Looking for personal trainer courses?
With over 6000 exercise centres across the UK, fitness experts are in demand. Apps, social media channels and websites are playing a major role in promoting the industry, with a record number of people now signed up to a gym. Stonebridge’s personal trainer courses are designed to give you the confidence and qualifications to apply for a new job. So what will you learn?
1) How to stay safe in a fitness environment
When you or your client use heavy equipment, it’s important to know safety procedures. It’s easy to get distracted by a smartphone and lose concentration. In fact, the simple treadmill is responsible for the most accidents in UK gyms. Our personal trainer courses will teach you how to react in an emergency, assess risks in a new setting and safeguard both vulnerable adults and young people.
2) How to plan personal training sessions
Each client will have a different level of fitness, along with unique goals for their body and health. Being able to create individual exercise sessions is essential and your first step will be to collect as much information as possible. The more data you have, the easier it will be to personalise your training sessions. Key facts include:
- The age of the client.
- Any health problems or recent injuries.
- How frequently they want to train.
- Any short-term goals e.g. running a marathon.
A fitness plan should include specific exercises that are right for the customer, blocks of time for using a piece of equipment and notes on the frequency and intensity of each activity.
3) How to instruct gym-based exercise
Working with clients in a gym is all about observing and providing feedback on technique. You’ll need to know how to set up equipment correctly, how to adjust it to the height and strength of a client, and how to supervise them during a workout. When personal trainers bring fitness sessions to an end, they talk in detail with a customer about:
- Any area which they feel they need to work on.
- How they think their fitness is progressing.
- Extra support that they may need.
4) How to help a client to set achievable goals
Everyone has different expectations about exercise and the results that they can achieve. Whether a client is interested in weight loss, building muscle, body toning or improving their general level of fitness, you should discuss their personal goals carefully. Many clients will be attending a gym for the first time, so it’s important to make sure that they set realistic goals. A set of achievable targets can often help a client to stay motivated.
5) How nutrition can be applied to fitness
Personal trainer courses combine practical experience in a gym, with easy-to-understand theory. The Personal Trainer and Fitness Instructing (RQF) Level 3 explores topics including nutrition. Find out more about the key guidelines relating to nutrition and what the relationship is between food and exercise. You’ll discover how to collect nutritional information and analyse it, before integrating it with an exercise plan.
6) How to understand anatomy and physiology
To give customers the most valuable fitness advice, you’ll need a broad understanding of how the body works. Stonebridge’s personal trainer courses take a look at topics including the heart and circulatory system, core stability and the nervous system. Teaching clients about the science behind exercise will make your message more powerful. You may be working closely with clients that have a range of medical issues, so being able to put health problems in context will improve your skills as a personal trainer.
7) How to build effective working relationships
People in the fitness industry must have fantastic communication skills. Most clients look for a personal trainer who is supportive, but strict. Developing a positive relationship with a client will ensure that you get the best from them and encourage them to come back. It’s also great for building your customer base, because satisfied customers will talk about your services with family and friends.
8) How to advise on the health benefits of exercise
Many personal trainers work on a freelance basis. Even if you’re part of a larger company, you may be responsible for drawing in new customers. Fitness professionals need to have knowledge at their fingertips that will help them to market their skills. Whether you are at a networking event, or talking about your job with new acquaintances, you’ll be expected to speak passionately about exercise and encourage more people to take it up. The Personal Trainer and Fitness Instructing (RQF) Level 3 is an ideal place to start.
9) How to support clients to overcome body insecurities
Working in a gym, you’ll come across people who are very confident about their physique, but also many more who feel self-conscious about working out. Stonebridge’s personal trainer courses will give you the skills you need to work with every type of client. One of the most rewarding aspects of the role is being there alongside a customer as they achieve more in each fitness session. Learn how to be encouraging and positive in training sessions.
10) How to review progress with a client
Customers who pay for a personal trainer want to see results. Your role will be to break down information so that it is easily digestible. Some clients may not want to continue learning one-to-one, so leaving them with the tools to continue exercising alone is important. Frequent progress reviews can also be a smart way to promote any group exercise sessions that you run.
If you’re completely new to personal training, or enjoy working out, but need to back up your practical skills with facts, we can help. The Personal Trainer and Fitness Instructing (RQF) Level 3 is a blended learning qualification that will give you the experience to take your first step in this fast-growing industry. Use your local gym facilities and study from home at the same time. Interactive online content and careers advice will make it simple to prepare for a new job, even around full-time work. Invest in your future and see where it could take you.
Leave a Reply