Personal Trainer Courses

What's the name of this company you've found?

 

Johnboy i'll be honest with you- distance courses are absolutely shite....

If you can- go to college and do it, it might cost you a little more (though you should see if you can get government funding) but you will have a far greater understanding of the various subjects you cover.

I did a level 2 with focus over distance and it was pretty terrible. Pointless monthly tests and fill in the blank questionnaires every few weeks. (someone I know just copied the answers off his mates work from a few year back) The eventual practical assesment too was a load of tosh and though I came out with some qualifications I did not have the confidence to go with my accolades.

When I did my level 3 I went back to college for a year. It was tough (its A-level equivilent) but I was able to ask the questions I needed to and discuss things with class mates somthing that really can't be over sold... I got my level 3 and passed the many assesments and to be honest it was tough but i'm glad I did it that way.

There are so many people who promote themselves to be personal trainers and they haven't got the foggiest idea of the principles of exercise. I'd go as far to say its disgusting especially when they are training kids and the like. Anyway thats a different conversation. Best of luck and I hope you choose the right route for you

 

Definately this.

 

That the best way mate...

I know a local guy whose a belter,

Plyometrics for over 40 year old beginners with a history of knee problems; advising kids not to eat for 24 hours prior to a swimming race then just have a lucozade before they jump in the pool. static streches at the start of a boxing workout without any warm up... The guys a joke - but people are that clueless they pay. Jokes on them I say.

 

You don't you just become an outright conman. You'd be doing the same thing and making more money. Personal training is all about keeping the client. Why would you ever tell them that just doing basic lifts with maybe 15-30 mins of cardio if you want is the best path? If your told you clients the truth they wouldn’t need you.

Great article

http://www.mensjournal.com/everything-you-know-about-fitness-is-a-lie/print/

 

Idk how it works in the UK but I recently picked up the NSCA textbook and just today started going through the contents and writing up a study plan. Then you just go take the test and you're certified.

Actually finding work as a cpt is another matter, but i'm just doing it to say I did it and as a resume credential if I ever get into coaching. And so I can improve my own workouts =D

PS
Anyone know which organization would be the best to be certified by? I hear ACE is kind of looked down on but don't know much about what separates the NASM, ISSA, and NSCA from one another.

 

I've been personal training on and off for over 20years. here are my suggestions:

1. create a mission statement. you sound like a pretty good guy with a genuine heart and "nice" intentions. consider how your mission will affect your clients, community and world (why limit yourself, right?). your mission statement will keep you grounded to your purpose and why you do what you do.

2. call your local big box gyms and find out the minimum certification needed for employment (you're in the UK and i'm in the US so i don't have any suggestions for you). consider getting that cert, no matter how "shite" it is (do what you need to do to get the job)

3. get a job at a big box gym and keep it for at least a year. take in everything you can about business (personal training is a business. i know dozens of knowledgable trainers who make pennies because they don't know business, then they become resentful of crappy trainers who make loads of bank). request to have shifts at the front desk as a sales rep, listen and learn how to "close" your client (go through intro, discovery with open ended questions, tease with "free trial"/etc, "point of sale"-upsell, close and follow up -most forget the followup but in many ways it's the most important step to keeping a client)(lots of people have a hard time asking for money. when in negotiations you get to believe that you will have a win-win outcome; that they get your valuable service in trade for a fair financial compensation). network and ask questions from senior staff then shut up and listen. you already "know what you know". now is the time to find out what you "don't know that you don't know", create relationship with them. when people are talking TO you they are building relationship WITH you. all you have to do is maintain it with genuine interest. and if you only learn 10% new of what they're saying that's still way more than you'd learn if you were doing the talking.

3. keep learning! just because i suggest the bare minimum to get the job doesn't mean you get to hold the bar low for yourself. you get to hold a higher standard for yourself than your peers. there are plenty of continuing education courses out there that are pretty good and you can learn at your pace for your level and the demands of the job/environment ... and what your intention is for your mission (check out http://www.humankinetics.com/ as a great resource for AWESOME webinars, books and online courses).

4. get a group class certification and learn how to work multiple people at the same time (after you go onto business for yourself you may want to consider a variety of pricing/service tiers and inexpensive group classes are great ways to get entry level clients) (when i first started training i had a class of 60 every week at the local university. that experience was so valuable because now i can coach a class of 15-20 boxers effectively while other coaches only know how to work one-on-one with "a" fighter). stretching yourself and your perceived limits is HUGE!


all in all, what i'm suggesting is simply another option to what's already been said. there's no right or wrong way to do it. look at yourself and ask if you are more "hands on" or "nose in book"? it's no different than boxer A turning pro now and boxer B holding out for the olympic trials next year. both are good and depends more on what your personality and heart have to say. for me hands on is the best way b/c you can't buy experience and effective personal training is a real art form that comes with experience.

good luck!

 

Good post boxing science, I'd still suggest the in person learning route however, served me extremely well!

Regarding the point you make about sale closure or lack of it leading to resentment of less accomplished competitors! I am literally full, I've got one or two spaces each week and most of my clients have been with me for over 12 months- however I do still find mcpersonaltrainers frustrating and laughable at the same time! If your going to do something do it properly or not at all IMO , so much so that the first month after I qualified I didn't charge my clients until I felt the service I was delivering was suitable.

 

That's it you need to get the learning and the hands on experience, it's not one or the other.
Before I was at uni I worked at a plumbing supplies place and a guy started working for us who had done one of those eight week fitness courses. I don't know what he learned during that course but he didn't know what a plyometric exercise was, he didn't know anything about muscle fibres, I don't think he knew anything about anything. And this guy was qualified to train someone! From what I gather all he learned was some exercises to do in the gym, he couldn't tell you how many reps to do or anything like that though.
To the OP if you go to a good uni you'll get the knowledge and they'll get you doing industry prac at the same time. I'm doing a sports science degree at the moment and the units include anatomy, physiology, nutrition, psychology, biomechanics, motor learning/neuroscience, injury rehab, resistance training, cardio physiology and so on. It really is quite extensive and there is more to learn in each area than you might think. I think a good coach should have atleast solid knowledge in each area as you need to see and understand the whole picture so going to uni would definitely be the way to go. At my uni we've had to train clients as part of our assessment and complete industry prac which I did at the institute of sport here so it's all valuable stuff to have on your CV, through the uni I've also done strength and conditioning courses and completed a course to become a certified olympic weightlifting coach. When you're choosing your degree make sure it's an accredited course with your national sports science association.