All personal trainers are responsible for educating their clients on physical fitness and self-motivation. As you consider becoming a personal trainer, ask yourself these questions:

• First things first, are you in optimal physical shape? It is important to remember that your clients will look up to personal trainers as examples of what it means to be fit and healthy. This does not mean meeting status quo standards of physical beauty; every body type is different, and being “in shape” means different things for different people. But personal trainers must be able to demonstrate a range of exercises and train just as hard, or harder, than their clients in order to help them succeed.
• Do you believe in the power of fitness? Personal trainers don’t just exercise because they want to stay slim. They see physical fitness as a powerful force that fundamentally enhances people’s lives. It is this strong belief in their work that enables personal trainers to be so motivating to others.

To truly understand the personal trainer/client relationship, it is a good idea to either hire a trainer to help you achieve your own fitness goals for a short period of time or shadow over an accomplished personal trainer already successful in business. Note how your relationship with that person develops, and what traits make him or her effective at the job. You do not need to copy their every move, develop your own style and be genuine with a gentle, intimate approach.

What is your specialty?

Personal training is a highly competitive business, and one way to help yourself stand out is by choosing a specialty and receiving additional certification. For example, you may want to find a program that teaches you how to work with children, mums that have just given birth or people with special needs so you can broaden your client base.

As you pursue your qualifications, think long and hard about what type of job environment would be best fit you. Gain experience in your field by working in different gyms in roles that don’t require certification.

• Many gyms hire people without qualifications as “floor trainers.” Floor trainers can get experience as a trainer and find a gym that’s a good fit before begin building a personal list of clients.
• Some gyms actually pay for their trainers to receive qualifications as an incentive for continuing to work there. Call your existing or favorite gyms around your area to find out if they offer this type of program.

Look at job listings for gym work in your local area, or better yet, walk in face to face or pick up the phone and call gyms. If you’re already a member of a gym that’s fantastic, let the administration know that you’re interested in working as a personal trainer.

• Most trainers start their careers working for gyms, even if they know they want to branch off on their own later.
• Gyms provide the credibility you need when you’re first starting out. They also give you the chance to learn from other personal trainers and get practice working with a steady stream of new clients.

Many gyms attract new clients by offering free first sessions with personal trainers. Use these sessions to keep clients interested in your specific skills and style. Personal trainers’ pay is commission-based, so the more clients you have, the better.

With your own business, you’ll be able to set your own rate and keep all the money you earn. You’ll also get to pick the clients you work with so no more forcing yourself to train someone you cant stand!

• Research into How to Start a Small Business and follow the regulations in Dubai.
• Some personal trainers hold their classes in their own homes and even in clients household, where they have a room set up with the proper equipment.
• Other personal trainers rent a studio, which they sometimes share with other personal trainers. This could be a more attractive choice if you have already built yourself a large client list.

 

Once you start your own business, you’ll have to attract your own clients – although you could possibly still keep in contact with members at your old gym and places you have worked in prior. Get familiar with marketing basics and spread the word about your business.

• Choose a catchy, professional-sounding name to attract new clients. Most Personal trainers do prefer to keep their own name as branding.
• Set up a Facebook page and a Twitter account. Instagram is another craze you can post pictures of your studio, and your happy clients. Remember to be an active social geek, post daily if not hourly information of exercises and different foods. Show people results as it will guarantee you more clients.
• Consider advertising in your local newspaper. You might even want to consider a bit of door to door flyers.
• Hold events and offer specials to help spread the word when you’re first starting out.