27 Feb 2017

What You Need to Know as a PT

Considering becoming a Personal Trainer?

Make sure you’re equipped with the right know-how. Here’s what you need to know…

Client screening and assessment

As a Personal Trainer, you need to know how to undertake a general health screening to determine your client’s health and fitness status. By having client’s fill out a questionnaire and discussing their current physical activity routine, you will be able to develop a clear understanding of where your client is, both emotionally and physically, and the kind of activities that can be effectively implemented into their training regimen.

Communication

To work effectively as a Personal Trainer, it’s important to know that no two clients are the same. Being able to communicate and develop a relationship with each and every client on individual terms is extremely important. This helps you to gain insight into what a client is looking for, what triggers their motivation and what goals they want to achieve. Similarly, this will help your client to feel comfortable in your company and be honest about what they want from a Personal Trainer.

Individualised programming

In order to keep clients motivated and on track to achieving their health and fitness goals, you need to able to develop and tailor training programs for clients on an individual basis. Individualised programming is essential for clients to achieve a specific goal, whether it’s weight loss, muscle gain, toning or increasing their current fitness level, and gives you as a Personal Trainer the opportunity to create a program specifically tailored to their starting point.

Professional responsibility

As a Personal Trainer, you take on a professional responsibility to ensure the health, safety and wellbeing of all clients. Providing a safe and healthy environment for clients to work out, maintaining exercise equipment and making sure clients are undertaking exercises with correct form are just some of your daily responsibilities, alongside operational costs such as insurance and rent.

The importance of nutrition

As a Personal Trainer, the more you know about nutrition, the more you can offer your clients.

Studying a qualification like the 10967NAT Diploma of Nutrition will enable you to refine your knowledge of nutrition and develop a stronger understanding of how different foods impact the body. This can help you to provide better advice to clients on their eating habits, helping them to achieve long-term health and fitness goals in a shorter time period.