What does a fitness trainer do?

What is a Fitness Trainer?

A fitness trainer leads, instructs, and motivates individuals or groups in exercise activities, including cardiovascular exercise (exercises for the heart and blood system), strength training, and stretching.

Getting fit and staying fit takes a lot of work and motivation. To keep clients coming back for more, fitness trainers must be able to keep them excited about their progress and help them focus on their goals.

What does a Fitness Trainer do?

Fitness trainers work with people of all ages and skill levels. They need to be friendly and encouraging to get and keep their clients. They also need to listen to what a client tells them in order to determine their fitness level and desired fitness goals.

In larger facilities, fitness trainers will offer training sessions to the members of the gym. Once a client purchases a session or a package, the fitness trainer will start by evaluating the client's fitness level and personal goals. They will then develop a personalized training program for their client to follow, and will monitor their progress.

Fitness trainers in smaller facilities often do a variety of tasks in addition to their fitness duties, such as tending the front desk, signing up new members, giving tours of the fitness centre, writing newsletter articles, creating posters and flyers, and supervising the weight-training and cardiovascular equipment areas.

Fitness trainers typically do the following:

• Demonstrate how to carry out various exercises and routines
• Watch clients do exercises and show or tell them correct techniques to minimize injury and improve fitness
• Give alternative exercises during workouts or classes for different levels of fitness and skill
• Monitor client's progress and adapt programs as needed
• Explain and enforce safety rules and regulations on sports, recreational activities, and the use of exercise equipment
• Give clients information or resources about nutrition, weight control, and lifestyle issues
• Give emergency first aid if needed

The following are some types of fitness trainers:

• Personal trainers work with a single client or a small group. They may train in a gym or in the client's home. Personal fitness trainers assess the clients’ level of physical fitness and help them set and reach their fitness goals.
• Group fitness instructors organize and lead group exercise sessions, which can include aerobic exercise, stretching, muscle conditioning, or meditation. Some classes are set to music. In these classes, instructors may select the music and choreograph an exercise sequence. Some may teach pre-choreographed routines that were originally created by fitness companies or other organizations.
• Specialized fitness instructors teach popular conditioning methods such as Pilates or yoga. In these classes, instructors show the different moves and positions of the particular method. They also watch students and correct those who are doing the exercises improperly.
• Fitness and wellness coordinators oversee the fitness-related aspects of a gym or other type of health club. They often handle administrative duties, such as scheduling personal training sessions for clients or creating workout incentive programs. They often select and order fitness equipment for their facility.

What is the workplace of a Fitness Trainer like?

Fitness trainers work in health clubs, fitness or recreation centers, gyms, country clubs, hospitals, universities, yoga and Pilates studios, resorts, and client's homes. Some fitness trainers also work in offices, where they organize and direct health and fitness programs for employees.