Show notes
Entering the fitness industry as a new personal trainer or group exercise instructor can be an exciting opportunity with many benefits. However, it’s not a smooth path, as popular fitness education companies often portray in marketing campaigns. According to American Spa (2019), “the industry has an annual personal trainer turnover rate of 80 percent.” Before the realities of the fitness industry set in, there were several things a new fitness instructor could do to help them avoid becoming part of the negative statistics surrounding the profession. In this episode of the KIPS Podcast, returning guest Aimee Nicotera shares insight from her time as a personal trainer, group exercise instructor, virtual instructor, conference presenter, and consultant for corporate gyms. Aimee is the 2024 IDEA Fitness Instructor of the Year, and her expertise shared in this episode equates to longevity for new instructors.Independent vs Corporate Personal TrainerThis episode shares tips for personal trainers working at a corporate-style gym and independently. Personal trainers working for a corporate gym benefit from new members constantly being signed up, which means more opportunities to improve their fitness consultation. There’s also the question of whether the gym's insurance plans cover you if anything negative happens with a client. On the other hand, independent personal trainers are typically small-business owners who rent space within a facility or own a small gym. There are several hurdles that an independent personal trainer must overcome, but the benefits vastly outweigh working for a corporate gym. Not only can you potentially earn more by not having to share personal training sales, but you can also set your own hours, grow your brand, and develop business partnerships.How Virtual Helps Live InstructionAn interesting segment in this episode is when Aimee discusses how online workout instruction has helped her with in-person cueing. During online workouts, fitness instructors cue and describe exercises in such detail that any participant following along can easily digest them. While in-person instructors should strive for the same level of cueing, they can utilize manual manipulation and mirroring to hide mistakes.When is the independent route appropriate?After a fitness instructor has been in the fitness industry for a few years, they consider the independent route. So, how does an instructor know when it’s appropriate for them to leap? Aimee shares some insight into this topic and explains why it’s a benefit. One of those benefits is the flexibility in creating your schedule. It should be first noted that this is a challenging career path. Still, schedule flexibility is a benefit that instructors training across different gyms, virtual gyms, or small studios can utilize. A sample training day could start with filming online workouts, including training in-person clients at a gym where you rent space, and teaching a group fitness class at a local gym.Aimee on Instagram - CLICK HERE. Join our email list - CLICK HERE.KIPS on Instagram - CLICK HERE. KIPS Education Courses - CLICK HERE. Podcast Chapters(00:00) - KIPS Podcast Welcome(00:36) - Independent vs Corporate Personal Trainer(02:31) - Aimee Nicotera’s Background(07:26) - Group Fitness = Growth(12:13) - How Virtual Coaching Helps Live Instruction(18:02) - Fitness Consultation Tips(27:47) - When is the independent route appropriate?(33:36) - Independent Instructor Benefits
