"How do I become a personal trainer? "
This is one of the most popular questions that I get.
It's a great question, and an important question.
With the loss of traditional jobs and a move to service-industry economy in North America, personal training is a way to earn a relatively good living while helping others.
Plus, having read my newsletter, you know I give a lot of current trainers a hard time (and with good reason, most trainers lack a basic understanding of human physiology and human movement, and common sense - some trainers don't even understand the law of gravity).
In my opinion, there is a huge shortage of GREAT trainers in the workforce.
Now it's relatively EASY to become a certified personal trainer.
Simply look up one of the popular certifications (ACE, NSCA-CPT, or whatever certification the gym you want to work at requires), get their study materials, and then pass their test.
BAM. Now you are a certified personal trainer.
However, to become a GREAT trainer, you will need to learn much, much more and invest far more time and education than you need to just get a quick certification.
Here are 3 steps to becoming a great personal trainer or strength coach.
1) You will need to start by mastering the basics such as anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, and an introduction to sports medicine.
Granted, some certifications, such as NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist certification, do a good job of covering this material. But you need to learn more than just what is in the Certification textbook.
WITHOUT a foundation in anatomy and physiology, it is easy for a trainer to fall for the latest gimmicks and fads.
Ironically, I often find many trainers "forget" the basics in anatomy and physiology with each additional "specialization certification" they get...
After all, if you don't know (or "forget") how the central nervous system controls the muscles, then standing on a wobbling board while doing biceps curls with a rubber band while reciting your ABC's backwards seems like a good idea.
It's "soooo hard" you'll hear that trainer say. Well, sure it's hard. So is juggling.
Of course, you'll never see these trainers straining with a bar on their back while squatting, or even doing butt to the floor pistol squats. Now THAT is hard.
But if you have a strong education in the foundations of anatomy and physiology, then you'll take one look at that standing on a muffin-top ball stuff and realize its "Limited in value" to say the least.
Fortunately, you can learn as much about the basics of anatomy and physiology studying on your own as you could by being enrolled in a University Kinesiology program.
The plus side of going to University is that you will get a recognized degree and it also happens that a University or College degree (any subject however) is a pre-requisite for possibly the most recognized certification, that of the Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS).
However, the obvious downsides of University are the required investments in time and money. You must study on the University schedule and the fees are substantial.
One additional downside to a University education is the heavy emphasis placed on aerobic exercise science. Not only has this lead to the "You must do aerobics for fat loss" mentality, but also to the ill-advised "high-carbohydrate, low-fat diets are best for fat loss and health" nutrition recommendations.
While some coaches regard the formal education process as un-necessary, and feel that all the requisite knowledge can be gained on their own and in the trenches, I am a STRONG supporter of a formal education - provided the quality of education is high.
The education that I attained from McMaster University is without a doubt the reason for the quality of my programs and the level of my knowledge. Most influential was the neuromuscular physiology course taught to me by Dr. Digby Sale at McMaster University.
But since you will never have the opportunity to attend his classes, I recommend in his place you read, "The Science and Practice of Strength Training", by Dr. Vladimir Zatsiorsky.
Either way, as Michael Masterson of EarlytoRise.com has said, "Expect to spend 1000 hours of study to become competent in any discipline".
2) Get a Mentor
Masterson also says that having a good mentor can significantly decrease the amount of time you will need to study (perhaps by 50%).
There are many "in the trenches" mentors that I can recommend, including:
Alwyn Cosgrove - Alwyn has just released a manual called, "The Professional Fitness Coach Program Design Bible".
3) Care About Your Clients
This will mean being a "stern, but loving parent" on many days. This will mean "shutting them up and getting them back to work" when they try to talk about what happened on American Idol last night. This will mean enforcing strict form on all exercises.
Bonus Tip -> Get Results
A lot of trainers sacrifice results for a program that gives their clients "variety" because they complain, "My clients just want to be entertained".
Listen, I can find a lot of things more entertaining than working out.
If you know what works, stick to your guns and give the client what is best for them, not what they want. You are the boss, the "stern, but loving parent".
The attitude you take - that you are the boss - is a key to your client's success.
Those are just a few tips on how you become a GREAT personal trainer.
Craig Ballantyne, CSCS, MS
PS - It is no surprise that a lot of trainers use Turbulence Training with their clients.
When I designed the Turbulence Training program, I grabbed the best of athlete-training, bodybuilder-training, bodyweight-training, fitness-training, and yes, even Stability-ball training, and I put them all in my "mental blender", and designed the best workout possible for busy men and women to lose fat.
If you are still skeptical about the TT program, I recommend you visit:
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Or simply
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