Getting experience

T

thinkyama

0
Hi everyone,

Just getting ready to start studying for the ACE, and will be going for the ACSM by the middle of next year. I have a few years of teaching yoga under my belt. Question is, what's the best way to start getting experience and building a client base?

Thanks in advance for your help!
ThinkYama
 
Best way to get experience is probably a commercial gym. Unless you can coerce some of your yoga-ites to take you up on your fitness training as well.

I have seen many people distance themselves from ACSM lately. Its respectable, but many place low credibility to their "new" training ideas.
 
Agreed. The best bet is to get a job as a trainer and start training.

Also, start learning sales skills. Some chain gym's have sales training as part of their personal training program.
 
Thanks guys. The yoga teaching was a few years ago. It's what piqued my interest in personal training. I'm also (slowly) working towards a BS in Exercise Physiology. Basically, I've decided to take the ACE to at least get me in the door somewhere, hopefully replace my income so I can dedicate more time to personal training.

Goergen, thanks for the tip. I've read in more than a few places that the major should be marketing with a minor in exercise. :) Sales skills shouldn't be a problem. I'm a sales rep by day.

Tony, what do you mean by ACSM's 'new' training ideas? What's the difference between the old & the new that caused the loss of credibility?
 
thinkyama said:
Sales skills shouldn't be a problem. I'm a sales rep by day.

Tony, what do you mean by ACSM's 'new' training ideas? What's the difference between the old & the new that caused the loss of credibility?
Click to expand...

What do you currently sell? Selling personal services is a whole new ball game. From my understanding ACSM has started to shy away from certain exercises, citing them as dangerous (deadlifts, etc). When I get to my home computer Ill link a recent article from standapart.com that talks about it further.
 
Hi Tony,

Currently I rep several large/well known manufacturers, and even though the products can sometimes sell themselves due to the branding, the relationships still have to be built with my buyers. I know that marketing myself and personal services is going to be VERY different, but it's a welcome challenge.

I'd love to take a look at that article you mentioned. I checked out standapart.com, but I don't think I'm looking at the right site.

Back to the main question on getting experience....I'm guessing to get my feet wet, I'm probably best off going to a few commercial gyms and trying to get a job. What type of experience (if any) are they going to be looking for since I'm a newbie? My gym doesn't offer personal training services at the moment...would that be a good start?
 
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