Comments on: WELCOME TO HELL!!!! Personal Trainers Reveal Their HEALTH-CLUB HORROR STORIES!!!

By: Sepp Dietrich

Sepp Dietrich — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 09:50:59 +0000

Hey I’m just getting started in this field, been working out on my own for over a decade but have finally decided to be a trainer to others, I plan on starting out at a health club because I figured it would be “practice”…am looking at NYSC, really favorable impression of the people there, and found it interesting that nobody’s mentioned it specifically even though it’s one of the biggest chains in NYC. Unfortunately I have no savings and need a job and but like I said it’s also practice so I am looking forward to getting hired by them (looks like I will).

By: Kaiser

Kaiser — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 03:21:28 +0000

Hey Maria - very nice post - I couldn’t have said it any better - you really opened up and got across the mind-set to being a successful trainer. It’s obvious you give value in so many areas, both personal and technical, that it’s impossible NOT to notice - that’s how you stand apart -

I want to expand on the point you were making about client retention - some training clients do come to us JUST to learn - in these cases we need to make sure they’re ready to train on their own at some point - and others that no matter how thrilled they are with the training, have to stop at some point due to financial reasons -

When my studio was located in a middle-class part of Queens, client turn-over due to financial reasons eventually occurred - whether it was after 10 sessions or 1 year -

But if you seek to recruit clients from a higher income level and provide what they’re looking for from a trainer, they stay indefinitely - to bring the most consistency to your training practice, cut down on marketing time and money, and to really fine-tune your practice to just the clients that serve you the most , this is the type of client team you should look to build -

Like I mention numerous times and especially in the new FITNESS LIFESTYLE REPORT, we need to be a little selfish when it comes to our practice and lifestyle - we want them to work for us - this means a client roster that will be easy to maintain, yield more high quality referrals, and that fulfill us personally -

This is achieved two ways:
1. seek to recruit clients of a certain income level - this can be done by choosing the areas you want to market, setting higher prices, cultivating referrals, and through just the normal attrition that occurs through general marketing -

2. create a training session that’s indispensable in nature - just include all the elements Maria described above -

Like she said, that’s why her clients keep coming back - ideally, we want to have clients that get a level of value in each session and progressively as time moves forward that they WILL NOT leave - Personal Training becomes a given in their lives and self-images, just like tanning, hair-cuts, or nail care (poor examples really; training stands alone).

At whatever level you’re at right now, keep in mind the best route is to grow and cultivate very long-term clients - that’s the goal we’re looking to achieve on Super-Trainer -

By: Maria

Maria — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 20:28:30 +0000

Andrew, you ask a very good question. What sets you apart from other trainers is your knowledge and, over time, expertise and success. It also helps that you look the part, which I do. I also have experience as a competitor in the fitness and physique world. I have been a personal trainer on my own for almost 8 years. I take into account that everyone is individual and they all have their own needs and concerns that need to be met. Train them at their level and ability. Pay attention to those details and listen to your clients. Some trainers put their clients through all the same work outs no matter what their needs and goals are. I know one trainer in particular that does that. He even had the nerve to tell me that I don’t know what women want when I am a woman myself and yet he trains his females and males the same whether they are an athlete or not. He doesn’t get the results and yet he calls himself a good trainer. I don’t agree.
The programs I design for my clients are all individual and meets their goals and needs. I guide them, educate them, motivate them and give them support when needed. I teach them good lifting form and make sure they never lift more then they can’t handle. I also make sure they are comfortable with the exercises they are doing and if not I adjust it accordingly. You will have to let them go eventually when they are ready to go on their own. Some trainers will not let them go and don’t educate them enough to be on their own because all they want is their money. I NEVER pressure my clients into staying with me because everyone also has different fincancial situationas as well. My clients will leave me but more often then not, they also return. There are some clients that will stay with you long term, as well, because they don’t have the desire to do it on their own, which is fine but it’s on their own terms, not yours and they can afford it. I give my clients all the tools they need to be on their own but will train with me because they like the motivation. I also get results with my clients. When they go on their own, they find the results aren’t the same so they do come back because they find they slack on a couple of areas on their own. You develop a good rapport with your clients over time and they will tell others about you as well. I go above and beyond for my clients and in return they are good to me. I hope some of this helps you.

By: gaby

gaby — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 04:06:34 +0000

THAT is the worst thing I ever heard of Mike. Hope I can sleep after hearing that. WOW!

By: Kaiser

Kaiser — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 03:25:37 +0000

Thanks for sharing Mike!

By: Michael Behnken

Michael Behnken — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 23:44:10 +0000

This has nothing to do with actual personal training, but the ultimate horror story which makes me cringe happened when I worked at this Sh*t hole of a gym in South San Francisco which has since closed down.

Apparently a guy was shaving his butt in the hot tub and shaking the razor, washing away the pubes in the hot tub. When the manager found out, he asked the guy to leave and the guy got out with blood dripping down his butt.

By: Kaiser

Kaiser — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 21:09:29 +0000

Working for another established trainer is an option I didn’t think of - good one Doug - Yeah, in cases where the trainer is smart and qualified, by modeling them you’ll progress very rapidly - this is just more of the mentorship and leadership role that you take as a top trainer - In general, I’ve noticed this is an amazingly “cool” profession - the top guys and gals are very humble and willing to talk to and help another trainer - they’re not in competition with you -

And Andrew, no, there isn’t a class that teaches you to become that higher level of trainer - make sure you have a strong foundational understanding of fitness which you can gain through study and personal experience, and also put yourself in the shoes of each individual client and situation so you can apply this knowledge to them in particular - there’s a big “heart” factor this job, and if you’ve got it, it’ll show and you’ll have no problem standing out - just getting started, I can understand your desire to seem competent from the beginning - but if you’re serious you’ll experience a very fast learning curve - with a lot of the trainers you see featured on this site, they went from new-b to nationally recognized leader often in the span of less than five years - that’s what’s possible in this field - when someone like Gaby flips the switch and commits to training full force, it’s a just an approach and total package that a less committed trainer will find it very hard to compete against - when someone is a professional trainer, versus someone who’s doing training for a few bucks on the side, in shows in a MAJOR way - prospective clients can tell instantly -

And Josh, yeah, just get your bearings and head out on your own - the management and co-workers at these places can drag you down - just keep your head up and know that when you’re on your own, things’ll be different -

By: gaby

gaby — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 17:21:52 +0000

Andrew,

What I left out is that after working for a health club we had a Private fitness company show up at my NPTI school and my instructors recommended me and a few other people to them and they contacted me. That took my training to a whole new level and I was with them for a little over a year until I went solo. I think that is your best bet, and the safest way to get your feet wet without going CRAZY. Basically what will differentiae you from other trainers is basically YOUR level of service and passion which your clients can see right away. Also program design will set you apart. Just think of it as you would when you did real estate and give it the same attention to detail and you will do great. YOU are the product and are always being observed so stay on top of your game.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 14:23:06 +0000

Gaby, I have the manual here for NPTI, but again I hear everyone say that is not needed. What I am more curious about, is after I get my certification, then how do I become a better trainer that is respected and not looked at as just a guy with a cert?? I think mirroring a few people is obviously going to be standard. The web is also very useful it appears in developing programs and what not suited for different clients needs. Ultimately I just want to know what makes trainer A with a cert, better than trainer B with the same cert?? Thats all…

By: gaby

gaby — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 00:02:04 +0000

Andrew,

I am 26 and have been a trainer for 6 years and also been doing real estate in Manhattan for the last 3 years and understand your concern over the money making possibilities within this transition. After making GREAT money in real estate during the last 3 years I have come to see that I don’t love it. I LOVE training and am 100% dedicated to all of my clients now and going to expand and I thank this great site and Kaiser for showing me the light. I got started by doing the NPTI school in Midtown about 6 years ago and worked at New York Health And Racquet club for about 2 months and then quit and started my own private training studio. Looking back I learned alot in the school especially body-mechanics and sports specific training but its unnecessary and expensive. Nasm or Acsm will be more than enough. Good Luck