires a trainer to have the ability to understand and effectively use
other disciplines. Different skills from countless other fields come into maintaining a
professional personal training career. For example, a personal trainer should excel in
understanding mathematics. Personal trainers must have knowledge of formulas and strategies
relevance in personal training comes when a trainer must find heart rate, target heart rate, basal
metabolic rate, estimated energy requirements, calories, and countless other forms of data
(Chapter). A trainer should always meet the needs of their clients, and understanding how to
find specific measurements of fitness and nutrition remains a major aspect of personal training.
Furthermore, successful personal trainers must know a great deal about nutrition in order
to properly meet the health needs of their clients. A trainer provides information about diets,
menus, and recipes for their clients, so they must have a firm understanding and have studied the
proper nutrition (Chapter). A trainer needs to utilize their knowledge of nutrition to positively
impact their clients’ lives by teaching clients how to eat healthy. Many trainers commonly use
the food journal method to aid clients (Arrandt). This method involves a client keeping a food
journal of what they consume each day, allowing the personal trainer to review the journal with
the client, and use the data to enhance the fitness and health journey of that individual.
Additionally, a personal trainer needs to have the ability to determine a client’s eating habits
(Career). A trainer should have the knowledge to provide information to their clients that will
create a healthy lifestyle for their client, and this only comes from studying nutrition as well.
Business exemplifies another extremely important field a personal trainer must feel
comfortable working within. A personal trainer must work through several business related tasks
Mastor 8
in their career, just like any other job. Self-employed personal trainers have even more business
related tasks to master. Some important business minded tasks that come with the personal
training profession include branding, naming a business, selecting a proper location, and
advertising (Bossé). For example, a trainer should acknowlegde the difference between leasing
space in a shopping center versus building their own studio. A trainer should consider business
cards, brochures, letterheads, note cards, websites, and other marketing material (Bossé). In
order to best carry out these business-minded tasks, a personal trainer should have at least some
degree of study in business. Having a quality understanding of business allows a personal trainer
to grow their business, and reach a larger client audience through branding, and marketing.
Maintaining a career as a personal trainer likewise involves the business skill of record
keeping. Personal trainers keep track of earned income and expenses, every time a client pays,
and when the business purchases new equipment, supplements, or other items. Trainers schedule
client sessions and maintain training journals to track individual client progress (Career).
Personal trainers should understand basic aspects of business in order to successfully serve
clients. They need to understand how to run a professional solo business in order to thrive in
As personal training becomes increasingly popular, the demand for a trainer to obtain the
sufficient education and courses increases. Clients will not hire a trainer without the proper
educational background, because that trainer lacks credibility. Aspiring personal trainers have
many choices. One could seek a degree in kinesiology, exercise science, sports education,
fitness education, anatomy, physiology, psychology and many more from colleges and
universities all across the world, such as the American College of Sports Medicine, or the
Mastor 9
Cooper Institute (Rankin). Trainers should only take courses, however, from recognized national
or international organizations. One could also attend shorter personal training courses that
require fewer expenses and less time (Understanding). In addition, The National Academy of
Sports Medicine released a program known as the Introduction to Personal Fitness Training
(IPFT) as an online course that counts as a precursor for the Certified Personal Training Course
(National). This option represents a gold standard in the health and fitness industry, and the
online aspect creates an environment that benefits many people. The Bachelor of Science
pre-medical biology course at University of North Carolina at Charlotte represents one local
option available to personal trainers. In addition, trainers can take more specialized courses, like
IFA or Yoga Alliance RYT (Arrandt). As previously supported, various options remain
available for a personal trainer to take advantage of in order to receive proper education in the
field. All educational courses require a trainer to study and pass exams, which means an aspiring
Along with the proper educational requirements, a personal training career requires
specific certifications, forms, and waivers. Professionals recommend obtaining the proper
credentials and associating with the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America, because the
certification will make a trainer desirable. A personal trainer should also obtain proper licensure,
such as a business license (Bossé). Licenses allow personal trainers to expand their business and
keep up their credentials. Trainers need to acquire correct levels of liability insurance as well.
In addition, required forms and waivers include questionnaires, releases of liability, consent
forms, weight/ body fat/ fitness assessments, stress tests, nutritional surveys, and personal
training policies (Bossé). Forms and waivers ensure personal trainers keep up with their
Mastor 10
education. Additionally, clients feel comfortable working with trainers who obtain the proper
The personal training profession requires an individual to embody certain aspects and
qualities everyday in order to ensure a quality session with a client. For instance, personal
trainers should speak enthusiastically and supportively in order to encourage their clients.
Trainers should not only act as a firm instructor, but as a good teacher as well, giving them the
ability to challenge clients without sounding hostile (Rankin). A personal trainer should feel
easy to confide in, and still motivating. They should act friendly and welcoming at all times.
Additionally, the trainer should make an effort to get to know clients on a personal level; they
should prioritize the client at all times. Trainers need to read their clients, and have the ability to
recognize all the little changes. The environment and lifestyle affects all individuals, everyday,
so trainers should pay attention to their clients on a daily basis (Arrandt). Trainers should
carefully watch and recognize when clients go through a change. They should focus on the
client during the entire session, offer assistance to clients when needed, and watch their form.
Trainers should always show up on time and organized for every session to help ensure safety
(Bossé). Safety remains a huge part of customer care in personal training. Personal trainers
should make sure the client does not get injured by supporting them throughout the whole
session. Also, personal trainers need to stay up to date with changing fitness technology and
fitness programs in order to stay safe and cautious (Understanding). Trainers that know how to
work new, updated technology, and know how to perform new exercises, can pass the
knowledge onto clients, and further maintain client safety. Personal trainers should motivate
clients, and represent a good example of a healthy lifestyle (Arrandt). Trainers should show
Mastor 11
clients that a healthy lifestyle remains attainable, and therefore staying technologically updated
Today’s society actively demands personal trainers, and the career has thrived for years
and will continue to do so, because with the variety of working environments, necessary
schooling, classes, and traits, a personal trainer will absolutely change people’s lives for the
better. Personal training gives fitness enthusiasts the ability to pursue their passion as their
career. It also allows trainers to use their knowledge of health and fitness to positively impact
others’ lives. Trainers have the ability to impact clients’ bodies based on the client’s needs, not
based off fitness trends. Therefore, personal trainers act as the outlet that many people search for
to help achieve a healthy life. They sometimes remain an individual’s only hope in achieving
their fitness and health goals, and for this reason the personal training career will forever remain
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