Personal trainer

A personal trainer demonstrating proper use of a Bosu ball.

Personal training outdoors.

A personal trainer is a person who helps people exercise.

The 5 classic components of fitness are muscular strength, muscular endurance, body composition, cardiovascular endurance, and flexibility. Although there are other subsets like power and speed. The general population is defined as an age range of 18 to about 50 (45 and younger for males, 55 and younger for females). The definition of healthy in this context means an absence of a disease that would affect one's ability to exercise. Anyone outside that scope of practice should be placed in a trainer's scope after a visit to the doctor to see what kind, if any, exercise they are capable of.

Job overview

Personal trainer assessing a client's goals and needs as they write a fitness programme

Many personal trainers work through local fitness centers aka personal training studios and health clubs, assisting clients within the facility. Others may be available for sessions in a clients home, or serve as instructors for fitness classes. Trainers are generally needed to demonstrate various exercises and help clients improve their exercise techniques. Due to the more interpersonal contact between a trainer and a client versus a general gym setting, a trainer is more readily able to provide motivation and support to an individual in an exercise program, in addition to proper technical instruction. A trainer can keep records of their clients’ exercise sessions to help monitor progress, and may also advise their clients on how to modify their lifestyle outside of the gym to improve their fitness.

In the United States, stats show that by 2006 fitness workers in general were employed in about 235,000 jobs, with a portion of those being trainers. Almost all personal trainers and group exercise instructors worked in physical fitness facilities, health clubs, and fitness centers, mainly in the amusement and recreation industry or in civic and social organizations. One of the fastest-growing fields of fitness training is corporate fitness. Many large companies are beginning to offer corporate fitness packages for employees wishing to create or maintain a healthy exercise program. Personal trainers are now often going into offices to train office staff at their desks in their lunch breaks using tables and chairs as gym equipment.

Regulations and training

Personal trainer monitoring a client's movement during a fitball exercise

Trainers usually must have certification before beginning work in a club or facility in the United States. Most certifying organizations require candidates to have a high school diploma, be certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and Automated External Defibrillator (AED), and pass an exam. The type of fitness discipline will determine the level and amount of education and training that is needed.

There are more than 300 certifying bodies for personal trainers, but only a few that have met the self-imposed industry standards for accreditation. The following organizations require a passing grade on certification exams that test their knowledge about proper exercise choice and technique. They also require current certification in CPR:

American College of Sports Medicine; American Council on Exercise; National Strength and Conditioning Association; National Academy of Sports Medicine.

In the UK, personal trainers need to meet the REPS level 3 standard. Training providers vary based on price and type of training. Trainers can practice from a major health club chain or freelance, training at the client's home. Finally, some trainers aspire to have their own studios and this is a rapidly growing sector which gives the trainer a chance to maximise their income and downtime.

Notable personal trainers

Notable personal trainers include Bob Harper, Jeff Halevy, and Jillian Michaels.