Starting a career in midlife
Fri Jan 15 2010
Fulfilling a dream to become a personal fitness trainer may seem like an unreachable goal after a certain age, but it's eminently possible and an admirable ambition.
You need look no further than the great Jack LaLanne, the great-great grandfather of modern exercise techniques to realize that age need not be a liability when it comes to staying fit and teaching others to become strong and healthy. An older trainer is an inspiration, proving to clients of all age groups that growing older doesn't necessarily also mean growing old.
Becoming Certified as a Fitness Trainer
Starting a new career in mid-life as a fitness trainer is as attainable for women as for men. The first step a potential trainer must take is to become certified through a reputable certifying agency. In most cases, the certification examination studies may be done at home, which is ideal if you are already established in a job or business during the day or if you are busy raising children.
You Don't Have to Quit Your Day Job
Personal fitness training can be done on a part-time basis, so quitting your day job isn't a necessity. Many trainers take clients early in the morning or in the evening, before and after work. Increasingly, offices are providing gyms for their employees, so you may find that your first clients are your own co-workers.
Internet training is also becoming increasingly popular and is an ideal base for a trainer who may not be able to leave an established career. An internet trainer works with his clients in the same way as an on-location trainer, conducting fitness tests and establishing exercise and flexibility programs. For accountability purposes, internet trainers usually require that their clients stay in contact during the week via email and the trainer website. This has the advantage of making the clients feel connected to their trainer in a way that a face-fo-face session might not.
