The fitness industry has seen a huge surge in popularity in recent years, as more and more people are investing in their health and wellness. Working at a gym can be a great job for those who are passionate about fitness and want to help others achieve their goals. Working at a gym can be a great way to make a living. Depending on the location and company, gym employees can earn a decent salary and may even receive bonuses or other perks. Additionally, many gyms offer flexible schedules, allowing employees to work around other commitments or hobbies.
What are the Benefits of Being an Employee at a Gym:
- You are more likely to have predictable income
- You may not have to “sell” as much
- You may get health insurance
- You may get paid holidays
- You are done working when your shift/class is over
One of the most obvious benefits of working at a gym is the physical benefits. Working at a gym can help to improve physical strength and endurance, as well as improve overall physical health. It is also a great way to stay active, as most positions require physical activity. This keeps the body in shape and reduce the risk of physical ailments such as heart disease and diabetes.
Another benefit of working at a gym is the psychological benefits. Working in a gym setting can help to reduce stress and increase self-confidence. Being surrounded by people who are striving to reach their goals can be a source of motivation and inspiration. Additionally, interacting with gym-goers can help to build communication and social skills, which can be beneficial in other areas of life.
Fulfilling Job Opportunities at a Gym
Looking to combine work, fitness, and fun? Working at a gym or specialty fitness studio is more than a job, it’s an opportunity to inspire others to reach their fitness goals. Here are 4 of the most popular and fulfilling career opportunities you can find at your local gym.
1. Group Exercise Instructor
Group exercise instructors are responsible for safely and effectively leading fitness classes for every population you can think of. This can include classes at a gym in formats like kickboxing, aerobics, dance, Spinning, yoga and more. This position is usually part-time, as it’s near impossible to teach more than a few classes per week.
The certifications you’ll need to complete depend on where you would like to teach. Generally, instructors will want to obtain their CPR/AED/First Aid certification, a general group exercise certification, and if needed, a specialty certification for the specific program you’re looking to teach.
In all cases, studying for the course and passing a test will be required. When searching for opportunities to teach, be sure to ask what training and education they require. Instructors looking to build their own fitness brand and create their own classes — think an outdoor bootcamp you see at a local park where participants pay directly to the instructor per class — will also need to carry liability insurance.
2. Personal Fitness Training
It’s your job to work one-on-one to provide personalized, individualized coaching and programming for a range of athletes to help them reach their fitness goals. This position can be full or part-time depending on the number of active clients you’re training.
The personal training cert is considerably more in-depth than a standard group exercise certification, and while you will spend time learning about the human body and how to work with special populations, trainers looking to work closely with athletes who might have additional needs — like youth, seniors or pregnant women — will need to broaden their education.
Like with group exercise, many gyms vary with what they require, but at a minimum, personal trainers should have their CPR/AED/First Aid Certification and a personal training certification.
3. Nutrition Coaching
Not all gyms offer nutriton services, but those that do often see alot of interest in the services. A Certified Nutrition Coach helps people better understand nutrition, make better food choices and develop a better relationship with food. Coaching and nutrition is a vast field, so professionals have a myriad of niches to choose from which helps coaches market their services to a specific type of clientele and gives potential customers confidence that you have the expertise to help with their unique nutritional needs and challenges. Jumping into your fitness career with a nutrition certification can go a long way toward gaining the trust of potential clients. Nutrition credentials, which are provided by professional associations like NESTA, require expertise and demonstration of high work standards.
NESTA offers a few different nutrition certifications depending on your desired focus. The Fitness Nutrition Coach course is geared toward working with the average client who is looking to improve their overall nutrition and relationship to food. The Sports Nutrition Specialist course is designed for sports trainers and coaches who are interested in how nutrition can increase sports performance, reduce recovery time, and enhancing the overall well-being of highly active clients and athletes.
4. Gym/Trainer Manager
Responsible for all aspects of the fitness programming at a gym or studio, you’ll be in charge of all group exercise instructors and personal trainers on staff. This position generally requires some management experience, as well as organizational skills for things like creating new class schedules and submitting payroll. This position is usually full-time and can include teaching classes, training clients, as well as management and administrative duties.
Conclusion
Making the decision and taking the plunge to become your own boss and enter the coaching or training industry can feel like a big, scary, and overwhelming decision, so we definitely understand why many trainers an instructors continue to find employment at gym and specialty studios.
We want you to succeed and have the opportunity to turn your passion into a fun and highly rewarding career.
Overall, working at a gym can offer a variety of benefits, from physical to psychological. Not only can working at a gym help to improve physical and mental health, but it can also be a great way to earn a living and gain valuable skills. For those who are passionate about fitness and helping others reach their goals, working at a gym can be a rewarding and enjoyable experience.
Be on the lookout for future articles. You will also want to search through the archives of our blog because there are many other articles that go into great depth about a variety of topics. Here are two for you to check out now!
- Strategies You Can Implement to Improve Your Personal Training Sessions
- Types of Group Exercise Classes to Teach
There is always something exciting about earning anew training or coaching certificationand applying that new knowledge of how you train your clients. This also helps you hit the reset button.
NESTA and Spencer Institute has been helping people like you since 1992. To date, over 65,000 people from around the world have benefited from our various certifications, programs, continuing education courses and business development systems. We are here for you now and in the future. Feel confident in your decision to work with us as you advance your knowledge and career. We are here for you each step of the way.
Click this link to see our complete list of programs(all of which qualify for CEUs for our programs and others).
That’s it for now.
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