(EXCLUSIVE)

• Many group fitness and personal training jobs are part time, but many workers increase their hours by working at several different facilities or at clients' homes.
  
• Night and weekend working hours are common.
  
• Most fitness workers need to be certified.
  
• Employment prospects are expected to be good because of rapid growth in the fitness industry.
  

Nature of the Work:
Opportunities for fitness trainers are on the increase especially if you're looking for part-time employment.

According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2006-07 Edition, "Fitness workers lead, instruct, and motivate individuals or groups in exercise activities, including cardiovascular exercise, strength training, and stretching. They work in commercial and nonprofit health clubs, country clubs, hospitals, universities, yoga and Pilates studios, resorts, and clients’ homes. Increasingly, fitness workers also are found in workplaces, where they organize and direct health and fitness programs for employees of all ages."

Job Outlook:
Because of rapid growth in the fitness industry, opportunities for fitness workers are expected to be good.

Work in the rapidly growing arts, entertainment, and recreation industry is expected to increase much faster than the average for all occupations through 2014.

People are increasingly spending more time and money on fitness. More businesses are recognizing the benefits of health and fitness programs, and other services such as wellness programs, for their employees.

• Baby boomers are concerned with staying healthy, physically fit, and independent and have become the largest demographic group of health club members.

• Schools have reduced their physical education programs causing an increase in child obesity, a growing concern for parents. Whereby, there have been increases in children’s health club membership.

• Increasingly, athletic youth also are hiring personal trainers, and weight-training gyms for children younger than 18 are expected to continue to grow.

• Health club membership among young adults also has grown steadily, driven by concern with physical fitness and by rising incomes.

• The aging population is increasingly demanding low-impact forms of exercise and relief from ailments such as arthritis.

Possible Earnings:
Median annual earnings of personal trainers and group exercise instructors in May 2004 were $25,470. The middle 50 percent earned between $17,380 and $40,030. The bottom 10 percent earned less than $14,530 while the top 10 percent earned $55,560 or more. Earnings of successful self-employed personal trainers can be much higher.

You can increase your income potential by offering your own classes, gradually building your own personal clientelle.

Because many fitness workers work part time, they often do not receive benefits such as health insurance or retirement plans from their employers. They do get the unusual benefit of the use of fitness facilities at no cost.

Instant Downloadable eBooks:

Other Books:

Certified Fitness Trainer Career Starter -- by Lauren Starkey "THE FITNESS INDUSTRY is booming..."

Small Club Start-up : A Personal Trainer's Guide -- by Ron Fay "The time has never been better to start a small health club. This book explains how the small clubs can be successful..."

Becoming a Personal Trainer for Dummies -- by Melyssa St. Michael, Linda Formichelli "When it comes to choosing a career, unless you're a masochist, you probably want to do something that you enjoy..."

The Personal Trainer Business Handbook -- by Ed Gaut -- "I started with this book and now I own my own studio..."

Sources of Additional Information:

For more information about fitness careers, and to find universities and other institutions offering programs in health and fitness, contact:

• IDEA Health and Fitness Association, 10455 Pacific Center Crt., San Diego, CA 92121-4339.

For information about personal trainer and group fitness instructor certifications, contact:

• American Council on Exercise, 4851 Paramount Dr., San Diego, CA 92123. Internet: http://www.acefitness.org
• American College of Sports Medicine, P.O. Box 1440, Indianapolis, IN 46206-1440. Internet: http://www.acsm.org
• National Academy of Sports Medicine, 26632 Agoura Rd., Calabasas, CA 91302. Internet: http://www.nasm.org
• National Strength and Conditioning Association Certification Commission, 3333 Landmark Circle, Lincoln, NE 68504. Internet: http://www.nsca-cc.org

For information about Pilates certification, and to find training programs, contact:

• Pilates Method Alliance, P.O. Box 370906, Miami, FL 33137-0906. Internet: http://www.pilatesmethodalliance.org

For information on yoga teacher training, and to find training programs, contact:

• Yoga Alliance, 7801 Old Branch Ave., Suite 400, Clinton, MD 20735. Internet: http://www.yogaalliance.org

To find accredited fitness certification programs, contact:

• National Commission for Certifying Agencies, 2025 M St., NW., Suite 800, Washington, DC 20036. Internet: http://www.noca.org/ncca/accredorg.htm