fitness as a career

WELCOME

FITNESS AS A CAREER

Physical fitness is not only one of the most important keys to a healthy body; it is the

basis of dynamic andcreative intellectual activity. – John F.

Kennedy

A strong mind resides in a healthy body. The fast pace of modern lifestyle has led

to an unimaginable amount of physical and psychological stress on human body and mind.

Consequently, demand for trained fitness instructors has increased manifold.

THE FITNESS INDUSTRY: AN OVERVIEW

Fitness has emerged both as a lucrative business opportunity and a sustainable career option.

India may not be on top of mind for the fitness sector but, according to the International Health, Racquet & Sports club Association, its 1,200 clubs are more than what Indonesia and Malaysia have combined and account for $510 million in industry revenues.

According to the U. S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for this profession is projected to “grow much faster than the average” for all occupations between 2008 and 2018.

Majority of the Indians are either insufficiently active or totally inactive, with the levels of activity decreasing with age.

Also India has one of the highest rates of CVD, obesity and diabetes, in the world.

Health care costs are rising exponentially as the medical field continues to focus more on treatment than on prevention.

According to the American Heart Association, childhood obesity is now the number one health concern among the U.S. parents, even greater than the concerns of drug abuse and smoking.

Screen and interview potential clients to determine their readiness for exercise and physical activity.

Perform fitness tests and assessments Help clients set realistic goals Develop exercise regimens and programs

(Ex Rx)cntd . .

FITNESS TRAINER’S SCOPE OF PRACTICE

Demonstrate and instruct specific techniques

Supervise or spot clients Maintain records of client’s progress Be a knowledgeable resource Educating clients about health and fitness

Effective communication skills Ability to motivate and influence Effective interviewing and screening Effective use of goals and objectives Effective and safe exercise program

design Effective use of up-to-date knowledge Obtaining new skills

Is it the Right Career for You?

Commercial (for profit) fitness centres Community (not-for-profit) fitness centres Corporate fitness/wellness centres University wellness/fitness centres Owner/operator(self-employed) studios,

fitness centres

Cntd . . . .

PROFESSIONAL WORK ENVIRONMENTS

Medical fitness centres (MFC’s) Government/military fitness centres Activity centres/retirement

centres/assisted living communities for older adults

Cruise ships, resorts and spa fitness centres etc

WHERE DO I START MY FITNESS CAREER ?

First find out your “Why”

Understanding WHY this career is appealing is the first step.

Next: Start your “How” Certification Mentor

What are some examples of rewarding career paths ?◦Administrative◦Clinical◦Entrepreneur◦Academics

Reading and research Clinics, conferences and conventions Coursework

Continuing education and career development

The satisfaction of seeing healthy results Exceeding client expectations Entering the world of lifelong learning

Expectations from Fitness Career

There is no dearth of employment opportunities for qualified fitness instructors.

In the private sector, the range of employment openings range from five star hotels to innumerable health resorts, spas, sports and fitness clubs

You can start your own gymnasium or a health club or work exclusively as a personal fitness trainer for some celebrity.

Job prospects in India & Abroad

Depending on experience, skill sets Salary wise Commission based Hourly

Pay Packet

Very high demand for qualified fitness professionals

Demand and Supply

The fitness industry is here to stay and grow in leaps and bounds in the future looking at the present job market scenario.

Market Watch

The infrastructure of the fitness business in countries such as the U.S., Canada, Germany, the UK, France, South Africa, and Australia is far more developed and organized than what it is in India.

International Focus

The best aspect of this profession is that you will always stay fit. After all, it is your job to keep one and all in perfect shape.

You always get to meet and communicate with people from different walks of life and who knows how they may help you enhance your career or your fitness business.

You are a role model for people who are under your tutelage.

Positives

This is a service industry and you cannot afford to loose your temper when dealing with uncooperative or difficult people.

After a period of time, you might get complacent about your work and not take good care of your patrons as you did initially.

This job demands you to be on your toes all the time. Slackness means loss of clientele, erosion of hard earned reputation and business.

Negatives

Personal training Aerobics, zumba, pilates Group fitness Diet and nutrition Sports nutrition Aqua exercise Weight management General gym training

Career options in Fitness

Youth fitness Pre/post natal fitness Sports conditioning Sports science and technology Senior fitness Special medical concerns Fitness director/manager

Youth Fitness Specialist Fitness Nutrition Specialist Orthopedic Exercise Specialist Weight Management Specialist Sports Conditioning Specialist Functional Training Specialist Mind Body Specialist Therapeutic Exercise Specialist Senior Fitness Specialist Military Support Corrective Exercise Specialist

Specialty Fitness Certifications

Fitness modeling Multimedia Fitness Consultant – TV shows,

radio, Newspaper columnist, Q & A section Fitness blogging Celebrity trainer Fitness equipment consultant or designer Workshops and camps Sports nutrition supplement expert Online fitness consultation Fitness centre designing and planning In-house business

MORE OPTIONS

Prerequisites vary depending on certification

A minimum age of 18 yrs A high school diploma or equivalent Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Certificate Most of the certifications need to be

renewed, usually every 2-3 yrs

Pre requisites for Fitness Certification

American College of Sports Medicine – ACSM

American Council on Exercise – ACE The Cooper Institute National Academy of Sports Medicine -

NASM National Strength and Conditioning

Association - NSCA Reebok Certification course Sports Authority of India

Reputed Certifying organizations

IOC – International Olympic Committee CHEK – Corrective Holistic Exercise

Kinesiology

1. Certified personal trainer – ACSM, ACE, NSCA, NASM

2. Group fitness/exercise Instructor – ACE, ACSM

3. Health and Fitness specialist – ACE, ACSM4. Health Coach - ACE5. Reebok Certified Aerobics Instructor6. Diet and Nutrition Courses: MSc Clinical

or applied nutrition7. Pre-post natal fitness

SUGGESTED COURSES/CERTIFICATIONS

Better fitness for You – BFY sports and fitness: Multiple locations

Proton Fitness Academy – Bangalore Primal Patterns Holistic Fitness Studio –

Chennai Reebok training Institute – Multiple

locations GFFI fitness academy: Mumbai, Delhi SAI – Patiala, Trivandrum, Gwalior Dr TNG’s Fitness Academy - - ????????

Academies or Institutes in India

M.Sc. (SPORTS COACHING) PGD in sports management PGD in sports coaching PGD in sports management M.P.Ed in Exercise physiology, sports

psychology, sports biomechanics

Academic courses from SAI

Anatomy and kinesiology◦ Kinesiology is the study of the mechanics of

human movement and specifically evaluates muscles, joints, and skeletal structures and their involvement in movement

Exercise Physiology Biomechanics: It views the human body as

a mechanical system of movable parts put in motion by the application of forces

TOPICS COVERED

Nutrition and human performance Behaviour modification Initial client screening Developing the exercise program Business of fitness training

Fitness trainer/instructor Personal trainer Group exercise instructor Fitness consultant Fitness manager Fitness expert Nutritionist/Dietician Exercise/Fitness specialist Master trainer

JOB DESIGNATIONS

Talwalkars Better Value Fitness Ltd Gold’s gym Snap fitness Fitness first BFY – Better Fitness for You Star hotels – Taj, Grand Hyatt, Oberoi, The

Lalit, Leela

Fitness brands in India

CARDIO SECTION

WEIGHT TRAINING SECTION

SPIN BIKE SECTION

STUDIO

The Diploma course is offered by Distance Learning on a part-time basis, and takes two years to complete.

The language of instruction will be English, and students whose native language is not English should provide evidence of competence in English, e.g. TOEFL at 500 or above, IELTS at 6 or above, GCSE or equivalent in English language.

IOC Diploma in Sports Nutrition

Program Fees:◦Part 1: £2,600 (GBP)◦Part 2: £2,400 (GBP)

Duration: 2 years course (4 Semesters) Third year is Optional to study in Europe

with an affiliated University to JNTUK. Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University,

Kakinada (JNTUK)

M S Health Science & Sports Technology