Hi, I want to be a fitness instructor with a view to eventually becoming a personal trainer. I am considering starting with the Lifetime distance qualification. Is this a good one?
What are my chances of getting a job after qualifying, gyms are really quiet at the moment.
Any advice would be very welcome.
Thanx
Do you know anyone who has trained with the organisation? I've never heard of Lifetime.
I have done some form of exercise class for most of my life, and all the teachers have done 'hands on' training before taking up class work. The 'personal trainer' I was with a few years ago had done a Sports Science degree....... she is now working in a shop in Dundee. I have been doing pilates twice a week for the last 18 months, and the teacher is an ex ballet dancer and really knows her onions - she knows all our little 'foibles' and what we should or should not attempt to do.
Our local gym is bursting at the seams with new punters trying to lose weight after Christmas, but I stopped going last year when one of the new recruits to the team gave me a set of exercises that were completely inappropriate to my background medical history.
Hi, I want to be a fitness instructor with a view to eventually becoming a personal trainer. I am considering starting with the Lifetime distance qualification. Is this a good one?
What are my chances of getting a job after qualifying, gyms are really quiet at the moment.
Any advice would be very welcome.
Thanx
Hi,
Before leaping into any vocational distance learning course I'd check with my local careers advisor first. Also have a look at your local collages of FE/HE and see what they've got to offer.
Am I right in assuming the lure of this course is the cost and you don't have to wait to start it?
I'd also phone around a few gyms and find out what are the "must have" qualifications because like all careers it's competitive. Also some may have training schemes.
Good Luck!
Myarka.
hi there,
I cant comment on the actual course, although they are REPs accredited which is a must.
I think there are always going to be jobs for fitness instructors, as it does seem to be a 'high turnover' job, meaning instructors tend to change gyms quite a lot (they have at all the gyms ive attended in the past).
A friend of mine has just got job as a fitness instructor, and the gym I go to has asked me to pass details of any personal trainers that we train up, as they are in big demand!
As trends go, people usually take more care of their health during a recession, and gym memberships dont always get affected.
Good luck
just to build on what Myarka has said, the fitness industry is well known for being poorly paid if you have basic fitness instructor qualifications.
The minimum entry level is REPs accredited Level 2 Fitness Instructor, and there is also Level 3 Advanced Fitness Instructor (although this is being phased out), and REPs accredited Level 3 Personal Training.
Obviously PT courses are more expensive, but its here where you can earn decent money, for example £30 per hour instead of £6 per hour!
Regarding distance learning courses in fitness/personal training, there are more of these available, and as long as they are REPs accredited, are as recognised as any other, and follow the same syllabus. The difference being you learn from someone demonstrating on a video clip, rather than face to face with an instructor in a live setting.
I employ fitness instructors and I find the better ones have done a course at their local college. These tend to be more thorough with more expereinced tutors, can provide some work experience and have better routes into local companies. Some of the private training companies are good but some are only just about acceptable.
As for gyms being quiet, some of the large chains are struggling. Smaller studios though are doing well and expanding through a reputation of providing great service and results. Any studio or health club owner will be looking for staff with a high level of training and additional skills so look for courses which help you stand out.
Having trained as both gym instructor and Pt with YMCa and worked in gyms, my opinion is that distance learning courses were introduced to plug a non existing gap in the market but allow learners to progress at their own pace, place and at a time convenient for themselves, however there is no substitue for practical training and observation and feedback. gyms tend to exploit the instructors and are low paying employers, I have found that most PTs who are worth their salt will work for themselves in one capacity or another, either by having their own studio or renting space in a gym eg totalfitness but dont stay long working for the £11 from a £30 session or advanced level 4 PTS for £15/£40 sessions at gyms like David LLoyd. We have been in the industry for nearly 20 years now and its not for the faint hearted, shift work, unsocialble hours and exploitation by employers however if you have a passion for the industry you accept the rough with the smooth.
If you are serious about this industry I think you would be better doing a practical intensive course where you can learn from the other students as well as instructors,
Lifetime has a decent reputation in the industry and though it grieves me to disagree with other posts on REPs being a must, I personally dont think it is unless you plan to work solely in a gym environment, I have had lots of problems with them and even though it is not as bad it is used to be, they are inflexible, unhelpful and tardy.
It is worth remembering that your potential clients dont care how much you know until they know how much you care.......................this in my opinion is the problem with some gym based staff who in my opinion are unmotivated, under trained and underpaid, the use of generic exercise programmes is rife and no account is made for specificity, progression and client needs goals and aspirations.
I Will finish by saying there are also lots of decent quality fitness instructors and PTs who do work in gyms, my opinion again is they are the minority. No offence meant to anyone working in gyms, I am just relating my personal experiences.
There are training grants available for certain students so research may mean you can attend an intensive course for the same price as e-learning
regards
BGFL
I agree with BGFL re REPs, as a membership body, however, your course should be REPs accredited, and in fact there are only now about one or two that arent (although another colleague has told me that one of the best fitness courses he did was one of the providers not accredited by REPs)
Wow, thanks for your replies. Actually, the only piece of the Lifetime course which is distance learning is the A&P, I already have this as I work at a gym doing sports massage, the fitness instructing bit is hands on, otherwise no, I wouldn't consider learning anything from a distance.
I have always been a gym 'bunny', but since working at a gym I have trained with a PT for a year now and I have made more progress than I ever have working out on my own (wanting to do Great North Run this year) and I love it-I have always wanted to work in a gym and now seems the ideal time to go for it, my PT is encouraging me and said that he will help me all the way, as will all the other guys.
The Lifetime course was recommended by the Studio Manager, and the REPS bit did seem to be important, but I just wanted to get some more views on it.
there are a number of government funded courses available from lifetime fitness,
for details go to
of email info@lifetimhf.co.uk there are 10 fuly funded places for fitness instructors and personal trainers in 10 locations around the country.
hope that helps
BGFL
Thanks Biggaz, have emailed them & will let you know what happens x
Hi neroligirl
[DLMURL="http://www.beabetteryou.tv/personal-trainer-courses.html"]Be A Better You Training[/DLMURL] provides the best value and best quality REPS, ACTIVE IQ, HSE and ISRM accredited health and fitness courses. Our Project Graduate Scheme is designed to give students who train with us the best chance possible of gaining employment. Using our extensive range of contacts in the Fitness Industry we will put you in the right direction and your CV in the right places, on top of the pile! All this for no extra fee.