Personal Trainer

A fitness trainer has the necessary skills and the required knowledge in the field of fitness and nutrition. He or she is someone who knows all about fitness and is ready to grow his or her skills in this very arena.

Plus & minus of being a fitness trainer:

• A professional gym trainer in India can earn from 30K to 50K INR per month depending on the gym’s size and type. 
• As you get training experience, loyal clients and appreciation for client transitions, client testimonials begin to grow, and so do the earnings. 
• You can train celebrities and their physique, thereby gaining rapid recognition.
• Personal satisfaction and happiness come when people who train under you reach their personal goals and fitness targets. 
• Along with these, one of the perks of being a certified trainer is getting to experiment with group therapy workouts, introducing cross-training manoeuvres, and enjoying the workouts in a safe environment.

Top celebrity fitness trainers

Average Salary in India

On average, a CERTIFIED personal trainer in India can earn anywhere between 117,192 INR – and 1,411,709 INR on a yearly basis. If you opt for providing personal training services by the hour, you can make about 10,000 INR per hour and above.

Source: Google

Qualities of a fitness instructor: 

• To stay safe and remain fit, you first need to get into shape yourself to set the right example.
• You can become a personal trainer who enjoys making fitness training innovative and enjoyable for others.
• You will need to be proficient in the skills of basic fitness programs across disciplines like yoga, gym workouts, dance, as a means of exercising and more.
• You will have to interact with various age groups and have excellent communication skills to make your clients do what you want them to do.
• You will need to know the body muscle groups and diets to cater to varied clients.
• Your work ethics and safety standards need to be exemplary.
• A never-say-die attitude, endurance and high energy levels go a long way.

How to become a fitness trainer?

To start a career as a personal trainer:

• Develop the requisite trainer skills: Being a fitness trainer and exercising with dedication may not be for everyone. Excellent communication skills, basic education and cross health-related training, a fit body, empathy and sufficient business skills must be a necessary requisite for a fitness trainer.
• Take a certification exam: Invest in yourself and take a certification course from a recognised institution. Such exams will give you the ability to handle a wider range of training programs across age groups with confidence and skill. It will also help expose you to cross-field training programs. If you want to choose your area of specialisation better, keep in mind that certification includes realistic written and practical assessments that can help you decide.
• Do the first-aid course: This is a mandatory condition for fitness trainers and sports coaches.

Advanced Level:

• Choose a specialisation area : Today, you have areas like Pilates, kinesiology, group training, nutrition, human anatomy, physiology and biomechanics to learn and specialise in. Cross-training in dance-related training, weight lifting, yoga etc., can also be your speciality in advanced training on the subject.
• Accumulate on-the-job training: Since exercise has more doing than preaching, work experience is a must to become a professional gym trainer. Companies and clubs prefer experienced people as their trainers. Fresher trainers should gain some experience at local gyms or serve as assistants to trained professionals to learn the ropes and get some practical experience. Consider joining a forum or association of fitness trainers.

Certifications & Programs

Deciding the right institute for gym certification involves three aspects:

• Course fee
• Duration
• Subject-Matter of the course

International fitness training programs

1) American Council on Exercise
The ACE program is rooted in science-based research from ACE, the world’s largest nonprofit health and fitness certification program. The course content is accredited by NCCA (National Commission for Certifying Agencies) which lends it a third party, impartial validation. ACE offers the following courses

•  Personal Trainer
• Group Fitness Instructor
• Health Coach
• Medical Exercise Specialist

Essential Qualifications:

1.    18 years or older.
2.    A minimum educational qualification of a high school diploma.
3.    Hands-on CPR and AED (automatic external defibrillator) certification, at the time of writing.
4.    In India ACE conducts exams in multiple centers, both metros, and non-metros. 
5.    Visit the ACE website to figure out the location. 
6.    You need to register 10 days prior to the exam. 
7.    Once you have chosen the location, log in or enroll (first timers). In an Indian address, you need to skip the address check to proceed further. 
8.    ACE is particular about verifying the authenticity of the trainer taking the exam. Therefore your name filled in the form should exactly match a government-issued photo Id (Aadhar/Pan/Voter id/Passport/Driving License).
9.    You can choose the type of exam from the Personal Trainer/Group Fitness Exam category.

The ACE Personal Trainer Manual and Group Fitness Instructor Program train fitness professionals to work in one-on-one and small groups. Developed and written by the top experts of the industry it covers. everything from anatomy to training techniques.  Special attention has been given to injury prevention, emergency techniques, and legal issues confronting today’s fitness professionals.

2) ACE Personal Trainer ProgramDuration:

Duration: 3 Months (Twice a Week)

• Fees: Rs. 28,090 (Course Material+ Practical+ Access to the ACE Resource Centre)
• Exam Fees: Rs. 23,595
• Book Fees: Rs. 18,563
• Online Exam Fees: Rs.  26,965

• 3) ACE Group Fitness Instructor

Duration: 3 Months (Twice a Week)

• Fees: Rs. 28, 090 
• Book Fees: Rs. 18,563
• Exam Fees:  Rs. 16,854
• Online Exam Fees Rs. 26,965

ACE requires recertification every two years because fitness evolves. For recertification, gym instructors need 20 CECs, where each CEC (Continuing Education Credits) is equal to one hour of training. ACE offers online courses, in-person workshops, a number of specialty certifications, and the ACE symposium, a large conference that’s held every year for ACE personal trainers.

4) ACSM
American Council of Sports Medicine is accredited by NCCA with more than 50,000 members and certified professionals from the globe. Representing 70 occupations within the sports medicine field, ACSM is the only organization that offers a 360-degree view of the profession.

The ACSM offers three books: ACSM’s Resources for Personal Trainers, ACSM’s Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription, and ACSM’s Certification Review. 

In India, Delhi-based Classic Fitness conducts offline preparatory classes for ACSM certification. The classes have both theory and practical sessions which give hands-on knowledge and experience for posture, exercise analysis, taking blood pressure, and assessing fitness. If you are an existing Classic Fitness student you get a discount on workshops. Those wanting to update their knowledge will have access to lectures/ exam review classes anytime.
Mumbai-based Exercise Science Academy provides learning material online. At the end of the course, an online exam is conducted. 
On clearing the exam the institute awards

• Official ACSM course participation certificate
• Exercise Science Academy’s course passing certificate
   

Fees: 

• ACSM Certified Personal Trainer Course: Rs. 36,000 + service tax
• For the ACSM Health and Fitness Specialists course: Rs. 20,000 + service tax (exam voucher separate)

5) ISSA

International Sports Sciences Academy (ISSA) is accredited by the Distance Education and Training Council. For Indian fitness representatives, Gayo Fitness Academy is the sole representative of ISSA.
For fitness professionals who want to distinguish themselves, ISSA has created Master Trainer Certification Program that combines

• Personal Trainer Certification, 
• Fitness Nutrition Certification,  
• Fitness / Exercise Therapy Certification, 
• Senior Fitness Certification, 
• Youth Fitness Certification, and 
• Strength and Conditioning Certification 

 Post the successful completion of the program, the trainer is able to design and implement an exercise program based on an individual’s specific situation, preexisting conditions, and goals. 

Duration: 6 quarters (1.5 years)
Fees: Rs. 2,13, 210

Note: Kindly note that these fees are indicative and can vary depending on certain factors. You can contact the concerned authority for further clarification and precise details.

CERTIFICATIONS

1) GOLD’S GYM

The Gold’s Gym Fitness Institute GGFI is India’s first International Fitness Management Institute. It offers certificate courses in Fitness Management, Personal Training, and Spinning Instructing for personal trainers and gym instructors.

The 3-month long gym training program is your passport to enter the world of fitness. It is monitored by qualified and experienced personnel at Gold’s Gym and invites fitness celebrities to deliver lectures. It covers a range of subjects to comprehensively address and ensures the best international brand practices in India.

• Duration:  3 Months
• Fees: On Request

2) K11 ACADEMY OF FITNESS SCIENCES

Founded in 2003, the K11 Academy of Fitness Sciences by Kaizzad Capadia is a prestigious fitness training and education institution which is at forefront of up-skilling & certifying all those who desire a career in the fitness industry as – Personal Trainers (PT), Personal Trainer for Special Population, Fitness Counselors, and Sports Nutritionist.

The academy’s learning centers are fully equipped with classes for theory, a fully operational gym floor for practical training, a highly trained faculty and visiting faculties for technical subjects, and a hostel for outstation students. The courses & course manuals are conducted & curated in regional languages like – Hindi & Marathi other than English with its centers located across Mumbai, Pune, Delhi, and Kolkata with proposed centers in Ahmedabad, Guwahati, and Hyderabad.

Courses Offered:

• Personal Trainer (PT)
  Duration: 5 months
• Personal Trainer for Special Populations
  Duration: 4 months
• Sports/Performance Nutrition
  Duration: 5 months
• Master Trainer
  Duration: 8 months
• Club management
  Duration: 4 months

3) K11 Exclusive Features

K11 is the ONLY Fitness Academy to be Partners with the National Skill Development Corporation (N.S.D.C), a Skill Development Program initiated by the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (M.S.D.E)

• K11 is the ONLY Fitness Academy to be Assured for Quality by PEARSON (UK). Thus, all courses taught by the K11 Academy of Fitness Sciences are PEARSON ASSURED
• K11 is the ONLY Fitness Academy in India to have a fully integrated study centre with well-equipped classrooms for theory lectures & A state-of-the-art gym floor for practical training
• K11 is the ONLY Fitness Academy in India to stand by a 100% Placement Assistance for its Certificate Holders
• K11 is the ONLY Fitness Academy in India with a presence across 4 cities & 3 states. With NSDC Funding, K11 Academy of Fitness Sciences will soon be PAN INDIA
• K11 is the ONLY Fitness Academy in India to have courses fully and professionally translated into vernacular mediums
• K11 is the ONLY Fitness Academy in India to have a Triple Assessment System through its Theory, Practical and Viva exams
• K11 is the ONLY Fitness Academy in India to have copyrighted in-depth study material as part of its comprehensive syllabus
• K11 is the ONLY Fitness Academy in India which lets its students stay abreast of ongoing developments in the field of Exercise Science by opting to re-attend theory lectures as many times they wish to – AT NO ADDED COST
• K11 is the ONLY Fitness Academy in India to have a dedicated HR Department and Student Support Cell for all K11 Certified Students

4) BFY Sports & Fitness

Founded by Rajeev Goenka, BFY is India’s premier health & Fitness Training & Education Organisation since 1999. BFY Sports & Fitness offers Personal Trainer Certification and Group Fitness Instructor Courses. As compared to international certifications BFY personal trainer courses cover a similar curriculum at a lower cost. Moreover, the institute also offers an option of learning through correspondence. 

• Fee: 24,720
• Duration: 3 months (twice a week class)
• Correspondence Course Fee: 15,730