Six Killer Mistakes To Avoid When Starting Up As A Fitness Trainer October 15, 2014My CareerOff

Starting a career is always difficult. When you’re not sure where to begin with a career, you will make plenty of mistakes. To think that you’re not going to make mistakes is naive. One career that is quite popular now among young people is personal training. You can ask high prices for training sessions when you are a qualified personal trainer. That in itself makes the job role attractive to people in the industry. When you first start out, you will learn a lot about the job. Here are six killer mistakes to avoid when starting up as a fitness trainer.

  1. Failing to explain exercises

Just because you know all that there is to know about exercising that doesn’t mean that your client does. The reason your client is working with you is because they need help when it comes to exercise. You need to be clear when you tell people about their routine. Don’t use jargon or technical language when you’re explaining exercise routines to your clients. Break things down for them and make sure that you are direct.

  1. Thinking that being fit makes you a great teacher

Being good at exercising is not the same as being a good fitness trainer. People often think that because they understand how to exercise, they can teach it with ease. That is not the case. Being a personal trainer takes communication. That means that you need to learn certain teaching methods before you can become a trainer. Make sure that you take the time to learn these techniques before you take on clients.

  1. Failing to get fitness training insurance

When people exercise, there are all manner of things that can go wrong. Workout routines are often dangerous. That means that people can get hurt under your instruction. You need to cover yourself and make sure that you have fitness trainer insurance. Getting insurance will mean that you can ensure that you can cover the cost of any accidents that happen. The last thing you want is to waste money by not buying a solid insurance policy.

  1. Thinking you can cover all bases

You cannot be a Jack of all trades. Instead, you should try and master one area of training. Focusing on one area will mean that you can offer clients a specialist service, rather than a mediocre service. Many trainers make the mistake of trying to cover all bases. They offer everything from weight training to cardiovascular exercise. Instead, focus on just one aspect of exercise. Doing so will win you a more dedicated group of clients.

  1. Working for a gym

Working for a gym is a great way to learn your craft. Beyond that, there is no reason that you should work for a gym. You can make much more money when you work for yourself. When you work for a professional gym, you have to give the company a cut of your earnings. That means that you won’t make much money. Spend a few months working for a gym when you’re first qualified. Doing so will help you to understand the trade. After that, move on and work for yourself.

  1. Failing to do a risk assessment

Whenever you’re taking on a new client, you must do a risk assessment. That means that you need to decide whether you can work with the client. Some clients will have underlying health issues that mean they can’t work with you. Make sure you insist on a full health check and background check before you take on a new client. With these checks, you can make sure that the client is a safe person with which to work.

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