Entering the fitness industry can be both exciting and rewarding, but there are a few things I wish I’d known beforehand.
The main thing is that even though it’s a passion, it takes energy, drive, consistency, and perseverance to be successful. Also, it’s a lot of fun if you pair with the right people and connect with clientele who really appreciate what you are doing for them.
Here are some more insights that would have helped me if I’d been aware of them before starting ShayTheCoach:
Not Everyone Will Love Fitness As You Do
- It’s easy to assume everyone shares the same passion for fitness, but the reality is that many people struggle with consistency and motivation or simply don’t enjoy working out. Being patient and understanding that not every client will have the same excitement can help you better manage expectations and improve client relationships. You can create a base exercise program that you use regularly (so you can progress the client) and switch up 1-2 exercises for variety, or you can play their favorite music during their sessions. You can help them remember their end game, goals, and why they came to you in the first place.
Time Management Is Critical
- Between training clients, managing business logistics, keeping up with continuing education, and maintaining your own fitness, time management is key. It’s easy to get overwhelmed, so having systems and processes in place can keep you organized and less stressed.
- Using downtime or time when a client cancels is very helpful. I used this time to develop fitness programming for clients, train myself, or maintain my equipment.
Self-Care is Vital
- As a fitness professional, you might prioritize others’ well-being over your own. However, practicing self-care and making time for your personal fitness, rest, and recovery is critical to avoiding burnout. This is easier said than done. My solution has been to know when my peak seasons for training are. For example, I live in Phoenix, so I know June to August will be “dry” months (no pun intended). Most people will travel out of Phoenix during those months, so I recover from the busier time of year during the summers in Phoenix.
It’s Not Just About Working Out
- The fitness industry is not necessarily all about lifting weights or doing cardio. In reality, it’s a lot more than just training. You’ll spend much time on things like marketing, networking, paperwork, and keeping up with industry trends. I found that blocking time off during the week to take care of these tasks works well.
Client Expectations Can Be Challenging
- Clients can expect rapid results and sometimes have unrealistic expectations. It’s essential to manage expectations and still be supportive and motivating. Remind them that progress takes time, and some people will need a healthy dose of reminders of this.
The Need for Continuous Learning
- The fitness industry is always evolving with new techniques, technology, and research. To stay relevant, you’ll need to invest in continuous learning through certifications, courses, or attending industry events.
The Financial Ups and Downs
- The fitness industry can be financially unpredictable, especially when you’re starting. Whether you’re working as a freelance trainer, running your own gym, or teaching classes, there are times of feast and famine. Being financially prepared and learning how to budget is crucial.
Mindset and Motivation Are Key
- Fitness isn’t just about physical health; it’s deeply tied to mindset. Many clients come to fitness professionals to help with stress, anxiety, or building confidence. Being empathetic and understanding how fitness affects mental well-being is essential as a fit pro. Obviously, we don’t want to work outside our scope, but clients look up to us and will grow as people the more they reach their fitness results.
Legal and Liability Concerns
- Liability insurance, contracts, and waivers are important. Like many industries that work with clients, fitness professionals must be mindful to purchase liability insurance. This helps mitigate the risk of injury claims or other legal issues. Also, spend some time to understand the legal aspects of working with clients and protecting your professional business and assets.
The Rewards Are Worth It!!!
- Despite the challenges, the rewards are undeniable. Helping clients improve their lives, seeing progress, and being part of people’s transformations is fulfilling. Being a fitness professional means you’re making a difference in your client’s lives, and there’s a deep sense of purpose and satisfaction about that.
Enjoy and Reward Yourself!
- Remember to reward yourself. As Fit Pro’s, it can be easy to become fixated on our clients’ results and celebrate their wins with them. This is great! However, I’ve been guilty of not celebrating my own wins, like reaching a business goal, finishing a training program, or hitting my personal fitness goals. There’s nothing like going to a good drum show or grabbing quality time with friends and family, or throwing a party to celebrate a win.
If this list is overwhelming, choose 1-2 items from it and focus on those to start. Focus on 1-2 and set a timeline for when you will add another 1-2. Then just keep going!
