Careers in Sport and Fitness – 15 Leading Sports Related Jobs.

If you are an athlete or if sports have been a huge part of your life for as long as you can remember -then the switch of career to find a sports related job could be the best move you have ever made. So what sports related jobs can you do involving sport?

As it turns out, there are plenty of sports-related jobs for pro athletes or sports fans. From graduating from one of our Level 3 personal trainer courses as an accredited PT to journalists – and so many more – here’s our list of all the best sports related jobs that you could start today as a side hustle or as a new.careers in sport and fitness.

Personal Trainer as a Sports Related Job where you can build your own business.

Average Salary: £31,039 Source: Talent

Highest Salary: Unlimited! Check out our guide on how much personal trainers make.

If you love sports, or you are a professional athlete then becoming a personal trainer is perfect for you. As an accredited personal trainer you can build a career that charts as one of the best paying jobs with no degree. This career can have unlimited earning by creating your own business.

You can grow your business to offer a selection of services to create multiple revenue streams.

Some of these includes things like

• In person Personal Training, charging an average of £50 per hour.
• Group Personal Training
• Online personal trainer packages all over the UK
• Online PT packages all over the world
• You could open your own gym or you could develop your career to become a strength and conditioning coach and work with professional sports teams as a strength and conditioning coach.

We at The Fitness Group work with many professional and semi professional athletes to transition their career to sports related jobs and becoming a personal trainer is one of the top choices. We are the preferred partner of the English PFA, the Scottish PFA, Football League Education, Sport England Scottish Squash and many other sporting organisations.

 To begin your journey to qualify for your career in sport and fitness as a personal trainer you will begin with a Level 2 Gym Instructor Course. This is the entry requirements, there are no Level 1 Personal Training Courses.

You will then move on to study our industry leading Level 3 Personal Training Courses. You do not need to study Level 2 Gym Instructor and Level 3 Personal Training separately, both can be studied with our combined Level 3 Gym and Personal Training Diploma course.

The salary potential is unlimited as you decide your rates and can get as many clients as you can handle. With a range of great CPD courses, you can add to your skills and provide even more services as a world-class PT! 

We provide a choice of study options so you can choose between face-to-face training and you can attend one of our UK venues, like our London Personal Trainer Course, our Manchester Personal Training Courses or our Glasgow Personal Training Courses.

However, you can also study online for complete flexibility. A large number of sport lovers and athletes come to us to look for a sport related job whilst still in full time employment and the online study option is perfect to support you around other commitments.

If becoming a personal trainer is a sports related job that you want to chat more about for your career, just get in touch with us and we can arrange a call.

Broadcast Journalist as a Sports Related Job with a high salary potential.

Average Salary: £35,000 Source: Glassdoor

Highest Salary: £80,000+ Source: Prospects

Loads of professional sports personalities go into broadcast journalism.

Whether it’s on the TV as a sports pundit or supporting with online publications, this is one of the obvious sports related jobs that come to mind when thinking about a career in sport. It’s the ideal job to share your analytical skills and watch the sport you love.

Anyone can technically be a broadcast journalist – no qualifications are essential, though a degree in some form of journalistic capacity may help. 

It’s also a good idea to start small and work your way up. If you’re not a pro athlete, opportunities won’t come a knocking so try to get jobs with local TV or radio stations and climb the ladder that way. It’s a great way to gain experience and be noticed by some of the larger broadcast networks. 

Strength & Conditioning Coach – Another Sports Related Job in the Fitness Industry

Average Salary: £24,590 Source: PayScale

Highest Salary: Unlimited! 

We spoke about personal trainers, but if you wanted to refine your talents you could become a Level 4 Personal Trainer, which would make you a qualified Strength & Conditioning Coach.

This gives you specialist skills to work with professional athletes and help them get better at their sport. Improve their strength specifically for their sport or work on boosting their cardiovascular fitness. 

The world’s your oyster as you can take on loads of clients from different sports and make as much money as you like! Learn more about the best strength and conditioning careers. 

Sports Writer – For Passionate Writers Looking for a Sports Related Job.

Average Salary: £28,000 Source: Glassdoor

Highest Salary: Unlimited

If you love watching and commenting on sports but don’t want to be a broadcast journalist, then a sports writer could be the perfect job opportunity. It’s another of the sports-related jobs that requires no qualifications at all – you just need to be a good writer! 

You can earn a living working for publications or start your own block to put no ceiling on your earnings. Learn how to monetise your blog and there’s literally no limit on what you can take home every month. 

Sports Massage Therapist – Best Sports Related Jobs to stay in your Sport.

Average Salary: £37,653 Source: Glassdoor

Highest Salary: Unlimited!

How to become a sports massage therapist is one of our most common enquires from current professional and semi professional athletes looking to transition to new sports related jobs. Your first step is to complete our Level 3 Sports Massage Course.

You can begin with out Level 3 Sports Massage Course, which is Awarded by Active IQ and Ofqual approved, with no prior qualifications. This begins at entry level and there is no Level 1 or Level 2 course to complete first.

Becoming a sports massage therapist is another great sports related job which allows you to build your own business and achieve all the perks that come with running your business like working times and control of your own marketing. Whilst it is one of the best self employed ideas to get started with your business it also offers brilliant employment opportunities too.

For many of our learners looking for athlete jobs and a way to stay working with a job in sport this is a very popular choice. Most clubs and organisations will employ at least one sports massage therapist, if not several, making this a great option for a job in sport.

After graduating with your Level 3 Sports Massage Course you can move on to study our Level 4 Sports Massage course too, continuing your career development and growing your earning potential again.

Talent Scout

Average Salary: £26,900 Source: Talent.com

Highest Salary: £51,922 Source: Glassdoor

Talent scouts are core players in every sports institution. They go around spotting the next best athletes in the world for some of the biggest clubs. Most job posts in football would require at least an FA Level 1 in Talent ID Qualification or a Level 2 in Coaching Qualification. Other than that, if you can drive around and spot great athletes, the job is as good as yours! 

If. you are a current athlete then making this move into scouting within your own sport is a great way to secure sports related jobs within your own sport. You can utilise the knowledge you have gained as a player within the sport to help clubs sport future talent.

At the elite clubs round the world, these jobs hold a lot of responsibility to work with the sporting director and head of talent. This is an example of a job in sport that you can do as a full-time career in sport or a part-time sports related job.

Sports Nutritionist 

Average Salary: £36, 537 Source: Glassdoor

Highest Salary: Unlimited

A nutritionist doesn’t seem like a sports-related job, but it is a fantastic idea for sports enthusiasts. If you want to qualify from university then you can study a degree in nutrition. The timeframe for this study method will be about 4 years on a full-time basis.

You can however study accredited courses in the topic of nutrition that are shorter in length and will allow you to build your knowledge in sports nutrition. For example we offer a fully accredited course, Level 3 Nutrition for Sport & Exercise qualification. 

Salary earnings are unlimited as this can be a self-employed role with endless ways to make money, for example as a personal trainer who chooses to enhance their business by growing their knowledge in nutrition.  A sports nutritionist is a career with many different job roles making it a great sports related job.

Sports Photographer

Average Salary: £36,972 Source: SalaryExpert

Highest Salary: Unlimited

Speaking of self employed sports related jobs, why don’t you combine a passion for photography with your love of sports? Sports photographers can earn decent pay and be contracted to specific sports clubs. Or, you can travel the world taking photos and selling them to publications for your own fee. 

The more you work, the more you’ll earn. Also, qualifications are rarely necessary – just ensure you know how to take the best sports photos! Whether you are a former athlete or you are a sports lover, this sports related job can be highly fulfilling and a highly paid job.

Statistician

Average Salary: £65,649

Highest Salary: £117,076 Source: SalaryExpert

Becoming a sports statistician means you analyse lots of data and help athletes or institutions make sense of it. You may also use your skills to help broadcasters present stats during live coverage of events. It’s a complex job and you will need at least a Master’s in Mathematics and Statistics to land employment. 

But if you do, it has so much potential. You can easily land a role with a six-figure salary within a few years of doing this! 

This is one of the highest paid sports related jobs however comes with a requirement to attain Masters degree in Maths as a pre-requisite too.

Player Agent

Average Salary: £32,145 Source: Glassdoor

Highest Salary: Unlimited

Player agents represent professional athletes and help them secure contracts or brand deals. The biggest agents earn millions a year – it depends on how successful you are and how many clients you take on. 

Degrees related to law, business or marketing are recommended to help you get ahead of the game. Being an agent is all about who you know, so it pays to learn how to network effectively. 

This sports related job is another example of a career that can be created running your own business as a player agent. Therefore earnings are basically unlimited – some player agents that have supported some of the biggest stars in the world will themselves by multi-millionaires.

Sports Psychologist

Average Salary: £45,454

Highest Salary: £79,774 Source: SalaryExpert

Fancy a sports-related job that helps you understand the mindset of a professional athlete? Sports psychology is an excellent career, especially for ex-pros who want to forge a new path after competing. You will need a psychology degree plus a Masters that specialises in sports and exercise psychology. 

Entry-level jobs still pay above the national average wage while more experienced sports psychologists can earn up to £80,000 and possibly more. This is another highly paid sports related job that requires a degree.

Referee/Umpire

Average Salary: £31,130 Source: Indeed

Highest Salary: £180,000 Plus Bonuses Source: BBC

Do you want to get as close to the action as possible without being a professional athlete? Jobs as referees or umpires are wonderful ideas for any sports fan out there. You must be ready to take a lot of flack – and there will be countless courses you must do to gain your qualifications depending on which sport you wish to referee. 

Some of the top refs in big sports – like football – go on to earn hundreds of thousands per year. If you ask us, that’s worth getting a bit of verbal abuse from the players every week or so! There has been a lot of discussion in professional sports about former players becoming referee’s to raise the standards so this might be one of sports related jobs that has a big increase in former athletes being involved in this career.

Gym Manager

Average Salary: £29,511 Source: Glassdoor

Highest Salary: £52,581 Source: Indeed

Start your journey to gym management with a Level 2 Gym Instructor qualification and then progress to gain your accredited personal trainer course qualification. It’s often a good idea to gain lots of other useful qualifications like Indoor Studio Cycling, and Level 3 Pre and Post Natal.

Gaining these additional qualifications will allow you to support the class timetable and the member activity in the gym.

Spend your days managing the gym and promoting it to gain more memberships. A background in marketing can help but isn’t essential. You can sometimes work as a personal trainer round about the gym manager job, making it a sports related job with a strong earnings potential.

PE Teacher

Average Salary: £30,000

Highest Salary: £47,000 Source: National Careers Service

Do you love sports-related jobs that help you teach others about the wonders of fitness and exercise? Maybe a PE Teacher role is perfect for you. You’ll need the correct teaching qualifications to get this but the good news is that these jobs are highly in demand. The more experienced you are, the more you’ll earn – and teachers have excellent holidays and benefits. 

Alternatively, you could undergo a Level 3 Fitness Education and Training Course to become a qualified tutor or assessor. It’s a similar job but outside the rigid school structure! 

Football Coach

Average Salary: £19,000 Source: National Careers Service

Highest Salary: Potentially Millions! 

Finally, you could consider a career as a football coach. It’s not the most glamorous when you’re starting out – and coaches at local clubs barely earn a living wage. However, if you climb through the ranks and earn your badges, you could land roles at massive sporting institutions. 

Imagine you get a job with a Premier League team and eventually become a head coach? You could potentially earn millions a year and be set for life. 

Key Takeaway

As you can see, there are tonnes of sports related jobs waiting for you to explore. Which one of these careers excites you the most? Think about your existing experience and qualifications, then make your decision. 

A lot of the best roles with unlimited earnings stem from becoming a personal trainer. If this sounds like something you’d enjoy, chat to us today and we’ll help you pick the perfect course to get started.  

The post 15 Best Sports Related Jobs appeared first on The Fitness Group.

In 2023, prime fitness trends like wearable tech were at the top of most people’s priority lists, and it’s hardly surprising considering the speeds at which sport-led technology is advancing. But, as we draw nearer to the start of 2024, it’s time to think about the upcoming fitness trends that we could all benefit from getting a head start with. 

Keep on reading to find out the top ten trends that are currently outlining what fitness is set to look like in 2024. 

1. Personalised Fitness Experiences

The benefits of a personal fitness plan are nothing new. Personal trainers have always worked with their clients to develop tailored exercises based on preferences and lifestyles. But 2023 saw major shifts towards the tools that we use to achieve this personal fitness outlook. And, our fitness in 2024 looks set to continue reaping the benefits. If you are looking for a personal trainer then you should check that they have completed a personal trainer course that is accredited and awarded by a reputable awarding body like Active IQ.

AI-powered health and fitness apps and fitness wearables like WHOOP are at the forefront of this trend thanks to their use of biometric data. By collating metrics that include everything from daily strain levels to heart rate variability (HRV), wearables enable fully personalised workouts that are tailored to your skill levels, the amount of energy you’ve used on any given day, and the amount of sleep you achieved the night before.

Wearables that continue to provide metrics once a personalised fitness regime is in place can also enable you to easily adjust your workout difficulty levels as your fitness improves. 

2. Holistic Fitness

46% of people with poor mental health are also dealing with a physical health condition, and may even be at risk of a shorter lifespan. On the flip side of that, 89% of people report a statistically relevant association between physical exercise and mental health benefits. In other words, our bodies stand to benefit when we look after our minds, and vice versa. 

These are facts that we’ve known for a while now. 2024 looks set to be the year when we finally start treating physical and mental health as a holistic issue.

This is already evident in the continually growing popularity of mindful fitness focuses like yoga. Gyms are also increasingly prioritising holistic health through the introduction of things like meditation sessions, mindfulness classes, and even counselling services. 

There are also plenty of apps cropping up to meet this holistic fitness need, and their popularity is sure to increase throughout 2024.

Across apps like Aura and Happier, it’s possible to access guided meditations, as well as short daily exercises, and other beneficial holistic focuses. Furthermore, apps make it possible to track direct links between how your physical health benefits from mental focuses like meditation, and how exercise helps your headspace. 

3. Longevity Focus

A longevity focus has been a pressing fitness priority ever since the introduction of biohacking techniques. In 2023 there has been increased media exposure on individuals seeking to explore new techniques, harness science and improving technology. For example, Brian Johnson and his project, The Blueprint, where has has handed over control of his nutrition, his exercise and his sleep to an algorithm where the primary focus is `increasing lifespam.

You can expect to see trends like Longevity DNA testing gaining particular traction next year thanks to its ability to highlight personal, scientifically backed areas for longevity improvements. Apps like the gut focused, nutrition coach Zoe mean the everyday individual can get comprehensive data on things like their gut health, they blood fat control and their blood sugar levels.

Beyond the initial testing kit, Zoe, performs the role of nutrition coach, focusing on nutritional dense foods packed with minerals, vitamins and ‘healthy gut’ factors tailored to the individual, post test results!

Wearable tech like WHOOP wearable technology are also bringing deep-seated life-enhancing awareness and oversight to our everyday lives and the longevity improvements we can make within that. 

Increased movement is another crucial element of a longevity focus. In 2024, that’s set to take the form of both increased weekly exercise as advised by longevity expert, Dr Attia, on Diary of a CEO recently, and of more NEAT (non-exercise activity thermogenesis) habits like the walking seen from individuals living in the blue zones which are famous for the 100+ life spans of some of their residents. 

In 2024, you can also expect shifting back towards low-grade, achievable longevity interventions like increased movement, dietary improvements, and the personalised fitness focuses that we’ve already discussed. 

4. Sustainable Fitness

Around 75% of millennials consider themselves to be eco-conscious, and the fitness industry is working hard to fit within that sustainability drive. In 2024, many gyms will continue to prioritise sustainability focuses that include – 

• Sustainably sourced gym supplies
• Energy-efficient equipment and lighting
• Reduced water use
• Plastic-free operations
• And so on

The Gym Group is the UK’s first carbon-neutral gym, and they also intend to achieve net zero by 2045 using renewable energy and recycling drives. Throughout 2024, this is a focus that we’re sure to see from far more gyms across the country, especially those looking to attract young audiences. 

5. Virtual Workouts

Virtual workouts spiked during the pandemic when 45% of people were trying to stay active at home. In 2024, yet more of us will be turning to tech to complete workouts from the comfort of our own homes. And, we’ll use a few different avenues to achieve this goal.

Online gym exercise classes will retain their popularity in 2024 thanks to benefits that include increased personalisation, enhanced accessibility, and trackable fitness goals. Virtual reality gyms are also becoming popular for many of those same benefits. Using VR three-dimensional imaging, these gyms enable individuals with VR headsets to access a range of immersive workout experiences.

The benefits of VR workouts include personal feedback, enhanced socialisation, and trackable results. The gamification elements used in VR workouts like those offered by FitXR or Myzone, can also add a much-needed element of fun to any fitness journey in 2024. 

6. Improved Inclusivity

Activity Alliance and Quest have been working to make gyms more inclusive for individuals with disabilities since as far back as 2017. In 2024, that inclusivity drive is set to expand to include individuals from all walks of life and genders. 

Culturally inclusive measures in gyms next year should include things like multilingual staff members and equipment, as well as simple changes like more diverse music choices. Gender stereotypes are also very much out of style in 2024, meaning that you can expect to see far fewer gyms distinguishing between ‘male and female’ equipment. As part of this, fitness instructors will also be steering away from outdated recommendations that women shouldn’t lift more than 25 pounds. 

Instead, inclusive fitness instructors and personal trainers should use the personalised data that they can now access to develop fitness plans based on a client’s capabilities, rather than their gender, disability, or anything else. 

7. High-Impact Training and Strength Training

Gentle fitness focuses like yoga definitely have their place in 2024. But, don’t make the mistake of thinking that next year will be all about low-impact workouts. In actual fact, plenty of trends also point towards a growth in high-impact training next year. 

HIIT (high-intensity interval training) has been increasing in popularity for a few years at this point. And it’s set to grow yet again in 2024. Individuals with less free time than ever will especially come to appreciate the benefits possible from these short bursts of hard-core physical activity. As virtual classes continue to gain traction, HIIT exercises that don’t require any equipment will certainly draw the crowds. 

And HIIT isn’t the only high-impact training type that looks set to grow next year. Strength training is also set to soar for different reasons. Unlike gentler holistic focuses like yoga, strength training that helps with everything from bone density to cardiovascular health, and even mental health, has an undeniably holistic element. It’s growing quickly with women in particular. As such, strength training could quickly become the ideal compromise for individuals who don’t fancy the more obvious holistic workouts that we mentioned earlier. 

Strength training is also a great career to get into. You can learn about more details in our guide to strength and conditioning jobs and how to become a strength and conditioning coach.

8. Outdoor Exercise

We might have been released from the last lockdown well over two years ago, but we continue to crave time outdoors. Furthermore, individuals who discovered outdoor exercise during the last lockdown are still very much enjoying themselves. 

Fitness walking continues to be a popular workout option, especially with the benefit of wearable technology that can tailor this fitness effort. Other less obvious forms of outdoor exercise are also going to be big for 2024, including practical options like stroller fitness and canicrossing (also known as running with your dog!). 

And, of course, long-held outdoor fitness favourites aren’t going anywhere next year either. Many of us will also be embarking on outdoor hikes, running, and cycling. This is especially the case as hybrid work continues to keep many of us at home throughout the day, and is sure to be a fitness trend that stays pretty solid for at least a few more years to come. 

9. Ramping up Recovery

There are plenty of studies to prove the importance of post-exercise recovery, and this is a priority that should’ve been at the forefront of every fitness routine for a while. But, in 2024, the ways that we approach this recovery look set to shift a fair amount. 

Of course, there’s nothing wrong with good old carb-packing and taking a hot or cold bath. But as technology has advanced, so has our understanding of how we can hasten the recovery process. In gyms, this understanding has led to the installation of equipment that includes infra-red saunas and even handheld laser devices. All of which can help to speed recovery as well as ensuring improved health and wellness overall.

In 2024, experts predict that we’ll begin taking those tech-led recovery options home with us. And, the development of portable hand-held recovery options like affordable massage guns means that it couldn’t be easier to keep up with this trend. 

At-home extensive recovery options like these are an especially great idea for you if you fancy the virtual workouts we spoke about earlier. Even if you intend to work with a personal trainer next year, it’s well worth investing in your recovery in 2024. 

10. Support From a Personal Trainer

A lot of the trends that we’ve discussed so far look set to take fitness down virtual or solo paths. In reality, though, expert oversight is always beneficial for fitness journeys. And, in 2024, personal trainers look like they could provide the best of both worlds. 

Fully qualified personal trainers who utilise the latest fitness tech, including wearables, VR, and recovery equipment, can especially attract modern audiences. With longevity in mind, the deep-seated changes possible with the guidance of a PT are also appealing and can be brought within easy reach when trainers develop unique, long-lasting fitness plans for their clients.

To continue securing work despite an increasingly virtual audience base, PTs should attempt to integrate as many of the trends on this list into their practices as possible. App development, virtual communications, and access to fitness data can all see PTs continuing to thrive.

Equally, personal trainers have the same responsibility as gyms to provide inclusive, sustainable workouts to every one of their clients through the delivery of improved business practices, accessible training services, and offering more services like sports massage or CPD specialisms like Pre and Post Natal support

But, if personal trainers manage to get all of this right, then 2024 could be their best year yet. 

Get Ahead of Fitness Trends in 2024 With The Fitness Group

Fitness is going far in 2024. To get ahead of each of these trends, personal trainers need to access the best training possible. And, that’s precisely what you’ll get when you contact the team here at The Fitness Group. 

Our extensive personal trainer fitness courses can see you training at a speed that suits you, from wherever you fancy. We offer courses in a wide range of specialities that include – 

• Personal training courses
• Gym instructor courses
• Strength and conditioning courses
• Nutrition for sport and exercise courses
• Pre and Post Natal

Each of our courses is available on both a full-time and flexible, online basis and can be completed either in-person or online according to your preferences. As the UK’s top training provider, we’re also proud to offer business skills tuition after your course, as well as setting you up with all-important interviews and networking events. With your new skills and our fitness connections, there’s every chance that your personal training business itself will be a top new trend next year. 

So don’t hesitate to contact us, and start considering how your knowledge of these trends could take your PT business further in 2024, and every year after that.

The post Look out for these Top 10 Fitness Trends in 2024 appeared first on The Fitness Group.

The modern-day workplace is often filled with high-pressure situations, tight deadlines, and stress-inducing activities. These can take a toll on your mental and emotional wellbeing and – if not managed properly – can lead to burnout and other health issues. As such, it’s important to remember that prioritising your mental health is crucial for your overall happiness and success. In this blog post, we’ll discuss five ways you can start to look after yourself while working.

Prioritise your most important work

One of the biggest sources of anxiety in the workplace is the overwhelming feeling of having too much to do and not enough time to do it. To combat this, prioritise your most important, high priority work. What we mean by this is setting aside a specific time to focus on your most important tasks, without interruption. Interruptions – whether they come from a notification on your phone or an eager coworker – can be incredibly disruptive to productivity. Not only do they break your current focus, but it takes time and effort to refocus back on the task at hand. Studies have shown that it can take up to 25 minutes to regain focus after being interrupted.

Prioritising deep work helps you to be more productive and should help to reduce your stress levels as you complete some of your highest priority tasks. Just make sure you establish strategies to minimise interruptions, such as turning off notifications or having designated quiet times for focused work. By doing so, you can regain control of your workday and achieve greater success and satisfaction in your work.

Create boundaries

Technology has made it possible for us to be connected to work at all times. While this might seem helpful, it can also be a significant source of stress – leading to feeling overwhelmed, anxious, and unable to switch off from work. To combat this, consider creating boundaries by:

• Turning off email notifications and messages outside of work hours
• Avoiding checking your work email or messages during non-work hours, such as evenings or weekends
• Setting aside specific times for checking work emails/messages to avoid impromptu interruptions and distractions (as mentioned above)

Experts even recommend taking a restorative mental health day from time to time, where you put on your out-of-office, turn off your email notifications on your phone and give yourself some real time away from work. If you are booking time off work, make sure you are truly able to switch off.

Take breaks

Even when you’re working, it’s critical to take breaks throughout the day. Taking breaks can help to reduce stress and improve productivity. Even a regular short five to 10-minute walk away from your screen can go a long way. Use these short breaks to stretch your legs, take a walk outside, chat with a colleague, or simply breathe deeply and relax.

Exercise

Why not use a longer break to exercise? As we navigate through the fast-paced world of work, prioritising mental health can often take a backseat. Incorporating exercise into your daily routine can significantly impact your wellbeing. Regular exercise releases endorphins, which can elevate mood and reduce stress levels.

What’s more, exercising can improve focus, cognition, and memory, making it easier to stay on top of work tasks. Taking time to move your body can enhance mental clarity and increase productivity – something which leads to a happier and healthier lifestyle both in and out of work.\

Even starting with the introduction of new small habits and exercise into your life can lead to big changes and a positive knock on effect across many areas of your life which contribute to better mental health and the journey towards getting fit and healthy.

Practice mindfulness and meditation

Mindfulness and meditation are two effective techniques to help reduce stress and boost mental health. Incorporate these practices into your daily routine, or take some time throughout the day to practise mindfulness by:

• Meditating for a few minutes each day
• Mindful breathing or mindfulness exercises
• Take a short walk where you focus on the sights and sounds around you, rather than worrying about work

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or stressed at work, consider seeking help. Talk to your manager about ways to alleviate stress or talk to a mental health professional. They can provide valuable insight and support to help you manage stressors and cope with the pressures of work.

At The Fitness Group, we provide internationally recognised gym, personal training and professional CPD courses – including a Level 2 Mental Health Awareness course which equips individuals with the basic skills to respond appropriately to people who are experiencing mental health problems and how to reduce the stigma around it.

The post 5 ways you can prioritise your mental health at work appeared first on The Fitness Group.

This comes as no surprise considering the unfortunate rise of low-cost, low-quality training that grew throughout the pandemic. Choosing regulated qualifications not only stands for credibility, but it ensures that learners are highly employable and well equipped to help and coach a wide range of clients. For many people, this helps forge a new, potentially life-changing career path.

Rachel’s Story

When Rachel was just 18 months old, she was diagnosed with cerebral palsy, a condition that affects a person’s ability to move and maintain balance and posture. In 2018, she underwent a life-changing spinal operation to correct a curve and help her mobility.

“I was in a lot of pain after the surgery,” explains Rachel. “I was extremely weak and couldn’t get up. The recovery was quite intense.”

To help her regain her mobility, Rachel did physiotherapy and pool exercise, but it wasn’t until she returned to the gym, one year after her operation, that she started to make real gains in her abilities.

Rachel did physiotherapy and pool exercise, but it wasn’t until she returned to the gym, one year after her operation, that she started to make real gains in her abilities. In 2018, Rachel reached out to a trainer to help her build her strength up. “I started going to the gym 2-3 times a week, eventually adding weight training to my routine.

In 2018, Rachel reached out to a trainer to help her build her strength up. “I started going to the gym 2-3 times a week, eventually adding weight training to my routine. Every week, I could see improvement and mentally, I started to feel like myself again. My trainer helped me massively.”

The experience in the gym was so profound that Rachel decided she wanted to help people like herself and become a qualified personal trainer. She reached out to us at The Fitness Group, the leading UK fitness education provider to start her journey to become a fitness professional.

Working with Active IQ as their awarding organisation, we offer a tailored education experience for students. The Fitness Group is now the UK’s leading training providers, with partnerships ranging from TRX to the Ministry of Defence. They offer a range of full-time, part-time or online courses to students across the UK in everything from Gym Instructor and PT courses to nutrition and sports massage.

Today, Rachel has successfully completed her Level 2 Fitness Instructor qualification and her Level 3 Personal Training Qualification.

“Training has changed my life so much,” she said. “It’s opened my eye up to possibilities.”

Since working with her trainer, Rachel has made massive gains in her fitness. She can lift 90kgs on her back, has completed a 10km race and even did a fitness photoshoot where she felt strong and confident.

She also has big plans for the future. Rachel recently launched her own online coaching business with her first sessions set to start in March. All 12 spots have been filled, three of which are with clients with cerebral palsy.

“My coach was amazing. He knew what cerebral palsy was and he was able to help me, but he didn’t have firsthand experience like I do,” said Rachel. “I know I can help people like me and inspire them.”

The post Rachel’s Story. The Life Changing Power of The Fitness Group Qualifications appeared first on The Fitness Group.

IMPULSE LEISURE STORY

There are approximately 190 staff across all the facilities operated by Thurrock Community Leisure spread across the Essex region.

Staff Development is at the forefront of their Training and Development at, TCL who say they are “dedicated to professionalising and improving the skillset and knowledge of our workforce; with an emphasis on providing additional training opportunities and qualifications so that they have all opportunities available to them to build a career.”

Their team are focused on their community needs, ensuring that there are services available for everyone. As part of this extensive offering, they offer Junior Gym Memberships, aimed at teenagers.

THE FITNESS GROUP SUPPORT

The team at Thurrock Community Leisure reached out to The Fitness Group in 2022, looking for support to train and develop their fitness and leisure team members to learn the knowledge and skills to provide instruction, support, and guidance to their Junior Gym Members.

After our initial consultation with TCL, we set up our training plan to deliver our Active IQ Level 2 Award in Leading Physical Activity for Adolescents to their team. We focused on providing a support package that achieved the following:

• Location – Delivery was held from one of the community leisure center sites – making it as easy as possible for the team to attend in an environment that is familiar to them and where their new skills would be applied in the role.
• 5 Star Tutor Support –  The qualification would take place entirety in person – although this qualification can be delivered online it was important to TCL for us to attend and deliver in person to enhance engagement and learning outcomes.
• Bespoke Package – We tailored our delivery plan around the operational requirements of the business. Days can be split and planned around the business needs.
• Learner Completion – Our feedback from working with partners tells us that when they have sent their teams on training days with other Training Providers often completion is low when learners are left to complete from home after the qualification. Therefore, all coursework was completed on the day.

FEEDBACK ON THE TRAINING

The students who attended were professional, engaged and put in a great effort over training days. All students completed and graduated with their Level 2 Leading Physical Activity for Adolescents Qualification!

Here is some feedback from some of the students on the training:

“The teacher put the terms into examples that made understanding questions more easier to understand. Blair was very patient with clients when teaching. The Whole experience was a pleasure it never got boring and the day passed quickly.”

“Blair is a very good teacher. I have leant a lot from him! I appreciate his help in expanding my knowledge and I’m excited to help children.”

“Very good, helped me understand my work and allowed me to learn stuff I already knew in a different version. Appreciated his work and dedication to helping me out as well as others.”

OPENING UP OPPORTUNITIES

We can support your health and fitness teams with our leading Active IQ leading accredited qualifications and we can create a bespoke training and development plan focusing on specific performance areas within your teams.

💡Do your team have any knowledge or skills gaps which means you can’t fully support your community?

💡Do your teams hold qualifications to support special populations (Children, Adolescents, Pregnancy, Older Adults, Clients with Long Term Conditions)?

💡Can your team fulfil your Group Exercise Demand (Like Indoor Cycling, including cover for team absences or annual leave)?

💡Are there any gaps in their knowledge where they could benefit from a bespoke training plan (soft skills, sales, building a PT Business, marketing)?

💡Are there any areas that you would like to improve your teams performance that would directly increase profit?

Get in touch with us to chat about how we can support your business with one of our bespoke training plans, drop Steve an email at steven.dick@thefitnessgrp.co.uk.

The post Impulse Leisure Upskill on Leading Adolescents Qualification appeared first on The Fitness Group.

League Football Education & The Fitness Group Partnership Announcement.

League Football Education is proud to announce a new partnership with The Fitness Group to support their members in gaining training qualifications and packages. The Fitness Group offers internationally recognised qualifications regulated by Active IQ and meets CIMSPA, REPS and UK Active standards.

The Fitness Group provides unique qualification and training packages for athletes across professional sports with their strong partnerships. More specifically, they support professional footballers through their partnership with The PFA, The Scottish PFA, and Life After Professional Sport (LAPs).

This new partnership will see the two organisations work closely together to support young footballers to continue their education and provide them with a supported pathway to gain The Fitness Group’s internationally recognised qualifications in the health and fitness sector.

Players can use their qualifications as a secondary career alongside football or a transition career, both options are a perfect fit for footballers to grow a new career that draws on transferrable skills and experience from football. Through education, footballers can grow their knowledge in key areas such as nutrition and their fitness training.

“Having seen the great work The Fitness Group has done with the likes of the PFA and LAPS, it’s exciting to have this partnership up and running. The fitness world is an ever-growing industry and many of our apprentices have gone on to forge successful careers in it, ranging from fully qualified personal trainers to yoga instructors. We now look forward to working closely with The Fitness Group and helping LFE apprentices up and down the country gain the necessary qualifications and tools to be successful within this competitive but rewarding industry” says Anthony Cato, Transition Officer at Football League Education.

With over 25,000 personal trainers in the UK, competition in the industry is fierce. The Fitness Group mission to to equip its graduates with the skills needed to be stand-out trainers and sports massage therapists. With online, face to face and blended study options, The Fitness Group will create a bespoke training and educational plan to support PFA and EFL members around their football schedule. A full-time or part-time course can also be planned around a club’s individual schedule, for example there are already plans in place to support clubs by attending their training ground on a weekly basis to deliver their Gym Instructing and Personal Training Qualifications.

By delivering qualifications including entry-level fitness instructor, Level 3 personal training courses, sports massage courses, and accredited CPD and utilising both in-person and online study methods, The Fitness Group makes getting qualified accessible. With 5-star support from their team of expert tutors, students are guaranteed an unrivalled study experience.

Steven Dick, Director at The Fitness Group says, “We are passionate about supporting footballers to develop their education and build future careers around football. My business partner, Scott has been in the game for 20 years, so we understand footballers’ demands and needs to plan studying and education around the game.”

The Fitness Group will also be attending Careers Day Events, showcasing the career pathways and giving players the opportunity to to chat about their options. The start their careers support tour in March at Hillsborough Stadium (home of Sheffield Wednesday FC). They will then attend, The Valley (home of Charlton FC), and Ashton Gate (home of Bristol City FC) before heading to Birmingham City FC.

Additionally, The Fitness Group will be in attendance at all showcase events and are aiming to visit as many EFL clubs throughout the 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 as possible to speak to both apprenticeship players and first team players about the exciting career and business opportunities that exist in the fitness industry.

League Football Education and PFA Members can find out more about Football League’s Education here and they can get in touch with The Fitness Group team directly here or on 03301758209.

The post Exclusive: League Football Education and The Fitness Group New Partnership to Create New Career Pathway for Footballers appeared first on The Fitness Group.

JAKE’S STORY

Jake was keen to move back into employment after being in and out of work due to mental health challenges. He found that a way for him to positively impact his mental health and keep focused, was regularly exercising at the gym. This became a passion for Jake and he decided to make personal training his long-term career goal.

Jake explained: “Right from the start, I felt listened to for the first time in a very long time. I felt supported and saw there was a different path that I didn’t believe could be possible for me. The support from Alison and Jaime has been over and above anything I imagined when joining IPES and I am excited about my future for the first time.”

WHAT IS IPES?

IPES is a voluntary programme that supports people with disabilities and complex barriers into work. IPES offers a holistic approach focusing on more than just getting a job. It looks at areas affecting clients including their ability to work, their family, financial or personal circumstances.

The IPES team saw Jake’s challenges as a strength and helped him create an action plan based on his work history and passion for fitness. This started with looking into how he could become a self-employed Personal Trainer. The first step was to gain the Level 2 Gym Instructor qualification and, once he achieved this, he could move onto the next step of gaining qualifications as a Personal Trainer.

LEVEL 2 GYM INSTRUCTING

By partnering with The Fitness Group, Jake has been able to access accredited gym instructing and personal training courses from the UK’s leading training provider. We help thousands of students on their journey to starting their dream careers in the fitness industry.

The Level 2 Gym Instructor course is the starting point for fitness professionals and provides a pathway to Level 3 Personal Training courses and beyond. The method and mode of study is flexible around the individual to support different circumstances and students receive support from dedicated tutors throughout their learning journey.

Gaining this qualification enables learners to work in a gym or local Leisure Centre and undertake activities on the gym floor as well as work at the gym reception and run some group exercise classes.

OPENING UP OPPORTUNITIES

Shaw Trust Key Worker Alison Reeves and Employer Engagement Consultant Jaime Norries have encouraged Jake to be confident in his abilities of becoming a Personal Trainer:

“Jake is an inspiring individual, who had not been with us on IPES for very long but was so keen to get moving and make positive changes. We identified this need and doubled up on our efforts by giving Jake extra weekly appointments so things could move along at the speed Jake required from us. It became apparent very quickly that Jake is a passionate individual and he needed to channel that passion into a career. IPES continues to support Jake while he completes his studies and encourages him to be confident in his abilities of becoming a Personal Trainer.”  

Shaw Trust were able to support with the cost of the course with The Fitness Group, and Jake is now on his way to a brighter future, doing something he is passionate about.

Scott Agnew, Director at The Fitness Group commented: 

“We’re delighted to work alongside Shaw Trust. From our first point of contact, I could tell how passionate they were about what they do to support overcoming barriers to work on a very personal level with their clients. We’re proud to provide valuable qualifications that will open up great opportunities and look forward to supporting Jake through his learning journey.”

FEELING INSPIRED?

Personal training is one of the most rewarding careers available. You not only help your clients physically improve, but you build a close relationship with them and become invested in their mental and physical well-being. Seeing the improvements in your clients as they get fit and healthy after taking your advice is a feeling that never gets old.

If you’d like to get involved after reading Jake’s story, maybe it’s time to consider becoming a Personal Trainer. Find out more about our personal training courses and CPDs such as our Level 3 Pre and Post Natal Qualification, and get in touch with the friendly team at The Fitness Group today. We won’t just help you become a Personal Trainer; we’ll make sure you become the best Personal Trainer you can be.

We have a range of study options available which includes online supported study and face to face options. We have face to face classroom options in the UK and in the UAE. You can study to become a REPs UAE approved Level 3 Personal Trainer with our Dubai PT Courses or in the UK we have locations all over the country. For example you can check out our London Personal Trainer courses, Manchester, Leeds, Glasgow and many more.

From our rock-solid money-back guarantee to the wealth of support you get throughout your course and beyond, maybe it’s time you took your next career step, fully supported by the experts. Contact the team today, and start taking those first steps towards an exciting new future.

The post The Fitness Group & Shaw Trust: Breaking Down Mental Health Employment Barriers appeared first on The Fitness Group.

Listed below are nine key ways to manage your schedule to increase productivity, reach your goals and see overall results. As an experienced personal trainer, these are the steps I found the best for managing my schedule. There are, of course, other methods, but these are tried and tested. You can learn from my mistakes and avoid burnout.

Now, I know it’s not as sexy as talking about exercise routines, fat loss techniques or what supplements can give you the best gains. However, correct time management will put you miles ahead of other personal trainers and help you set the bar for the performance you deliver in all aspects of your life.

Why Learn about Time Management?

Time management is a factor aspiring and current personal trainers regularly overlook, and their personal and professional life ends up taking the hit. It’s never been easier to become a personal trainer, but it’s always challenging to become the most successful personal trainer you can be.

When you learn how to properly and effectively manage your time, you’ll deliver a better service, increase your earnings, your clients will see better results, and you’ll begin to enjoy more freedom.

Now, this topic has become a lot more interesting, hasn’t it!

The mistake every personal trainer makes is taking on too much and then subsequently realising they don’t have enough time throughout the day to complete everything to a high standard. It is very easy to get tangled up with earning more money and working every hour under the sun to run your business.

But the issue is having so much to do and little time to do it.

For example, let’s take a look at the typical tasks a personal trainer has to fulfil on a daily and weekly basis.

• Train clients: This one is pretty obvious, but it takes up most of your day, especially if you’re running back-to-back sessions. This can see a large portion of your day taken before you’ve done anything else.
• Write client programmes: I’m not talking about your copy and paste job here. I’m talking about proper kick-a$$ programmes that make you stand out from other personal trainers in your gym.
• Client check-ins: This can vary from a phone call for those who need additional support and guidance to a face-to-face consultation to check in on progress and help your client remain on track, motivated and improve their overall well-being. Depending on your clients, this can be a large chunk of your day and an ongoing daily task.
• Consultations/Sales: Well, how else are you going to run a successful business? You’ll find yourself spending a lot of time responding to queries and scheduling phone calls. To be successful, you need to be at the top of your game because first impressions do count. If you appear distracted or harassed, chances are people won’t sign up.
• Marketing: Whether it’s talking to members of the gym, posting content on social media or responding to enquiries, you need to take the time to build brand awareness to help boost you and your business.
• Your own training: Let’s face it, you most likely got into this industry because you went through some form of transformation yourself — am I right? For your own mental and physical health, we must continue to prioritise our own training.
• Eat: Come on, we educate clients about how important it is to eat at appropriate times. Don’t you think you should be doing the same?
• Present classes: Not for everyone, but it can still eat up a lot of time. Running classes in your gym can be a great way to get in front of potential clients and spread awareness of you and your services. It’s one of our top marketing tips for personal trainers, but there’s no denying that fronting regular spin classes or kettlebell sessions can dig into your time.
• Unwind: You aren’t a robot. You’ll need to relax to re-energise and be ready to deliver the next day.

This isn’t even mentioning how many hours a personal trainer works or the early starts and late-night finishes. I’ve lost count of the 6am to 10pm days I’ve encountered in the past. With your energy sources drained, your standards will inevitably slip. Many personal trainers will begin to cut corners, and clients will no longer receive the same level of enthusiasm or service you provided when they signed up. This isn’t laziness. It just becomes impossible to give everything 100%.

Does all of that sound familiar? Successful time management can ease the strain. Here are my top tips for managing your time better.

Practical Time Management Tips for Personal Trainers

The key thing to remember about time management is that productivity isn’t always about doing more or being exceptionally efficient. It’s about being more effective. Essentially, your goal should be to make more impact while not having to commit to more work.

A lot of time management is being more disciplined with your schedule. The following time management tips have one thing in common. They’re all about being more proactive with your time. Working hard as a personal trainer is a given. There are many reasons to become a personal trainer, but working smart is something every personal trainer needs to integrate into their working schedules. Here’s how.

Manage Your Energy for Bigger Tasks

Schedule your most energy-sapping tasks for when you have the most energy. Don’t try to squeeze those bigger tasks in wherever you can fit them. This can be clients, social media, check-ins, etc. You can complete work that requires more power output (both mental and physical) far quicker and effectively if you do it with more energy.

Create Automated Systems

I honestly don’t know how many hours of work this has saved me. I have systems and automation for most parts of my business. From video tutorials on using MyFitnessPal to nutrition tracking or monitoring a calorie deficit, tech can be one of your most essential time management assets. 

I have links available to automatically book in for calls or sessions via tools like YouCanBookMe, so clients and I aren’t going back and forward trying to arrange a time that suits. I even have an automated email system asking current clients for referrals. Find what areas of your business you can automate and create a strategy to take the pressure off and give you more freedom to do what you enjoy: training clients!

Reverse Engineer Your Week

It is very easy to fall into the trap of scheduling as you go, but that costs you valuable time. Start by planning your must-do tasks for the week and build around them. This ties in nicely with the first point. Assess when you have more energy throughout the day/week and plan accordingly.

Set Consistent Boundaries

When you first start your business as a personal trainer, the chances are that you scheduled your day around the needs of your first clients. That’s very common, especially as you start building up the necessary income needed to meet your financial responsibilities. How much you earn as a personal trainer depends on having clients, so it’s hard to set boundaries on your time when you’re starting out. However, as you grow your personal trainer business, you can take more control over your boundaries. Start by setting up a cancellation policy that gives clients a specific time window (one that gives you enough time to schedule a different task for that window).

Free up Time by Moving 1:1 Clients Online

If you’re a personal trainer, you should have set up an online training platform because of the pandemic. But even with gyms reopening, look at your most competent clients and keep them online. This means you won’t need to worry about sessions running over or fitting clients into your busy schedule. Plus, you can accommodate far more online clients than in person, so you’ll be getting the maximum value for your time.

Consider Secondary Exercises

Gyms can get very busy, especially during peak times. So the equipment you planned to use may not be available when you need it. Now, you could sit around waiting for the pec fly to become free, or you could avoid wasted time by having readily available, planned-in-advance, secondary exercises. Let’s say you planned a back and bicep session with a client that requires a lat pulldown and some bicep curls. The equipment is in use, so having a secondary exercise saves a lot of wasted time thinking of alternatives on the spot or hanging around waiting for equipment to become free. This has the added benefit of making you look a lot more professional, too.

Create Partnerships

Another great way to free up some time is to partner up clients with similar goals and training experience. Running a semi-private model is great for friendly competition and motivation, but it also allows you to win back some freedom as it’s one less session to worry about.

Have a Public Timetable

This is another time management tip that reinforces those boundaries you’ve set for yourself. You can have as flexible a schedule as you like (a lot of personal trainers like that flexibility), but you need to be very clear about when you will be working or available to talk. Create a timetable that clearly states when you’re not available, and make sure it’s on your website and included in any marketing materials you’re using. You need your clients to know when you won’t be available.

Do a Time Audit

One of the best ways to take control of your time management is to be aware of how well you’re managing your time right now. How long are you spending opening emails and then marking them as unread so that you can reply to them later? Are you spending more time browsing Instagram or marketing yourself on Instagram? It’s easy to get lost in tasks, which leads to running around and trying to catch up on lost time. Use a stopwatch (or the timer on your phone) to gauge where you’re wasting time, and you’ll find that simply being aware of wasted time is inspiration enough to prevent it from happening again.

Personal Trainers! Take Control of your Time Management

Hopefully, this has given you a lot to consider and how to manage and free up your time accordingly. Incorporating these tips into your fitness business will make it easier to gain more freedom, allowing you to focus on things that matter.

When you have more time to think and recharge, you’ll be able to serve clients to an even higher standard, get them better results and earn more money in the process.

Personal training is one of the most rewarding careers available. You not only help your clients physically improve, but you build a close relationship with them and become invested in their mental and physical well-being. Seeing the improvements in your clients as they get fit and healthy after taking your advice is a feeling that never gets old.

If that sounds appealing and you’d like to get involved, maybe it’s time to consider becoming a personal trainer. Find out more about our personal training courses and CPD courses like our Kettlebells Course or our Indoor Studio Cycling Instructor Course by getting in touch with the friendly team at The Fitness Group today.

We won’t just help you become a personal trainer; we’ll make sure you become the best personal trainer you can be. 

From our rock-solid money-back guarantee to the wealth of support you get throughout your course and beyond, maybe it’s time you took your next career step, fully supported by the experts. Contact the team today, and start taking those first steps towards an exciting new future.

Are you already working as a personal trainer? What are your best time management tips? Share them with us in the comments below!

The post 9 Top Tips for Successful Time Management appeared first on The Fitness Group.

While taking on pregnant clients as a personal trainer might sound a bit daunting, it’s well worth learning a little more about. Not only can it be a very rewarding direction to take in terms of personal satisfaction, but it can be lucrative as well. That makes it incredibly useful if you’re trying to grow your personal trainer business.

However, before you start advertising your PT services to either new clients or a client who has recently announced their pregnancy, it’s important to know the facts. Here’s everything you need to know.

Is It Safe for Pregnant Women to Exercise?

While it’s recommended for most women to exercise when pregnant, they need to do so safely. The NHS recommends that if your clients were active before they became pregnant, they should carry on with their usual level of workout for as long as it remains comfortable. For personal trainers, that’s going to mean learning more about how best to safely train your pregnant clients. You will not be able to take on pre or postnatal clients without the relevant qualification.

Of course, if you take on a pregnant client who is new to exercise, launching into a challenging and strenuous training schedule can be dangerous for both the client and the baby. So if the client is used to exercising, you can continue with their usual routine (with some modifications due to some exercise elements needing to be adapted) for a month or two. If they’re new to exercise, start them off slowly (around 15-minutes of exercise three times per week) and gradually work up to about 30-minutes of daily workout sessions.

This means that, like all of your new clients, you should take the time to evaluate their current level of fitness before making any decisions about workout intensity.

Is it safe to work out when pregnant? It is, as long as that exercise is controlled and not too strenuous. Precautions are going to be necessary, but exercising when pregnant comes with some great benefits, including:

• Reduces the potential for health problems to develop in both the mother and the baby
• Staying fit during pregnancy makes labour much easier
• Sticking with some form of light exercise will make it much easier to get back to pre-pregnancy shape once the baby has been born
• Exercise can reduce many troublesome symptoms of being pregnant (for example, backache may be avoided with some light exercise)
• Exercise has been proven to improve mood and boost energy
• Can prevent the development of type 2 diabetes
• Even light exercise can reduce and relieve constipation and bloating.

So with such a great range of benefits, it’s not surprising that more pregnant women are signing up with personal trainers in the UK. And that’s a fantastic opportunity for you to add a niche service to your range as a personal trainer. There are plenty of benefits to becoming a pre and postnatal specialist personal trainer, so it’s always worth learning more about.

What’s the Difference between Prenatal and Postnatal?

While pre and postnatal are generally grouped under the umbrella term “pregnancy”, the two are very different. A postnatal client will need a very different training schedule compared to a prenatal client.

• Prenatal: Women who are currently pregnant
• Postnatal: Clients who have recently given birth.

So with prenatal clients, the goal should be to introduce specific exercises to make giving birth (and being pregnant) easier. For your postnatal clients, the goal will be to restore health and fitness levels to pre-pregnancy levels.

The Responsibility of Training Pre and Postnatal Clients

The body goes through many changes during pregnancy, and safety needs to be a clear focus throughout. It can be a lot of responsibility, so you mustn’t take on any pre or postnatal clients until you have the necessary training. That will mean a Level 3 Pre and Postnatal Personal Training certification. 

During this necessary training, you will learn all about the changes the body goes through during pregnancy and the nutritional needs of the mother and the developing baby. 

Reasons to Get a Pre and Postnatal Qualification

As well as the health benefits to the pregnant and postnatal clients, there are many reasons why personal trainers should consider getting a pre and postnatal qualification. It takes a lot more than simply Googling how to train pregnant clients if you want to do it safely! Some of the main reasons to get qualified as a pre and postnatal personal trainer include the following.

Keeping Clients

We have a lot of qualified personal trainers coming to The Fitness Group who want to get their pre and postnatal qualification as quickly as possible. That’s often down to one of their existing clients having become pregnant. If you cannot support your clients correctly, they’ll find a personal trainer who can. And chances are, they’ll stick with that PT even after they’ve given birth and gone through full recovery. That’s why it’s always best to get your pre and postnatal certification in advance.

Larger Client Pool

In 2021, there were around 712,000 births in the UK. That’s a lot of potential clients! With the many benefits of exercising pre and post-pregnancy, being able to sign those pregnant clients can only be a good thing for your potential to grow your personal trainer business. We always advise our students to find a niche. Some will earn a qualification in kettlebell training (an incredibly popular option as interest and uptake in kettlebell exercise is growing) or a sports massage diploma.

The Professional Touch

As a qualified personal trainer, you’re a part of the health industry. And just as nobody would go to a dermatologist for advice about their heart conduction, no pregnant client will want advice about exercising while pregnant from a PT who doesn’t have the right qualifications. It’s all about “scope of field” (the range of services you’re qualified to deliver safely). With a certificate in pre and postnatal exercise, you can show prospective clients that your scope of field is relevant to their needs.

Avoiding Risk

If you’ve had a client for a few years and they announce they’re pregnant, you might be tempted to keep them as your client for as long as possible. You take to Google and start making notes about the best exercise and what to avoid. The problem is that the internet is a goldmine of misinformation. And if you push a pregnant client further than you should or introduce exercises that can cause harm to the mother and the baby, you’re risking your reputation, and you could end up in court. 

If you study with The Fitness Group, you know that your pre and postnatal certification is accredited by Ofqual (and appears on the Regulated Qualifications Framework with the Accreditation number 603/3592/0), The Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA), UK Active and REPs (Register of Exercise Professionals).

Tips for Training with Pregnant Clients

It’s easy to make mistakes if you’ve never taken on a pre or postnatal client. Two of the most common mistakes made by personal trainers new to this demographic are:

Sticking to the Same Routine Throughout

The human body goes through a tremendous number of changes throughout pregnancy. One of the most common mistakes made by personal trainers who lack experience and certification when taking on pregnant clients is to design a workout routine that stays the same for nine months. Training programs need to evolve throughout and after the pregnancy.

That evolution needs to occur according to the trimester and be flexible enough to change depending on the comfort of the client. One of the key things you’ll learn during your Level 3 Pre and Postnatal qualification is to listen to your client. If they feel uncomfortable with a certain type of exercise, find an alternative.

Sharing, Not Scaring

This is one of the most consistently given pieces of advice you’ll find. As a fitness professional, your job will be to educate your pregnant clients about their bodies so that you can support them as their bodies change. Some of the topics you’ll learn about can feel overwhelming or even daunting, but the more you know, the better a personal trainer you’ll be for your clients.

So as part of your ongoing development to meet your target of becoming a successful personal trainer, you’re going to need to learn about the following:

• Pelvic organ prolapse
• Incontinence
• Diastasis recti
• Pelvic floor dysfunction.

The key here is to focus on what your client can do, not what they shouldn’t do. Share knowledge and experience, don’t scare your clients with horror stories.

You’ll also want to make sure you’ve got adequate personal trainer insurance too that covers you for public liability and professional indemnity at least.

What Kinds of Exercise Are Safe for Prenatal Clients?

While every pre and postnatal client will be different, with a range of needs and restrictions, some exercises are consistently useful. These will generally be in the regular, moderate-intensity level of physical activity. So for prenatal clients, the exercises you’ll be adding to training programs will include:

• Swimming
• Walking
• Yoga (this needs to be approached carefully, as some prone yoga positions can be a risk)
• Strength training
• Pilates
• Low impact aerobics.

The exercises you will need to avoid are ones that put the health of the mother or the baby at risk, including:

• Exercise/activities that have a risk of falling (horse riding, skiing, etc.)
• Contact sports
• Planks and push-ups
• Any exercise that puts pressure on the pelvic floor
• Sit-ups
• Crunches.

You may also find that some clients will be advised not to do any exercise during their pregnancy. They may have some high-risk factors for preterm labour, vaginal bleeding or the risk of premature rupture of membranes. In those cases, it’s common sense to follow doctors’ advice and focus instead on nutritional needs and meal plans rather than exercise.

Another thing to be aware of is when you need to stop a session with a pregnant client. If any of the following happen, stop the session immediately:

• Dizziness
• Vaginal bleeding
• Chest pain
• Headache
• Shortness of breath
• Sudden muscles weakness
• Swelling calves (or sudden pain in the calves)
• Painful contractions
• Amniotic fluid leaks.

If any discomfort occurs, stop the session immediately. If any of the above occurs, don’t just stop the session; call for medical help too.

Introducing Postnatal Exercise

There are many benefits to physical activity after pregnancy, such as reducing the risk of postpartum depression and improving cardiovascular health levels without disrupting milk production. There will likely be a recovery period after giving birth, but physical activity can be gradually increased in the six weeks following labour. Make sure you do the following with postnatal clients:

• Get clearance from the client’s doctor that exercise can be safely managed
• Start slowly
• It’s a good idea to begin with simple walking workouts
• Don’t push your postnatal clients far enough to cause excessive fatigue
• Always ensure your postnatal clients are wearing a supportive sports bra
• Encourage drinking plenty of water
• Always stop a session if the client is starting to bleed from their vagina.

Become a Better Personal Trainer

There are many reasons to become a personal trainer, but if you want to be more successful, focusing on delivering niche services is a good idea. Pre and postnatal specialists are in high demand, so it makes sense to learn more about how to train this unique demographic.

If you already have your Level 2 Fitness Instructing qualification, a Level 2 Certificate in Gym Instructing or an equivalent qualification, you can sign up for our Level 3 Pre and postnatal Qualification today. You’ll get all the training you need to ensure you can keep your pre and postnatal clients safe even as you help them maintain their health levels throughout and after their pregnancy.

We can even help you when it comes to your finances, with a range of payment options that make getting your advanced qualification significantly easier. So there are fewer barriers than ever when it comes to growing your business as a personal trainer. Contact the team at the Fitness Group today, and we’ll talk you through everything you need to know to become a pre and postnatal personal trainer.

The post Can a personal trainer work with pregnant women? appeared first on The Fitness Group.

Let’s explore the question, ‘does walking count as exercise?’

Walking might not seem like a high-impact workout, but it’s an easy and cost-effective way to lose weight and maintain health. Taking a walk every day is enjoyable and can help reduce stress. Plus, it doesn’t cost anything. You can take a walk at any time — convenient, right? 

It’s a common misconception that cardio means a lot of sweaty physical exertion. Fact check — it doesn’t. Cardio is short for “cardiorespiratory activity”, referring to any physical activity that uses your respiratory and circulatory systems to supply oxygen to your active muscles. Any low or moderate-intensity exercise, such as walking, falls under this definition. 

Why Should I Include Walking as Exercise? 

There’s no need to overlook walking as a form of exercise. It can improve stamina, heart health and burn excess calories. These benefits all put you in good stead to achieve your weight loss and fitness goals. You don’t have to walk for hours either. A brisk 10-minute walk every day contributes to your recommended 150 minutes of exercise per week.

There are other advantages to incorporating walking into your exercise routine:

• Walking is an accessible form of exercise for all fitness levels and ages. 
• It’s a good social activity. You can meet up with friends or family while getting in some cardio at the same time. 
• You can make it part of your routine — for instance, walking the dog or running an errand. 

Equally, you might want to supercharge your walking routine to reach specific goals. If you’re looking to tone particular muscle groups, for example, you might want to include other forms of exercise in your routine. You can achieve this by enhancing your walk with strength workouts and different elevations. Here, we’ll look at ways to make walking an effective part of your exercise routine and fitness goals. 

Incorporate Walking Into Your Client’s Plans

The wonderful thing about walking is that it’s accessible to everyone. This means that older clients or those with low fitness levels can easily incorporate it into their routine. Plus, it’s convenient exercise that doesn’t require additional equipment or particular skills. Most able bodied people can walk. If you need more persuading, read on to find out how walking is a valid form of exercise for you and your clients. 

Related: The Ultimate Guide to Getting Fit and Healthy

How to Spice up Your Walking Routine

Let’s help you get the most out of walking with some ways to revolutionise your exercise routine. If you have a problem with your joints, walking might not be the best option. Look into exercise classes at your local swimming pool or leisure centre instead. Water supports your joints while you’re exercising, which can help strengthen your muscles. 

Before you start, make sure you’re wearing comfortable shoes or trainers that provide adequate support. For longer walks, take water to stay hydrated and wear appropriate clothes for the weather. You may want to invest in specialist walking shoes and some waterproofs for more challenging adventures. 

1. A Walk a Day Keeps the Doctors Away

If your main source of exercise is walking, aim to walk for at least 30 minutes per day. You can set this as your end goal, starting with 10 minutes a day at first and building up. To motivate yourself, set a step goal on your phone or device. If you lead a busy lifestyle, this is a great way to incorporate walking into your daily routine. 

With a set goal for your daily steps, you can easily see how much walking you’ve done and how much more you need to do. Start as you mean to finish — it’s all about maintaining consistency. Make walking a daily habit first, and then start increasing the duration of your walks. 

Related: Tracking Health-Related Goals

2. Brisk and Steady Wins the Race

Although walking is a form of cardio, going at a brisk pace burns more calories. So, pick up the pace! If it’s a challenge for you to walk briskly for 30 minutes, add breaks into your walk. Try alternating your pace between regular and speed walking to make it easier. It’s important to adjust your walking routine so that you continue to make progress toward your fitness goals.

For example, if your daily walk begins to feel easier, it’s a sign you need to either walk faster or cut out intervals. You will inevitably build up endurance if you remain consistent, so make sure to adjust your routine accordingly. 

Am I Walking Fast Enough?

When we refer to a “brisk walk”, it can be hard to know what that means. After all, we’re all different when it comes to endurance, age and ability. A brisk walk is about 3 miles an hour — so a faster pace than a stroll to the shops. Also, certain apps on your smartphone or device can tell you if you’re walking fast enough. 

TIP: One quick way to tell if you’re walking quickly enough is if you’re still able to talk, but you can’t sing the words to a song. 

3. What’s That Coming over the Hill? 

Hopefully, it’s you as you’ve added some terrain variation to your walking routine. It can be boring traversing the same route over and over. Switch things up by introducing new challenges that push you to see the results you want faster. Walking up an incline like a hill will engage your leg muscles more than walking on level ground. This gives your glutes, hamstrings and quads a more intense workout. 

4. Walking with Weights

Building or toning muscle might be a priority for your fitness goals. If that’s the case, add weights to your hands and/or ankles. Weights make your body work harder while you’re walking. Also, walking with light dumbbells exercises another part of your body: the arms. You can even carry two 500 ml bottles of water with you and aim to finish them before returning home. 

5. Increase Your Walking Distance over Time

To get the best out of your walking exercise, be mindful of when it’s time to increase the intensity of your workout. This is essential to make progress in any form of exercise. Start gradually increasing how far you walk after a few weeks of walking the same distance. Get lost in your favourite playlist or podcast to distract yourself, and you’ll find that your walks fly by. 

Walking IS Exercise 

As we’ve shown here, there are many ways to incorporate walking into your exercise routine. To see results faster, it’s vital to stay motivated — a personal trainer might help you keep on the right track. But you don’t have to make time in a busy schedule to accommodate your walk. Think about how you can substitute transport or social meetings with a walk in your daily routine:

1. If you can, walk to work or at least part of the way.
2. Walk to the shops instead of driving.
3. Opt for the stairs over the lift. 
4. Avoid using the car for short journeys.
5. If you have kids and are able to, walk them to and from school — that way, both you and your children get some exercise in. 
6. Next time you’re meeting up with a friend, why not go on a walk instead? 
7. Go for a walk with your family or friends after dinner. 

However you choose to exercise, it’s essential that you enjoy it. Any form of physical activity can help you unwind and ease stress, as well as promote health benefits. 

If your exercise journey has inspired you to become a personal trainer, enrol in one of our fitness training courses, like our Level 2 Gym Instructor Certificate or one of our industry leading personal trainer qualificationsLevel 3 Personal Training Courses.  The Fitness Group offers one-to-one tutor support. We’ll even help you find a job after you graduate. 

Get in touch with us today to find out about our high-quality training. Kickstart your lucrative career in the fitness industry. 

The post Does Walking Count as Exercise? appeared first on The Fitness Group.

Let’s explore why should you be a Specialist Pre & Post Natal Instructor?

Pre and postnatal women are categorised as a ‘special populations group’. This includes any female who has just become pregnant, is currently going through pregnancy or has given birth within the last 16 weeks (minimum). 

To train these clients, you must have the necessary pre and postnatal personal training qualifications as the changes to the body can be complex and severe, and it can have serious consequences if exercise programmes are not safely designed.

Should Women Train during the Pre and Postnatal Period?

It was previously believed that exercise should be avoided during the prenatal period. However, we now know exercise is extremely beneficial for the health of both baby and mother and should be encouraged for many reasons. The prenatal period is not a time for:

• Pushing yourself with training
• Working in high heart rate zones
• Smashing personal bests
• Drastic body composition changes.

But that doesn’t mean exercise isn’t important, and maintaining health and fitness levels should be the aim for your pre and postnatal clients. If you’re hoping to become a successful personal trainer, focusing on this niche can be beneficial to you and your clients.

Why Do Pre and Postnatal Clients Continue to Exercise?

Managing maternal weight gain is one reason to keep exercising. The expecting mother will gain weight during pregnancy. This will be a combination of the foetal weight, increase in fluids within the body (increased blood volume, amniotic fluid, etc.) and some extra fat storage around the hips for protection. However, gaining excess body fat will make the pregnancy and the post-natal recovery challenging.

Mobility will be reduced, risk of gestational diabetes will increase, fitness levels will regress, posture issues such as low-back pain will be more prominent, and ultimately, general comfort during the pregnancy will be difficult if a client isn’t exercising or looking after their nutrition.

What Do You Learn during a Level 3 Pre and Postnatal Diploma?

We cover a wide range of subjects on our Level 3 Pre and Postnatal Diploma. Those subjects cover the following:

• Knowing what exercises to avoid
• Exercise positions that can be harmful
• The correct way to train the core (due to complications with diastasis recti)
• The correct intensities to be aiming for during cardiovascular work
• The right type of flexibility work
• How to combat the increased risk of overheating and dehydration.

These are all vital components of making a programme. Of course, no two pregnancies are identical, so it becomes important that you understand the different changes, when they are likely to take place, and how this can differ from client to client. Having this knowledge means you can adapt your programme to suit each of your unique pre and postnatal clients.

Relating to your clients helps get the most for them. Understanding the changes that take place during this time allows you to be more empathetic, sensitive and, ultimately, give your clients a gold-standard service.

Why Should I Get Qualified to Train This Client Group?

If you are a personal trainer who trains female clients, there’s a possibility that one or more may become pregnant at some point. Losing a client for the nine months of their pregnancy and then at least another three months post-pregnancy can mean being without that client for upwards of a year. This could be a big loss of income if it is one or more of your regular clients.

If your client then chooses to train with another pre and postnatal specialist instructor during that period, they may continue to work with them beyond that, so you have lost a client entirely.

Should you continue to train your client without being suitably qualified, you put them and their child at risk and leave yourself liable for anything that happens during a session. This makes qualification a key ethical and legal requirement.

If you are a pre and postnatal specialist instructor, it will also help you to generate new clients going through this period and want to continue training. It can open you up to a wider range of potential clients who may continue training with you beyond their pregnancy. According to the Office of National Statistics, around 613,000 women give birth every year in the UK (although this does fluctuate year on year), so there will always be a constant demand for the type of trainer who can safely train pre and postnatal clients.

The cost of the qualification is relatively low, but the knowledge you gain from it is very high. You will likely pay off the course fees through one client, making it a very good investment in yourself. From a business point of view, it makes financial sense. You can also study for a Level 3 Pre and Postnatal exercise online or in-person, so it’s an accessible option whatever your schedule or commitments.

According to recent studies, under 10% of PTs are qualified as a Level 3 pre and postnatal specialist instructor, so it may even be a struggle for these clients to find a specialist personal trainer. If there isn’t any currently in your gym, it could be a good market to exploit to generate new clients and increase value for your current clients. 

Having this qualification is great for your branding too, which is one of the most useful tools for growing a personal trainer’s business.

Start Studying Today and Boost Your Earning Potential

If you’re thinking of taking on pre and postnatal clients, you must know what you are doing. It is your duty of care as a fitness professional to safely train this client group, protecting your client and yourself. 

The last thing anyone wants is to be responsible for any complications during a client’s pregnancy, so taking the time to get the qualification is a really good investment in yourself. It can not only help your business but improve your confidence and trust levels within the industry. 

Besides the ethical requirements, it’s a fascinating course that helps you understand what happens to the body during pregnancy. If you’re a woman who has never experienced the changes that occur during pregnancy, or a man, this information can be invaluable.

Find out more about the Level 3 Pre and Postnatal qualification, and book your place on the course today. It could be the key to boosting your client list and generating an unexpected source of income. 

The post Why should you be a Specialist Pre & Post Natal Instructor? appeared first on The Fitness Group.

From Footballer to Personal Trainer, we at The Fitness Group have supported hundreds of footballers to transition from their existing career into the fitness industry.

We are proud to be the official partner for The PFA, League Football Education and the SPFA.

According to the English Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA), around 700 players a year are released by their clubs. Some of those releases are due to age, but there are many reasons why a football career might be cut short.

That’s why every footballer needs to have a backup plan. And for many football players, becoming a personal trainer looks increasingly appealing. The question is, can anyone be a personal trainer? Are footballers particularly suited to a career helping others reach their health goals? 

Post-Football Careers

It’s not surprising that many ex-footballers look for a related career once they stop playing full-time. But footballers have skills that make them highly suitable for a wide range of career choices. Here are some of the top examples:

Football Management

It makes sense for many players to become professional football managers. Their knowledge of the game, especially if they played at higher levels like the premier league, makes management very appealing. Some big-name managers started as players, like the Barcelona and Spain international Pep Guardiola. 

Some former players have gone further and bought a football club. In 2014, Salford City was bought by a group of former Man Utd players, including Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville. However, not every player can become a good manager. Firstly, there aren’t enough positions available. Secondly, being a football manager is very different from being a player, and so it can be a hard transition to make.

Media Roles

For footballers who still want a foot in the game but aren’t interested in management roles, there’s always been a steady flow of names who flock to the media. Well-known examples include Gary Lineker, Jamie Redknapp, Ian Wright and Rio Ferdinand, to name just a few. Of course, to land those jobs, you need to have been a big name and be loaded with confidence.

For players in the lower leagues, there are still media roles available. Plenty of regional sports shows and local newspapers look for insights from ex-professional footballers. It can be a hard career to break into without the backing of fame, but it’s doable.

Business Owners and New Careers

Using the money they earned and the skills they learned while playing football, it’s no surprise that many ex-players end up running their own business. Tom Finney, often called one of the best football players of all time, retired from football and started earning a living as a very successful professional plumber.

Others simply switch to a new career. Blackburn Rangers player Stuart Ripley is now working as both a lecturer and a solicitor, while Jeff Whitley of Man City is a used-car salesman. That’s a wide range of options, and there are few barriers to successfully starting a second career once you age out of the game.

Of course, an increasingly popular option is to become a personal trainer. It combines many of the skills and attributes picked up by players and lets them take charge of their career growth because they’re running their own business. And there are some exciting advantages to becoming a personal trainer after a career as a footballer.

Advantages of Being a Personal Trainer as an Ex-Footballer

Even in the lower leagues, footballers are used to working alongside coaches, performance specialists and nutrition experts. That means ex-players have a wealth of established skills and knowledge that directly complement being a personal trainer. For any footballer leaving the game, it’s worth checking out what’s needed to enter this exciting career.

There are some key advantages that footballers have, too. Making the switch to a personal training career offers some benefits that other former careers may not. Can anyone be a personal trainer? Of course, but ex-footballers might find the following benefits particularly appealing:

Running Your Own Business

Players don’t get a lot of control over their training regimes, time management or even their future. Becoming a personal trainer that works freelance (as in, not hired specifically by an employer, like a gym) means total control over how much you work and how much you charge. 

Of course, you’ll still have to work as and when your clients have availability, but since you can establish those boundaries yourself, having control over your working life can be very liberating for footballers of all levels. Football requires a level of belief in yourself too, and that confidence is ideally suited to business management.

Branding

While you might assume branding is reserved for big corporations, it’s a vital part of running even a small business. To stand out from other personal trainers, using your career as a footballer as the foundation of your branding can be extremely valuable. After all, footballers have a reputation for being fit and healthy, and those are the goals your clients will want you to help them with.

Branding is a big subject, but it all comes down to how you market yourself. Marketing yourself as a personal trainer will be a big part of the job. Your career as a footballer can become a critical part of your marketing strategy. You could even use your football knowledge to target young footballers who want to work on their fitness levels, earning a niche market unavailable to other personal trainers.

Optimal Health Levels

It’s likely that you already have a solid baseline of fitness and a proven track record for maintaining your health. That puts you in a much stronger position than someone starting from scratch. Your knowledge of nutrition may already be pretty good, and that knowledge will only grow as you work through your qualifications.

With an awareness and knowledge set higher than average, you’ll find it much easier to boost that knowledge than anyone starting from the beginning. While anyone can become a personal trainer, those with an established baseline of health, fitness and knowledge will find that skill set advantageous.

Connections and Networking

Think of all of the people you know who are either still playing football, involved in the game as coaches or managers or have moved from playing to something entirely different. From the people you’ve played alongside to those on opposing teams, you likely have a wide and connected network.

Running a personal training business, you’ll find word of mouth is one of your best marketing strategies. So having a network so focused on health and fitness already will help you when it comes to getting the word out. Get in touch and let people know what you’re doing and what you need. You might be surprised by how much help you get.

From Footballer to Personal Trainer

Your work alongside experienced coaches and nutrition experts will give you a series of unique insights that will help make the switch to personal training a lot easier than you might think. You already have a wealth of knowledge about the practical side of health and fitness, too. Your understanding of fitness can only help when it comes to helping others reach their fitness goals.

So if you’re a player considering what to do after your contract ends or you’ve recently left the game, and you’re not sure what to do next, contact the team at The Fitness Group today. We don’t just give you the training you need to teach others; we also advise on the business side of things. Together, we can take your new career to a whole new league.

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