Becoming the Right Fitness Trainer is easy if you follow this simple five-step process.
I have seen it many times in the industry,where you have the over weight trainer not a good reflection, or motivator.
by: Louis Bryant
Step No. 1: Begin by knowing your clients' goals. “What do they (not you) want to
accomplish/change about their body or current lifestyle?“ Listen a lot and let them talk! I hear
most everything I need to know by keeping my mouth shut often. In a long term client-trainer
relationship your knowledge base will reveal itself glaringly. If you think the same exercises with
the same weight and reps as last week will work, just watch your client move on quickly. Any
true fitness professional should possess confidence, knowledge, variety and be supportive of all
clients while telling them the fitness truth. If their body fat is 30%, tell them that and how to
reduce it.
If you as a Fitness Trainer are overweight, dress poorly or are not well groomed, most potential
clients will see that as a reflection of how you view your fitness program. And if you think
shouting at clients is appreciated, let me pop that bubble here: It is not -- especially by older
clients, who make up most of my business currently.
If you're not attracting some older clients, let me assure you that you are missing a stable,
reliable, and continuing source of repeat income. These folks have most of the disposable
income in America and want quality from you. Be the professional Fitness Trainer that
motivates, encourages and pushes clients gently so that they hardly realize you just got them
do their all-time max effort! Be trustworthy! I currently train a 94-year old “superstar“ named Ms.
Agnes. We do balance drills, weights and even Muy Thai punches seated. She has lost the
cane she came with three months ago! Personal Trainer means just that!
Step No. 2: Know what questions to ask and what to look for initially. Get your waivers signed
and baseline measurements done. Talk about any/all restrictions. If you don't know what a
laminectomy is or where C5 is, look it up! If your client wants to be a bodybuilder or power lifter,
I hope you have contest experience. Don't say anything you can't prove later. If the client's goal
is over-all fitness and well being, as it is with most of my older clients, know how and when to
have them stretch, watch his or her face and listen to the breathing. Know how to use the
Karvonen Formula to figure baseline RHR and MHR, then give them the numbers. This will get
you major points usually. If you don't know what I mean, here it is: “The Karvonen Formula is a
medically derived formula to calculate important numbers for your cardiovascular workout
program.“ I carry that formula taped inside my appointment book
1 / 3
Are You the "Right" Personal Trainer?
Written by Bill McGinnis, MFT
Step No. 3: Mention the NCCA agencies you are certified with and why that is important. I
personally have three of the top five. Either gain their confidence with your own or watch them
disappear. My clients are happy to know “these organizations carry the NCCA, National
Commission for Certifying Agencies, stamp of approval for having integrity in their testing
procedures and are very knowledgeable in content. They are monitored by state authorities with
strict guidelines for granting anyone a Fitness Trainer certification.“ Mention your “CEC's“ also
and explain whey they're important. (CEC's are continuing education courses required to keep
the aforementioned top five certifications.) Wow... I hope you already knew that.
Step No. 4: Be the “busy“ trainer in your gym? I train around 125 sessions per month in the
Alumni Field House at the University of Texas Medical Branch. Affiliate yourself into the very
best “fitness facility“ in your area. When you're not actually busy, talk to
someone you don't know! I have gained dozens of new
clients by smiling and saying “How are you today?“ Easy right? I see many trainers that won't
smile or talk to anyone -- several such trainers I have personally dismissed while a Fitness
Manager. Offer a short introductory session if you're not fully booked. I have given many during
my career. This has turned into thousands of dollars income for me with repeat business.
Today, I'm fully booked training over 125 sessions per month with people on a waiting list. Bet
me this being friendly stuff doesn't work. If you'd rather be just average and not busy that's your
business. If you want to be “the
best
“ -- that's my business. Part of my current specialty is training other trainers who have no
imagination and little confidence.
Step No. 5: Do you have a web site, a business card or T-shirts with your phone number or
name? The very best Fitness Trainers I know, including myself, have all and are proud to share
their information with anyone. I use any resource to promote all possibilities for growth in my
business, including education. Do you want to separate yourself from your peers? Become a
Master Fitness Trainer. This is one of the very best certifications I have ever gotten. It makes a
huge difference if you want to write, speak, or be known as a stand out professional member of
our Fitness Industry. Master Fitness Trainers are rare and can charge more. This process is not
easy, so be prepared to study and know your stuff!
This should go without saying, but I'll say it anyway: Do unacceptable!not talk on your cell, send texts, take
your eyes off clients during movements or do anything looking absurd. All are absolutely
Written by Bill McGinnis, MFT
I have seen it many times in the industry,where you have the over weight trainer not a good reflection, or motivator.
by: Louis Bryant
Step No. 1: Begin by knowing your clients' goals. “What do they (not you) want to
accomplish/change about their body or current lifestyle?“ Listen a lot and let them talk! I hear
most everything I need to know by keeping my mouth shut often. In a long term client-trainer
relationship your knowledge base will reveal itself glaringly. If you think the same exercises with
the same weight and reps as last week will work, just watch your client move on quickly. Any
true fitness professional should possess confidence, knowledge, variety and be supportive of all
clients while telling them the fitness truth. If their body fat is 30%, tell them that and how to
reduce it.
If you as a Fitness Trainer are overweight, dress poorly or are not well groomed, most potential
clients will see that as a reflection of how you view your fitness program. And if you think
shouting at clients is appreciated, let me pop that bubble here: It is not -- especially by older
clients, who make up most of my business currently.
If you're not attracting some older clients, let me assure you that you are missing a stable,
reliable, and continuing source of repeat income. These folks have most of the disposable
income in America and want quality from you. Be the professional Fitness Trainer that
motivates, encourages and pushes clients gently so that they hardly realize you just got them
do their all-time max effort! Be trustworthy! I currently train a 94-year old “superstar“ named Ms.
Agnes. We do balance drills, weights and even Muy Thai punches seated. She has lost the
cane she came with three months ago! Personal Trainer means just that!
Step No. 2: Know what questions to ask and what to look for initially. Get your waivers signed
and baseline measurements done. Talk about any/all restrictions. If you don't know what a
laminectomy is or where C5 is, look it up! If your client wants to be a bodybuilder or power lifter,
I hope you have contest experience. Don't say anything you can't prove later. If the client's goal
is over-all fitness and well being, as it is with most of my older clients, know how and when to
have them stretch, watch his or her face and listen to the breathing. Know how to use the
Karvonen Formula to figure baseline RHR and MHR, then give them the numbers. This will get
you major points usually. If you don't know what I mean, here it is: “The Karvonen Formula is a
medically derived formula to calculate important numbers for your cardiovascular workout
program.“ I carry that formula taped inside my appointment book
1 / 3
Are You the "Right" Personal Trainer?
Written by Bill McGinnis, MFT
Step No. 3: Mention the NCCA agencies you are certified with and why that is important. I
personally have three of the top five. Either gain their confidence with your own or watch them
disappear. My clients are happy to know “these organizations carry the NCCA, National
Commission for Certifying Agencies, stamp of approval for having integrity in their testing
procedures and are very knowledgeable in content. They are monitored by state authorities with
strict guidelines for granting anyone a Fitness Trainer certification.“ Mention your “CEC's“ also
and explain whey they're important. (CEC's are continuing education courses required to keep
the aforementioned top five certifications.) Wow... I hope you already knew that.
Step No. 4: Be the “busy“ trainer in your gym? I train around 125 sessions per month in the
Alumni Field House at the University of Texas Medical Branch. Affiliate yourself into the very
best “fitness facility“ in your area. When you're not actually busy, talk to
someone you don't know! I have gained dozens of new
clients by smiling and saying “How are you today?“ Easy right? I see many trainers that won't
smile or talk to anyone -- several such trainers I have personally dismissed while a Fitness
Manager. Offer a short introductory session if you're not fully booked. I have given many during
my career. This has turned into thousands of dollars income for me with repeat business.
Today, I'm fully booked training over 125 sessions per month with people on a waiting list. Bet
me this being friendly stuff doesn't work. If you'd rather be just average and not busy that's your
business. If you want to be “the
best
“ -- that's my business. Part of my current specialty is training other trainers who have no
imagination and little confidence.
Step No. 5: Do you have a web site, a business card or T-shirts with your phone number or
name? The very best Fitness Trainers I know, including myself, have all and are proud to share
their information with anyone. I use any resource to promote all possibilities for growth in my
business, including education. Do you want to separate yourself from your peers? Become a
Master Fitness Trainer. This is one of the very best certifications I have ever gotten. It makes a
huge difference if you want to write, speak, or be known as a stand out professional member of
our Fitness Industry. Master Fitness Trainers are rare and can charge more. This process is not
easy, so be prepared to study and know your stuff!
This should go without saying, but I'll say it anyway: Do unacceptable!not talk on your cell, send texts, take
your eyes off clients during movements or do anything looking absurd. All are absolutely
Written by Bill McGinnis, MFT