#1 Successful Personal Trainers Know the Up-to-Date Exercise Science. Now, this is #1, not because it’s the most important, but because it’s often what Personal Trainers think is the only thing they need to be successful. So, I just want to get it out of the way and move on.

Yes, if you’re a Personal Trainer, you need to know your science. In fact, if you are going to position yourself as an expert in exercise, you had better make sure you can bring it. Your clients will never reach the results they could if you can’t create safe, effective programs to get them there. 

Whether you have a degree or a certification or both, your education should never end. Research changes the answers more frequently than many of us care to admit. i.e. Fact: the way to lose body fat is to do cardio… Not any more. Fact: HIIT is far more effective in fat loss.

Successful Trainers know the science. They are perpetual students, go to conferences, clinics, take classes, read journals. Never assume that exercise science is static and that you know enough.

Check out the full series. It starts here: 
Top 10 Traits of Successful Personal Trainers (Series)

P.S. Also, follow my Business of Personal Training page on Facebook.

More and more I’m asked by club owners how they can boost the revenue of their Personal Training department. As with anything you look to change, you must first look at what you have. Who are your Personal Trainers? Do they have the traits and skills that it takes to move forward?

Trainers, if you’re not rockin’ the world with what you’re doing, not having the career you want, follow this series to see where you’re missing out and how you can take your business to the next level.

Before I even start the list there are a couple of beliefs we need to address. In his book Influencer: The Power to Change Anything, Kerry Patterson states that there are two essential beliefs in order for change to occur. 1) You must believe that it is possible, and 2) You must believe that it is worth it.

That’s where it starts. Personal Trainers, do you want to change your business? Do you believe, and I have to stress that you actually must believe, that your business CAN build? Do you believe that it is WORTH the work that you would have to put in to change it? (some people are perfectly happy doing mediocre work with mediocre results)

If you ARE one of those Trainers that believe, follow me as I lay out what it takes to become the success that you want to be.

P.S. you can also follow my Business of Personal Training Facebook page

Obviously one of the greatest challenges in getting fit is getting to the club. When you are someone who attempts to work out on your own, you have additional battles to fight. You may be missing out on the most effective program, guidance, motivation, accountability, and even fun when you try to go it solo.

Consider Personal Training, Small Group Training, and Group Exercise. The people that achieve the greatest success, reach their goals safer and faster, are those that are involved in these programs. That, of course, is not to say you can’t do it on your own. It’s just that more people need that direction and connection.

While Personal Training is the ultimate in personal attention and programming, training in small groups (usually 2-6 people) can still offer individual attention and correction.

Group Exercise is a whole other animal. While individual attention may not be as readily available, there are other benefits. When exercise is choreographed to music it makes the experience, dare I say, even more enjoyable. Actually. research has shown that people push themselves harder when listening to music. A well designed class should accommodate all levels making even the novice feel comfortable in getting started. There also is a big social component to the class setting.

This brings me to the camaraderie and friendships that occur in working out with others. Just this morning one of my class members was asking me where another class member has been. She was worried and hoping that everything was alright. How cool is it to have this person, that you only know through taking Group Exercise together, be concerned for your well being when you’re not in class? (the other member is fine, by the way) Knowing that you’re not alone in this journey is a great motivator and helps keep you accountable.

So, if you are not someone that is highly self motivated or if you feel unsure about what you should be doing, try these options: Personal Training, Small Group Training, and/or Group Exercise. They can make the difference of you reaching your goals or not.

FYI: If you can sit through the commercial, here’s a news piece on one of the Group Exercise classes that I teach. Click here to view. I love my job.

Several states are now in the process of seeking to create a mandatory licensure for Personal Trainers which may include requiring a 4 year degree. I believe this to be a huge mistake for the industry if we allow this to occur. (I did a mind map of my thoughts on this. Can be found here)

Let me see if I can organize my thoughts here for you.

Pros:

1. Greater Respect
2. Possible Greater Pay (mostly based on deminished supply)
3. Insurance May Cover Personal Training
4. Greater Safety and Effectiveness for Clients

Cons:

1. Loss of 1/2 of Existing Personal Training Workforce by not meeting requirements. i.e. degree (OK, half is a guess, but I bet it’s not far off)
2. Greater Limitations of What a Personal Trainers May Do – There will be a very clearly defined scope of practice that will eliminate many areas that we may currently be training in. i.e. special pops.
3. Being Degreed or Licensed Does Not Mean Better – Still Only Setting Minimum Competency and Text Knowledge Does Not Mean Practical Knowledge

Questions:

1. Who Will Be Determining the Standards?
2. Who Will Be Writing the Exam? I’ve been on the NSCA-CPT Exam Development Committee for 6 years. Writing exam questions is a very specialized process that I’m still trying to get better at.
3. What Will the Costs Be? Fees, Insurances, etc.
4. What Ongoing Paperwork Will Be Required? “Patient” Documentation?

In My Opinion:

1. There Will Not Be Enough Licensed Personal Trainers to Meet the Needs of Clubs or Potential Clients
2. Prices Will Be Driven Up Making It More Difficult To Afford for Some
3. Will Drive the Creation of a Professional Level Below the Personal Trainer. A Level That Would Be Cost Less With the Potential of Being Very Effective. i.e. Fitness Coach, Health/Fitness Facilitator, Fitness Guide, yada, yada.
4. I Believe….. In My Opinion… that Licensure Would Hurt the Personal Training Industry.

The NSCA Just Released This Statement

NSCA statement on Licensure for Personal Trainers(.pdf file) 

I’d love to hear your comments/thoughts on this topic. 

Small group or semi-private training, boot camps, training people for a half hour or less, what’s happened to personal training? Well that’s evolution of a profession. It’s time for many Personal Trainers to realize that the one-on-one, hour long sessions (that used to be all we did) is only one small piece of the market these days. When started offering 30 minute sessions, they took off. When we offered hour long small group training they started becoming a real part of our program, and when we began the 30 minute small group, another explosion.

While I’m still a big believer in being a specialist, owning a niche, within that I think you need to have a variety of offerings. While I can work with people in almost any area, my self-professed specialties are weight loss and post-rehab conditioning. Let’s think about the offerings that I could have within those areas.

1) Time variations:

Post-rehab may easily be done in a half hour or even smaller segments (I’ve started with some people in 15min appointments)

Weight loss can also fit in half hour segments with a focus on high-intensity resistance training.

2) Multiple participants:

Groups can offer greater accountability, increased peer challenge, and more fun at a lower price which can make more attractive to many potential clients.

Post-rehab I have to say that initially I need to work one-on-one, but as people progress, get to know the exercises, and gain body control, why couldn’t you do a small group surrounding that area of focus. Imagine a “healthy back”, or “knees & hips” small group training.

Weight loss can easily fit into the multiple participants scenario with small groups or even weight loss bootcamps.

*A note: It’s more difficult in groups to focus on any one individual. So know your people. My personal recommendation is to have a one-on-one session to cover medical health history, fitness experience, and check form in some of the exercises.