Feed your wanderlust with a fitness qualification

Those of us who are young and unrestrained by the responsibilities of ‘adulting’ often experience a strong urge to travel and experience the world.

The only hurdle tends to be the financial means to realise your ambition and support you as you feed your wanderlust, be it for the summer, a few months or even a year.

Well, the right internationally-accredited fitness qualification, like a fitness instructor or Personal Fitness Trainer certificate or diploma from a reputable academy, can often be your ticket to travel the world!

Global gallivanter

Health and fitness is a booming industry globally. With the right credentials and some related industry experience, it’s possible to apply for jobs in other countries where a demand exists for fitness professionals.

The US market, for example, is booming. Figures released by the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) show that over the last decade the US health and fitness industry has grown annually by 3-4%.

A simple Google search will reveal thousands of other available jobs in far-off lands like Qatar, Europe and Australia. Even high-end hotels require health and fitness professionals to staff their gyms and cater to the needs of their clientele.

This not only offers an opportunity to see other parts of the world and gain valuable life and work experience, but you’ll also earn US dollars or other foreign currencies. Your living expenses may also be minimal if the hotel provides board and lodging.

Registering with a recruitment agency that specialises in international placements for fitness professionals is a sensible first step for a qualified job seeker looking to expand their horizons. There are also numerous job sites, such as Glassdoor, Indeed and LinkedIn where you can view available job listings and apply directly to employers that are hiring.

Ship shape

Another extremely popular option among qualified health and fitness professionals is to cruise the world on a ship. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle has become an integral facet of luxury cruise ship holidays, so leading companies like MSC Cruises, which operates a number of the most modern cruise liners in the world, offer numerous work opportunities for specialist instructors.

Cruise ships have state-of-the-art gyms, massage rooms and other specialist
indoor and outdoor physical activity amenities that need to be managed by qualified fitness professionals. Duties can range from group exercise instruction for aerobics, yoga, stretching, Pilates and Latin American dancing classes to one-on-one personal training, supervision and facilities management.

The benefit of working on a cruise liner is that you get to travel to multiple countries, often visiting the world’s most scenic oceans and stopping over in memorable port cities where crew and staff can often disembark to explore the city of call, all while you earn an income! All of this makes for a highly sought after work and travel opportunity for those looking for some fun and adventure.

Applicants generally need to be between the ages of 21 and 35, and they must have a degree, diploma or equivalent qualification in gym-related fields or fitness instruction. A good knowledge of English and at least one other language is often also mandatory.

Working for a luxury cruise operator would provide opportunities to work year round in places like the Mediterranean or Indian Ocean, or seasonally in Northern Europe, the Atlantic Ocean, the Caribbean, North America, Canada and South America.

Employment contracts are regulated by the FIT – CISL – ITF union for sailors. Required travel and other documents include a valid passport, an STCW 95/2010 certification, which is the minimum legal requirement for all crew working commercially at sea, and a medical certifications. You can contact cruise operators directly to explore available employment options.

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Get the most bang for your education buck

There are numerous avenues for those who are truly passionate about health and fitness to break into the industry and build a career. However, simply being a dedicated gym-goer or a competitive physique athlete will not suffice. You first need to get yourself a recognised qualification.

But before you register for a course, consider that certain qualifications will offer you more opportunities than others. Often, the best career strategy requires building a broad base that will enable to you fulfill numerous roles within the sector, until you’re able to carve out a niche for yourself, or find a specific area in which you wish to specialise.

START WITH THE RIGHT ESSENTIALS

These so-called foundational courses prepare you with the basic knowledge and competencies you need to fulfill a number of job roles in the gym environment. In terms of the health and fitness sector, these generally consist of fitness instructor or Personal Fitness Trainer (PFT) certificates or diplomas.

Paul Mills. Managing Director at the Health & Fitness Professionals Academy (HFPA), says that a National Diploma in Fitness is a popular choice as it is an education programme that is offered over two years, with full-time, part-time and distance learning study options available.

“Students qualify as a Personal Trainer after year 1, and as an Exercise Specialist after the successful completion of year 2. Year 2 includes Special Population Groups and therefore increases the fitness professional’s scope of practice and earning potential.”

WHY THE RIGHT ACCREDITATION MATTERS

Legislation requires that fitness professionals obtain a minimum qualifications before they can legally be employed in the industry. A national certificate in fitness and a level one first aid certification are therefore prerequisites for anyone planning to build a career in the industry.

Gyms may also impose minimum qualification requirements. For example, the minimum requirement for PFTs working in Virgin Active gyms is a national certificate and/or diploma in fitness, and any other South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) endorsed or recognised PFT qualification, explains Piet Oosthuizen, national personal training manager at Virgin Active.

Once a foundational course has been completed, fitness professionals can enter the market through the more widely available positions of gym or fitness instructor, or personal trainer, as there is greater demand for these skills and qualifications.

An entry level fitness instructor position in a large gym chain like Virgin Active entails taking new members through induction, basic exercise supervision and offering group classes on the floor, picking up the weights and ensuring the health and safety of members in the club.

GET THE BASICS RIGHT, THEN DIVERSIFY AND SPECIALISE

A learning institution like HFPA also offers an array of continuing education programmes and short courses, which include nutrition, sport massage, group exercise instructor, Pilates, yoga, and various other group training options. However, many of these courses are only available to those who have obtained a more comprehensive foundational qualification, such as a certification or diploma.

These more specialised qualifications can help to compliment a aspiring fitpro’s CV, and it allows them to diversify or specialise in certain fields. This creates additional opportunities to generate revenue, and improves employability.

To play reasonably, it is important to prepare carefully for the game. Warm up before any game. In big professional sports, a carefully done sports massage can serve as a warm-up. Next, do not forget to study the strategy – it can be either a strategy for playing football or a strategy for playing online slots. Set a goal and follow it. The goal should be clearly visible and measurable – it can be 20 pushing off the floor, or winning 100 free spins in an online casino on slots. Know your strengths – you have a strong left hand, or you have an extra $ 20 no deposit bonus promo code. Play online or live often to gain experience and success awaits you!

However, Paul adds that although a recognised and accredited qualification is enough to find work and start a career in the health and fitness industry, being really successful in this industry goes further than the qualification you have. “It has a lot to do with your personality and drive, and your ability to provide a good service, or something that people want and need.”

For more information on the various qualifications and short courses offered by HFPA, visit our All Courses page.

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The Bootcamp Business is Booming

It’s an exciting (and lucrative) time to work in the fitness industry, if you have the right offering… As fitness professionals look for new ways to distinguish and expand their offering in a rapidly growing market, a number of branded group training classes have emerged.

By creating a unique exercise experience, either in the gym or outdoors that incorporate the most effective high-intensity interval training (HIIT) modalities, including bodyweight training, weights or a combination of exercise tools that deliver effective results, bootcamp classes offer both clients and fitness professionals a variety of benefits.

Broad appeal

Originally styled after military training bootcamps, which combined strength exercises with intense cardio to condition recruits, industry innovation has thankfully shifted the focus away from regimented physical training. Bootcamp classes now offer various options to meet the different preferences of active individuals.

A major bootcamp drawcard is the ability to sweat alongside your ‘bestie’, or join a group of like-minded individuals and meet new people. Group training sessions are also highly engaging, encouraging and supportive, and are lots of fun for both the trainer and clients, which will add a new dynamic to your business.

This social dynamic has helped to drive the boom in bootcamp classes and, as a result, there are now endless options available, each offering unique benefits or workout flavours.

There are other benefits as well. For instance, the sessions can be scaled to meet differing fitness and strength levels among attendees. They can work out as hard as they want and can progress at your own pace, which makes it the ideal class for anyone, from beginners to the more experienced.

Beneficial business model

While this offers a refreshing change for fitness enthusiasts who want to try something new or experience a change of scenery, it has also introduced a new and, potentially, lucrative business model for fitness professionals.

Running a bootcamp or similar group training class at the gym or outdoors in a park or on a field can be very profitable for a trainer, while also making sessions more affordable for clients.

While it may take an initial investment to secure the appropriate location and get the necessary equipment, training up to 15 people an hour, who each pay less than a personal trainer’s one-on-one rate, creates a compelling reason for clients to sign up, and significantly boosts a fit pro’s per-hour earning potential.

And by applying your mind and using your imagination, a trainer or instructor can also introduce a variety of low-cost tools that can boost the effectiveness of every bootcamp workout – think sandbags, tyres or filled water containers, to name just a few. This not only helps to lower costs, but also adds interesting and unconventional exercises into your clients’ routines.

Word of mouth

Catering to a group can also boost awareness of your services and offering to a wider potential market as clients are inclined to bring friends along, making it ideal for referral business.

So, if you’re looking to take your fitness-oriented business in a new direction, while significantly boosting your earning potential, then becoming a certified bootcamp instructor may be the perfect next step.

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