Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Education in Personal Training

Personal Trainer is a professional who helps people exercise in the right fashion. Today millions around the world hire a personal trainer or visit a gym where a trainer helps them with their fitness routines. Modern lifestyle has drastically altered fitness levels. People used the staircase a few decades ago that helped them to get some exercise, but today it become easier to take the escalator or the lift instead and the result is lethargy and obesity. Of course escalators ad lifts are not the only ones to blame, most modern inventions have made our lives easy but the lapse side is that we have stopped getting enough exercise for of body to be fit.

Thankfully many people are turning to exercise to stay fit and healthy. There are others that need exercise to recover from a major surgery. Exercise can also help align the body posture and improve the overall appearance. Whatever your reason may be, a personal trainer will help you achieve just that.

Any fitness enthusiast who wishes to take up personal training as a career has to have the mandatory personal trainer education that will help establish themselves in the fitness world. Today there are a number of personal trainers out there that offer their services as individuals or as trainers at a gym or a fitness center. Lack of motivation is what puts an end to most fitness goals. Personal trainers are trained in the art of motivating their clients to stick to a work out plan. A good trainer can quickly alter a workout session if the client is uncomfortable performing them. A successful personal trainer is certified in one or more field. A certification helps the client to put their trust in the trainer. They can be rest assured that the trainer knows his job well and that he/she has been trained in this profession.

A personal trainer can train you in any or all of the five components of fitness; muscular strength, muscular endurance, body composition, cardiovascular endurance, and flexibility. “Fitness” or “healthy” as we know it may be defined as the absence of disease that would affect one’s ability to exercise. Anyone falling beyond that scope should seek a personal trainer after consultation with a doctor.

A personal trainer will assess the current fitness level of his/her client and then chalk out a workout plan keeping in mind the fitness levels that the client wishes to achieve. Some trainers are also knowledgeable about diet and nutrition and can help their clients with their diet plans. Diet forms an important part of any fitness regime. A balanced diet and adequate exercise is the secret to healthy living.

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Thursday, February 25, 2010

A Personal Trainer Salary

Today Personal Fitness Trainer is a high profile, highly personalized and a lucrative career option. Owing to a shift in the way people look at their health and being more health conscious, many people are turning to this procession.

Personal trainers are professional that help people with their fitness needs. They are dedicated people who enjoy working with their clients. A personal trainer can help someone gain muscle, lose weight; they can help people who have undergone major surgery to regain strength. Some fitness trainers even help people with disabilities with their fitness goals. They help improve one’s self-esteem by showing the positive side of a healthy lifestyle.

If you are considering taking up this career and making decent money, you are one the right track. There is one thing about money in any profession that one must understand. Money doesn’t come easily. And it is also true of this profession. Many people think that if they become personal trainers they’ll start making money immediately. There are stories of trainers making $100 an hour or over $100,000 a year. All this is possible. There are many out there who wish to shave off the extra fat along the waist line and those that are looking for a healthy lifestyle. You can help them achieve just that.

Making $100 an hour or $100,000 a year may not be so easy especially if you do not have the right attitude and a well thought plan. Personal training requires dedication and passion. One must be able to enjoy being a personal fitness trainer. Willingness to help people is one of the most important traits of a successful personal trainer. Being a successful personal trainer requires time, dedication, patience and knowledge. If you miss out on any one of these, you’ll soon find yourself out of business.

An average personal trainer salary is about $30,000 a year, but it is not an “average salary” that most people aspire for. People who start up their own fitness training business look for ways to make more that the “average salary”. They aspire to make $100,000 or more each year.

A personal trainer must be extremely knowledgeable in his/her field to be successful. Thanks to the internet most clients do their home work well before they hire a personal trainer. A certification goes a long way, it helps to identify you as a professional and give the client a sense of security that you know your job well. This makes it easier for them to trust you and hire you services. A client would think twice before paying $50 an hour to a trainer who does not have any certification or credentials as compared to someone who is a certified trainer and has a good client reference.

So if you are heading out to make more that $100 an hour or $100,000 a year you have to have the right attitude and the knowledge. A certification will help you in the long run. Find yourself some good personal trainer courses that will help you to become a successful personal fitness trainer.

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Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Hiring A Personal Trainer

There has been a significant change in the way people look at their health. Today people are more health conscious and make efforts to stay fit and healthy. Fitness is not just limited to athletes, sportsman or body builders, it a state of health that everyone must try and achieve. Everyone strives to achieve the fitness levels that he/she is comfortable with. There are some who want to be fit so that they can go about their daily routine without feeling tired at the end of the day. Some take up fitness activities to be able to recover from a surgery while some may take it up to build muscle, lose weight and improve cardiovascular strength. Athletes train hard to be able to push their bodies to the limit. Everybody has hi/her own reasons to stay fit.

A personal trainer is one who helps people achieve their fitness goals. Personal Trainers are professionals who have a personal trainer education and know how to perform the exercises correctly to gain maximum benefit. To be able to real the desired fitness levels it is best to hire the services of a trainer professional. There are a few things one must keep in mind before you hire a personal trainer.

It is important to understand what you set out to achieve. For instance, if you have been overweight for a long period of time your body has been accustomed to being overweight. In such a case if you are working out to lose weight then you must understand that it won’t be an overnight miracle. Shedding excess fat can be a time consuming process and no amount of personal trainer experience can get you there any faster. Your body has to adjust to the workout program that your trainer prescribes to you. You should stick to the program to be able to see the result. The process will be slow but your trainer will work with you to achieve the goal. Talk to your trainer about fitness goals so that the trainer understands your needs while he/she chalks out a fitness plan for you.

Personal trainers are specialized in specific fields. There are trainers who have been certified to train people in those specified fields. There are trainers who are certified in weight loss programs, while others may be certified in agility and strength training. Know your requirement and find a trainer who specializes in your field of interest.

Trainers are great motivators who can help you stay on track of your fitness goals. If you are getting bored of performing the same set of exercises over and over again, you could talk to your trainer for an alternative workout program that will give the desired results. A good personal trainer is one who can keep your exercise routines interesting while achieving the desired fitness levels.

 

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Thursday, February 18, 2010

How to : 5 Steps for choosing a Personal Trainer

Things You’ll Need:

  • Time. Part of Training is making the time for your to exercise and take are of yourself.
  • Money. Training costs range from $35-75 per hour depending on your location and the experience of the Trainer.
  • The desire to create change in your body.
  • Workout clothing. Unless you are running a marathon or training for a bike ride, you can probably get away with shorts and a T shirt. I recommend newer materials like Nike DriFit because it allows y

Instructions

Step 1: Know your goals and communicate them: This is the most important thing I can stress. Only you know what you want to achieve working with a Trainer, so ask yourself what you want to accomplish and how much time you are willing to put towards this goal. This will save you time and money in working with a Trainer.

Step 2: Get the right fit: If you are trying to design a new workout program then most Trainers will be able to help you with this, but if your goal is to train for a marathon, look for someone who is an active runner and has coached other runners.

Step 3: Ask friends for recommendations: Do you have friends who use a Trainer? Ask them for advice and watch Trainers at work, do they explain and demonstrate exercises in a manner that you understand?

Most of my new clients have come from referrals from existing clients or people who have watched me working. Additionally you can use resources like Yelp, Citysearch and Google to find locally reviewed Trainers.

Step 4: Check their education and certifications: Certifications require Trainers to have a working knowledge of human anatomy, exercise physiology, kinesiology and first aid. What this means is your Trainer will know how to safely push you towards reaching your goals.

There are a few standard nationally recognized certifications which most good trainers have, they are:

  • American Council on Exercise, ACE
  • National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM)
  • American College of Sports Medicine (ASCM)
  • National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA)

It’s also a good idea to make sure your trainer has a current CPR/AED certification.

Step 5: Make a plan: Set SMART goals with timelines to measure progress. If you want to loose 10lbs in a month (a realistic goal) then ask your Trainer to have a plan for you to reach this goal. What will you do when you’re together and what exercises are you going to do on your own?

Tips & Warnings

  • OK so here is the inside scoop from a Trainer on how to choose and hire the right Trainer for you to reach your fitness goals. There are no secrets, just take some time to do your homework, understand your goals and then get to work.
  • Till next time, be well.
  • Never begin an exercise program without prior medical clearance, especially if yo have been sedentary or are recovering form injury, pregnancy or living with a chronic health condition.

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To lear more about how to become a personal trainer, please visit our website.

 

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Thursday, February 11, 2010

How to Become an Acknowledged Personal Trainer

It’s one thing to earn a personal training certification and begin your career as a trainer, but another thing entirely to stand apart from the rest. Personal trainers fill up all types of gyms. They’re a dime a dozen. Acknowledged personal trainers, however, are rare, and they have put in a lot of work to get where they are.

  1. Expand your knowledge beyond the basics taught in a certification course. The fundamentals of biomechanics, biochemistry, biology, anatomy and physiology found in most personal training certification courses will only take you so far. Because of the complexity of the human body, it is necessary to take this knowledge to the next level. Read books by established fitness professionals like Eric Cressey, Mike Robertson, Mike Boyle and Alwyn Cosgrove. After you finish their books, read their articles. Don’t simply use the ideas they provide; expand on them. Basic fitness knowledge won’t set you above the rest, but innovative and effective ideas will.
  2. Create a portfolio featuring each client you work with. A portfolio is the personal trainer’s lifeline. You will show this compilation of past clients to potential clients and future employers. Keep records of everything. Track all of your clients’ progress in terms of measurement, weight lifted, number of workouts performed, type of workout performed, body weight, and body fat. You may want to include before-and-after pictures. In addition, ask your clients to provide testimonials if they like what they have achieved. These testimonials are the most important part of the personal training portfolio. Potential clients will read them and immediately see that you have helped others reach their goals.
  3. Market yourself effectively. Any good businessman knows that knowledge and success will only take you so far if you aren’t marketing yourself. Occasionally donning the businessman’s suit is part of the personal training profession, whether you like it or not. If nobody knows about you, then you won’t get work. Create a website with a virtual version of your portfolio. Let the entire world know what you have to offer. Fliers are an effective marketing tool for those living in small or medium-sized towns. Business cards, however, are a staple for the personal trainer. You want to be able to hand out a little piece of yourself for everyone to remember, regardless of whether you’re in the grocery store or the gym.

Tips & Warnings

  • Keep duplicates of your portfolio, in case something happens to the original. Having online and offline copies will insure that you never lose the biggest tool for advancement in your career.
  • Don’t walk into this process thinking that you’re going to become an acknowledged personal trainer overnight. Regardless of how well you perform the steps, rising to the top of a profession takes time and dedication.

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For more information about a career in personal training and about the best personal training certification please visit our website.

 

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Tuesday, February 9, 2010

Fitness Training

Come New Year and you will see people making their New Year resolutions. One of the most common New Year resolutions that most people make is getting fit. Whether it is losing weight, gaining muscle, or just joining a gym to stay fit, it all seems to come about during the New Year. Then what happens? One quickly joins a gym and starts the pursuit to healthy lifestyle with great enthusiasm. But then as time goes and you are nearing the end of 2 months, boredom starts to set in and you start losing interest, and before you even know it you stop going to the gym. Sounds familiar? Unfortunately this is how most New Year resolutions come to an end.

If you analyze carefully you will understand that the main reason for such a failure is the lack of motivation. Sure enough you have the enthusiasm to start a fitness workout regime and stay focused for some time. But soon the routine becomes a boring activity with no of few results and you put an abrupt end to it. A personal fitness trainer can change that. A personal trainer is a highly qualified professional who is trained to understand the client’s needs in terms of their fitness goals. He/she is capable of assessing the present fitness condition of the client and can draw a plan that will bring the desired fitness results over period of time. A fitness professional can help the client to achieve their fitness goals in small steps. He/she can work a plan that will monitor the progress and keep the client motivated to stick to the plan. If the trainer finds that the client is losing interest or is getting bored of performing the same exercises over and over again, they can alter the planned sessions in a way to give the body the same workout that is need but through different activity.

A qualified fitness professional can also chalk out a diet plan. Diet plays a vital role in maintain a healthy body. The reason why lots of people do not see the desired results even if they are engaged in a fitness program is because they do not have a balanced diet after their workout sessions. For those who are working out to lose those extra pounds, a balanced diet is utmost necessary. Talk to your trainer to help you chalk out a proper diet plan for you.

If you are considering a career in personal training and need more information about personal trainer education, then please visit our website for details.

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Thursday, February 4, 2010

Motivation is the key

These days a lot is said about health, fitness and fitness training. People are becoming more and more health conscious and are hiring personal trainers to help them achieve their fitness goals. One of the toughest things about fitness training is “motivation” especially if one is just beginning a fitness training program. Many people have a great enthusiasm when they begin any fitness program, but quickly lose interest and the program goes out of the window, in some cases almost literally. Boredom is the number one reason for fitness failures. If you have to do a routine every day, every week, every month chances are you’ll get bored of doing that routine and ultimately stop. And if it’s a routine that is not showing immediate results, like exercising, then it becomes all the more easy to lose motivation.

This is where a personal fitness trainer comes in to help. Fitness trainers are professionals who understand the needs of their clients. They are trained to do so. They can assess your fitness levels and chalk out a workout plan that will give you maximum benefit. They are specially trained to keep you motivated and help you stick to your fitness plan. Any sign of boredom is quickly assessed and the plan can be altered to give you a new boost. Personal trainers are great motivators and not just people who know train you to use the exercise machines.

Motivating people isn’t easy. One has to know his/her job well to provide motivation. Personal trainers are experts in their field. A good trainer can show you different techniques to perform a particular set of exercises. They can guide you in your workout plans and diet plans for effective results. Some personal trainers can even tell you success stories to get you motivated. A good personal trainer is the one who can push you to your limits and get you motivated to achieve your fitness goals.

Personal training is a highly specialized trade. A good personal trainer who graduates from the national personal trainer institute will quickly know when you are starting to lose interest. He/she is trained to make you feel at ease at times when you feel that you are failing in your pursuit. It is important to know when you need a break. A change in the routine or in the atmosphere is what it may take, a personal trainer understands this and can help you achieve the desired results by altering you workout routines or just changing the venue of your exercises. One day he/she might have you working out in the comforts of your home on another day he/she may take you out for an uphill climb; the idea is to get you worked out by adding some excitement to the routine.

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Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Personal Fitness Trainer’s Courses

There has been in increase in the demand for good personal trainers. One of the reasons behind this is that people are becoming more and more health conscious and are making every effort to stay fit in this modern world that is full of anxiety, restlessness, pollution and all other factors that are having adverse effect on the health. Personal trainers are professionals who help people achieve their fitness goals.

There are many institutions all over the United States that run specialized personal fitness training courses for propel who would like to start their own personal fitness training business or those who wish to pursue a career as fitness trainers of instructors are a gym.

A personal trainer education covers a wide range of topics beginning with the basic introduction to what personal fitness training is all about and what are the roles and responsibilities of a good personal trainer. The study also includes a detailed introduction to the human anatomy. Some schools also highlight the business prospects of being a personal trainer, where a student gets to learn the skills required to run and maintain a successful business. Students also get to learn how to use the different exercise equipments, how to chalk out fitness programs for their clients depending upon their individual needs, how to motivate clients to stick to their exercise routines and also how to interact with different clients depending upon their age or any specific requirements.

Certain courses also include various training skills, client assessment skills, strengthening and endurance exercises along with training in nutritional counseling and metabolic factors. Most short-term courses offer certification at the end of the courses, but for a degree the courses are often longer and have an in-depth curriculum.

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Thursday, January 28, 2010

How to Pass the AFAA Personal Training Exam

Become a personal trainer with the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America, the country’s largest educator of fitness professionals. Learn the fundamentals of the personal training profession. Pass AFAA’s Personal Fitness Trainer Exam by enrolling in an AFAA sponsored personal training workshop. After passing the practical and written exam and obtaining CPR certification, you gain your AFAA certification.

  1. Prepare for the AFAA Personal Training exam by obtaining CPR certification from your local Red Cross or community center.
  2. Attend classes at your local college in nutrition, health and fitness subjects to prepare for the AFAA exam and a future in the fitness industry.
  3. Learn your way around the local gym. Become proficient on the weights and fitness machines to prepare for the exam before the prep class begins.
  4. Enroll in an online AFAA sponsored personal training prep course to learn the fundamentals of the fitness profession. Use the AFAA’s textbook "Personal Fitness Training: Theory and Practice" and online classes to prepare for the Personal Trainer Certification exam and the National Board of Fitness Examiners exams.
  5. Attend a three-day certification workshop hosted by the AFAA. Find the date and times for Personal Training Certification workshops on the AFAA’s website. Enroll in a workshop. Be prepared to pay a fee, to study before the workshop and to take the AFEE certification exam at the end of the workshop.
  6. Review fitness topics such as exercise programs, anatomy, nutrition and fitness testing procedures. Prepare for a written and practical exam covering the topics reviewed in the AFAA workshop. Receive your certification upon successful completion of both parts of the certification exam.

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To know more about a career in personal training and personal trainer courses, please visit our website.

 

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Friday, January 22, 2010

Go High Quality Fitness Equipment Designed For Years Of Use

The Elliptical trainers were first introduced by Precor. They manufacture exceptional stable and solid machines both for commercial and home markets. The company uses high quality components and practice research based manufacturing methods to develop all fitness equipments. The company is in the fitness equipment industry for more than 25 years and has developed many innovative fitness machines like elliptical cross trainers and adaptive motion trainers. Their machines are widely used in health clubs, gyms, hotels, hospitals and rehabilitation centers.

The CrossRamp technology is the main important feature in almost all high grade Precor elliptical machines. With this technology the user can adjust the incline at a desired level. This allows the user to individually target all lower body muscle groups during the exercise. The magnetic resistance type, increased stride length and long warranty are the other important features of all Precor premium elliptical machines. The price of Precor elliptical trainers range from mid to high keeping the requirements of serious fitness minded people.

Technology has aided in creating ever more sophisticated heart monitors which contain a myriad of functions that assist in fine tuning strong heart performance. High end models act like a computer and can give you summaries and calculations of data. Some provide info on the highest and lowest heart rate you achieved during an exercise routine. Others offer estimations on the amount of calories you burn during a workout session. Still others can measure your body’s oxygen use or store multiple session information so that you can download it to your computer and compare data and progress.

Other features of the device include ten levels of resistance, hand pulse sensors to get accurate readings of your heart rate, front transportation wheels as well as a console that has the basics. There is a nice feature that is added to the rear platforms as well. The back is adjustable to make it more stable, even on uneven floors like carpeted areas. All of these features make this type a very nice machine at an astonishing price. They do seem like they are well put together and seem moderately durable.

When comes to EFX 5.33 Premium Series Elliptical Fitness Cross Trainer, the ramp angle is fully adjustable from 15 to 30 degrees and the stride length measures 21 to 23 inches. There are total 10 workout programs and optional chest strap transmitter is available as separate. Other accessories and warranty conditions are same as in both 5.37 and 5.35 model.

The main difference in EFX 5.31 Premium Series Elliptical Fitness Cross Trainer is the absence of movable handlebars. It offers a comfortable lower body workout with its enhanced features and specifications. The ramp angle is adjustable from 15 to 30 degrees and this machine has a stride length of 21 to 23 inches. The stationary multi grip handrails provide maximum comfort and ensure proper posture during the workout. For heart rate monitoring there is optional wireless chest strap transmitter. The warranty terms are same as other machines in this series, that is, life time on frame and welds, 10 years on parts and one year on labor. The Precor premium series elliptical machines are best bargain machines at a comparatively high price range. These solid machines are life long investments for achieving your total fitness goals. At Amazon these machines are available on a very good rebate with free shipping.

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Every succesful trainer must have the indepth knowledge of the equipments that he/she will be using to train their clients. This knowledge will help you train the clients to gain maximum benefit from these machines. If you are an aspirant fitness trainer and want to know how to become a personal trainer please visit our website.

 

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