Maybe you’re a gym junkie, maybe it makes you crazy when you see people using the gym machines incorrectly or maybe you just want to help others with their fitness goals. If any of these sound like you, you should consider becoming a personal trainer.
Jen Rondeau, who is a personal trainer at Equinox in New York, says she got into the field because she was looking for something fulfilling. “I enjoy the one-on-one client interaction, especially if it’s geared toward something that’s positive, like a healthy lifestyle,” she says.
While there are currently no regulations for personal trainers, the best ones get accredited and certified. If there’s a particular gym you like, you can call and see if they have their own in-house programs (Equinox does), or you can take a programs lasting three to six months somewhere else. You will likely spend half of your day in the classroom learning anatomy, kinesiology and nutrition and the other half of the day on the gym floor.
The tuition can be hefty, but the payoff can be huge: Trainers charge anywhere from $60 to $400 an hour. And once you have a happy client, that client can be yours for life. “If you’re successful and your clients see improvements in their bodies, mind and well-being, you can keep working with them for a long time,” says Rondeau.
