Wonder of workouts

Years ago, I joined an aerobics class as a student simply because I was more than just overweight. I was lucky to workout with a trainer whose dedication and professionalism actually made me look forward to my training sessions with her. As a student, I made mistakes which helped me to learn the correct techniques of performing any particular exercise. Whilst building up my stamina I also came to understand how difficult it is for a beginner to cope with the class. Along with the necessary weight loss followed a growing love for exercising that I nurture till date.

Seeing my enthusiasm in class my trainer suggested that I should channel my love for exercising in a positive way. At first I was apprehensive as being a fitness trainer was something that was practically unheard of. In fact, even today, at a social gathering when I tell someone that I’m a fitness trainer, I get a bewildered look, probably because not many people are still aware about this profession.

To hone my skills, I signed up for a training course on Step and Aerobics conducted by the Reebok Instructors Alliance of India. This course taught me the basics of conducting a class such as the techniques used for cuing, the importance of following music of particular beats and how important it is for the instructor to have essential knowledge. It broadened my knowledge about the concepts of fitness, human anatomy, physiology, kinesiology along with an insight on injury management. The course also allowed me to interact with other instructors and enhance my creativity.

During this time, I began assisting my trainer in handling her classes. Her encouragement and the support I received from the students boosted my confidence. And soon I began conducting a class on my own.

As exercise and diet control go hand in hand, I felt it necessary to gain some knowledge about food and nutrition. So, off I went to the Sophia Centre for Women’s Studies and Development for a year long certificate course on Basics in Food and Nutrition. This course gave me the necessary insight into nutrition, the importance of all the elements that constitute our food and the role food plays in our lives.

The most important requirements for becoming a fitness trainer are to have a passion for exercising and the ability to reach out to people. Unless you love your work, you will never feel motivated to reach new heights. When people (students) look up to you as their trainer, you need to be able to reach out to them and help them achieve their ‘healthy’ goals.

Every day one reads about some new breakthrough in the fields of nutrition and fitness. Therefore, it is imperative to update oneself either through the Internet or by reading books on nutrition and fitness. In fact one of the privileges of becoming a Reebok certified trainer is that through the year, I’m able to attend various workshops on training. The Internet is also a good source to keep one’s knowledge of nutrition and fitness updated. One also has the option of signing up for online fitness courses that are offered by well recognized international bodies on fitness. And this can certainly give one an edge over other trainers.

With more and more people becoming health conscious and with gyms burgeoning, the fitness field is certainly growing. As a trainer, you have the options to manage your own set-up, become a personal trainer or work with a gym. Nowadays, many corporate houses and societies have inhouse gyms, so finding an opening may not be a problem if you are competently qualified. If you are thinking of managing your own set up, you need to look for appropriate space, invest in proper flooring, equipment, hiring extra help (if necessary) and accordingly work out your overheads. Of course, there will be recurring costs such as those for maintenance, new equipment, rent (if you hire a place), and salaries. It will take you a while to recover your initial investment and to build your clientele.

As a personal trainer, you may not need to invest in acquiring a place or in equipment and you can enjoy flexible working hours. Experienced, well qualified personal trainers can command anything ranging from Rs 500 to Rs 1,000 an hour. As a trainer in any of the regular gyms, you would be required to plan and supervise clients’ workouts and familiarize them with the equipment in the gym. You will surely get wide exposure as you will interact with many people with different fitness goals. Most gyms work on a ‘fixed salary for trainers’ basis. But if some of the gym’s clients opt for personal training, the gym generally works out a percentage for the personal trainer in addition to his/her salary.

But this is not where it ends. Apart from the above options, you could also specialize in fitness training for special groups such as pregnant women, older clients, people recovering either from injuries or sickness or people who have suffered depression and are using exercise as a tool to increase their confidence as well as their well­being.

The field of fitness is extremely diverse. Yoga, Pilates, Kick­boxing, Tae-bo, Taekwon­do are other options worth considering. In fact, you can even opt for a career as a coach for popular sports such as badminton, cricket, tennis and hockey. And with the Mumbai Marathon gaining popularity, you could become a trainer for long distance runners.

Most people think being thin is being fit. They overlook other important aspects such as increased cardiovascular endurance, definition (toning), bone density, metabolism, and flexibility, stronger muscles, improved posture, improved overall health and of course the great feeling after a challenging workout.

I’d like to thank my parents for supporting my decision, my trainer Aaradhana, who is now my dear friend, for bringing out the best in me and all those wonderful people who have enriched my journey towards fitness.

I know how wonderful fitness can make you feel and that’s the motivation for me I’d like to pass on to others.