If you like sports and exercise, it may be an excellent option to work as a personal trainer on your own or as an employee. Of course, almost more important than this is that you like to deal with people since the psychological component of this work is crucial.

This profession seen from the outside can seem easy and straightforward, and that you just start right away. Well, nothing is further from reality.

One training session takes many hours of work behind (if you really want to make a good session, of course):

• designing the routine based on what has been worked in previous sessions,
• what will be worked on later,
• the objectives of the client, and
• the profile and objectives thereof.

Therefore, if you want to dedicate yourself to this, you must understand that you need to devote a lot of work, and above all time.

And once this is clear, let’s talk about training. Anyone who asks me if I can do a personal trainer course, I will usually tell him, yes, but that does not make him a good coach.

Being a good coach gives you, in addition to experience, good knowledge of anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, and a long etcetera. And all that you will find in the Bachelor of Science of Physical Activity and Sports.

Before you get on top of me, I must shield myself saying that it is true that there are excellent courses that touch all those topics, like those of the NSCA or those that the ACSM does for example.

But even so, I think that someone who does not have the preparation. It will cost you a lot to get that degree.

And leaving the training apart, a coach must also have other skills. Learned? Born with them?

Judge yourself:

1. Make sure of what you do

After all, training is health. If you doubt what you do, in addition to giving insecurity to your client, you can endanger their health.

You have to understand that exercise is not only for the body but also to live a healthier life.

2. The physicist matters, unfortunately

This point is the one that rages me the most. Many (too many) people think that if you do not have an athletic body, you are not a good coach.

I have met many great personal trainers and coaches with incredible knowledge and understanding of how humans behave. That is more important than having an athletic body.

Age should not be a barrier to becoming a personal trainer. Older trainers can be preferred by clients who find them relatable and credible due to their life experience.

3. Leadership

If you do not have leadership skills, then make it a priority to learn them (if you can).

A coach during the session is a leader. He motivates, encourages, and gives the model to follow (either physically or by his knowledge on how to lead a healthy life).

Very few people like to train and if the trainer is passive, is always looking at the mobile, is very quiet, just marks the exercises, etc., it is more likely that the client will not return and, what is worse, speak badly of what personal training is.

Like or not to train, your client has to enjoy the session, feel that he has worked and that he wants to arrive the next day with you.

4. Knowledge is also taught

As a client, you need to give importance to this. In my sessions, I try to get the person I train to work and learn.

I can not only say to do an exercise, and that’s it. I always accompany him with the muscles that are worked, why we do this and not another, what happens in his body when he does that exercise, etc. In short, I think that if you understand the training, you can get to take more advantage.

So if you like to exercise and sports, I encourage you to be one of those who care about the health of people, a training partner, a mentor for your client, a psychologist, a motivator, a leader, and very many cases, a friend.

But, yes, it starts at the foundations with a perfect formation. Because coaches, there are many but good, “two.”