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Q: What is your job description?
A: I am the Director of Operations and co-owner of Professional Fitness Instructor Training (www.pfit.org), which is located in the Houston, TX area. We engage in the training, certification and continuing education of personal fitness trainers, rehabilitative exercise specialists, fitness enthusiasts and all concerned with the proper application of exercise for health, wellness and fitness.
As the Director of Operations, I handle day to day program promotions, scheduling, staffing and content. I am also an instructor, providing lectures, applications, and hand on instruction for students in the disciplines of anatomy, physiology, health considerations and biomechanical theory and applications. Additionally, I am in charge of the research and development of presentation programs.
Q: How did you decide to go into fitness instruction and training?
A: I wanted to have the greatest impact on the well being of exercise specialists and their clients, and assembling, teaching, certifying and promoting health, wellness and fitness allows me to do that.
Q: What does it take to be successful as a fitness instructor?
A: What does it require to play at Carnegie Hall? Practice – Practice – Practice. Personal Fitness Trainers can never know too much, demonstrate their abilities to their peers too often or assist their clients on too many occasions. A competent personal fitness trainer has a much larger impact on the life of their client than Emergency Medical Technicians, physicians, or hospitals.
Q: What is your dream job?
A: Here I am.
Q: What real world experience did you get during high school or college?
A: Unfortunately, as is the case for most of us, I wasted valuable time in selfish pursuits. Then I started learning how to learn. There is not a useless course in the entire school system; never pass an opportunity to learn. I earned a Bachelor of Science in Applied Science and Technology, and a Master of Arts in Education.
Q: What advice can you offer to students who may want to become fitness trainers?
A: Without health, all other endeavors are severely limited. Choose wisely, and become a personal fitness trainer in health, wellness and fitness. Know the sciences and applications, and become the expert.
Enjoy sports as a diversion and not an education. A close associate of mine said, “Medals are awarded for the ability to better perform weird things.” Sport has absolutely nothing to do with day to day, long term living.
You only need to make your body perform for as long as you need it. As a personal fitness trainer choose your clients wisely. At times you may be your only client, which works well. You may add family and children and friends. Some may even find enjoyment in training others for their livelihood. Never pass an opportunity to be a servant for anyone.
Q: What type of nutrition and fitness classes are good to take in high school/junior college?
A: Probably start with anatomy and physiology or even biology. There are also programs, like mine, specifically designed to certify fitness trainers, but they are usually separate from junior colleges or colleges.
Q: How much money do you make and do you live in a big city?
A: I live right outside of Houston. I make enough money to live comfortably. No, I’m not raking in millions but I make a decent living and genuinely enjoy going to work each day.
Q: Which occupation or similar occupation to fitness trainer would earn the most?
A: If looking to stay in this field and maximize your income, you might consider a career in physical therapy with a focus on sports medicine. Just remember that money isn’t everything–you really want to pursue a profession that you’ll find challenging, interesting, and fulfilling. This makes all the difference in your level of life satisfaction. And if you try really hard and excel in your field, you’ll find financial success. Working hard is a lot easier if you enjoy what you’re doing.
Q: Is this job related to being an athletic trainer?
A: A fitness trainer usually works with individuals to help them achieve their personal fitness goals (i.e. I want to lose ten pounds, or increase my muscle mass, etc.). Athletic trainers deal more with the assessment and treatment of athletic injuries, the coordination of rehabilitation services, the provision of medicine, etc. This often involves coordinating efforts with physicians and physical therapists. You need higher levels of education and certification to become a trainer.
Q: Is a Bachelor’s degree sufficient for athletic training, or do you need to obtain a Master’s degree in a related field?
A: A bachelor’s degree is sufficient for some positions but the majority of athletic trainers hold a master’s or doctoral degree.
Q: What should your major be in college if you plan on becoming an athletic trainer?
A: You’ll want to do a bachelor’s degree in athletic training. Check the National Athletic Trainers’ Association website (nata.org) for schools. And keep in mind that more than half of all practicing trainers go on to get a master’s or doctoral degree in the field.
