Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Working Out At Home: Exercise Videos Or Personal Trainer?

Working Out At Home: Exercise Videos Or Personal Trainer?

We all know we should be doing some form of exercise don’t we? But, most of us really don’t want to leave our home and go to a gym.

No matter which way you go, you are going to need exercise equipment and a room in your home to put them. Here are a few choices for the kinds of equipment that you might want to get:

The most popular workout equipment that is sold today is a treadmill. If the weather is cold, or if it’s raining or snowing you don’t have to worry about freezing. Just go into your exercise room (or space) and walk on your treadmill. Treadmills aren’t the heavy, clunky machines that they used to be. Most can now be folded up and stowed away in a closet or behind a screen.

A universal weight set is the next thing that you should think about getting. Universal weight sets can be set up so that you can exercise a wide range of muscles in the body. Pumping iron isn’t like it used to be in the old days. This type of exercise equipment can be set up to exercise just about any part of your body, from your legs, to your arms to you back…you name it.

Using just these two pieces of exercise equipment, you can improve both your cardio and your body’s strength.

The least expensive choice as to learning the correct ways to exercise is by purchasing a fitness video. You don’t even have to use special equipment with some of these videos. Some will be for yoga and others just for dancing and aerobic exercise. Here are some things to be aware of when looking for a fitness video:

1. Decide on what kind of fitness that you want to start with and buy a video for that one kind. Don’t try to start out with twenty different kinds of exercises. You’ll just give up overwhelmed and frustrated.

2. Start slowly by following the video examples one step at a time. Maybe you’ve decided to do an aerobics dance video first. Begin the routine and then stop when you get overly tired. Take a day off and then start again, going as far as you can without overtaxing yourself. Build up your workout routine time gradually.

3. Only when you can easily do the exercise routine in the aerobics video that you purchased, then go for another type of exercise such as Tai Bo.

Fitness videos are great for those who are shy or think that they are to fat to be seen at the gym. (Why is that? That’s what gyms are for!) Once you get a few routines down, you’ll start feeling healthier and have more stamina.

Some people may do better with a personal trainer. After all, you can’t "cheat" on your exercises if you have someone telling you exactly what, how and why you should do your exercising. A personal trainer will create an exercise routine that matches your fitness level. They are there to push you a bit but not to make you do more than your body will tolerate.

Here are some tips on hiring a personal trainer:

You should be able to find a personal trainer at your local gym. You can hire one of them or ask them for a referral for one for you to use in your home.

This could get a bit expensive. You might just decide that it would be less expensive for you to work out at the gym just to get you started. You could join for just a short time. Some gyms even have a "trial period" so you can test them out. The trainer would show you how to use the exercise equipment and you’ll go and apply the same methods at home.

It would probably be better to splurge on a personal trainer to begin with so that he (or she) can start you on the routine that will be best for you level of physical fitness. They are the experts and will guide you in the right direction.

Which ever way you decide to go, fitness video or personal trainer, you must get started. The longer you wait, the more difficult it will be. Just do it!

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To know more about personal trainer education, please visit our website.

 

Posted by careerpersonaltraining at 17:01:03 | Permalink | No Comments »

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Advantages of Having A Personal Trainer

It’s very hard to reach your fitness goals without a personal fitness coach. It isn’t as easy as most people think to get your body into shape. In order to figure out your body type and what it requires, expertise and experience is necessary.

The most prized possession that any of us have is our own body. Every individual has unique physical traits. This demands the expertise of a personal fitness trainer who can focus on every client to ensure they reach their goals.

Many folks wish they had great shapes but aren’t prepared to do the work required to achieve one. We need someone to help us stay motivated. The fitness coach will give you this motivation which is necessary.

We understand the ideal exercise routines that are required in order to attain this objective. Your fitness coach is armed with the best information regarding the proper positions and equipment needed for workouts. A fitness trainer provides assistance to concentrate on a given part of the body to achieve the desired results.

The required equipment will be provided to you by a professional fitness trainer, who will also teach you the correct method of using them. In addition, your personal trainer will supervise your diet.

A professional fitness trainer’s wisdom and expertise is very important. A professional fitness trainer is unparalleled in information and aid. Your personal training sessions will enlighten you with fitness tips as well as broadening your knowledge of fitness.

Fitness instructors will use personal fitness training to help you reach your desired shape as quickly as possible and will also provide instruction in the maintenance of your body. Allow the physical fitness coach to create the fitness regime and just work on doing your exercises. Optimizing your benefits from personal training is simply a matter of being clear about your needs and goals right at the start.

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For a career in personal training and information about how to become a personal fitness trainer, please visit our website.

 

Posted by careerpersonaltraining at 15:45:46 | Permalink | No Comments »

Friday, October 23, 2009

How to Become a Certified Personal Trainer

You have a love for fitness, a passion to help other people choose healthy lifestyles, and you enjoy working with a variety of personalities. That makes you a good fit to become a certified personal trainer. A certified personal trainer works one on one with a client to tailor an exercise plan specific to that client’s needs and to provide accountability and assistance before, during and in between workouts. Working as a certified personal trainer can be a rewarding and lucrative career, if you follow the right steps and work hard to please your clients.

Steps

  1. Complete all prerequisites.
    • If you want to become a certified personal trainer, you don’t need a college degree. However, you should be at least 18 years old, have a high school diploma or GED and have some familiarity with exercise science.
  2. Assess your personal skills.
    • A certified personal trainer works with all types of people in many different circumstances. One session, you may work to train a competitive athlete who lives for the sport. In your next session, you may work with someone who wants to lose weight but finds it hard to stay motivated. You need to have a repertoire to work with all types of clients and meet them where they are.
  3. Obtain certification through a nationally recognized and accredited organization when you want to become a certified personal trainer.
    • Certification proves that you have studied and are qualified to teach fitness classes and work as a personal trainer. Certification does cost money, and there are many options available, so take time to decide what certification is best for you. If you already know where you want to work, call and ask what certifications they prefer you have. If you don’t have your ideal job in mind, browse through the many certification options.
    • The National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) offers a nationally accredited personal training certificate that’s highly reputable. NASM is the preferred certification organization for Gold’s Gym, Bally Total Fitness, 24Hour Fitness, Town Sports International and Lifetime Fitness.
  4. Boost your credibility with a specialized certification if you desire.
    • A specialty certification, also known as a specialty cert, allows you to charge a little bit more because you have specialty knowledge in that particular field. One example of a specialty certification option is the ACE Clinical Exercise Specialist certification.
    • American Fitness Professionals and Associates allows you to obtain nutrition consultant certification, yoga instructor certification, Pilates instructor certification, weight management certification, children’s fitness certification and senior fitness certification.
  5. Set up your own business or get a job with a fitness center.
    • If you work out of your home, you can woo your own clients and help them at any facility. If you work at a fitness center, you’ll work exclusively with clients of that gym.
    • If you want a position that’s outside of the box, consider working with corporate fitness, at a spa or even on a cruise ship.
  6. Maintain your certification through continuing education.
    • Personal trainer certification isn’t a one time achievement; you must stay up to date with the industry and enroll in continuing education opportunities to maintain your certification. Continuing education opportunities include classes, lectures, seminars and workshops dealing with personal training and exercise science.
  7. Join a personal trainer organization to network with other trainers and to learn more about certification opportunities.
    • Attending personal trainer summits can count towards your continuing education requirements, and it provides you with the opportunity to meet other personal trainers from across the country.

Tips

  • CPR training isn’t required, but it is highly recommended if you want to become a certified personal trainer

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To know more about how to become a personal fitness trainer please visit our website. 

 

Posted by careerpersonaltraining at 15:02:16 | Permalink | No Comments »

Thursday, October 1, 2009

8 tips for success to being a great personal fitness trainer

8 tips for success to being a great personal fitness trainer

Personal fitness training is a competitive career. Clients are hard to come by, and good ones should be kept at all costs. Here are eight things to remember each day to become a better, more professional fitness trainer.

Dress professionally

The best outfit is something sporty yet professional. Try a polo shirt, athletic pants, and some nice cross trainer shoes. Choose professional over sexy, please!

Don’t get too personal

It’s very common for close relationships to grow between trainers and their clients. This is fine, but do respect boundaries and don’t become a personal friend, if you care to maintain the professional relationship. If your client asks you for relationship advice, simply listen to his / her problem, acknowledge them and sympathize, but don’t offer advice or otherwise become invested in the issue being discussed.

Don’t be late

Personal training is a client service, it is part of your job to chow the client respect, so don’t be late to appointments. If you must be late, you must make up for the time, never short a client out of time because you’re late. This can cause bitter feelings and negative word-of-mouth consequences.

Be attentive during sessions

It’s easy to become distracted, or let the client go on his / her own during a set while you take a phone call. This shows an unprofessional manner, and you should avoid it. Clients remember an experience when their professional gives them undivided attention.

Stay on top of the latest news and information

As a personal fitness trainer, you are an information professional! It is your job to stay on top of the latest news in fitness, wellness, nutrition, equipment, and science. Read industry magazines, books, and talk with doctors as often as you can.

Don’t be afraid to not know the answer

As a personal fitness trainer, you have a professional responsibility to your client, and safety must come first. Don’t pretend to know the answer to a question if you don’t, be honest, you’ll be surprised how much it can create a feeling of trust with your client

Be fit yourself!

This is an obvious one, but important. You must set a great example for your client and be a physical specimen to work towards. Stay in shape yourself and be an example for your clients.

Do it only for as long as you love it

Too many trainers get into training because they love the job, and then burn out and lost enthusiasm, but keep on training clients with a less-than-stellar attitude. An important part of a trainer’s job is to be a cheerleader, and infect the client with enthusiasm. If this feeling has faded, it might be time to move on. You have many choices for next steps, including writing a fitness book, consult, train company employees on wellness, or move into the business side of fitness.

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For more information about a career in personal training and about how to become a personal fitness trainer, please visit our website.

Posted by careerpersonaltraining at 15:39:35 | Permalink | No Comments »

Thursday, August 27, 2009

CPR Certification Courses: Be a Real Lifesaver!

CPR Certification Courses: Be a Real Lifesaver!

Learning cardiopulmonary resuscitation, more commonly known as CPR, is a worthy enterprise. The technique has been known to save lives and in some cases, was the only thing standing between a victim of heart failure and certain death.

That said, well meaning individuals who are interested in learning CPR could very confused as to the best place to obtain proper CPR training.

Although volunteer facilities or civic organizations are okay places to learn about CPR, there is a greater benefit to taking an accredited CPR course. You don’t have to be a paramedic or EMT to sign up for such a class, in fact, everybody can, and should consider CPR accreditation.

What are the advantages?

Getting it done right

If you find yourself in a situation where CPR will be employed, you want to do it right. Volunteers at clubhouses, with the best of intentions, could very well be unaware of proper procedure. This is not to say that the courses offered at certain organizations have no merit, rather, there is a difference in quality. For example, a person can learn to dogpaddle but it always better to learn how to swim.

You’ll be certified

Although you won’t be able to call yourself a medical professional, you will be certified to perform the procedure. This can end up being a very important distinction in a life threatening situation. A certification can reap psychological benefits for the student as well, giving you the confidence to perform CPR. Confidence is just as important as knowledge of the technique itself, as someone who is unsure could botch the resuscitation attempt.

You can really learn the CPR technique

Being able to take time and really study cardiopulmonary resuscitation will give you a real handle on what it can and cannot do. You’ll also obtain a more in depth understand of what CPR is and how it affects the heart. Knowing how the technique saves lives can be very important as it gives you can greater appreciation of what you are learning.

It looks good on resumes

People who go the extra mile in any endeavor are often admired, especially by potential employers. It never hurts to display a civic minded side to companies as they will look at you as a great potential asset. In other words, by doing something that will aid others, you can also, inadvertently, help yourself.

Ability to help loved ones

Statistically speaking, you’ll more than likely help someone close to you with CPR than a stranger. In the US alone 3 out of 4 heart arrests and failures occur in the family home. This means that you will most likely be using CPR on a family member or acquaintance. Wouldn’t you like to know that you are more than capable of helping a loved one in distress if the need arose.

You won’t hurt anyone

Improperly applied CPR can potentially harm people. Some individuals who had CPR performed on them even experienced broken ribs. While this can occur even with a properly applied CPR procedure, the chances are heightened if an individual doesn’t understand how to apply the appropriate pressure on the chest.

Yes, it may cost a few dollars to learn CPR via an accredited course; however, it could cost a lot more in the long run if you don’t know how to properly employ the procedure.

If you wish to learn CPR, check into local accredited training courses in your area. By taking this extra step to aid your fellow man, you can rest assured that you will be more capable to render aid should you ever find yourself in an emergency situation.

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For more information about personal trainer certificate please visit our website.

Posted by careerpersonaltraining at 17:32:49 | Permalink | No Comments »