Whether working in a gym or virtual settings, personal trainers help clients meet their fitness goals. They also provide individualized exercise programs that take into account any injuries, health conditions or other limitations.

A trainer can also educate a client on topics such as nutrition, proper exercise form and more. This helps a client feel more confident that they can reach their goals.
Education and Training

A personal trainer is a fitness professional that helps clients improve their physical health and well-being. Many trainers specialize in certain areas such as yoga, musculoskeletal rehabilitation, weight management and athletic human performance. Others have broad training and offer general wellness services.

Many personal trainers choose to obtain a national certification. These classes are often taught in a virtual format and cover topics such as the relationship between anatomy and physiology, how to prevent client injury, how to design exercise and fitness programs and how to teach group fitness classes.

Some trainers also choose to get a degree in health and fitness, exercise science or business. A business degree provides valuable skills for marketing, creative problem-solving and financial analysis, which are all helpful in this career. Obtaining a degree in exercise science will give you the background knowledge to understand how movement impacts the body Personal Trainer. Some certifying agencies also recommend that you take continuing education courses.
Experience

As a client, you should look for a trainer who understands your goals, listens to you, and is able to build a rapport. Trainers should also be transparent about their fees and schedule. If they offer massages or other services, ask if these are included in their rate. Also, be aware that they should not give medical advice or go against a client's doctor's orders.

Some trainers work as independent contractors or in specialized private studios. These types of personal trainers often have the freedom to design their own workouts and set their own rates. But they can also experience income fluctuations, especially when clients cancel sessions unexpectedly.

Some trainers choose to specialize in a particular area, such as working with seniors or people with certain health conditions. This allows them to focus their skills and knowledge, which can help make a real difference in the lives of those they serve. They often work with physiotherapists to create exercise programs that aid recovery and injury prevention.
Certification

Personal trainers are needed by many gyms and health facilities throughout New York. However, some personal trainers also choose to freelance or work for themselves. In this case, professional certification is an option that must be considered and chosen wisely.

There are numerous programs that offer certification at varying price points, including study materials and test taking support. In addition, many of these programs offer add-on certifications like nutritional and fitness coaching or training for specific activities such as running and yoga.

Minton recommends researching the different programs available to find the right fit, based on a person’s career goals and clientele preference. A good choice for those wanting to train the average "want to get into shape" client is the NASM certification. It’s a well-rounded program that covers human anatomy, injury prevention and basic training techniques. In addition, it covers how to perform a new client assessment and offers tips for building a successful career as a personal trainer.
Insurance

There’s a lot to think about when you launch a personal training business. In addition to getting certified, registering your business and finding a space, you must also acquire the right insurance coverage.

At a minimum, personal trainers need general liability and professional liability insurance. These policies protect them from claims that arise from the services they provide, such as a client slipping and falling on a treadmill or injuring themselves during a weightlifting session.

Depending on the extent of your risk, you may want to consider additional coverages. For example, if you store sensitive information like health records or financial data, cyber liability insurance can help pay for the cost of notifying and repairing any damage caused by a data breach.

The National Academy of Sports Medicine partners with Next Insurance to offer a specialized personal trainer insurance policy that includes general and professional liability, workers’ compensation, commercial property and business interruption. Hiscox is another option with a specialized personal trainer insurance policy that covers work done anywhere in the world.