Personal training is a booming business in Australia, including in Queensland, and it looks set to continue growing. It’s not surprising, therefore, that personal training courses are now so popular.
Personal fitness training is a rewarding and varied career.
If you love fitness and exercise, and like the idea of helping other people get active and improve their lives, maybe you’re considering enrolling on a fitness training course. But there are some misconceptions about fitness training courses, and these could be causing you to hesitate. Let’s see if we at the College of Health and Fitness can put some of those doubts to rest.
1. The myth: fitness training courses are only for the body-perfect and musclebound, and you’ll be judged if you don’t fit that profile.
The reality: fitness comes in all shapes and sizes. Forget the preconceptions. Six packs do not necessarily mean healthy. Many rugby players would, by traditional standards, be considered overweight, or even obese, but we all know that they’re fit and healthy.
2. The myth: only young people become personal fitness trainers.
The reality: yes, there may well be people in their twenties on your course, but you’ll be surprised at the range of ages. Age is no barrier to becoming a personal fitness trainer.
3. The myth: a course will teach you everything you ever need to know about exercise.
The reality: it won’t. Fitness courses will give you a strong grounding that will stand you in good stead throughout your career. There are not only hundreds of different exercise types but, as in any industry, things change. New research, ideas, and methods developed over time and, to be successful, you’ll need to keep your knowledge up-to-date.
4. The myth: a fitness course will only teach me about working in gyms.
The reality: personal training offers a whole range of opportunities, from boot camps and sports teams, to group classes and aquacise. You can choose to specialize, or work across a range of disciplines.
5. The myth: fitness training courses will only teach you about exercise and fitness.
The reality: fitness courses teach you all the skills that you need to build a personal training business, including finance, marketing, and planning.
6. The myth: holding a qualification is enough to guarantee you a career in personal training.
The reality: qualifications are a requirement to work as a personal trainer in Australia but, despite the growing popularity of personal training, there’s a lot of competition out there. You’ll need to be proactive to build a career in personal training.
7. The myth: you’ll be taught how to advise on diet and nutrition.
The reality: while you will learn the basics of healthy eating and good nutrition, you won’t be a nutritionist or dietician. However, your training will provide a good grounding should you choose to take further qualifications.
8. The myth: fitness courses are full-time, and I don’t have the time.
The reality: courses are available in a range of formats, including part-time, so you can fit it around your busy life.
9. The myth: I can’t afford the fees.
The reality: there are many ways to fund your fitness course. While you can choose to pay up-front, there are also loans available to fund them. You might be able to get a bank loan or you can apply for a VET loan instead. These are paid back over time, so you don’t need to worry.
10. The myth: all personal training courses are the same.
The reality: while the basic requirements of all courses are the same, different providers will take different approaches. At the College of Health and Fitness, we don’t just teach the courses, we make sure that you get practical experience of working with real clients face-to-face, giving you a headstart over many other newly qualified fitness trainers.
Did you have any of these concerns?
Hopefully, you’re now confident about enrolling on a fitness course, here at the College of Health and Fitness. If you still have more questions, or would more information about the courses we offer, including what you can expect to learn, and how we can enhance your career, then call us on (07) 3385 0195 or send us an email at enquiries@thecollegeofhealthandfitness.qld.edu.au.