THE FITNESS BUSINESS

A personal trainer is a fitness professional involved in exercise prescription and instruction. They motivate clients by setting goals and providing feedback. This is a great career path for people interested in body building and health spa. The increasing number of gyms and spas in Dhaka is a positive sign for people who want to pursue fitness as a career or a business..

WORKPLACE DESTINATIONS

There are a lot of places where people need fitness instructors. Fitness and recreation centres like gyms, exercise studios, country clubs, resorts/spas and even universities have demand for fitness trainers. Some trainers operate personally and see private clients in their homes. Corporate companies are also employing trainers for the employees. Another major money-making hotspot for trainers is cruise ships.

CORPORATE FITNESS

If we look at the daily routines of highly successful CEOs, we will find that working out is a 'must-do'. Richard Branson, business mogul and founder of Virgin Group, once said to author Tim Ferris that working out gives him additional productivity in the day. And American President Barack Obama starts every day with 45 minutes of weights or cardio, 6 days a week, to stay in shape and keep focused.

REQS OF THE JOB

While hiring trainers, employers prefer one to have a bachelor's degree in the health or fitness field, but the requirements vary per the employer's necessity.

Personal fitness instructors work alongside expert trainers to gain experience. Besides this, there are various professional certifications, which can boost one's career. Most of these certifications are obtained in the US and UK. Some of the certifying bodies include the ACSM (American College of Sports Medicine), ACE (American Council of Exercise), IFPA (International Fitness Professionals Association), and NASM (National Academy of Sports Medicine). 

The prerequisites to enter most of these certification courses are being at least 18 years old and having formal first aid certification.

UP THE LADDER

The US Bureau of Labour Statistics predicts that employment will grow faster than average over the next ten years in the field of fitness. To advance to a management position in a health or fitness club, one usually needs, in addition to experience, a bachelor's degree in exercise science, physical education, kinesiology or a related area. Personal fitness trainers may become head trainers while group exercise instructors may advance to positions as group exercise directors. In these jobs they will be responsible for hiring and training newcomers.  

WORDS OF ADVICE

Though this line of career is not well known in our country yet, it is very lucrative abroad. According to the Bureau of Labour Statistics, in 2012 about 267,000 fitness trainers were employed in the US. Grandmaster Dr. Yuree says the countries which are most suitable for taking up martial arts as a profession are the US, UK and Germany. Other than these, Australia, Brazil and Canada are also great places for a career in fitness training

While fitness training is a very well paid job in western countries, there are increasingly more work opportunities for fitness trainers in Bangladesh as well. For example, leading hotels like the Radisson, Westin, etc. hire professionals trainers for their spas and fitness facilities.

Speaking on body building as a career, Rafiqul Islam, popularly known as Hitman Hart and Mr. Bangladesh 2014, says "Taking up bodybuilding as a serious career is not yet feasible in our country. Consistency is an important factor if anyone wants to have success in body building because it is not a sport but a life style"

He adds, "Professional fitness trainers are not widely available in our country or rather there is not a matured enough market for them. In the near future, there will be a need of experts and then we will start to see more of such job opportunities."