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Role Of Fitness In Sports Training

A person running

While the functions of fitness training and sports are essentially the same, i.e., improve our health and help us achieve a fitter body, their principles are different. When it comes to fitness training, people, as well as personal trainers, are more focused on burning fat, achieving a leaner body, building more muscles, and improving bodily functions.

On the other hand, sports training is focused more on building endurance, strength, speed, flexibility, coordination, cognitive abilities, and stamina. Compared to regular people, athletes go through much more intensive training and take fewer breaks in between to reach their peak performance.

The techniques used in sports training and nutrition are also quite different from those used in fitness training. Personal trainers are more focused on making athletes perfect in their field, and hence the trainers need proper certifications such as the one offered by W.I.T.S Education. This training helps trainers understand the athlete’s different requirements and develop training programs accordingly.

What Is Sports Training?

Sports training refers to the process of training an individual to become skilled in any given sport. Sports training is mostly preferred by athletes and involves intense training and workouts to help people reach their peak performance. It is assumed that sports training is only related to physical training, but that’s not true. Instead, sports training includes physical, technical, intellectual, psychological, and moral preparation.

This training is part of the daily routine for athletes, and they undergo exercises to build up strength, endurance, and confidence to succeed in their sport. Besides that, the training methods and techniques used depend on the kind of sport the athlete plays. For example, if it’s football that requires precision footwork, then athletes’ training includes exercises that build and tone leg muscles and give them the agility to be quick on their feet. But if they’re gymnasts, then they need exceptional upper body strength to allow them to perform.

This is why gymnasts work on building their torso muscles and improving their coordination. Due to this, sports training is quite dynamic, and trainers need to develop workout plans depending on the kind of sport the athlete will play.

Cycling

How Trainers Build A Sports Training program?

A fitness trainer needs to develop an athlete’s training program with care and proper attention because the workouts are intense and can lead to injuries or other damages if not done properly. There are many things that a trainer needs to consider before they can plan a functional program for the athlete. These things include looking at the athlete’s health, fitness, end results, and any underlying injuries that can affect their health during the training. Here are some of the things trainers need to keep in mind.

The Goals Of The Athletes

Before preparing any training program, trainers need to understand the results the athletes are looking for. This just doesn’t depend on the kind of sports they play but also on the areas they need training in and want to improve. This can include endurance, nutrition, physical strength, or cognitive development. As a trainer, it’s your job to understand the goals of the athletes and develop plans that work around them.

In some cases, athletes have the required strength, but they lack the coordination and swift response times that put them at a disadvantage. Other times, they can have the strength and coordination, but they lack the stamina to keep going. In both cases, it’s up to the trainer to create workouts to help them.

The Kind Of Sports

Unlike regular fitness training, where the exercise plans are more or less the same, with some variations depending on the client’s needs, sports training is heavily dependent on the sport. A plan developed for gymnasts cannot work with a cyclist. Similarly, a plan developed for a football athlete can’t work with an ice-hockey player.

Form the stretching, warm up to the actual exercise, and finishers; trainers need to keep in mind the sport their athletes will play. A slight miss in training can compromise the outcome and performance of the athlete. It can also decrease their chances of winning and lead to injuries.

That Age And Health Of The Athlete

It’s no secret that athletes retire at an earlier age than the rest of the working folks. That’s mainly because the amount of physical training and endurance their body requires can only be sustained at a young age. Once the athletes cross the 30-year benchmark, their performance slowly declines. This is because their bodies and joints can no longer take the tough training, and the chances of sustaining a serious injury increase.

This is the reason why athletes start their training at a very young age, and trainers need to make sure that the training program is appropriate for the age and health of the athlete. If the athlete is older, then a demanding exercise plan is not right for them.

Image Filename: Fitness-training-and-cycling

Image Alt Text: Two people cycling

Length Of The Training Session And Recovery Time

Since sports training is quite intensive and can cause serious muscle fatigue, athletes need ample time to rest and let their muscles heal. In addition to this, trainers are tasked with developing sessions that don’t cause any extensive muscle damage because that can lead to injuries. The general rule is that for every workout, an equal amount of rest time is needed to let the muscle heal.

Obviously, it isn’t mandatory for each workout and depends on the health and stamina of the athlete. However, they still need time to rest to heal from the muscle damage. If you’re recommending crash training to your athletes, then they need a day’s rest after each crash training session. Similarly, other forms of training need adequate rest time to let the muscles and joints recover.

Nutritional And Physiological Requirements

Besides the physical training, nutritional and physiological requirements are important as well. If the body isn’t getting the required nutrition, it won’t function properly, and athletes will not be able to give their peak performance. It is estimated that, on average, athletes require 2500 to 3000 calories daily. This is around 500 to 1000 calories more than an average person requires. Not only that, but during active competition, the athletes require even more calories to keep their balance.

The downside is that with these calories, they also need other nutrients. So trainers are asked to develop diet plans while working with nutritionists that can supply the athletes with the required calories without cutting down on the other nutrients.

Additionally, trainers need to focus on the physiological health of the athletes as well. Physiological health is responsible for keeping the body in a healthy state and preventing injuries. It also ensures that the bones and joints are in top health and won’t cause trouble to the athlete.

The Timeline Of Preparation

Athletes always have some deadline to follow when they’re in training mode. That’s why their training should be mindful of the timeline they have before their next performance. This timeline dictates the course of the training and how intense it will be. The shorter the timeline, the more intense the training is.

But this isn’t always good; a shorter timeline would mean that the athletes would have to compromise on the recovery time and push themselves beyond their capabilities. In the long run, this can cause serious side effects. Generally, trainers design plans that span several months to even years before an athlete is fit to perform.

People working outdoors

The Kind Of Training Required

After sorting all of the above, it’s time for the trainers to figure out which training is best for the athlete. There are several kinds of training athletes can take part in; some trainers even mix them up for better results.

However, the choice depends largely on the sport the athlete is a part of. Normally crash training is included when it comes to athletes so they can increase their stamina and train their bodies to endure more stress. Another form of training is Fartlek training which means speed play. This training is a combination of continuous training and interval training that emphasizes increasing speed and coordination.

Circuit training is also popular among those looking to increase endurance. This training utilizes diverse types of muscles and is ideal for complete body training. Athletes also require flexibility and mobility training to develop quick reaction times and unlock a wider range of motions.

How Is Sports Training Changing The Fitness World?

While it’s true that sports and athletic training are generally designed for athletes, more and more personal trainers are incorporating elements of sports training in their workout plans. Clients can achieve better and faster results by adding sports training into regular fitness training. Not only that, but it also helps them increase their stamina and develop endurance. Here’s how sports training is influencing the fitness world.

Introduction Of Crash Training

Crash training was originally strictly for athletes and bodybuilders who wanted to train their bodies to handle more stresses. Now, however, fitness enthusiasts can try it as well and expand the bounds of their fitness. Although for regular clients, crash training is toned down not to cause any injury because their bodies are not used to such stresses.

Moreover, this training is usually incorporated into the workout routine along with other exercises to maintain a balance. But despite that, clients can achieve better results and improve their joint functions along with cognitive functions to lead healthier lives.

Interval Training

Interval training is a combination of high-intensity and low-intensity training involving ample rest time. This training involves doing high-intensity training for a short while, followed by low-intensity training to take the body into the normal state slowly. This is followed by a rest period to let the muscles heal. For athletes, this method is great for releasing small bursts of energy and filling the body with oxygen.

This training helps them develop stamina and endurance. This is why when regular folks do it, they see an increase in their stamina and muscle development. The unique aspect of interval training is that it triggers quick muscle development without exhausting the body and causing muscle wastage.

an athlete jumping

Better Management Of Muscle Damage And Injuries

One of the core components of sports training is handling injuries and muscle damage. Athletic trainers are skilled in prescribing exercises and remedies to heal muscles and help athletes recover from injuries quicker. Personal trainers can take certifications in medical fitness, such as the one offered by W.I.T.S Education to learn more about injuries and how to heal them.

Equipped with the knowledge of medical fitness, personal trainers can help their clients prevent workout injuries and help them recover faster. They can also help clients learn better muscle management and develop exercise programs that work better with their endurance level.

Endurance And Stamina Training

Endurance training is another popular form of sports training in which athletes train their bodies to increase their stamina. Generally, a heavy cardiovascular workout session is required when it comes to endurance training. Personal trainers can add elements of endurance training into their less rigorous workout plans.

For example, they can include running, cycling, or swimming to help clients build endurance. Because all of these activities involve a heavy cardio activity that’ll fill up the body and the brain with oxygen and increase the energy levels of the body. This energy is created when the body breaks down insulin in the body.

Improving Coordination And Flexibility

It’s no secret that the best athletes are the ones that have impeccable coordination and ample flexibility. No matter what sport it is, coordination, agility, and flexibility are important. Coordination training helps improve workout techniques and form to get the best results. When an exercise is performed properly it helps the brain coordinate better and along with reducing the risks of injuries.

In the fitness world, most injuries occur due to wrong postures, techniques, and forms. That’s why personal trainers can introduce coordination training exercises to help clients achieve better results.

A person jumping ropes

If you want to advance your career as a personal trainer, check out the certifications offered by W.I.T.S Education. At W.I.T.S Education, you can enroll in a number of certifications related to fitness and become a medical fitness trainer, senior fitness instructor, group fitness instructor, and even youth fitness instructor. You can even enroll in the fitness management course and start your own fitness studio as well.

The courses at W.I.T.S Education are accredited by the NCCA and the American council of education, so students can earn college credits. The courses are divided into online lectures and in-person hands-on practical labs that help students gain valuable skills for real-world challenges and not just be book smart. Get in touch to learn more.

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Why Word-Of-Mouth Marketing Is The Most Effective Marketing For Fitness Businesses?

Two marketers talking

As a fitness trainer, it can be difficult to get new clients if you aren’t well known in the fitness industry. One of the most effective ways to get new clients is spreading the news about your business through word of mouth. When you train your clients, and they achieve good and fast results, they’ll be more likely to spread the word and inform everyone they know about your business and expertise.

Word-of-mouth marketing creates a relationship of trust between you and your clients, and you can leverage it by asking your clients to tell their loved ones about any new promotions or programs you’re offering.

Here are the ways word-of-mouth marketing can help you grow your fitness business.

What Is Word-Of-Mouth Marketing?

Word-of-mouth marketing, also referred to as WOM marketing, is a marketing tactic that relies on the consumers to spread the news about a business and its facilities. Typically, when a client uses the product or services of a company, they’re likely to form an opinion about it. If they have positive experiences with the services or products, they’ll likely mention it to their friends, family, coworkers, or even acquaintances they see rarely.

This helps organizations gain more clients and expand their business. In modern times, companies use testimonials and reviews to reach those people that might not be directly associated with the client. As a result, the word spreads far and wide, and businesses get a higher influx of customers. In the fitness world, it’s especially important because people tend to be skeptical about choosing their personal trainers as their health and wellness rely on them.

People lifting weights

 

In What Ways Does It Help You Grow Your Fitness Business?

Word of mouth marketing has numerous benefits when it comes to the fitness industry. That’s because the industry is crowded with trainers that offer subpar training and people need to utilize a lot of resources to find a credible trainer. Therefore, when they come across a trainer that’s trusted by their friends and family members, they’ll likely register for their services.

Here are some other benefits of word-of-mouth marketing for personal trainers.

Reach More Clients

The most obvious reward of good word-of-mouth marketing is the business acquires more clients. A single client has the power to grab the attention of several prospective clients, so they become interested in your fitness business. If the client is a trusted friend, colleague, or family member, the chances of new clients joining are quite high. On top of that, if your training center has good facilities, along with helpful staff, prospective clients will be more inclined to join your fitness center.

But that’s not all; using a genuine testimony of a single client is also a great way of reaching people not directly associated with the client. You don’t have to convince them to sign up for your business. Instead, all you have to do is convince them to take a look at their facilities and see how things work around your gym.

New Clients Develop Trust Easily

When you get clients through word-of-mouth marketing, the chances of them developing trust in your services are higher. That’s mainly because these clients have already seen progress made by their acquaintances and friends as a result of joining your gym. Most of the time, when people are skeptical of services especially related to fitness, they’ll see slower results.

That’s because they don’t put 100% percent effort into their workouts as they still have doubts regarding the services and results. But with word-of-mouth, clients are more eager to get started and see results, so they put in a lot of effort.

People working out in the gym

It’s A Never-Ending Chain

The best thing about getting clients through word-of-mouth marketing is that you don’t need to go out of you way to keep the chain going. All you need to do is maintain the standards f your services and maintain your facilities. The new clients that join your gym or training center will spread the word to newer clients once they see some results for themselves.

This chain will continue when the new set of clients sign up for your membership. As a result, you’ll save a lot of money on marketing, and over time, you’ll develop a good reputation in your community and the industry.

It’s Cost-Effective

It’s no secret that marketing for any business is quite expensive, but with fitness businesses, you need to run a lot of marketing campaigns just to get a few more clients. Word-of-mouth marketing doesn’t require you to spend thousands on marketing campaigns. This is why this form of marketing is quite cheaper.

All you have to do is ask your clients to spread the word or post testimonials of your clients n your website or social media. Both of these things cost next to nothing. So, in the long run, with WOM marketing, you save a lot of money which you can use to expand your range of services or add more facilities to your training center.

weights on the gym floor

Higher Customer Retention

Customers acquired through word-of-mouth marketing are generally more loyal because they join your services after hearing good reviews directly from their acquaintances. This is why these customers are likely to stay with your business for longer periods and become loyal customers. Once that happens, these customers become the backbone of your business and a reliable source of income.

Not to mention they’ll be useful in bringing in more clients as well. In addition to that, once you maintain a dedicated clientele following, it’ll be easier for you to establish a name for yourself in the fitness industry and grow your business.

If you want to start your fitness business or become a certified personal trainer, check out W.I.T.S Education. W.I.T.S is a training institute that offers several courses in different areas relating to fitness training. Some of these courses include certified personal trainers, youth fitness instructor, senior fitness instructor, and fitness management.

Besides that, W.I.T.S is the only institute that is accredited by the NCCA and offers college credits to students enrolled in their courses. The courses have online classes along with hands-on in-person labs to give students the required practical skills. These training labs are located all over North America to facilitate the students. Check out their courses and enroll today!

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The Differences Between Group and Personal Training Education

Group fitness and personal training are two of the most in-demand professions in the fitness world. Not just that, but these professions are one of the highest-paid as well. Both of the fields require extensive fitness training to acquire certifications. Even after that, you might need additional certifications to expand your services and build a client list.

Group fitness instructors work with a number of people with similar goals, while personal trainers work with people on the individual level. People can join group classes for weight loss, wellness, yoga, and even muscle building. On the other hand, personal trainers offer services based on the needs of their clients. Here’s a more in-depth analysis of the two professions and how you can choose which one to pick.

What Do Personal Trainers Do?

Here’s a general breakdown of the services offered by personal trainers.

Individual Training

The main reason people seek personal trainers is that they can work with their client’s schedules and offer personalized training that targets their individual needs. Personal trainers usually take into account their client’s mental and physical needs. For example, any underlying health issues, fat count, and even any allergies or physical injuries that could prevent them from working out in groups. A personal trainer can also help clients reach specific goals like building muscles or losing weight in a dedicated time without causing harm to their bodies.

Group of people doing yoga

Training Based On The Client’s Interest

Personal trainers can offer general fitness training, or people can hire trainers who have any specific requirements. People can get a personal wellness coach or a weight-loss instructor depending on what they’re looking for. This is the reason why the field of personal training is quite versatile, and trainers from every industry can become personal trainers after finishing a few certifications. Many athletes have personal trainers who can train them to be the in the sports that they play. For example, footballers would require different fitness routines as compared to tennis players.

Can Work In Gyms And Homes

Another great career option for personal trainers is that they can work with clients one-on-one in their homes or offer training at the gym. Many gyms hire personal trainers keeping in mind their client’s needs. They can offer bodybuilding training or weight loss training. Clients going to the gym need to adhere to the gym’s guidelines, and the level of training they receive is based on their membership. On the other hand, at-home trainers are hired based on the requirement of the client, and they charge a fee accordingly. They’re also required to work with the client’s schedule, not the other way around.

What Do Group Instructors Do?

Just like personal trainers, group instructors can offer several services, but instead of an individual approach, these instructors work with groups. Here are some of the descriptions of their jobs.

Generalized Workouts For Groups

As the name suggests, group instructors work with people with similar fitness goals. For example, people can do yoga with a group instructor, join a running group, or take gym classes with a group instructor. The bottom line is that these instructors train many people in the same time frame. This obviously means that people don’t get a lot of individual attention, but that doesn’t mean the trainer doesn’t consider that at all. The trainer monitors individual progress and helps people who need individualized training, but it’s not on the same level as a personal trainer.

Gym equipment

Work With Similarly Aged People

The main reason why people opt for group fitness training is to work with people with similar fitness goals. That’s why most of these groups have people from the same age group or demographic. For example, a group may consist of women who want to do yoga or a group of senior citizens who want to achieve better health. To offer this training, the trainers need to develop sessions that target the needs of these groups. The instructor may change the long-term goals of the group depending on the progress of each member.

Specialized Exercises

Say a group of people want to build abs in the next three months, a group fitness instructor can develop workout routines that can help them achieve these goals. The same goes for any other type of goals the clients might have. Some instructors offer their sessions involving yoga, weight loss, or bodybuilding.

Which One Should You Pick?

If you’re interested in pursuing a career in the fitness world but can’t decide which one of the two you should pick, try looking at the following aspects to come to a conclusion.

Where Do You Like Working?

This plays a huge role in picking your career. Would you prefer working in a gym and fitness center, or would you prefer the client’s home or your own studio? If you like working with a lot of people and you think you can pay attention to their individual goals, you should think about pursuing group instructor certifications. On the other hand, if you like to work with clients one-on-one, you should try for personal training certifications.

A person doing yoga outside

What Type Of Workouts Do You Like?

This can also influence your decisions. If you like intense one-on-one training, then you should go for personal training. If you’re interested in leading a group workout, then a group exercise instructor is for you. Your preference can also depend on the type of workouts you offer—for example, senior fitness group, youth fitness group, or weight loss group.

Are You Targeting A Specific Demographic?

It’s easier to deal with a specific demographic if they’re in a group. Personal trainers target a wide audience, while group fitness instructors can pick an age group and develop different workouts for them based on their requirements.

If you’re looking to become a certified personal trainer or a group fitness instructor, you can check the courses offered by W.I.T.S. Education. W.I.T.S. is a fitness training institute that offers several courses. Some other courses offered include youth fitness instructor, medical fitness instructor, and senior fitness instructor. W.I.T.S is also the only institute that is accredited by the NCAA and offers college credits to its students.

They also offer in-person and online hybrid courses that ensure that their students have the relevant practical skills. Their training centers are located all over North America and W.I.T.S. is the only institute that offers hands-on in-person practical labs. Take a look at their courses or get in touch with them today.

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How a Specialization in Nutrition Education Will Benefit You as a Certified Personal Trainer

A healthy and nutritional diet

Personal trainers offer a lot more than just workout training. They are responsible for balancing a physical workout and a healthy diet. A personal trainer needs proper training before they start working.

Unlike other fitness certifications that focus on one aspect of fitness, a personal training certification covers all areas related to fitness. These include exercise, catering to people of different age groups, and dealing with clients with different health concerns. That’s why when developing exercise programs and diet plans, personal trainers need to look at multiple aspects of their client’s lifestyle.

Now, as the fitness industry is merging with the wellness industry, these personal trainers are required to pay attention to nutrition as well. To help expand their expertise, certified personal trainers are getting specializations in nutritional or wellness—these specializations, such as the one we offer at W.I.T.S. Education will enable them to broaden their horizons and take on more challenging clients.

Who Is A Nutrition Specialist?

In simple terms, a nutritional specialist is a professional who is responsible for helping their clients maintain healthy lifestyles through smart dietary choices. Nutritionists are normally certified by a board or a governing body before being allowed to practice their skills. In training itself, these nutritionists go through several courses ranging from fitness to medical nutrition so they can cater to the needs of each of their clients.

Once certified, these people can work with people suffering from obesity, high blood pressure, heart issues, cholesterol, and even diabetes. Some nutritionists can go beyond this and can even develop diet plans for people with chronic illness and allergies.

Two people working out

How Can Nutrition Specialization Help You As A Personal Trainer?

As a personal trainer, you can prescribe special exercises to people depending on their physical needs. With the addition of nutritional education, you’ll be able to go a step further and help people maintain good physical health as well as a good diet. Here are some areas you can work with after getting a nutritional certification.

Create Better Diet Plans

Normally personal trainers are responsible for assessing the physical health of their clients and then developing a general diet plan for them. For clients with dietary restrictions or non-lethal allergies, trainers can also make special diet plans. But they can’t offer help beyond that as they aren’t trained to deal with specific medical conditions. With a nutrition certification, they’ll be able to get an in-depth understanding of their client’s health condition.

This will allow the trainer to create diet plans that are unique to each client’s health needs. Not just that, but for clients with chronic diseases, the trainers can work with their doctors to come up with diet programs that won’t harm their health and allow them to reach their fitness goals faster.

Give Nutritional Advice And Guidance

Besides developing diet plans, a personal trainer can also guide clients. For example, if the trainer is working for a fitness center and training a few different clients, it is possible that they don’t pay for the full service. It could also be that their gym membership doesn’t cover diet plans. In this scenario, a trainer with nutritional education can give advice on specific diets. They’ll be able to help people who have specific medical conditions and allow them to reach their fitness milestones faster.

 Two dumbells on a table

Can Help People Of Different Age Groups

The biggest benefit of a nutritional certification is that a personal trainer can cater to a wider range of clients. Instead of training young adults, trainers can help kids as well as senior citizens in staying on top of their health. But both of these demographics require strict adherence to a diet that may be out of the expertise of a regular personal trainer. A certified nutritionist, however, can handle such requirements.

In the case of senior citizens, their diet is more of a lifestyle if they suffer from any health issues. On top of that, their old age puts a lot of restrictions on their body in processing certain foods. So, they need a diet plan that works with their age any medication they need to take while helping them get fit.

What Type Of Nutritional Specializations Can You Take?

A full-fledge nutritional specification may not be possible with just a certification unless you have prior education in it. However, you can opt for certification that covers the basic requirements of becoming a nutritionist through the specializations mentioned below.

Medical Fitness Specialization

Medical fitness certification allows trainers to take on more challenging clients. These clients have a history of chronic health issues that need serious attention. That’s why they can’t work with regular trainers. A medical fitness specialization will allow you to devise diet plans, workout routines, and identify problem areas to help clients reach their fitness goals. You can even identify medications that’ll help them manage their illness better and work with their physician to evaluate their health status and the extent of their illness.

Woman making a healthy mea

Lifestyle Wellness Coaching

A wellness coaching certification covers broader areas related to health and fitness. You can work with your clients on improving their general lifestyle to include healthy habits that’ll improve their health. You can easily create exercise programs, diet plans, lifestyle guides to ensure your clients live a more fulfilling life.

Lifestyle coaching focuses on mental as well as physical health, and you’ll be required to help clients reach a peaceful state of mind through exercise and diet. With this certification, you’ll be able to review in-depth each client’s lifestyle and determine areas that need improvement.

If you want to check out some more courses from W.I.T.S. Education like group exercise instructor, senior fitness instructor, and youth fitness instructor; check out our catalog of certifications. W.I.T.S. is a fitness training institute that has state-of-the-art training centers all over North America. Our institute is the only one that offers NCCA accreditation and hands-on in-person training labs.

The institute focuses on giving its students practical skills and not making them book smart. Our unique learning method involves online as well as physical lessons. If you have any queries, feel free to reach out to us.

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6 Type Of Trainers You Should Hire At Your Gym Today!

Three people working out

It’s no secret that people are more cautious about their health and fitness now than they were ever before. As a result, the fitness industry has expanded and has become one with the wellness industry. People want a lot more from gyms compared to before. They don’t want to go in, work out on a few machines, and then go home. Instead, they want their needs to be catered to.

For example, some people might want age-appropriate workout routines, while others want to build muscles. These are two quite different requirements and can’t be fulfilled by the same fitness trainer. That’s why as a gym owner, you should invest in a diverse group of trainers to ensure all of your clients get some value from your establishment.

Why Should You Hire A Diverse Range Of Trainers?

These days people select a gym based on the number of services it offers instead of just looking at the equipment. In the past, gyms usually had personal trainers who helped reach their fitness goals, now things have changed. Since the fitness industry merged with the wellness industry, people expect a lot more from a gym than just a place to work out. They want more options that can cater to their individual requirements, including medical ones.

That’s why gyms are under constant pressure to cater to the needs of the clients. Having a diverse range of trainers can help your gym offer a wider range of services along with taking care of their different needs. Not to mention you’ll be able to pull in clients from different walks of life and grow your business.

Gym Equipment

What Type Of Trainers Can You Hire?

Here are the different types of trainers you can hire at your gym to expand your business and get more clients. Not only that, but these trainers can work with different clients to help them reach their fitness goals.

Personal Trainer

A certified personal trainer is a must for every gym. These trainers are responsible for making sure that each client follows through with their exercise program properly. Not only that, but they also make sure that the exercises are performed with proper posture, positioning, and form. Otherwise, the clients can pull a muscle or two and end up in quite a lot of pain.

Besides training, these instructors work with different clients and go over their fitness goals to determine which exercise program would suit them the best. In some cases, these personal trainers also help develop diet plans for the clients so they can reach their goals faster and won’t suffer from workout fatigue.

Body Builder Trainer

It’s no secret that a lot of people hit the gym to build their muscles and develop their bodies. But bodybuilding is a lot different than simply working out and gaining a few muscles. In bodybuilding, clients need to follow a rigorous workout and diet plan before seeing any progress. Not only that, but they also need to develop their endurance and take supplements that heal their muscles faster. Otherwise, they won’t see the desired results. That’s why they need trainers that specialize in bodybuilding to help these clients reach their goals.

Another important factor to consider during bodybuilding is that it requires consistency. Normal personal trainers aren’t that invested in their clients, but bodybuilding trainers are trained to motivate their clients and push them to work out more.

Group Exercise Instructor

A group exercise instructor is trained to help clients with similar fitness goals workout together. For example, if people want to try aerobics, it’s more productive if they do it in a group instead of individual training. But group exercise instructors work differently than personal trainers. That’s because they need to keep an eye on the individual progress of each client and make sure that the entire class is on schedule.

These instructors are trained to deal with all sorts of people and make them work together as a group to reach their fitness goals. Group exercise instructors are a great addition to gyms that frequently do boot camps.

People working out outdoors

Senior Fitness Instructor

Senior citizens have started taking quite a lot of interest in their fitness. That’s why gyms across the country are becoming more inclusive and allowing special sessions for seniors to get fit quickly. However, elderly people usually have a lot of health issues, including issues with their bones and joints, which prevent them from working out with regular clients. Not to mention, most trainers aren’t equipped to work with the elderly.

On the other hand, senior fitness instructors are trained to develop exercise programs that align with the fitness goals of these senior citizens and won’t be too harsh on their bones and joints.

Medical Fitness Trainer

To expand their clientele, gyms and training centers need to cater to individuals who suffer from chronic conditions or have disabilities that may prevent them from working out normally. Medical fitness instructors are trained to work with people suffering from chronic illnesses such as arthritis and people with disabilities.

These trainers can identify different chronic disabilities and modify exercise plans to fit the clients. They need to consider different factors, including physical and mental health, along with any ongoing medication, before they can suggest a workout plan. This is something regular trainers aren’t equipped to do.

A person on a yoga mat

Yoga Instructor

Yoga is one of the most popular forms of exercise these days, and due to its low impact routines, many people opt for it. But to excel in yoga, people need to perfect the postures and form, or else they won’t see any results. Personal trainers don’t have sufficient knowledge to help clients interested in yoga. This is why you need to hire a certified yoga instructor to teach the clients. These instructors monitor the client’s posture, form, and how they execute each pose so they can perfect it and see quicker results.

If you’re interested in getting a fitness trainer certification, join W.I.T.S. Education today! W.I.T.S is a fitness training institute that offers multiple courses for people looking to enter the fitness industry. Their courses include a personal trainer course, group exercise instructor course, youth instructor course, and many more.

In addition, W.I.T.S. Education is the only institute that has been accredited by NCCA and offers college credits to students. Their courses have online classes along with hands-on in-person training labs that are located all over North America. W.I.T.S Education is focused on equipping its students with practical knowledge instead of making them book smart. Take a look at their course catalog and enroll today.

 

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7 Specializations That Will Set You Apart as a Trainer

A group of people working out

The fitness industry is becoming quite dynamic and is constantly changing. As a result, trainers need to keep up with the new trends in order to maintain their clients. At the same time, new trainers can use these changing trends and jump-start their careers. In the past few years, the gap between the fitness industry and the wellness industry has shrunk, and many fitness specializations are mingled with the wellness industry.

Fitness trainers with a background in the medical field can take advantage of this unique position in the fitness industry and become medical fitness trainers or fitness nutritionists. Similarly, certified personal trainers can become wellness coaches or weight loss specialists.

With institutes such as W.I.T.S Education, it has become quite easy for trainers to get additional accredited specializations that’ll help them broaden their career prospects. Whether they want to work for a gym or start their own business, these specializations can help them achieve their goals.

Job Perspectives In The Fitness World

Despite the pandemic, the fitness industry has remained afloat and is constantly thriving. This happened mainly due to the industry’s fast adaption to the changes caused by the pandemic, such as online learning and certifications. A major part of the fitness industry has been occupied by wellness and lifestyle coaching as a lot of people needed to get back on track after the extensive lockdowns.

Not just that, but many new career paths have opened up for fitness trainers. They are no longer constrained by the options of working at the gym or becoming personal trainers. Today many established and new fitness trainers can further their careers in different fields related to fitness, such as group fitness, senior fitness, and even youth fitness. Not just that, but many fitness training centers and gyms have started offering these pieces of training to their clients.

As a result, fitness trainers get a lot more options to work than before. Their changes are increased when their certifications are accredited, and they can also get higher paychecks. So, in terms of job perspective, now is the best time to enter the fitness world, make a name for yourself, and advance your career.

A child running

Why Should You Take Special Specializations?

Specializations help you further your career prospects as well as let you offer diverse services to your customers. Your clients can get a higher level of service that considers their health and fitness. Instead of basic exercises and weight loss, your clients can now opt for wellness coaching that takes care of their fitness and health needs.

Besides that, specialization plays an important role in setting yourself apart from the rest of the trainers, which means lesser competition and a chance to reach more clients. General trainers are good for the gym, but when people pay extra for their fitness, they demand special services. You can only deliver these if you have the relevant certifications. In addition to that, you can combine your extensive knowledge from different specializations to deliver a truly unique workout and wellness routines to your clients.

Last but not least, specializations allow you to generate more income. When you offer special services, it’s given that you’ll charge more for them. The attitude of people towards fitness has changed drastically in the past few years. They are willing to pay extra for special services that can help them reach their fitness as well as health goals.

Which Specializations Can You Take?

The fitness and wellness industries are quite broad and therefore offer many options to prospective fitness trainers to work with clients on a more personal level. Specializations offer in-depth knowledge of specific areas, and you can combine this knowledge with your knowledge of fitness training. This combination allows you to offer a wider range of services that can tackle different problem areas of your clients.

Some certifications require a medical or nutritional background, such as medical fitness trainers and nutritional trainers. As a personal trainer, these certifications allow you to turn your fitness training into full-fledged wellness coaching. Here are some of the top specializations you can take today!

A person with back pain

Medical Fitness Specialist

Medical fitness is an emerging field in fitness work that skillfully combines physical movements and exercises for people that suffer from chronic health issues and disabilities. As a medical fitness instructor, you’ll be responsible for analyzing each client and developing a fitness plan based on their individual needs. The plan would include physical exercise as well as a diet that can help people suffering from such conditions to improve their health.

You’ll also be required to coordinate with medical professionals to find the best course of action to improve your client’s health. Aside from that, you’ll need to monitor the client’s progress and modify your exercise and diet plans accordingly. Medical fitness courses teach you how to plan exercise routines, understand chronic conditions, and treat them properly using fitness.

Lifestyle Wellness Coach

Wellness coaching is considered vital to the overall long-term health goals of your clients. The basis of this certification is to create an exercise program that is geared towards mental and emotional wellbeing in addition to physical. As a wellness coach, it’s your job to create innovative ways to help your clients reach their goals while staying on top of their health.

Wellness coaching can be taken by medical professionals, occupational therapists, massage therapists, and health coaches. Your diverse background will aid in strengthening your career as a wellness coach. You’ll be able to make exercise plans, diet plans, and other activities that help your clients reach a peaceful state of mind.

Senior Fitness Specialist

Fitness is not the same for everyone; health, age, and physical limitations play a huge role in changing the fitness requirements for each individual. Among such are senior citizens that struggle the most to reach their fitness goals because of the lack of options for trainers. This is where senior fitness comes into play. As a senior fitness instructor, it will be your responsibility to identify age-related changes in the bodies of your clients and adjust their fitness routines accordingly.

The specialization will teach you how to assess the fitness of each individual client and design exercise programs for each of them. You’ll also be responsible for developing short and long-term fitness goals for them, keeping in mind their health and fitness. You’ll also need to take into consideration the behavioral changes that can affect the older population and devise strategies to overcome them. This will help you keep your clients on track.

Youth Fitness Specialists

Youth fitness is extremely important to help the kids improve their cardiorespiratory fitness, strengthen their bones and muscles, and avoid obesity and other health issues from a young age. These fitness techniques keep in mind their mental health as well and prevent or reduce the symptoms of anxiety and depression. As a youth fitness instructor, you’ll be required to develop age-appropriate exercises for the kids, check their daily diet, and modify these exercises based on their progress. Due to the different growth levels of kids, it’s impossible to make a single plan that’ll work for everyone. The exercises and subsequent diet need to match the growth rate of each individual.

Gym Equipment

Group Fitness Instructor

In simple terms, group fitness instructor specialization allows you to conduct group fitness classes. The common exercises included in group fitness are aerobics, yoga, stretching, muscle conditioning, and exercising. In this type of fitness, you’re responsible for developing an exercise routine that will be followed by the entire group. The important thing to keep in mind is that this routine should be developed based on the needs and fitness level of each client. You’ll also be responsible for creating programs that include different exercise formats such as cycling, kickboxing, sports training, and gym classes.

You’re supposed to lead these group exercises as well as monitor the progress of each member of the group. You’ll need to make changes to the routines to ensure everyone is on the same page fitness-wise.

Nutrition Coach

A fitness nutrition coach is different from a fitness instructor because they help people overcome their health issues through diet and nutrition. They are responsible for developing healthy diet plans for people, keeping their health and fitness level in mind.

As a fitness instructor, a nutrition coach certification will allow you to monitor the physical as well as the dietary requirements of your clients. Instead of targeting exercises, you’ll be using nutrition as well as exercises to help your clients live a healthier lifestyle. Not just that, you can expand your expertise to different age groups and deliver age-appropriate health plans to your clients.

Fitness Management Specialization

If you have all the necessary certifications and want to start your own fitness business, you’ll need to learn how to manage it. Fitness management training allows trainers to tackle key issues related to business. These issues include membership purchase and client retention, offering trial memberships, developing programs to capture a wider range of clients, recruiting staff and purchasing equipment, and managing risk and legal liabilities.

All of these things are hard to come by without any proper knowledge of running a fitness business. This is why a fitness management course will help you understand the legal and management related aspects of your fitness business

A person working out

How To Pick Your Specializations?

To pick a fitness specialization for yourself, you need to consider a few things. The first would be the age group of clients you want to train, the kind of training you want to offer, and the trends in the fitness industry regarding specializations. Once you’ve decided which one you want to go for, it’s time to pick an institute. W.I.T.S. Education has an excellent range of fitness specializations to choose from. The following are the few things you should keep in mind before settling on a specialization.

Your Preferred Age Group?

Age groups play a huge role in fitness specialization. If you are an aerobics instructor, your clients are likely younger. The same thing goes for youth fitness. These days, one of the most overlooked groups, the senior citizens, is taking a keen interest in fitness. That’s why the prospects of senior fitness specializations look great. There’s a shortage of credible trainers, and the market is huge.

On the other hand, youth fitness is an emerging field as well. Because of the pandemic and the new schooling rules, children don’t get to do as many physical activities as they used to. AS a result, parents have turned to trainers to ensure that their children are getting the proper physical training to keep up with their growth rate.

Your Educational Background

If you have a background in the medical field, such as a nutritionist or occupational therapist, medical fitness is perfect for you. This certification has a few prerequisites that are needed before you can begin the course. With your background and qualifications, you can easily take the medical fitness course and expand your expertise. Not just that, but the earning potential in this field is high too because people are willing to pay good money to find great trainers.

Your Preferred Interests

If age and educational background aren’t your main points of focus, then maybe you should select specializations based on your interests. Ask yourself what do you like about the fitness industry and specialize in that. For example, you might like leading groups exercise sessions, and you have the potential to become a good group fitness instructor. Or you might want to manage gyms and fitness training centers; then you should opt for the fitness management specialization.

 Two people working out

The Trend In The Fitness Industry

Currently, the fitness industry is merging with the wellness industry. Workouts are no longer about reaching your ideal weight or building muscles rather, a vast majority of people want to get into fitness to improve their health and mind. As a result, there are many specializations you can take that combine the wellness industry with the fitness industry. These courses will help you develop exercise and wellness programs for your clients.

If you’re looking to get a quality education to further your fitness career, take a look at the certification offered by W.I.T.S. Education. W.I.T.S is a fitness training institute that offers general fitness training courses as well as unique specializations that set you apart in the dense market. Some of their special courses include the medical fitness trainer course, senior fitness instructor course, and youth fitness instructor course.

These courses allow you to expand your services as a fitness instructor and make a name for yourself in the industry. Not just that, but these courses also increase your chances for employment. W.I.T.S Education has a unique learning method that involves online lectures as well as hands-on in-person training labs that are not offered by any other institute. Their training centers are located all over North America. Check out their courses or reach out to them today to learn more.

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Why Fitness Needs to Focus on More Than Just Weight Loss

There’s a common misconception in the fitness world that obesity and any other type of fitness management revolve around weight loss and dieting as the first step. After that, the muscles and fitness training comes into play. But that’s not right; excessive calorie restriction and increased physical activity lead to poor health that can lead to the development of many medical issues. These issues can cause weakened bones, poor immune systems, and a lack of stamina.
That’s why extreme dieting and excessive exercises are not good options for people looking to get fit. Personal trainers with credible certifications like the ones offered by W.I.T.S. Education is well aware of such issues, and that’s why they tend to focus more on muscle building and healthy eating habits as opposed to putting clients on unhealthy diets. Bit there are still trainers who believe that the way to a fitter lifestyle is through weight loss.

A woman working out
The Cons Of Focusing On Weight Loss Only

Here are some reasons why you should avoid losing excessive weight.

Nutritional Deficiencies

Traditionally weight loss practices depend on drastically cutting down the food intake and surviving only on the bare minimum each day. The truth is that we need a lot of nutrients, including carbohydrates, to function throughout the day. When cutting down the food intake, we’re effectively depriving our bodies of the daily nutritional requirements. As a result, the body becomes weak and starts shedding weight.
This unhealthy weight loss is praised by many, and a lot of times, people encourage such behavior. Non-certified fitness trainers are often the cause of such unhealthy lifestyle choices, which is why you need to work with a certified trainer to reduce your weight and become fit.

Poor Immunity

One people start losing weight through these unhealthy habits; it becomes hard for them to break this dangerous cycle. After a while, they begin to notice their immunity decreasing, and they’ll be getting sick easily and more often. Since this drastic change in the diet is not balanced by healthy exercise and nutritional meals, the body’s immune balance trips. This leads to a decrease in immune cells and other important nutrients that reside in the fat cells of your body. With low immunity cells, you’ll more likely catch diseases, and the treatment will take a longer time than usual as well.

Low Energy

Considering all the above-mentioned factors, it’s given that you’ll suffer from low energy. When you indulge in healthy workout routines, your body multiplies cells that play a huge role in improving your stamina and immunity. Once these factors are out of the equation, it’s easy for the body to feel tired all the time.
Some people might even notice a weight gain instead of loss due to this as your body goes into survival mode and starts storing all the fat. This act in itself is not healthy in the long run, and ultimately the body will have severe adverse effects to this unhealthy lifestyle.

A group of people jogging

Development Of Health Issues

Once your body reaches its limit, the only outcome will be health problems. A lot of young people suffer from a bad digestive system, breathing issues, and even poor bone density. Over time, these issues turn into severe life-long illnesses that prevent people from living normal healthy lives.
The most common health issue is related to calcium deficiency which can lead to weakened knees that’ll stop people from playing sports or, in the worst-case scenario, prevents you from walking on your own. Another common problem is poor digestion sin inflammation. To digest the food, the stomach releases enzymes to break down the food. If the stomach is not full, these excessive enzymes can lead to inflammatory issues.

The Pros Of Focusing On Fitness

Here’s how you can lose weight without straining your body and developing health issues.

Healthy Weight Loss

When you use proper fitness to reduce weight, the main focus isn’t on cutting down the food intake and doing excessive workouts. As a result, your body isn’t deprived of basic nutrients, while the workout routines are designed to replace the fat in your body with muscles. In the end, instead of getting weaker, your body becomes lean and strong. This increases your stamina and allows you to live a healthier life free from health issues. Not just that, but indulging in fitness helps you overcome and manage any chronic health issues you might have.

Muscle Building

A personal trainer will never suggest cutting down your diet in order to lose weight. Instead, they focus on reducing your body’s fat percentage and increasing muscle density. The interesting thing is you may feel yourself getting leaner while your weight stays the same. That’s because fat occupies a larger space in your body as opposed to muscles which are a lot denser.
In the end, you’ll reach your ideal measurements without depriving your body of basic nutrition. That doesn’t mean your diet won’t change, but your trainer will focus on healthier diets instead of the ones that reduce your food intake.

A woman using measuring tape

Better Overall Health

With healthy weight loss, you’ll notice yourself having increased stamina, and you’ll no longer be tired all the time. Instead, you’ll see that you’re able to do extra work in the same 24 hours. Moreover, a lot of chronic illnesses are elevated due to the increased fat ratio in the body. By reducing your fat density and developing muscles, you’ll notice how your body can manage your illnesses better. For example, your diabetes will not need constant monitoring, and your blood pressure will stay normal more often. With more muscles, your bones will be healthier, and you’ll be able to live more weight without stressing your body.

If you’re looking to get credible fitness certification, take a look at the ones we offer at W.I.T.S. Education. We are a fitness training institute that specializes in courses for certified personal trainers, senior fitness trainers, and group exercise instructors. Our institute offers the best state-of-the-art training centers that are located in multiple areas in North America. We are also the only institute that gives NCCA accreditation to our graduates.

Not just that, but we are also the only institute with labs that give hands-on training, and our courses are composed of online as well as in-person lessons. This helps our students learn practical skills as opposed to being book smart. Check out our courses and get in touch with us today!

 

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How Covid-19 Has Affected the Health & Fitness Industry

A personal trainer with her client

Like many industries, the pandemic has also affected the fitness industry. Many certified trainers found themselves out of jobs during the lock downs. While those learning to become trainers found it difficult to continue with their training. But like every other industry, the fitness industry is slowly bouncing back. The trainers are finding creative ways to keep their clients and find new ones.

 

Everything Going Virtual

Trainers turned to the internet to continue training their clients, which means zoom training lessons instead of personal ones. While these worked for people who had prior workout experience, it proved to be difficult for those who had just started working out.

Another factor was the motivation levels of the trainees. It proved to be difficult to maintain the same enthusiasm they had while working out in the gym.

 

Trainers Are Getting Creative

To overcome this hurdle, trainers had to become creative. Many trainers leveraged social media platforms to build their clientele. Instead of boring virtual training, they started results-based training, such as 30-day weight loss challenges and bodybuilding challenges. People were more willing to try these because of the interactive nature of the challenges. Many fitness trainers branched into health and nutrition. They started online nutrition programs for healthy eating, allowing them to gain a bigger audience.

People taking online fitness classes

 

Better Employment Options For Trainers

Since everything is going virtual, many online gyms and fitness training websites have started popping up. Many of these websites offer so much more than just exercising. Instead, they also offer sessions on yoga, group fitness training, as well as lifestyle wellness coaching. This presents great opportunities for experienced fitness trainers to expand their range of expertise; as well as for those looking to become trainers to have diverse career options.

People looking to become trainers can enroll in courses such as those offered by W.I.T.S. Education to expand their employment options. Their graduates are working for some of the top names in the fitness industry such as Retro Fitness, YMCA’s, and Crunch Fitness.

The company offers many fitness programs to help people become certified health trainers, group fitness trainers, and exercise instructors. The company’s mission is to provide the best health and physical fitness certifications in the industry. Check out their courses or contact them today to learn more.

 

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4 Tips for Building a Clientele for Your Personal Training Services

A woman wearing boxing gloves prepares to jab and train with her coach.

For many personal trainers, building a clientele is tough work. Unless you’re working in a gym or organization that assigns specific clients to you, it’s hard to stand out as an individual trainer.

It’s not just about your skills and what you bring to the table—there are plenty of experienced, talented, certified fitness trainers, after all. So how do you build a clientele and a reputation? Try some of the following tips:

1. Give your all to loyal clients

Loyal clients are the backbone of any business, and it’s important to build a rapport with them. The more your clients are satisfied with your services, the more willing they’d be to recommend and refer you to other friends and family members, share testimonials and reviews online, and of course, work with you long-term. Don’t underestimate the importance of your loyal clients in trying to grow your overall clientele.

2. Offer expert insights and knowledge

It also helps to establish yourself as a knowledgeable expert and offer that expertise to others. Write for magazines, blogs, websites, make television appearances, and put yourself out there while sharing expert insights and knowledge. The more you’re willing to give, the likelier people trust your opinions and give you business.

A trainer helps her client stretch and extend her hips and arms with assistance

3. Build a social media presence

What are you even doing if you’re not on TikTok, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, among other social media platforms? Any fitness trainer should have a social media presence because that’s where you get to show your skillset, share your expertise and knowledge, and of course, engage with old, potential, and new clients. It’s nothing less than a place of business, and you should treat it as such. You can share nutrition tips and advice, tips on form, recovery, and other types of content that will help people.

4. Provide unique services and offers

Another bonus tip is to offer something others aren’t. Whether that’s a free trial, a discount offer, an added nutrition guide, or a niche service or focus, having totally unique something will definitely make you stand out in the industry. It helps to expand your skillset and develop these interesting specializations, so you’re able to accomplish this!

Whether you’re interested In becoming a certified group fitness trainer or offering one-on-one training, you can sign up for our extensive fitness trainer programs. We have a variety of certifications and renewal courses that you can sign up for to refresh your skills. You can find a location near you and register for one of our training programs, or even sign up online if you’d like to learn remotely.