Certs?

[wags]

Now that I'm retired, I have been thinking about getting certified for the personal training. I talked to some trainers at Gold's, they told me

That Gold's takes 40% of their gross out of their net, for using the gym. WOW! I thought Jesse James was dead! Any how, I'm wondering

If getting certified, is worth the time, money, and effort? I do not expect to get rich, but I do not want to work for nothing! Also what certs,

would be best? NASM or ACSM? Thanks!

 

[Robierob77]

I asked this same question, i don't think anyone actually told me it was worth it. They said that a lot of people don't really wanna do the training rather they're just looking for a friend for an hour and that if you really wanted to make any money you have to pimp yourself pretty hard. I have no experience with personal training and certifications but the feedback I received here and from a buddy kept me from moving forward with the idea of personal training. I'll sit back and wait for responses to see if there has been a change of opinion from anyone.

 

[JakeCreutzfeldt]

I do it for a living and love it. The atmosphere is so positive. Most of your regular clients will love you because you empower them and get them to do things they didn't think they could do on their own.

I'm NASM certified. I got my NASM certification just to make me employable. It was worth the $799 I paid, even though much of what NASM pushes is bullshit. I probably wouldn't have the job I love without it. ACSM is well respected also. If you're looking to train at a specific club, it often helps to have the same certification as the hiring manager.

In my experience it isn't the cut the club takes that is the income problem. It's the general populace you will deal with in a big box gym. Exercise is definitely not a priority in their life, so they don't see value in what you do. In most commercial gyms, the majority of members have no idea what they are doing. At my medium sized gym out of the 2500 members I would guess about 10% of the members show up with any regularity. I have access to the management software so I can see member attendance history. It is very typical for a member to join, then never show up again. I have had dozens of clients with sessions in credit they paid for, but don't bother coming in no matter how often I reach out to them. They probably wouldn't be out of shape and clueless otherwise. This makes sales and rendering sessions they have paid for difficult.

The money in the industry seems to have shifted to the boot camp model. I love the one-on-one sessions though.

 

[Jrbdallas]

Ya I don't like the boot camp model. I get approached all the time to coach and I'm like nah... I'm good. I have a couple clients now. Problem is NASAM isn't all its cracked up to be. I've seen some shity shity trainers lol.

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[jcoutts91]

I would get a cert to make you employable but really after that its up to you to make it a living or not ik a few trainers who pocket 30-40 dollars an hour and work twelve plus hours a day it really all depends on you so if you wanna be a trainer yes your gonna need a cert but where it goes from there is up to you as for which one is best I suggest hoping to there website and see what included for the price and read some reviews

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[JakeCreutzfeldt]

Ya I don't like the boot camp model. I get approached all the time to coach and I'm like nah... I'm good. I have a couple clients now. Problem is NASAM isn't all its cracked up to be. I've seen some shity shity trainers lol.

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I worked with a trainer who loved plyobox jumps and med ball slams. I picked up two clients that he got injured. First was a 60 year old woman he told to jump from a 2 foot high Rogue box while holding a 10 pound slam ball. I guess he wanted to make her more "explosive". She blew out her back. Another was a 45 year old guy with diabetes and osteoarthritis in his knees and back. He missed a jump onto the plyobox and tore open his forearms on the box as he fell down.

He was energetic, extroverted, enthusiastic, but as dumb as a bag full of rocks. Still he was extremely popular and usually had a full book.

 

[Evil Anvil]

I worked with a trainer who loved plyobox jumps and med ball slams. I picked up two clients that he got injured. First was a 60 year old woman he told to jump from a 2 foot high Rogue box while holding a 10 pound slam ball. I guess he wanted to make her more "explosive". She blew out her back. Another was a 45 year old guy with diabetes and osteoarthritis in his knees and back. He missed a jump onto the plyobox and tore open his forearms on the box as he fell down.

He was energetic, extroverted, enthusiastic, but as dumb as a bag full of rocks. Still he was extremely popular and usually had a full book.

I live in an area with a large number of retired folks and considered getting the cert to help out those who are aging but still would like to stay fit but some of the things I was hearing turned me off. I'd also be into a one on one situation rather than boot camp. Do you find your older clients wanting to stick with it? There are a number of retirement communities within my surroundings, have you ever experimented with bringing the training to them? And do you think it would be a good idea?

 

[JakeCreutzfeldt]

I think bringing the training to them is an excellent idea. I'm in a new hybrid manager/trainer position now and trying to establish a respectable in-house training program, so I have been focusing on things internal. I don't have a lot of older clients (70 years +), but the ones I do have are dedicated. Some elderly people are at such a physical deficit that they progress quickly. For a lot of the older crowd, effective exercise takes on an urgency us younger folks don't face. For the elderly, one bad fall can mean the difference between independence and a nursing home.

I have a 78 year old client who broke her hip and shattered her knee in a fall. Luckily PT restored most of her ability to function day to day. One thing that PT did not do is restore her ability to get up from the ground. When she and I first started working together, I had her lie on a yoga mat and do a hip bridge with her legs on an exercise ball. She was unable to get up without my help. I'm gearing her program to prevent a fall primarily, and get up from a fall if it should happen.

Imagine what it must feel like to fall down and just not be able to get up. The pain of broken bones. You're alone, helpless, splayed out on a floor, hoping that somebody will stop by. You can't reach the phone. It could be minutes, hours, maybe even days. You don't know. You're just lying there in pain waiting...