Gyms are sprouting up throughout the country and with this growth comes a demand for trainers to help members get the most out of their exercise.
As people become more conscious of their health and appearance, they are turning to personal trainers. This career has a lot of flexibility with many working outside of the typical nine to five day, one-to-one personal training is a popular option and can provide quite a lucrative and flexible working lifestyle.
The downside of this type of arrangement can be financial unpredictability if client numbers decrease unexpectedlydealing with clients on a one to one basis. A substantial element of a personal trainer's job also relates to knowledge about food and nutrition.
Personal Trainers will often depend on their own habits, knowledge and methods, but can draw on specific courses educating them on training techniques and fitness skills. The increasing professionalisation of the fitness sector means experience of fitness techniques alone may not be enough to excel. For example, knowledge of marketing and social media could help you advance your career.
As well as personal trainers gyms also employ a variety of other staff members including lifeguards, gym manager, nutritionist, receptionist and instructors to teach specific classes such as yoga, swimming, spinning or aerobics. The sector offers plenty of opportunities to travel and become self-employed.
Technology has seen the fitness industry undergo a massive transformation. Gym users remain motivated with the help of new technology, for example, interactive workout programmes incorporated into gym equipment are helping exercisers track mileage, speed, number of workouts, calorie burn, and more.
But that's not all. A simple search in the app store under ‘fitness’ unveils a huge variety of apps to help with fitness. Are these fitness apps doing fitness trainers out of a job? The answer seems to be no - most people still feel the need to connect with a professional. Apps enhance the traditional gym experience, but do not replace it.