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Questions and Answers
I'm thinking of switching fields and I'd like an honest look at my earnings potential. If you are a personal trainer, what I'd like to know is, what is your:
1. Hourly rate (your take-home pay, not what gym charges customer)
2. Number of hours worked each week
3. Employer (if you work for a chain, I'd love to know the name of the gym)
4. What are your certifications?
Thank you so much.
Please only answer this question if you are a personal trainer or know someone who is. I've already done Internet research and am looking for some real-world numbers. Thanks!
According to the US Dept of Labor:
*Wages:
Median annual earnings of personal trainers and group exercise instructors in May 2004 were $25,470. The middle 50 percent earned between $17,380 and $40,030. The bottom 10 percent earned less than $14,530 while the top 10 percent earned $55,560 or more. Earnings of successful self-employed personal trainers can be much higher. Median annual earnings in the industries employing the largest numbers of fitness workers in May 2004 were as follows:
Other amusement and recreation industries $28,670
Other schools and instruction 22,320
Civic and social organizations 20,530
Because many fitness workers work part time, they often do not receive benefits such as health insurance or retirement plans from their employers. They do get the unusual benefit of the use of fitness facilities at no cost.
*If it's a lot of part-time work, what can you do about it?
Many group fitness and personal training jobs are part time, but many workers increase their hours by working at several different facilities or at clients’ homes.
*When you can be expected to work:
Night and weekend working hours are common.
*Skills/Certs Needed:
The most important characteristic that an employer looks for in a new group fitness instructor is the ability to plan and lead a class that is motivating and safe.
Most certifying organizations require candidates to have a high school diploma, be certified in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and pass an exam. All certification exams have a written component, and some also have a practical component. The exams measure knowledge of human physiology, proper exercise techniques, assessment of client fitness levels, and development of appropriate exercise programs. There is no particular training program required for certifications; candidates may prepare however they prefer. Certifying organizations do offer study materials, including books, CD-ROMs, other audio and visual materials, and exam preparation workshops and seminars, but exam candidates are not required to purchase materials to sit for the exams. Certification generally is good for 2 years, after which workers must become recertified by attending continuing education classes.
An increasing number of employers require fitness workers to have a bachelor’s degree in a field related to health or fitness, such as exercise science or physical education. Some employers allow workers to substitute a college degree for certification, but most employers who require a bachelor’s degree require both a degree and certification.
*Where can you find out more about required certifications:
To find accredited fitness certification programs, contact: National Commission for Certifying Agencies, 2025 M St., NW., Suite 800, Washington, DC 20036. Internet: Http://www.noca.org/ncca/accredorg.htm
American Council on Exercise, 4851 Paramount Dr., San Diego, CA 92123. Internet: Http://www.acefitness.org
American College of Sports Medicine, P.O. Box 1440, Indianapolis, IN 46206-1440. Internet: Http://www.acsm.org
National Academy of Sports Medicine, 26632 Agoura Rd., Calabasas, CA 91302. Internet: Http://www.nasm.org
National Strength and Conditioning Association Certification Commission, 3333 Landmark Circle, Lincoln, NE 68504. Internet: Http://www.nsca-cc.org
Good luck!
I just got back from a trip in China. While waiting at the lobby of a 5 star hotel, I saw this well dressed man,(obviously a Chinese from the way he speaks) spitting onto the carpet of the hotel. Spittons has long been removed from many places, but old habits die hard. In the efforts to be more civilised (wen ming), the Chinese government have put up posters against the don't of personal habits – and spitting is one of them. I wonder when the Chinese improve on this aspect of their culture.
The man in question is in his thirties. The hotel I mentioned was in Shenzhen.
Btw, I am an overseas Chinese, and my forefathers come from Guandong province. I do hope to see the Chinese in China being more cultured and gracious in time to come.
Yes spitting become Chinese Goverment big problem as the Olympic games coming, Beijing The government is teaching citizens “the right way to spit.” A college is showing students the right way to sit. Two years ahead of hosting the Olympic Games, people across Beijing are on an all-out drive to mind their manners.
China’s hard, gray, briskly communist capital has a reputation for brusqueness. Visitors are often startled to see its people spit onto the crowded pavement.
Changing all that ahead of the 2008 Summer Games is “crucial in providing a cultural and historical legacy to the world” for China, said Beijing city official Zhang Huiguang.
“We will work with newspapers, radio stations, TV stations, the Internet and mobile telephone carriers to teach people the right way to spit,” said Zhang, director of Beijing’s Capital Ethical and Cultural Development Office.
Zhang said her office is running a “behavioral training” campaign that also includes lining up properly for buses and turning off mobile phones during meetings.
But spitting is the No. 1 issue, she said at a news conference Wednesday.
“You have to spit into a tissue or a bag, and then put it into a dustbin to complete the process,” she said.
Zhang said her office has organized a small army of volunteers who are hitting Beijing’s streets to hand out “spit bags,” wearing bright orange uniforms with the Chinese character for “mucus” emblazoned in yellow on the back.
Public spitters already face fines up to $6, but “this year … We will require law enforcement officials to step up the frequency” of penalties, Zhang said.
Others are taking a softer approach.
Lu-chin Mischke was born near Beijing, married an American and spent 10 years in the U.S. She said her heart sank when she and her family returned to live in her homeland and she saw the rampant spitting, littering and cutting in line.
It prompted her to start the Pride Institute, a private group that runs seminars aimed at demonstrating the delights of being more polite.
“I’m trying to wake up a sense of decency,” Mischke said. “I know it’s there.”
She said hundreds of people sometimes crowd the talks at community centers, schools and businesses.
“I saw our beautiful scenery covered with plastic bags,” she said. “Sometimes I think I’m the first one to see this littering and say, ’Why do you treat our country like a garbage can?”’
“Many of them never really thought of it that way,” she said.
The nearing of the Olympics is starting to raise awareness of the problem, she said.
“Chinese feel it’s an acknowledgment by the world,” she said. “They feel like it’s not a backwater any more. It’s on the world stage.”
China has always been sensitive about foreign — especially Western — criticism of its ways. But Mischke said what she’s trying to teach is universal.
“It’s not like I’m inventing any problems for China,” she said. “Most people hate these things, this bad behavior. I’m just trying to wake them up and show them they can stop.”
“All of China is looking forward to the Olympics,” noted Zhang Hui, head of training at the Beijing Courtesy College, a finishing school for young adults who want to study decorum, usually before taking their first major jobs.
“It’s really important to improve courtesy” ahead of the Games, Zhang said.
She believes in doing this the old-fashioned way.
“Everyone knows how to walk, stand and sit,” she said. “But we teach them how to do it in a standard way.”
That means sitting, back straight, on the “front one-third” of a chair, she said, primly demonstrating. “Women sit with their knees and feet together. Men may sit with their feet slightly apart. If you cross your legs, you keep the toe of your raised foot pointing downward.”
“Every day we teach the students about Confucius and Laozi,” Zhang said, referring to the Chinese philosophers who lived some 2,500 years ago and are credited with shaping values associated with China — discipline and not rocking the boat.
“Every country has a basis for its culture,” she said. “Confucius and Laozi are our country’s basis.”
Despite all that I still not convince they will overcome the problem soon. Hope they start to learn and eliminate that nasty habit.
Hi Anne. I think there is two parts to your question, so I'll break it up as such:
1> Does personal development really work? In my personal experience, yes it really does work. From the age of 17-27 I worked in Sales in the IT Industry. After working with a key group of strong sales individuals who were highly motivated I decided to heed their advice and put a lot of effort and energy into really upgrading my personal skills. I started reading books like Stephen Covey's the Seven Habits of Highly Effective people, starting reading up on sales methodology, I took a few sales courses.. Was reading a lot of self help books including Anthony Robbins. The first year of doing so, it helped me get a relative decent amount of success. But come the third year of doing so (and I went to go and see Anthony Robbins' live in person at a seminar he holds called "Unleash the Power Within"), I was able to more than double my salary (the 1st year, I had a base salary of about $35000, within 3 years my base salary jumped up to $75 000. So does it work? For me it did. In spades.
2> How do I find really great motivated people to work with? I have always found that like tend to attract each other. People who are down, will hold their pity party sessions at the coffee machine together. And likewise, people that are motivated will eventually find each other as well. So the best advice I would have, is to be focused, motivated and outgoing. You will attract others like you, to you.
To assist you, here are the hyperlinks for the Seven habits of highly effective people as well as Unleash the power within. There are a lot more that I used to help train myself, but these are probably the two most important ones.
Cheers.
Ken.
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