How Pilates Can Help Personal Trainers Expand Their Client Base

If you’re a personal trainer, one of your primary goals is to extend your services to a broader client base. I’ve seen firsthand, across more than 20 years of training clients in Los Angeles, that the trainers who grow the fastest are those who continuously diversify their offerings. The more clients you can attract and retain, the more your business thrives and the greater your earning potential becomes.

In my experience working with hundreds of trainers through Fitness Mentors, one of the most effective strategies I recommend for expanding your clientele is incorporating Pilates into your fitness services. I’ve watched trainers transform their businesses simply by adding this one discipline to their toolkit, and the results speak for themselves.

Pilates is more than just a fitness trend it’s a methodology with decades of proven results and a loyal, ever-growing following. What I find particularly powerful about Pilates is the diversity of people it attracts. From post-rehabilitation patients and older adults to athletes and busy professionals, Pilates draws individuals who might never step foot in a traditional gym. By offering it, I’ve seen trainers tap into entirely new markets they previously couldn’t reach.

But beyond just attracting new clients, Pilates is a remarkable retention tool. In my years of teaching and training, I’ve learned that clients stay longer when they feel their trainer offers a well-rounded, evolving program. Pilates adds that depth.

In this post, I want to walk you through exactly what Pilates is, where it comes from, and most importantly how you can use it as a secret weapon to grow your personal training business. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to level up, I believe this is a strategy worth serious consideration. Keep reading.

What Exactly Is Pilates?

When clients or trainers ask me about Pilates, I always start with the basics. Pilates is a low-impact exercise system built around repeated, controlled movements designed to enhance mobility, core strength, balance, posture, flexibility, and even mood. In my years of training, I’ve found that this combination of benefits makes it one of the most well-rounded disciplines a personal trainer can add to their program.

What I appreciate most about Pilates is its accessibility. These exercises are typically performed on a mat or with readily available equipment, which means my clients don’t need to invest in expensive gym setups. That accessibility alone removes one of the biggest barriers people face when committing to a fitness routine.

The method was developed by Joseph Pilates, and I find its origin story fascinating. It was initially used by injured dancers to support their recovery a fact that speaks volumes about its rehabilitative power. Because of its immense benefits, adoption quickly extended far beyond the dance community. Today, I see people from all walks of life embracing Pilates from seniors and desk workers to elite athletes and new mothers.

One thing I always point out to trainers I mentor is how the exercises follow a deliberate order, flowing one right after the other in a structured sequence. The movements carry memorable names like “The Elephant,” “Criss-Cross,” and “The Swan,” which I’ve found clients genuinely enjoy learning. Don’t let the names fool you, though I’ve seen seasoned athletes humbled by how much control and precision these moves demand.

That’s what makes Pilates so rewarding to teach. The movements may look simple on the surface, but mastering them requires real intention and that’s exactly the kind of challenge that keeps clients engaged and coming back.

How Pilates Can Help Expand Your Client Base

Pilates is a powerful tool that you can use to gain a competitive edge over your competitors and expand your clientele.

Let’s look at some of the reasons that make it potent for this purpose:

1. Pilates Is Increasingly Becoming Popular

One of the reasons that, as a personal trainer, you need to incorporate Pilates into your service offerings is its increasing popularity. Pilates has been growing over the years, and the rate at which this is happening has increased in recent years.

In the United States alone, for instance, Pilates participants in 2023 were 11.86 million. That was a steep 15% increment from the 10.31 million recorded in 2022, signifying the increasing adoption of this fitness practice.

This means for you to attract more clients, you have to offer what’s currently trending in the fitness industry. Otherwise, your potential future clients will seek the service from your competitors.

2. Pilates Suits All Demographic Cohorts

One advantage of the Pilates exercise program is that it is not meant for a specific group of people. It works for all; young and old, male and female, because the exercises are mild yet highly effective in promoting physical and mental health.

Let’s see how these exercises suit different categories of people:

Seniors & Rehab Clients: Pilates has low-intensity exercises, making it ideal for seniors and those facing issues like physical injuries.

Athletes: Pilates can help athletes achieve the flexibility and core strength they need to succeed in athletes. The exercises are also gentle and well-controlled, minimizing the chances of developing much-dreaded injuries.

Pregnant Women and PostPartum Mums: Pilates focuses on a wide range of exercises that can deliver health benefits to pregnant women and new moms by helping them get the fitness they need.

General Fitness Enthusiasts: Pilates offers all-rounded bodily benefits, making it ideal for anyone seeking general body fitness. For beginners, you can make the exercises more lenient by adopting WallPilates, a version of Pilates that uses the wall for resistance.

3. Incorporating Pilates Diversifies Your Service Offerings

While traditional training offers a variety of exercises, adding Pilates to your services can diversify your fitness packages even further. That can help draw more clients, considering that not every potential client is interested in the traditional one-on-one training sessions or group fitness classes.

Plus, due to the nature of the movements, Pilates can serve as complementary exercises for traditional training, ensuring that you use a more holistic approach to offering fitness services.

For instance, you can combine Pilates-based workouts with regular strength-building exercises and cardio. This combination forms a well-rounded fitness solution that best addresses the evolving needs of clients.

4. Adding Pilates Can Build Client Relationship

Another reason Pilates can help you expand your client base is its ability to strengthen your relationship with clients. Pilates exercises call for controlled, mindful movements requiring individualized attention and personalized workouts.

The more you get closer to your clients, the higher the level of trust between you, enhancing clients’ loyalty to you. When loyal, clients are unlikely to leave for a competitor, giving you ample opportunity to grow your client base.

Plus, loyal customers won’t just return; they’ll go further to become good brand ambassadors, creating more awareness for your services and recommending them to their close friends.

5. Pilates Can Give You Unique Selling Proposition

As much as Pilates is growing in popularity, not all personal trainers have incorporated it into their fitness packages. That means adopting it into your fitness programs can create a distinction between you and your competitors, making you an ideal target for clients who want uniqueness in fitness programs and those who value exercises that promote the body-mind connection.

Professional Development for Personal Trainers

As someone who has spent over two decades in the fitness industry and holds 10 certifications, I can tell you that knowledge is everything. Before incorporating Pilates into your offerings, I strongly recommend getting formally trained in it first. Pilates demands precision, and without a proper foundation, you risk delivering ineffective — or worse, harmful — sessions to your clients.

My advice is to pursue a recognized Pilates certification. In my experience mentoring trainers through Fitness Mentors, I’ve seen how credentials directly impact a trainer’s credibility and a client’s willingness to trust them. Certification signals that you’ve done the work, and clients notice that.

But I don’t stop at certification, and neither should you. I make it a point to stay connected to professional organizations and Pilates-focused communities. The fitness industry evolves constantly, and staying plugged into those networks keeps me informed on the latest trends, techniques, and research. I encourage every trainer I work with to adopt that same mindset of continuous learning.

Marketing Strategies for Pilates Integration

Having the knowledge is only half the battle — I’ve learned that how you communicate your expertise is just as important as having it. Social media has been one of the most powerful tools in my arsenal for building visibility. I use it to share Pilates workout videos, highlight client success stories, and post testimonials, all of which build trust and attract new audiences organically.

I also believe strongly in strategic partnerships. Collaborating with physical therapists and other health practitioners to cross-promote Pilates has opened doors I couldn’t have reached alone. Hosting workshops, webinars, and Pilates-based fitness challenges are additional strategies I recommend for broadening your reach.

Referral programs are another tool I’ve seen work exceptionally well. Offering free introductory sessions or discounts for referred clients creates a compelling incentive that keeps your pipeline growing.

Ultimately, incorporating Pilates isn’t just a service add-on — it’s a business differentiator. I’ve experienced firsthand how it attracts a diverse clientele, builds long-term relationships, and sets you apart in a competitive market. For any trainer serious about growth, I believe Pilates is one of the smartest investments you can make.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Do I need prior Pilates experience before adding it to my personal training services?

In my opinion, prior experience helps, but it’s not mandatory before you begin your formal training. What I always tell trainers is to start by getting certified first. The certification process will give you the structured foundation you need. That said, personally practicing Pilates before teaching it gave me a much deeper understanding of the movements, so I do recommend immersing yourself in it as a student before stepping into the role of instructor.

How long does it take to get a Pilates certification?

From my experience, the timeline varies depending on the program you choose. Some certifications can be completed in a few weeks, while more comprehensive programs may take several months. I always encourage trainers to prioritize quality over speed — a thorough certification will serve your clients and your reputation far better in the long run.

Can Pilates really attract new clients to my personal training business?

Absolutely, and I’ve seen it happen repeatedly. Pilates draws a uniquely broad audience — older adults, rehabilitation clients, athletes, prenatal women, and beginners who feel intimidated by traditional gym environments. By offering Pilates, I’ve watched trainers unlock entirely new market segments they previously couldn’t access.

How do I price Pilates sessions compared to my regular personal training sessions?

I recommend researching what Pilates instructors in your local market charge and positioning yourself competitively. In my experience, specialized services like Pilates can command a premium price point, especially once you’ve built a reputation. You can also bundle Pilates into existing packages to add perceived value without drastically restructuring your pricing model.

Do I need special equipment to offer Pilates to my clients?

One of the things I love most about Pilates is that you can begin with nothing more than a mat. As your practice grows, you can gradually invest in equipment like resistance bands, Pilates rings, or eventually a Reformer. I always advise trainers to start lean and scale their equipment investment as client demand increases.

How do I market my Pilates services without a large following?

I started building my brand long before social media was what it is today, and my biggest lesson was that consistency matters more than audience size. Start by sharing short Pilates demonstration videos, client progress stories, and educational content on your platforms. Partnering with local health practitioners for referrals is another strategy I’ve found incredibly effective, especially in the early stages of building your Pilates clientele.

Is Pilates suitable for clients who are recovering from injuries?

Yes, and this is actually one of Pilates’ greatest strengths. I’ve worked with clients in various stages of recovery, and Pilates’ low-impact, controlled nature makes it an excellent complement to rehabilitation. That said, I always recommend coordinating with a client’s healthcare provider before designing a program for someone with an active injury. Safety and communication should always come first.

From the Gym to the Web: How an Online Portfolio Drives Client Engagement for Personal Trainers

Every year, thousands of highly qualified personal trainers struggle to grow their client base not because they lack skill, but because no one can find them. Think about that for a moment. You could be the most knowledgeable strength coach in your city, with a track record of real transformations, and still lose potential clients to a less experienced trainer who simply has a better online presence. That’s the reality of the fitness industry in 2026 and beyond.

Before a prospect ever steps into a gym or sends a message, they search online. They type phrases like “certified personal trainer for weight loss,” “best personal trainer near me,” or “online fitness coach for beginners” into Google, and they make judgments within seconds. If your name and portfolio don’t show up or if they do but make a weak impression that potential client moves on. A well-built online portfolio changes this equation completely. It puts your expertise, client results, and professional credibility in front of people who are already motivated to take action, turning passive visitors into paying clients without you needing to chase anyone.

This guide breaks down exactly how an online portfolio drives client engagement, what elements make a personal trainer website convert, and how to use search engine optimization and content strategy to grow your fitness business sustainably whether you work locally or coach clients virtually from anywhere in the world.

Why an Online Portfolio Is No Longer Optional for Personal Trainers

The fitness industry has undergone a fundamental shift in how clients discover and evaluate personal trainers. Word-of-mouth referrals still matter, but they now happen alongside digital research. Even a referred prospect will Google your name before they commit. The question is no longer whether you need an online presence it’s whether your current presence is strong enough to convert that interest into action.

An online portfolio functions as your digital storefront. It communicates your training philosophy, showcases your certifications and credentials, presents real client transformation stories, and explains the specific outcomes you help people achieve. Unlike a social media profile, your portfolio is a controlled, permanent environment that you own entirely. You decide what story it tells, how it’s structured, and who it speaks to.

The practical business case is equally compelling. A well-optimized personal trainer website works around the clock. While you’re coaching a 6 AM client or recovering after a long training day, your website is answering questions, building trust, and capturing lead information from people actively searching for fitness help. This passive lead generation is one of the most efficient growth mechanisms available to independent trainers and fitness coaches. Without it, every new client requires active hustle with it, new opportunities come to you.

Building Trust Through Transparency, Credentials, and Client Results

Personal training is a high-trust service. Clients are not just paying for workouts they are investing their time, money, and physical wellbeing in someone they need to believe in. Your online portfolio is the primary vehicle through which that trust is established before any conversation even begins.

Transparency is the foundation. When your portfolio clearly displays your certifications (such as NASM-CPT, ACE, ISSA, or NSCA credentials), your training methodology, your areas of specialization, and honest client stories, it eliminates the ambiguity that causes hesitation. Prospective clients want to know: Can this trainer actually help someone like me? The answer needs to be visible and convincing within the first few seconds of landing on your site.

Before-and-after transformation photos are among the most powerful trust signals available to a personal trainer. Visual proof of results communicates what words alone cannot. When paired with a brief narrative about the client’s starting point, challenges, and the training approach that drove their results, these transformation stories become highly persuasive case studies. They answer the unspoken question every visitor is asking: Has this trainer helped someone in my situation?

Client testimonials reinforce this trust with social proof. Reviews and written endorsements from real clients reduce perceived risk for someone who has never worked with you. When a potential client reads that someone with a similar goal whether that’s losing 30 pounds, recovering from a knee injury, or preparing for their first powerlifting competition achieved meaningful results under your coaching, it lowers the barrier to reaching out.

Your portfolio should also clearly define your niche and target audience. Are you a strength coach for middle-aged men rebuilding fitness after years away from the gym? A fat loss specialist for postpartum women? An online performance coach for competitive athletes? The more specifically you speak to a defined group, the more deeply those readers feel understood and the more likely they are to take the next step. Broad messaging appeals to no one in particular; specific messaging creates immediate resonance with the right people.

Finally, integrating your social media presence Instagram, YouTube, or Facebook into your portfolio gives visitors a window into your daily work and personality. Seeing how you coach, how you communicate, and what your training sessions actually look like builds a human connection that static text alone cannot replicate. This is particularly important for online fitness coaches, where the relationship is entirely remote and digital trust must be established before a client ever commits to a program.

What Makes a High-Converting Personal Trainer Website

Having a website is not the same as having a website that converts. Many personal trainers publish a basic site and wonder why it produces no results. The difference between a website that sits quietly and one that actively generates leads comes down to clarity, structure, and user experience.

The most critical function of your homepage is to immediately answer three questions for any visitor: Who do you help? What specific results do you deliver? How can someone get started with you? If a visitor has to spend more than a few seconds hunting for this information, the likelihood of them leaving increases dramatically. Your value proposition the clear, specific statement of what you do and who you serve should appear above the fold, before any scrolling is required.

Service pages need to be equally direct. Rather than vaguely listing “personal training” as a service, break down what each program involves: session frequency, program duration, what a typical training week looks like, whether nutrition guidance is included, and what specific outcomes clients typically achieve. Concrete information gives prospects the context they need to feel ready to book. Vague descriptions create doubt.

Your call-to-action (CTA) – the button or link that prompts someone to book a consultation, fill out a contact form, or purchase a program must be prominent, repeated at logical points throughout the page, and worded in a way that removes friction. Phrases like “Book a Free Strategy Call,” “Start Your Transformation,” or “Apply for Online Coaching” are more action-oriented and outcome-focused than a generic “Contact Me.”

Technical performance is equally important. A personal trainer website that loads slowly or breaks on mobile devices will lose visitors before they ever read a word of your content. With the majority of fitness-related searches now happening on smartphones, your site must be fully responsive, fast-loading, and easy to navigate on a small screen. These technical factors also directly influence your Google search rankings, making them doubly important.

Using Content Marketing to Demonstrate Expertise and Rank on Google

A static portfolio with no new content is a missed opportunity. Personal trainers who invest in content marketing primarily through a blog or resource section on their website gain a significant advantage in both search visibility and perceived authority.

The mechanism is straightforward: your ideal clients are already searching Google for answers to fitness questions. They want to know how to lose belly fat safely, what the best beginner strength program looks like, how much protein they should eat to build muscle, or how to stay consistent with exercise when motivation fades. When your website provides genuinely useful, well-written answers to these questions, Google recognizes your site as a relevant, authoritative resource and ranks it higher in search results. Over time, this organic traffic compounds, bringing in a steady stream of visitors who are already interested in exactly the type of training you offer.

The most effective content strategy for personal trainers targets a mix of informational and transactional search intent. Informational content articles like “How to Build a Sustainable Weight Loss Plan” or “The Beginner’s Guide to Strength Training” attracts people at the research stage of their fitness journey. Transactional content — pages optimized for searches like “hire a personal trainer in Austin” or “online fat loss coaching program” targets people who are ready to act. A healthy content library includes both, guiding readers from initial awareness through to conversion.

Consistency matters more than volume. Publishing one well-researched, thoroughly written article per week will produce better long-term results than a burst of ten shallow posts followed by months of silence. Search engines reward websites that demonstrate sustained, topical expertise over time. More importantly, prospective clients who browse through a thoughtful library of helpful articles form a much stronger impression of your knowledge and professionalism than those who encounter a thin, rarely updated site.

How SEO Helps Personal Trainers Attract Both Local and Virtual Clients

Search engine optimization for personal trainers doesn’t require deep technical knowledge it requires a clear understanding of how your potential clients search and a consistent effort to align your content with those searches. At its core, SEO is the process of helping Google accurately understand what you do, who you serve, and why your site deserves to appear in relevant results.

For trainers working in a specific geographic area, local SEO is one of the highest-return activities available. Incorporating your city, neighborhood, or region naturally throughout your website content in your service descriptions, your bio, your blog posts, and your metadata significantly improves your visibility in local search results. Phrases like “personal trainer in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood” or “strength and conditioning coach in Denver” are far more effective at attracting local clients than generic, unanchored language. Registering and optimizing a Google Business Profile reinforces this further, making your business visible in Google Maps results and local packs.

For trainers offering virtual or online coaching, the geographic restriction disappears entirely, and the SEO opportunity expands. Keywords like “online personal trainer,” “remote fitness coaching,” “virtual strength coach,” or “custom workout plans online” can connect you with motivated clients anywhere in the country or world. The competitive landscape for national online fitness keywords is broader, but with consistent content and strong on-page optimization, ranking for more specific long-tail phrases — such as “online personal trainer for women over 40” or “virtual powerlifting coach” is entirely achievable even for a newer website.

A few foundational SEO practices worth implementing consistently include using descriptive, keyword-informed headings and subheadings throughout your pages, writing image alt text that accurately describes each photo, building internal links between related pages and blog posts on your site, and ensuring your page titles and meta descriptions clearly communicate what each page covers. None of these require technical expertise, but collectively they have a meaningful impact on how search engines interpret and rank your content.

Improving Client Engagement and Retention Through Online Tools

An online portfolio is not only a client acquisition tool it is also a powerful vehicle for improving engagement and retention among the clients you already have. The fitness industry has one of the highest dropout rates of any service business, and a significant portion of client attrition comes down to poor communication, lack of accountability infrastructure, and limited touchpoints between sessions.

Your website can address all of these. An integrated online booking system removes friction from the scheduling process, eliminating the back-and-forth of texts and emails that consumes time and erodes the professional quality of the client experience. A client portal whether built natively or through a personal training software integration gives clients on-demand access to their workout programs, progress tracking tools, nutrition guidelines, and educational resources. This 24/7 accessibility reinforces commitment and reduces the sense of isolation that causes many clients to drift away between sessions.

Email newsletters are an underutilized engagement tool for most personal trainers. A regular email weekly or biweekly that delivers actionable fitness tips, motivational content, program updates, or success story spotlights keeps your coaching top-of-mind between sessions and reinforces the value you provide. For online coaches in particular, this kind of consistent communication is essential to maintaining the sense of relationship and accountability that in-person clients experience naturally.

Downloadable resources a beginner workout guide, a 7-day meal prep template, a recovery protocol checklist serve double duty. They provide value to existing clients and function as lead magnets for new visitors, capturing email addresses from people who aren’t yet ready to purchase coaching but are interested in your expertise. Over time, this email list becomes one of your most valuable business assets.

Growing Your Fitness Business Beyond the Four Walls of the Gym

One of the most transformative effects of a strong online portfolio is that it removes the ceiling on your earning potential. A trainer who relies exclusively on in-person hourly sessions is constrained by a fixed number of hours in the day and a finite local market. An online portfolio opens the door to fundamentally different and more scalable business models.

Online coaching packages allow you to serve clients remotely through a combination of custom programming, video check-ins, messaging support, and nutritional guidance. Because delivery is asynchronous and location-independent, you can work with more clients simultaneously than an in-person schedule allows. Custom workout plans and nutrition programs can be sold as standalone digital products, generating revenue without requiring your direct time for every sale. Fitness challenges structured 30 or 60-day programs with defined goals and community accountability create group coaching opportunities that are both scalable and highly engaging for participants.

Monthly membership models, where clients pay a recurring fee for access to your programming library, coaching support, and community resources, provide the kind of predictable, recurring revenue that smooths out the income volatility that plagues many independent trainers. Building this type of business requires both a strong portfolio to attract the initial audience and a clear value proposition that makes the membership worth renewing month after month.

The common thread across all these models is that they are only possible when you have an online home that communicates your expertise, builds trust with visitors, and provides a clear pathway to engagement. The gym will always be where the training happens but the web is increasingly where the business is built.

Common Mistakes Personal Trainers Make with Their Online Presence

Understanding what not to do is as important as knowing what to do. Many personal trainers invest time and money into an online presence and see minimal results because of avoidable structural mistakes.

The most common error is failing to clearly define and communicate a niche. A website that claims to help “anyone reach their fitness goals” speaks to no one specifically. Visitors want to see themselves reflected in your messaging. A site that speaks directly to “women in their 40s recovering from chronic back pain” or “busy executives who want to build strength in under four hours per week” will convert far more effectively than one that tries to appeal to every possible client type.

Neglecting social proof is another significant missed opportunity. Certifications establish baseline credibility, but they don’t communicate results. Real client testimonials, transformation photos, and written case studies are the evidence that turns interest into trust. Trainers who are reluctant to request and display this social proof are leaving their most persuasive marketing assets unused.

Over-relying on social media at the expense of a dedicated website is a structural vulnerability that many trainers don’t recognize until it becomes a problem. Social platforms are rented land algorithms change, reach declines, accounts get restricted, and entire platforms can lose relevance seemingly overnight. Your website is an owned asset. It accumulates domain authority and SEO value over time, it isn’t subject to external algorithmic decisions, and it provides a stable, professional hub that your social channels can point toward. The most resilient online presence uses both: social media for discovery and personality, a website for depth, credibility, and conversion.

Finally, many trainer websites suffer from a missing or unclear call to action. If a visitor reads your entire site and still isn’t sure how to take the next step whether that’s booking a free consultation, applying for a program, or purchasing a plan they will leave without converting. Every page on your site should have a clear, obvious next step that moves the visitor toward becoming a client.

FAQs:

Do personal trainers really need a website in addition to social media?

Yes, and the distinction matters more than most trainers realize. Social media is excellent for visibility, building an audience, and showing personality, but it is not designed to convert visitors into clients in a sustained, reliable way. A website provides the depth of information, professionalism, and search visibility that social platforms cannot replicate. More importantly, your website is an asset you own and control entirely, while social media accounts and their reach are always at the mercy of platform decisions. The most effective approach is to use social media to drive traffic to a website that does the heavy lifting of converting that interest into consultations and bookings.

What should a personal trainer website include to attract and convert clients?

An effective personal trainer website needs to clearly communicate your niche and target client, present your qualifications and certifications, showcase real client transformation stories and testimonials, explain your services and what clients can expect in specific and concrete terms, and provide a clear and frictionless path to booking or contacting you. A blog or resource section that answers common fitness questions improves both search visibility and perceived expertise. An online booking tool or contact form completes the conversion pathway.

How does SEO help personal trainers get more clients?

SEO search engine optimization is the practice of structuring and optimizing your website so that it appears in Google results when potential clients search for relevant fitness terms. For a personal trainer, this means showing up when someone searches “personal trainer in [your city]” or “online fitness coach for weight loss.” Organic search traffic is particularly valuable because it consists of people actively looking for the service you offer, meaning conversion rates are typically high. Consistent blog content, well-optimized service pages, and a properly set up Google Business Profile are the three highest-impact SEO activities for most fitness professionals.

Can I realistically build an online coaching client base through my website alone?

Many personal trainers now generate the majority of their online coaching clients through organic search, content marketing, and referrals funneled through their website. It takes time typically several months of consistent content publication and on-page optimization before significant organic traffic begins to build but the long-term return is substantial. A well-established fitness website that ranks for relevant search terms provides a steady, self-sustaining lead pipeline that doesn’t require ongoing advertising spend. Trainers who invest in this approach early in their career often find it becomes their most reliable and cost-effective client acquisition channel.

How long does it take to see results from content marketing and SEO?

SEO is a medium-to-long-term strategy. Most personal trainer websites begin to see measurable traffic improvements within three to six months of consistent content creation and on-page optimization, with more significant results typically materializing at the twelve-month mark. The timeline depends on how competitive your target keywords are, how frequently you publish new content, the overall quality and depth of your writing, and the technical health of your website. The key is to treat content marketing as a compounding investment rather than a quick win each article you publish builds on the last, and the cumulative effect over one to two years can be transformational for your business.

Is social media enough to sustain a personal training business long-term?

Social media is a valuable component of a modern fitness business marketing strategy, but it is not a sufficient foundation on its own. Platform algorithms consistently reduce organic reach over time, incentivizing paid advertising. Account suspensions, policy changes, and shifts in platform popularity are unpredictable but real risks. Social media is also poorly suited to the depth of communication needed to move a prospect from initial interest to paying client that conversion typically happens on a website. The most successful personal training businesses treat social media as one channel within a broader digital strategy, using it to build awareness and drive audiences toward an owned website that handles trust-building and conversion.

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Destination Weddings and Fitness Prep: How to Train for the Big Day

Your wedding is one of the most important days of your life, and it deserves to be celebrated with energy, confidence, and joy. If you’re planning a destination wedding, it can be thrilling to imagine every detail from the beachside photos to the perfect dress but with so much to do, it’s easy to forget what truly matters. Spoiler: It’s You! You’re the center of attention, and that means taking care of your body and mind before the big day is crucial.

In the months leading up to your wedding, I recommend a complete fitness and wellness reset. Preparing physically and mentally not only helps you look your best but also ensures you feel confident and energized, no matter where your wedding takes place. Here’s my guide on how to train your body and mind for a destination wedding and truly enjoy your special day.

7 Ways to Train for Your Destination Wedding

1. Create a Fitness Timeline

Just like planning your wedding, achieving your fitness goals starts with a clear timeline. Ask yourself:

What is my goal? Losing weight, toning up, building muscle, or increasing stamina?
What do I need to do? Daily workouts, balanced meals, hydration, and adding more movement into my day.
When will I do it? Set specific times for workouts and decide whether you’ll exercise at home or at a gym.

Creating a detailed timeline helps me stay accountable and ensures I’m consistently working toward my goals without stress.

2. Work With a Personal Trainer

I found that hiring a personal trainer before my destination wedding made a huge difference. A trainer can create a program tailored to your body, your goals, and even your wedding destination. For example:

A beach wedding in Santa Cruz or Malibu may require more cardio and core strength for beach activities or water sports.
A rustic farm wedding in Paso Robles or Ojai may require more strength training to handle outdoor activities and uneven terrain.

A trainer helps you set realistic goals and integrate fitness seamlessly into your daily life.

3. Incorporate Movement Into Daily Life

Wedding planning is hectic, and sometimes hitting the gym every day feels impossible. I made small but meaningful changes to stay active:

Walk or jog whenever possible take the stairs, walk during calls, or explore your city on foot.
Take breaks every 30 minutes to stretch or move around.
Use a standing desk to stay active while working.

Adding these small movements keeps me energized and supports my fitness goals without adding stress.

4. Focus on Nutrition

Fitness isn’t just about exercise it’s about what you fuel your body with. I recommend:

Preparing home-cooked meals or meal-prepping for the week.
Staying hydrated to boost energy, improve workouts, and enhance skin and hair.
Consulting a dietitian if possible, for a meal plan that matches your fitness and wedding goals.

Eating right helps me stay on track, and the added bonus is that my skin glows and I feel more confident in wedding photos.

5. Make Working Out Fun

The key to staying consistent is enjoyment. Instead of following a rigid routine, I mixed things up:

Combined cardio with yoga or Pilates for strength and flexibility.
Tried Zumba or dance workouts for energy and fun.
Ended workouts with mindfulness exercises to reduce stress and improve focus.

Fun workouts keep me motivated and make fitness feel like a reward rather than a chore.

6. Prioritize Mental Health

A destination wedding comes with extra stress travel, arrangements, and logistics can take a toll. I found these practices helpful:

Start the day with meditation or mindfulness.
Spend quality time with your partner or hobbies you enjoy.
Listen to your body and take mental breaks when needed.

Balancing mental and physical health made me feel calm, focused, and confident on my wedding day.

7. Track Your Progress

Finally, I tracked my fitness journey closely. Monitoring progress keeps me motivated and allows me to adjust as needed:

Daily, weekly, and monthly check-ins with my fitness timeline.
Tweaking my schedule when certain exercises weren’t working.
Celebrating milestones to stay motivated.

Tracking progress turned my fitness prep into a fun challenge rather than a chore and it made the results even more rewarding.

Final Thoughts: How I Prepared for My Destination Wedding

Preparing for a destination wedding isn’t just about looking great in photos it’s about feeling strong, confident, and stress-free on one of the most important days of your life. By creating a fitness timeline, working with a personal trainer, incorporating movement into daily life, eating right, making workouts enjoyable, prioritizing mental health, and tracking progress, I trained my body and mind for more than just the wedding.

The effort I put into my fitness prep gave me energy, confidence, and peace of mind, letting me fully enjoy every moment of my special day in a beautiful location surrounded by love and laughter. And the best part? The benefits lasted well beyond the wedding, leaving me healthier, happier, and more in tune with myself than ever before.

FAQs:

1. How far in advance should I start training for a destination wedding?

I recommend starting your fitness prep at least 3–6 months before your wedding. This gives you enough time to gradually improve your strength, stamina, and overall fitness without feeling stressed or rushed.

2. Do I really need a personal trainer for my wedding fitness?

While not mandatory, I found that working with a personal trainer helps me create a routine tailored to my body, my goals, and even my wedding location. They help me stay accountable, adjust exercises safely, and make sure I’m ready for the big day.

3. How can I stay active if I have a busy schedule?

I added movement into my daily life—like walking during calls, taking stairs, and stretching breaks every 30 minutes. Small, consistent changes can make a huge difference without needing hours in the gym.

4. What type of workouts are best for destination weddings?

It depends on your wedding location and style. For a beach wedding, focus on cardio and core strength. For a rustic or outdoor wedding, emphasize strength training and functional exercises. I also mixed in yoga, Pilates, or dance workouts to stay motivated and avoid boredom.

5. How important is nutrition in wedding fitness prep?

Nutrition is key! I focused on home-cooked meals, proper hydration, and balanced macros. Eating well not only helps achieve fitness goals but also improves skin, hair, and energy levels—so you feel your best on your wedding day.

6. Can mental health really impact my fitness prep?

Absolutely. I made mental health a priority by meditating, practicing mindfulness, and spending time on hobbies. Stress management keeps cortisol levels in check, which helps with weight management, recovery, and staying consistent with workouts.

7. How do I track my progress effectively?

I tracked my progress daily, weekly, and monthly using a fitness journal or app. Monitoring workouts, nutrition, and measurements helped me adjust my plan, stay motivated, and reach my goals on time.

8. What if I miss a workout or fall behind?

It’s normal! I learned that the key is consistency over perfection. If I miss a session, I adjust my schedule, don’t stress, and focus on the next workout. The cumulative effort matters more than one missed day.

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The Best Apps for Personal Trainers to Stay Connected with Clients

Ever feel like keeping your clients motivated and on track is harder than ever? In 2026, staying connected isn’t just convenient it’s essential. With the explosion of fitness technology, personal trainers now have powerful tools at their fingertips to track progress, customize workouts, and communicate in real time.

Whether it’s guiding clients through at-home routines or offering on-demand classes, the right apps help trainers build stronger relationships and deliver a truly personalized experience. No more missed check-ins or generic programs everything is tailored, trackable, and seamless.

The fitness world has changed dramatically since the COVID-19 pandemic. Clients now expect more flexibility, engagement, and convenience, making the use of fitness apps not just smart but critical for any serious trainer. In this guide, we’ll explore the top apps personal trainers can use to elevate client engagement, simplify routine management, and ultimately grow their business. #shareasale

Why Personal Trainers Need the Best Fitness Apps

Personal trainers have always been at the heart of health and fitness, guiding clients to achieve their goals. But in today’s digital world, technology has become just as important as expertise.

Fitness apps give trainers the power to connect with clients beyond the gym walls. They make it easy to track progress, create fully personalized programs, and even offer on-demand classes that fit any schedule. This constant connection keeps clients motivated, accountable, and seeing real results.

For trainers looking to stand out, combining these apps with additional qualifications like nutrition or wellness certifications creates a complete, holistic approach to health.

As workout habits shift, apps also give trainers the tools they need to adapt. Heart rate monitors, exercise trackers, live-streamed workouts, and performance analytics let you meet each client’s unique needs while keeping your services modern, professional, and highly effective.

Best Fitness Apps for Personal Trainers in 2026

1. Hoola

Hoola is a versatile app designed for personal trainers and clients alike. It offers access to personalized workout plans and on-demand classes, making it easy for trainers to customize routines based on their clients’ goals.

With a user-friendly interface and tools to sync progress across devices, Hoola is ideal for fostering strong trainer-client relationships.

2. Nike Training Club

Nike Training Club is a favorite for many fitness professionals. This app offers both free and paid versions, featuring workout routines for strength training, HIIT, yoga, and more. It is also one of the best free apps for personal trainers to track clients while offering quality routines.

Trainers can recommend this app to clients looking for a completely free option while still providing high-quality routines.

3. Peloton App

Although known for cycling, the Peloton app offers much more, including yoga, Pilates, and meditation classes.

Personal trainers can use it to suggest live or on-demand sessions for clients, providing flexibility for at-home or on-the-go workouts. Plus, the app’s free trial lets clients explore its features before committing.

4. Apple Fitness +

Apple Fitness+ is Apple’s exclusive training app designed to work seamlessly with the Apple Watch. It provides access to low-impact exercises, at-home workouts, and yoga workouts, making it perfect for trainers who want to engage tech-savvy clients.

This app also offers on-demand classes led by certified instructors and workout routines that can be customized based on goals.

5. Strava

Strava is a top pick for outdoor enthusiasts, offering tools for tracking routes, heart rate, and outdoor running or cycling progress.

With its ability to sync with Garmin devices, it’s ideal for trainers working with runners or cyclists. Strava’s community features also allow clients to share achievements, adding a motivational edge to any routine.

6. JEFIT

JEFIT is a fitness planner app designed for trainers and clients who focus on strength training and building muscle. It features certified trainers’ routines, weight tracking, and a motivational interface.

This app is perfect for trainers who want to help clients track their progress while sticking to highly structured workout plans.

7. Trainerize

Trainerize stands out for trainers who want a professional platform to manage client programs, nutrition, and communication. It offers flexible tools for scheduling, messaging, and tracking all in one place. Using Trainerize for clients allows trainers to provide an organized, all-in-one fitness coaching experience.

How to Choose the Best Workout App Based on Your Goals

Not all fitness apps are created equal, and picking the right one depends on your goals as a personal trainer and the needs of your clients. If your focus is strength training or muscle building, apps like JEFIT are perfect, offering certified trainer routines and detailed progress tracking.

For yoga instructors or trainers who emphasize low-impact workouts, apps like Peloton and Nike Training Club provide guided yoga, Pilates, and stretching sessions. Outdoor-focused trainers will love Strava, which tracks running and cycling routes, syncs with Garmin devices, and allows real-time progress monitoring.

Apps like Hoola are great for clients who want a mix of at-home and gym workouts. The key is choosing an app that fits your style while giving clients features that make their workouts more engaging—live classes, on-demand sessions, and tools to customize routines.

Tips for Getting Started with Fitness Apps

Integrating fitness apps into your training routine is simpler than you might think. Here’s how to make the most of them:

Test the App Yourself – Try it before introducing it to clients. This ensures the interface, features, and workouts match your professional approach.
Take Advantage of Free Trials – Apps like Peloton and Apple Fitness+ often offer free trials. Use this time to explore progress tracking, live sessions, and on-demand content.
Sync with Fitness Devices – Connect apps to devices like Apple Watch or Garmin. This helps you monitor heart rate, track data, and provide clients with insights for better results.
Personalize Workouts – Use the app to create routines tailored to each client’s goals, whether it’s building strength, improving cardio, or practicing yoga. Apps like Nike Training Club and Hoola make customization easy, keeping clients motivated and engaged.

Why Personal Trainers Should Embrace Fitness Apps in 2026

The world of personal training is changing and fitness apps are leading the way. In 2026, staying connected, tracking progress, and keeping clients motivated isn’t just easier it’s expected.

Whether you rely on free tools like Nike Training Club or invest in advanced apps, these digital platforms give trainers the power to create personalized workout plans, monitor results, and engage clients like never before.

Apps such as Hoola, Apple Fitness+, and Strava cater to different training styles from strength and cardio to yoga and outdoor adventures making it simple to match the right tool to each client’s goals. By embracing fitness technology, trainers can streamline their business while building stronger, more meaningful relationships.

The future of personal training is digital, and those who adapt early will thrive. Start exploring the best apps today and take your training career to the next level!

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How Mental Health Therapy Helps Personal Trainers Overcome Career Burnout

As a personal trainer, you’re passionate about helping others achieve their health and wellness goals. However, the demands of this profession can take a toll on your own mental health. Long hours, high client expectations, and the pressure to maintain a perfect physique can lead to career burnout.

If you’re feeling exhausted, demotivated, and unsure of how to continue in your role, you’re not alone. Mental health therapy can provide the support and guidance you need to overcome career burnout and reignite your passion for personal training.

What are The Signs of Career Burnout in Fitness Mentors

Career burnout is a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion caused by prolonged stress and overwork. For personal trainers, burnout can manifest as fatigue, decreased motivation, and a sense of detachment from their work. Factors contributing to burnout in this field include long working hours, high client demands, and the pressure to maintain personal fitness standards. Career burnout can manifest in different ways, but common signs include:

Chronic fatigue and exhaustion
Cynicism and detachment from clients and colleagues
Reduced productivity and performance
Lack of motivation and interest in work-related activities
Increased irritability and mood swings

Research indicates that fitness professionals experience significant levels of burnout. A study found that 32.8% reported personal burnout, 28.5% work-related burnout, and 18.0% client-related burnout. If you’re experiencing several of these symptoms, it’s essential to seek help. Ignoring career burnout can lead to more severe mental health issues, such as depression and anxiety.

What is The Role of Mental Health Therapy in Addressing Burnout

Mental health therapy provides personal trainers with the tools and support they need to manage and overcome burnout. Here’s how it works:

Identifying the Root Causes

The first step in mental health therapy is identifying the root causes of burnout. Therapists work with personal trainers to understand the specific stressors contributing to their burnout. This could include work-related pressures, personal issues, or a combination of both.

Developing Coping Strategies

Once the root causes are identified, therapists help personal trainers develop coping strategies to manage stress. These strategies can include mindfulness techniques, relaxation exercises, and time management skills. By learning how to cope with stress effectively, personal trainers can reduce the impact of burnout on their lives.

Building Resilience

Mental health therapy also focuses on building resilience. This means helping personal trainers develop the inner strength to bounce back from challenges. Therapists teach techniques for maintaining a positive mindset, setting healthy boundaries, and prioritizing self-care.

Providing Emotional Support

Having a safe space to talk about their feelings is important for personal trainers dealing with burnout. Therapists provide non-judgmental emotional support, allowing individuals to express their thoughts and feelings openly. This support can be incredibly healing and validating.

How Mental Health Therapy Can Help

Mental health therapy can provide a safe and supportive environment for personal trainers to explore the underlying causes of their career burnout. A trained therapist can help you:

Identify and challenge negative thought patterns and behaviors
Develop coping strategies and stress management techniques
Improve communication skills and boundary setting
Enhance self-care and prioritize your own mental health needs

A mental health treatment center like Delray Brain Science can provide specialized support for personal trainers dealing with burnout. These centers offer comprehensive therapy programs customized to individual needs, ensuring that personal trainers receive the best possible care.

Benefits of Mental Health Therapy for Personal Trainers

Mental health therapy offers numerous benefits for personal trainers struggling with career burnout, including improved mental health by addressing anxiety, depression, and other emotional issues, thereby helping them regain their sense of purpose and motivation. It also enhances job performance by effectively managing burnout, allowing personal trainers to rekindle their enthusiasm for work and achieve better outcomes for their clients.

Also, mental health therapy promotes a healthier work-life balance, which is crucial for long-term career success and overall well-being.

What are The Steps to Take if You’re Experiencing Burnout

The personal training industry faces high attrition rates, with approximately 80% of personal trainers leaving the profession within their first year. If you’re a personal trainer experiencing burnout, recognize the signs such as feeling exhausted, disengaged, or unmotivated, and acknowledge these feelings to seek help. Consider seeking help from a mental health therapist who can provide the support and variety of tools needed to manage burnout effectively.

Practice self-care by prioritizing regular exercise, healthy eating, adequate sleep, and activities that bring joy and relaxation. Establish healthy boundaries at work to prevent overworking, which might involve setting specific work hours and learning to say no when necessary.

Conclusion

Career burnout is a common experience for many personal trainers, but it doesn’t have to be a permanent state. By seeking mental health therapy and implementing practical strategies for managing burnout, you can overcome this challenge and maintain a fulfilling and successful career.

Remember, prioritizing your mental health is essential to achieving your goals and living a happy, healthy life.

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Boost Your Metabolism with Strength Training at Home

Metabolism is your body’s engine, converting food into energy to fuel essential functions like breathing, digestion, and movement. It’s not just about burning calories, it’s about keeping your body running efficiently. A well-functioning metabolism plays a big role in how energized and healthy you feel daily. The great news is that your fitness routine can significantly influence it.

Strength training is a powerhouse when it comes to boosting metabolism. Lifting weights or doing metabolic resistance training exercises doesn’t just help you build muscle, it keeps your body burning calories long after your workout. This happens because your body works hard to repair and grow muscle tissue, which requires energy. Over time, this process can even increase your resting metabolic rate, meaning you’ll burn more calories even while binge-watching your favorite show. Metabolic strength workout at home offers a versatile and effective way to build muscle, improve endurance, and enhance overall fitness without the need for a gym membership.

Cardio is another crucial player. While strength training builds muscle, cardio improves endurance and burns calories during the workout itself. Whether it’s a brisk walk, a spin class, or a dance session, cardio keeps your heart healthy and adds variety to your routine.

Understanding Metabolic Workouts

Metabolic workouts are an excellent tool for personal trainers to incorporate into client routines. These high-intensity sessions combine strength and cardio into quick, circuit-style workouts, helping clients maximize calorie burn, build strength, and improve overall fitness in less time. Here’s how to use metabolic workouts effectively to help clients reach their fitness goals:

What Are Metabolic Workouts?

Metabolic workouts focus on speed, intensity, and functional, compound movements like squats, lunges, or kettlebell swings. Unlike traditional strength training, which prioritizes lifting heavier weights with longer rest periods, these sessions emphasize:

Quick Circuits: Alternating exercises in a seamless flow to challenge multiple muscle groups.

Short Rest Intervals: Keeping rest periods brief to maintain an elevated heart rate.

High-Intensity Effort: Pushing clients to work at or near their maximum effort level.

The result is a high-calorie burn during the workout and an afterburn effect (EPOC), which keeps their metabolism elevated for hours post-workout.

Key Benefits of Metabolic Workouts for Your Clients

1. Boosts Metabolism

How It Helps: The afterburn effect allows clients to burn more calories even after their session ends.

Trainer Tip: Focus on high-intensity intervals and compound movements to maximize this effect.

2. Builds Strength and Stamina

How It Helps: Combines muscle-building resistance exercises with cardio endurance for a complete workout.

Trainer Tip: Select exercises that challenge multiple muscle groups simultaneously, such as burpees or push-up rows.

3. Supports Fat Loss

How It Helps: High-intensity efforts torch fat while building lean muscle mass, improving body composition.

Trainer Tip: Periodically track body fat percentage to measure progress beyond the scale.

4. Minimal Equipment Required

How It Helps: These workouts can be done with just dumbbells, kettlebells, resistance bands, or even body weight.

Trainer Tip: Offer home-friendly routines for clients who can’t make it to the gym.

5. Keeps Workouts Fun and Engaging

How It Helps: Circuit-style routines mix things up to prevent boredom and keep clients motivated.

Trainer Tip: Regularly switch up the exercises and formats to keep sessions fresh and exciting.

How to Design an Effective Metabolic Workout for Your Clients

1. Select Compound Movements

Choose exercises that work multiple muscle groups, like squats, deadlifts, kettlebell swings, or mountain climbers.

2. Incorporate Time-Based Intervals

Structure workouts around intervals, such as 30 seconds of work followed by 15–20 seconds of rest.

3. Maintain High Intensity

Encourage clients to give their maximum effort during each work interval to elevate their heart rate and challenge their muscles.

4. Adjust for Fitness Levels

Offer modifications for beginners (e.g., bodyweight squats instead of jump squats) and progressions for advanced clients (e.g., adding weights or plyometrics).

5. Monitor Form and Safety

Ensure clients maintain proper form throughout the workout, especially as they fatigue.

6. Metabolic Workout Plan for Recovery

Balance metabolic workouts with lower-intensity sessions or rest days to prevent overtraining and promote recovery.

Practical Examples of Strength Training at Home

Exercise	How to Do It	Beginner Modification	Progression Options
Bodyweight Squats	Stand with feet shoulder-width apart, and lower your body as if sitting in a chair.	Wall squats for added support.	Add weights or try jump squats.
Push-Ups	Lower your body with arms bent, keeping a straight line from head to toe.	Knee push-ups or incline push-ups on a wall.	Standard push-ups or decline push-ups.
Lunges	Step forward, bending both knees to form 90-degree angles.	Stationary lunges for better stability.	Walking lunges or add weights.
Planks	Hold a straight body position on your forearms and toes.	Plank on knees or using an elevated surface.	Longer holds or try side planks.
Dumbbell Rows	Bend at your hips, and pull dumbbells or weights towards your body.	Use water bottles instead of dumbbells.	Use heavier weights or resistance bands.

Integrating Cardio for Optimal Results with Aroleap

Home gym system is designed to help you combine cardio and strength training effortlessly, making your workouts more effective and boosting your metabolism. Its features are perfect for creating balanced routines that get results.

Smart Resistance for Strength: The eccentric mode adds controlled metabolic resistance training workouts to lowering phase of exercises like squats or rows. This means your muscles work harder, helping you build strength and burn more calories even at rest.

Built-In Safety: Aroleap’s spotter mode lets you push your limits safely. Whether you’re lifting heavy or transitioning between strength and cardio moves, it’s there to support you, reducing the chance of injury.

Guided Workouts with Virtual Trainers: Not sure how to mix cardio and strength? Aroleap’s virtual trainers guide you through routines tailored to your fitness level and goals. They keep things interesting and ensure you’re doing exercises correctly for the best results.

AI Tracks Your Progress: The built-in AI tracks key metrics like calories burned, heart rate, and muscle engagement. It gives you real-time feedback and helps you adjust your workouts to keep improving.

Versatile and Dynamic: Switch easily between strength exercises and quick cardio bursts using Aroleap’s resistance settings. It’s perfect for circuit training or creating your combo routines that keep your heart rate up and your muscles working.

With Aroleap, you can make the most of your home workouts, blending cardio and strength training in a way that’s effective, efficient and fun.

Your Path to a Boosted Metabolism

Boosting your metabolism is an achievable goal, especially through strength training. Not only does this type of training increase your muscle mass, but it also elevates your resting metabolic rate, which means you burn more calories even while at rest.

Moreover, we explored the benefits of metabolic workouts and their distinction from traditional strength training. Incorporating exercises that combine strength with high-intensity movements can amplify your metabolic response. Additionally, integrating cardiovascular exercises will further enhance your results, creating a well-rounded fitness regimen.

For those looking to embark on this journey from the comfort of their home, practical examples of strength training exercises were shared. These can be easily modified to align with different fitness levels, making them accessible for everyone. The beginning of your fitness path doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Start small, be consistent, and gradually build upon your progress. With commitment and the right balance of strength training and cardio, you are well on your way to improved health and fitness.

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The 5 Best Performance Supplements For A Fitness Lifestyle

Start on a fitness journey long enough and you’ll start to wonder if there are any optimizations you can make. For some, it’s making the investment in great running shoes, and for others, it’s finally buying that weightlifting belt. But supplements are important to help our workout sessions, too.

As a minimum, you likely wish for energy that lasts, focus so you’re not constantly scatter-brained, and recovery that lets you come back stronger the next session. Performance supplements can bridge that gap between where you are now and where you want to be, but the market is packed with products that promise everything and deliver nothing. How do you avoid such a trap, and how do you avoid falling for good marketing? After all, there are teams of people working right now, in every discipline they know how, to convince you to buy their product over another.

In this post, we’ll discuss the six supplements that have earned their reputation through solid science and real results from people who take their training seriously. Each brings something different to the table, so you can find the ones that match your needs and training style.

Best For Mental Performance: Mind Lab Pro by Performance Lab

Mind Lab Pro is quite unique in the supplement space because it helps to improve the mental side of fitness that most people ignore. Mind Lab Pro meets the brain’s complex needs with 11 nootropics working in 6 “bio-pathways” promised to help the mental side of human performance. Nootropics have long been accepted as a rich blend of vitamins and nutrients for your brain.

The connection between brain function and physical performance is huge, and Mind Lab Pro gets this right. Mind Lab Pro is a thorough nootropic supplement that focuses on memory, focus, and overall brain health, and it does this through a blend of scientifically researched ingredients.

This is a great supplement for any sport or fitness approach, because how it supports the mental aspects of training that often get overlooked. You get better mind-muscle connection during lifts, improved focus during long cardio sessions, and the mental clarity needed to stick with nutrition plans and training schedules too. Most team sports captains or players would no doubt like a little more agility in their thinking and how confident they feel in a strategic scenario. Moreover, the formula is stimulant-free, so it works by supporting your brain but it won’t give you the jitters.

Best For Pre-Workout Energy: Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Pre-Workout

Sometimes you want more than a coffee before a heavy session, but you don’t want to be overly wired. That’s why Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Pre-Workout has become a favorite. Fitness lovers suggest it’s a well-balanced supplement for those seeking increased muscle gain, reliable energy, and added performance, thanks to the inclusion of creatine, as well as explore more below.

The inclusion of creatine alongside caffeine and other performance-enhancing ingredients makes it a good option for people who want everything in one product. It’s also one of the most affordable pre-workouts on the market, which makes it accessible for people who want quality results. The brand is also very trusted after releasing whey isolates and protein powders that are considered the most popular on the market.

Best For Muscle Power: Thorne Creatine

Thorne Creatine is considered a gold standard for creatine supplementation, focusing on purity and effectiveness, and is popular among weightlifting circles. The best creatine supplements can boost your exercise performance and help you build stronger muscles faster from brands like Thorne, Onnit, and Gnarly. Thorne has built their reputation on third-party testing and pharmaceutical-grade manufacturing processes in a field where creatine can sometimes be questionable.

But what does creatine do? Well, it’s optional for most people, but in high-performance and weightlifting environments, it helps your muscles produce more energy and help with explosive movements. Creatine is one of the most researched supplements in the fitness world because of that, because the performance seems too good to be true, and it isn’t a steroid.

Thorne Creatine is also NSF Certified for Sport, which means it’s tested for banned substances and safe for competitive athletes too – so don’t worry if you have a competition coming up. That’s why it’s gained the most legitimacy.

Best For Wider Support: Athletic Greens AG1

Athletic Greens AG1 has become quite popular in recent years, as it approaches performance supplementation from a more basic wellness perspective, with nutritional support more focused on training capacity and recovery. While it’s not a traditional pre-workout or single-ingredient supplement, AG1 fills the nutritional gaps you may not have in your diet, that can limit performance and recovery in active individuals.

The formula includes 75 high-quality vitamins, minerals, and whole-food sourced ingredients that support energy production, immune function, and overall health. Think of it like a super-multivitamin. If you’re following an intensive training program, this can cover all the blind spots you may have.
Some examples of what it contains includes B-vitamins for energy metabolism, adaptogens for stress management, probiotics for gut health, and antioxidants to support recovery from training stress.

Best For Natural Energy: Four Sigmatic Lion’s Mane Coffee

Four Sigmatic Lion’s Mane Coffee has the obvious energy boost of coffee we’re all familiar with, but on top of that has the cognitive and neurological benefits of lion’s mane mushroom, creating a performance drink that supports mental wellbeing too. This blend has become more popular as of late, with some coffee shops offering their own version, but this is the most accessible and preferred by fitness lovers.

Lion’s mane mushroom has the potential to support nerve growth and cognitive capabilities too, making it helpful for activities requiring coordination, focus, and mind-muscle connection. In addition to the organic coffee it offers, there’s a smooth, sustained energy that works well for both training sessions and daily activities on top of that.

With this advice, you’ll be certain to find the best performance supplement for your own fitness needs. Just be sure to talk with your doctor before adding any new supplementation to your diet.

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Bikini Competition Posing Guidelines for Bodybuilders

Whether you are a pro competitor or a newbie, one thing remains the same: having a solid posing routine for the stage. As you train for your competition, your posing routine must be perfected to ensure a strong stage presence.

So, let’s look at a few ways you can achieve to get the best competition day results.

Basic posing tips for your competition routine

Nailing your posing walk—Your walk is your first chance to make the great impression you need in front of the judges. It’s the perfect opportunity to show your stage confidence and personality. Walking confidently communicates who you are and how proud you are of your work.

Another aspect of your posing walk is feeling comfortable in your shoes. Since all competitors need to wear high heels, practicing in them is a must! Make sure you are confident walking in them, this will give you that winning edge.

The right bikini poses – Before choosing your poses, it is important to master your posing walk. The judges are looking for some things in particular:

Muscle tone foundation
A full-shaped figure with rounded glutes and curvy shoulders
Full body symmetry
No muscle separation or striations
An appealing overall appearance

To make sure these criteria are met, you need to work closely with a posing coach and take plenty of videos and photos of yourself posing. Another tip is to practice from the judge’s perspective, about five feet below you. This is so you can perfect your posing routine. Perfecting your posing routine has one goal – it highlights your strengths and downplays any area you want to improve. Try posing in front of a mirror, from different angles, and setting this will ensure you look your best on stage.

Mastering your posing transitions – Your posing routines requires

Front poses
Back poses
Side poses
Sign off

While posing can seem very simple, you need to use your routine to show your strengths. Show your muscle definition in glutes, hamstrings, arms, and shoulders. Remember you don’t have a lot of stage time, so make every moment count.

Accessorize just right – Your presentation on stage includes more than just your hard-earned figure. From your bikini competition suit to your hair, makeup, and jewelry. Everything should work well together to enhance your stage look. But to be on the safer side, do not make these common mistakes –

Picking a suit color that doesn’t suit your skin tone
Wearing flashy or too much jewelry
Wearing the wrong makeup on stage
Having a distracting hairstyle
Not testing your tan color

These can seem small now, but they make a huge difference in how the judges view your overall look.

What is a winning bikini competition routine?

All top bikini competitors have one thing in common – they stay true to their routines. These athletes showcase their personalities, style, attitude, and a well-conditioned physique. So, when you plan your posing routine you need to be sure to show off your hard-earned physique while letting your personality shine through.

If you want professional help with your posing routine, consider working with a professional posing coach who specializes in helping competitors stand out from the rest. They will guide you through your posing routine until you ace it!

Judging for Bikini Competitions

Bikini competition judges look for a healthy and toned body, with good symmetry, balance, and shape. Competitors need to present on stage with confidence, stage presence, and poise. The judges will also look at how well your bikini competition suit looks, with makeup, hair, and presentation looks. Competitors have to avoid showing too much muscle separation, and the goal is to achieve a muscular look without looking too defined or lean.

Your micro bikini competition suits and other competition choices will help enhance your physique. The judges look for full-round glutes and a slight midsection. Your legs and shoulders should be firm but not overly muscular.

Comparisons within groups

During group comparison, athletes perform half turns to show their physique from front to back. Judges will direct you to walk a few steps back and forward while holding poses as a group. Keep in mind that the front, back, and side poses are the most crucial ones, so perfect them as much as you can.

A strong bikini competition posing routine consists of presentation, practice, and paying attention to every detail. Whether it is the walk, pose, transition, or overall presentation, everything needs to come together and highlight your hard work the most.

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Best Online Personal Trainer Certification

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES: NASM Certification: NASM Personal Training Review | ISSA Review: Costs, Exam, Salary, How to Become a CPT & More | ACE CPT Review Updated for 2019 | ACE vs NASM: What’s the Best CPT for You? | ISSA vs. NASM: Which Personal Training Certification is For You?

Best Online Personal Trainer Certification

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Watch Our Video: Best Online Personal Trainer Certification

There has never been a better time to invest in a certification as an online personal trainer.

Not only is the industry as a whole earmarked for expansion — the BLS forecasts a 13% growth rate through 2028 — but the success of brands like Peloton, Mirror, and other online fitness options showcase America’s desire for convenient and at-home training.

Couple this with the closure and uncertain future of many gyms due to coronavirus and you have a cocktail of opportunity for those trainers who are able to adapt to the times.

That said, it may seem like a no-brainer to get an Online Personal Trainer Certification but therein lies the question: what is the best online personal trainer certification and which is right for me?

Luckily for you, Fitness Mentors has done the heavy lifting for you and compiled this list of the best personal training certifications based on the following objective criteria:

Accreditation: third-party certifying bodies who ensure the health, safety, and standards for the industry.
Price: the costs associated with the online CPT cert.

Mentorship Structure: the interaction you can expect with mentors.

Primary Focus of Education: the primary educational focus you can expect from a particular certification.

Program Duration: how long the program takes to complete.
Location of Certification: the country the certification derives from.
Sign-up Process: what can you expect from the sales and onboarding process.

Today we’ll be looking at these popular online personal trainer certification options:

But before we begin, let’s distinguish some very important characteristics of online personal training certifications and personal trainer certifications you can get online.

Online Personal Trainer Certification VS Personal Trainer Certification Online

Our focus today is on online personal trainer certifications, or certifications that help you learn how to train clients online. Personal trainer certifications online refer to the standard in-person personal training certifications with online study options. An example of the latter would be the Fitness Mentors Certified Personal Trainer course, a class dedicated to certify trainers with the needed credential to train in-person clients.

Now that we are all clear on the differences between the two, let’s learn more about the best online personal training certifications.

Accreditation

Accreditation is one of the most important aspects for personal trainer certifications as it sets the stage for trust and authority. Without an accreditation, trainers (and clients) won’t really know if any professional organization has reviewed the certification curriculum to determine its efficacy.

For consumers, this also ensures their online trainer has gone through the required education to ensure their success and safety. There are certain limitations that exist with an online training environment and a certification helps trainers safely deal with those challenges through additional perspective and understanding of variables — such as form, injury prevention, and communication — that don’t exist as clearly via online mediums.

As it stands today, Fitness Mentors is the only company nationally recognized by the National Board of Fitness Examiners (NBFE), or any other esteemed certification body, to offer an online personal training certification.

Unfortunately, all other online training programs are not third-party reviewed or certified. This is partly due to the fact that online personal training is so new and likely due to the fact that a third-party accreditation is not free for a certification body. Thirdly, most online personal trainer courses are not steeped in science backed information but rather marketability, which makes them unlikely candidates for a third-party accreditation.

Personal Trainer Takeaway: A online personal trainer certification is not a requirement to coach online, however, it does showcase the quality and credibility of a certification as it relates to the trainers and the emphasis on science, business/marketing skills and a college-level curriculum. If this is important to you, the Fitness Mentors Certified Online Personal Trainer is an ideal choice.

Price

The Price includes the cheapest study option and final exam, where relevant. Keep in mind, however, that each of these products is not a formal certification, some are geared to be marketing tools above all else. They are noted accordingly.

Fitness Mentors: $699. Option to add a weekly mentorship program for $199/month.

TribeFit: $3,500 (3 month coaching program). Not a certification.

Online Trainer Academy: $799 for shortened course and $1,999 for complete course. Also offer level 2 Mentorship for a Monthly fee (Estimated at $400-$1000 per month)

Online Trainers Federation: Their bare bones intro course (not a certification), OC 101, is $199. It only runs twice per year, with the goal to upgrade you to the Elite which is estimated to run $300 – $600 per month.

PT Distinction University: Various courses with a la carte pricing. $1,100 for complete course package. Not a Certification.

Personal Trainer Takeaway: There are a lot of options for courses and the depth of the educational options are reflected in the costs. If you are just looking for one-off courses on very specific knowledge, the PT Distinction University has the lowest barrier to entry in terms of cost. You’ll sacrifice depth of knowledge here, however. If you are looking for in-depth knowledge from the ground up on how to become an online trainer, create a business, and market it, the most comprehensive courses are the Fitness Mentors COPT and Online Trainer Academy.

Launch Quiz

Mentorship Structure

Today’s trainers may feel a bit overwhelmed when trying to take in all the components of online training. In addition to knowledge in program design, physiology, injury prevention, and client achievement, certain aspects of online training can be particularly challenging.

For example, learning how to set up your business for online training, taking your business online if you have existing in-person clients, learning how to generate online leads, and caring for clients via online mediums can be a struggle for many trainers unaccustomed to these challenges.

Each program may have different approaches in terms of access to mentors versus having students solely rely on the digital assets they are provided.

The Fitness Mentors Certified Online Personal Trainer has roots in college-level curriculum creation and has established real trainers as mentors into its program. In addition to access to instructors via phone or email, students can also leverage Facebook support groups to ask questions and help them gain real-world understanding of course contents.

TribeFit is thought to provide email access to a competitor. It was difficult to find any info on the site.

The Online Trainer Academy also provides direct access to fitness business mentors via online chat and phone, as well as engagement with Facebook. Their Level 2 appears to have a weekly mentorship call, but exact information is not posted on their site.

Online Trainers Federation: Students have access to a Facebook group with non-paying students and paid students as well as the option for a weekly call that is only included in the Elite Program. Difficult to find any info on the site.

PT Distinction University has little to no mentor interaction as it seems the entire suite of coursework is built into their bundles or modules.

Personal Trainer Takeaway: The concept of online personal training can be daunting for some and access to real mentors invaluable in determining success. For trainers who are interested in a legit point of contact that is dedicated to your understanding of important concepts, opt for a certification with access to mentorship.

Primary Focus of Education

As you can imagine, there is a lot of overlap in terms of some of the education you’ll take away from each course. Rather than focusing on the similarities, below is an overview of what makes each program unique:

Fitness Mentors Certified Online Personal Trainer: Fitness Mentors’ COPT goes in-depth on business structure and learning how to build and sell an online business based on one of the six business models online trainers use (or the combination of the six). Additionally, they provide info and all templates on nutrition programs, online assessments, structuring memberships, affiliate programs, and other monetization models. Also included are brandable program design templates so you can start training immediately online.

TribeFit: TribeFit’s focus is on marketing your business and building out your online training sales funnel. Difficult to find any further info on the site.

Online Trainer Academy: OTA provides access to a physical textbook (digital as well) that some students really like. Their course also includes sales scripts, social media scripts and other documents that you can use to operate your business.

Online Trainers Federation: OTF is geared towards health and fitness professionals that have experience with in-person clients but want to help scale their business to service online clients. They admittedly mention that if you are not a coach already, the program probably is not for you.

PT Distinction University: PTDU provides students access to modules they can leverage as they see fit. A particularly unique option is the course with access to previously recorded webinars from fitness gurus.

Personal Trainer Takeaway: Each trainer is unique in their approach and goal with online personal training. Those that want a ground-up baseline for building and scaling their business should go for one of the programs that focus on all aspects of online training such as FM COPT or the OTA. If you are a trainer that is more concerned with marketing an existing online business then TribeFit, OTF, or PTDU may be a better fit.

Program Duration

Program duration refers to how much time it takes to complete the course or the investment of learning you can expect from each course.

Fitness Mentors: 60-80 hours or one to two months, self-paced.
TribeFit: 3 months
Online Trainer Academy: 32 hours of content, self-paced.
Online Trainers Federation: 2 weeks for OC 101 introductory course. Elite course is continuous weekly meetings.
PT Distinction University: A la carte courses with varying lengths, self-paced.

Personal Trainer Takeaway: Consider the length of the course into your final decision as it relates to how quickly you may be able to monetize online training. However, consider that the more knowledge-rich courses will obviously demand a greater time investment for good reason.

Location of Certification

The Location of Certification refers to the country where the certifying company is located.

Fitness Mentors: USA

TribeFit: AUS

Online Trainer Academy: Canada

Online Trainers Federation: Canada

PT Distinction University: UK

Sign-up Process

We found that many courses have a considerable amount of salemenship involved in the sign-up process. Some students interviewed did not like that they were pressured to purchase a course via a sales call and preferred the straightforward approach of an easy checkout process. In the Online Training Education industry sales calls are used for very high ticket products to try and build the most value.

Fitness Mentors: Open enrollment, start when ready, proceed at your own pace. No pushy sales calls.
TribeFit: Introductory call and then a sales call.
Online Trainer Academy: Open enrollment, start when ready, proceed at your own pace. No pushy sales calls.
Online Trainers Federation: Enrollment once every six months for intro course. Sales call required for the Elite program.
PT Distinction University: Open enrollment, start when ready, proceed at your own pace. No pushy sales calls.

Personal Trainer Takeaway: When it comes to the online world, many of us like it because it is convenient. Numerous students we spoke to strongly disliked having any sort of sales calls involved to get started with a course and preferred options where they could checkout online and interact with mentors on an as-needed basis.

Online Personal Trainer Certification FAQ

How do I become an online personal trainer?

To become an online personal trainer it is advisable to first have a certification in personal training. Then, it is up to you to choose the type of online training you want to offer clients and how to market your services.

How much should I charge for online personal training?

The amount you charge for online personal training greatly depends on the service you offer, your experience as a trainer, competitor rates, the economy, the target population of your services, and your cost to train a client.

How big is the online personal training and coaching space?

There are 330,000 personal training jobs forecast in the US by 2026. The exact number practicing online training is unknown.

What is the most effective approach to starting an online personal training business?

The best approach to starting an online personal training business is to transition your existing in-person clients over to online clients. This allows you to get better at online training and expand your existing services to further monetize existing clients rather than starting from scratch.

Is online training as good as in-person training?

Online training has many advantages over in-person training including: time-savings, flexibility, recording options, cheaper training sessions for clients, sharing of digital assets (meal plans, DIY workout programs, etc). They are different but can be equally effective in terms of client results.

So What is the Best Online Personal Trainer Certification?

The best online personal trainer certification is the one that is best for you. Each course has its own unique product position as well as educational focus. Some focus on the full stack of knowledge you’d want to know about understanding the industry, focusing on a niche, and building a business from scratch. Others assume you already have training experience and are just adding another element to your offerings in the digital space. Other certs focus extensively on marketing and bypass business development fundamentals altogether.

At the end of the day the choice is a subjective one. You have to ask yourself what you want to get out of an online personal training certification and then find the course that works best for your specific goals.

If you have any questions about any of the courses we covered or want to provide some suggestions based on your experiences with the course, please leave them in the comments below.

Instructor

Eddie Lester

CEO of fitnessmentors.com – Teaching 30,000+ students how to become CPT’s

Top 5 Exercise Science Careers and The Best Education Paths

Watch Our Video: Best Exercise Science Careers – Are you considering an Exercise Science degree?

Are you considering an Exercise Science degree or asking yourself “what can you do with an exercise science degree?” to help plan for your future?

Whatever your stage in life — consideration, current Exercise Science student, recent grad, or what can you do with a health and exercise science degree?– this post is for you.

Be sure to take our quiz too!

As a previous Exercise Science graduate, I can give you a little taste of the college route (as well as other education paths) and provide insight into the options for Exercise Science careers.

But first, let’s define what Exercise Science is.

What is Exercise Science?

Exercise Science describes the study of the body under the stress of exercise including acute and chronic adaptations like the effects on overall health parameters, pathologies, and its potential to reduce, or reverse, disease progression.

Some other areas of study within Exercise Science vertical that you might see at various educational institutes are:

Kinesiology
Fitness & Health
Exercise Physiology
Biomechanics
Exercise Nutrition

This foundation prepares students for applied exercise science jobs that integrate science with practical fitness and health applications.

You can also expect a strong educational emphasis in the areas of anatomy, physiology, chemistry, biology, and oftentimes, physics.

What can You Do with an Exercise Science Degree?

If there is one thing I want to emphasize about studying Exercise Science is that the majority of careers in the field require additional graduate school coursework. Yes, that is worth repeating.

Exercise Science is a common prerequisite for graduate level programs in careers such as:

Doctor (MD)
Exercise Physiologist
Registered Dietician
Occupational Therapist
Physical Therapist
Physician Assistant

The important takeaway here is that for most, the bachelor’s degree in and of itself does not get them to the career that they want. Additionally, and as I will get into more below, the career you want might not require a four year college degree in Exercise Science.

However, if you are interested in some of the above careers that require education beyond a B.S. degree, by all means continue on the path that makes the most sense for you.

I emphasize this point because I have met many people who studied Exercise Science in college only to find that they either did not realize they needed additional education to get the career they wanted, or realized there were quicker, more affordable ways to get into the career they wanted.

That said, listed below are some careers that you can get without additional education after your Bachelor’s in Exercise Science degree, including:

Athletic Director
Community Program Director
Massage Therapist
Recreation and Sports Director
Sports Coach
Sports Facility Manager
Strength and Conditioning Coach

Provided below are the most popular career paths in Exercise Science, which may or may not include a college education, are below.

Top 5 Exercise Science Careers That Pay Well

Personal Trainer

By far, the most common career path chosen by people looking to have an Exercise Science career, as well as who are currently studying Exercise Science, is personal training.

The benefits of a career in personal training are numerous and can even be aligned with that of any of the other careers on this list.

For starters, you don’t need to get a bachelor’s degree to become a personal trainer. In fact, there are five separate ways you can become a personal trainer, ranging from certification from accredited companies, to vocational college, to university programs, to online options, and internal gym programs.

If your heart is set on becoming a personal trainer it certainly would be helpful for you to understand your options for certification beforehand.

Now, I am certainly not knocking university or college-based personal training certification options I got my B.S. at a university and was a college instructor afterward but I do understand that it may not be an option for everyone.

But what if you want a career that requires a college degree? Would it still be beneficial to consider a personal training certification?

Let’s say you choose any of the aforementioned education routes for your career in Exercise Science: college degree or not.

Either way, you can benefit from a personal training certification no matter what route you take. If you are wanting to have a career as a personal trainer, you can get certified in as little as two to five months and start making money right away.

If you are in college and are studying Exercise Science, it is still a good idea to get a personal training certification because you can begin gaining experience within your career immediately and can even pay for your education, through your personal training income.

For example, while I was in college I used my personal training certification to my advantage. I was able to train clients around my school schedule given the flexibility of the career. This provided me industry experience, but also allowed me to pay my way through college.

I also became certified as an Online Personal Trainer and trained clients through the internet, which gave me even more freedom to complete my studies and enjoy the college experience.

Top 5 Reasons Personal Training is a Popular Exercise Science Career

So, no matter what your long-term goals are, getting a personal training certification can help in the following ways:

Puts money in your pocket
Allows you to gain experience in the Exercise Science field
Helps pay for college (if you are shooting for a B.S., or advanced degree)
Provides a strong foundation to further your exercise science studies

Top 3 Personal Training Certifications

Below are the best certification options to choose from:

NASM
Fitness Mentors
ACE

It is a well known fact that private personal trainers have the potential to make far more than gym trainers.

Why? Because private personal trainers can set their own rates.

There is a catch for private personal trainers, however, and that is that they have to drum up enough business to write their own paycheck. But before we get into a sample private personal trainer salary let’s define exactly what a private personal trainer is.

A private personal trainer is a trainer that is self-employed, creates their own work schedule, and is free to choose the clients that they work with. For many personal trainers, this is the end goal of their personal training careers and is what sees some trainers working with celebrities and making big bucks.

Unlike gym trainers, private personal trainers don’t get help from the gym or get funneled clients from fitness organizations. They utilize their own networking, sales, and marketing skill sets to drive leads and ultimately generate new clients.

For that reason, many private personal trainers struggle to make a decent income. You can’t simply get a personal trainer certification and expect leads to come your way. (Check out this course to learn how to build your business and get clients). This is also why so many trainers start out in the gym, get experience, make relationships, begin taking on private clients on the side, and eventually leave the corporate gym environment behind.

How Much Do Private Personal Trainers Make?

A respectable private personal trainer can make upwards of $70,000 per year.

Compare this to the full time salary of a respectable personal trainer at 24-Hour Fitness which would likely fall in the low $40,000 range. And by respectable I mean one with a couple thousand hours of sessions under their belt and training 20-30 sessions per week. This low $40,000 range is also commensurate with what NASM says their average trainer makes.

For example, a 24-Hour Fitness trainer in their middle tier (PT3) makes $13 an hour when training. If you compare a potential salary of an entry-level trainer at 24-Hour Fitness, $22,440/year, to that of a Master Trainer at 24-Hour Fitness, $58,464, and split it down the middle (which is more or less where a PT3 would be), you’d get $40,452.

Now, let’s compare the above salary of a gym trainer to that of a private personal trainer.

The average private personal trainer in the U.S. charges around $50 session. Let’s say this trainer works a total of 30 hours per week and making $1,500 in that time. Multiple this time the weeks in a year, 52, and you have a respectable private trainer who is making $78,000 a year.

Potential Salary of Private Personal Trainer

Charges $50/session
Works 30 hours per week (sessions)
Makes $1,500/week
Makes $78,000/year

That same trainer can charge $100 a session, work 15 hours a week, and make the same salary.

Gym trainers typically have to work a lot more hours than private personal trainers for a fraction of the salary which is why private training is often the more desirable route. But as we’ll learn, private personal training is not the only way to make money as a trainer outside the gym.

Interested in getting a CPT with an emphasis on entrepreneurship and business development? Check out the FM-CPT for more info.

Physical Therapist

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), a career in Physical Therapy has some very promising advantages.

Among the highest paying jobs with an exercise science degree, physical therapists earn a handsome amount annually. For starters, the median pay approaches $90,000 per year, is expected to grow 28% by 2016 (which is much faster than average), and consistently ranks as one of the best jobs in healthcare for work-life balance.

Physical therapy jobs tend to require a DPT degree, although some may accept a master’s degree. CostHelper.com says that doctoral physical therapy degrees can cost $35,000 (such as the doctorate in physical therapy at the University of Illinois at Chicago), or much more for out-of-state students, such as The University of Delaware’s doctoral program which costs over $75,000. That is on top of the money you spend for your bachelors degree.

Athletic Trainer

Athletic trainers also rank high on this list as the profession is similar in scope to that of personal trainers, yet requires a formal bachelor’s degree in a specialized program and the passing of a state licensure exam. Athletic trainers have a median income of $46,630 per year according to the BLS, and have a rapid rate of employment at 23% when looking out to 2016. This career highlights the connection between exercise science careers and salaries, showing how education directly impacts earning potential.

One of the coolest things I find about athletic trainer careers is that they often work alongside athletes within educational settings such as colleges of universities.This often means these professionals are the ones who work hand-in-hand with some of the best up-and-coming athletic talent in the country.

They can also work with younger students, within hospitals, or even for professional sports teams.

Exercise Physiologist

With a median pay of just under $50,000 per year, and a faster than average job outlook, a career in exercise physiology is a popular choice for many looking to put their Exercise Science degree to work. Many roles require advanced education, making it one of the most promising masters in exercise science jobs.

This type of career typically requires a Masters in Exercise Physiology, which on average takes 6 years of total college time as well as requires board certification through the American Society of Exercise Physiologists.

Another interesting aspect of this career is that about half of all exercise physiologists are self-employed. So if you have an entrepreneurial spirit and enjoy the freedom of owning your own business, you may be able to do well in this career.

PE Teacher

According to ZipRecruiter, PE teachers make about $42,500 per year. While this is the lowest salary on this list, you have to remember that these teachers tend to have summers off and benefit from all school holidays as well as teacher pensions.

Typical education requirements for this career include a bachelor’s degree in exercise science as well as a teaching credential or a masters in education. Often times a personal training certification will enhance the likelihood of employment as well.

We also can’t forget that PE teachers get to hang out in gym clothes all day, coach fun sports like kickball and dodgeball, and even be physical fitness role models for many of their students.

Granted there is some give and take for each of the professions on this list in terms of knocking off all the boxes of the most ideal career, but the daily life of the PE coach can be very rewarding.

Boot Camp Instructor

Boot camp instructors are personal trainers who lead group fitness classes that are usually based on military-style training methods. However, in some cases, instructors may unintentionally display behaviors related to relational aggression, such as belittling or excluding participants to create a sense of competition or control. These actions can negatively impact group dynamics and participants’ overall fitness experience.

Exercise Science Degrees and Educational Considerations

As we have learned above, not all careers within Exercise Science require a full-fledged bachelor’s degree. Similarly, we’ve learned that many sought after degrees within Exercise Science require advanced degrees such as master’s or doctoral degrees.

With that in mind below is a comprehensive list of the many careers and their educational obligations. Note that some of these careers may overlap in multiple categories.

Exercise Science Careers that don’t require Degrees

Personal Training
Aerobics Instructor
Fitness Coach
Gym Manager
Massage Therapist
Physical Therapy Assistant

Exercise Science Careers that require Bachelor’s Degrees

Athletic Director
Community Program Director
Kinesiologist
Massage Therapist
Athletic Trainer (ATC)
Physical Education Teacher
Recreation and Sports Director
Registered Nurse
Sports Coach
Sports Facility Manager
Strength and Conditioning Coach

Exercise Science Careers that require Master’s or Doctoral Degrees

Doctor (MD)
Exercise Physiologist
Chiropractor (DC)
Registered Dietician
Occupational Therapist
Physical Therapist (DPT)
Physician Assistant
Exercise Physiologist
Physical Rehabilitation

FAQs for Exercise Science Careers and The Best Education Paths

How Can I Make Money with an Exercise Science Degree?

The most common way to make money with an Exercise Science career path is personal training. While personal training doesn’t require a degree, those who get certified are able to put money into their pockets quickly and build a strong foundation for further career advancement.

Why is Exercise Science a Good Major?

Exercise Science generally offers courses in Anatomy, Physiology, Kinesiology, and Nutrition. Jobs can range from personal trainers and strength and conditioning coaches to physical therapists and physician assistants – so Exercise Science can be lucrative.

Is Exercise Science the Same as Kinesiology?

Not quite. Kinesiology is a more broad study that focuses on human movement and its effects on an individual’s health. Exercise Science is a sub-field more fine-tuned into learning and influencing human responses to exercise.

What Are Your Degree Options in Exercise Science?

Bachelor’s degrees will open you up to mid-level jobs in the fitness industry. Examples of these degrees include Bachelor’s in Sports Management, Health Sciences, Nutrition Science, or Health and Wellness. Graduate degrees, like master’s and doctorate, qualify for higher-level positions. These programs might include a master’s in Exercise Science and Wellness or Human Performance, an MBA in Health Care Management, a Ph.D. in Education for Sports Management, or a medical degree in Sports & Athletic Management. While personal training only requires a certification, you can also get an associate’s degree in Exercise Science, giving you a solid foundation to start personal training.

Closing Thoughts on Exercise Science Careers

You should now have a better idea of what you can do in the exciting field that is Exercise Science. For many, a bachelor’s degree at a college or university is the path that they will take to become educated in the many areas of movement and exercise. For others, the bachelor’s is just a stepping stone for a more advanced degree as in the case of physical therapy, physician’s assistant, or doctoral paths. Others may be surprised to learn there are many rewarding careers in Exercise Science that do not require a college degree, and the most popular career in this field, a certified personal trainer, demonstrates that.

When considering your education and career path, keep in mind the following:

The education required
The financial commitment
The time investment
The typical salary
Your passion for the career

With these considerations in mind, you should be able to paint a great picture of where you want your career to take you.

What is your experience with jobs and education in the Exercise Science niche? Is there any tip you wish you knew before you started your studies or career? Let us know in the comments.

career career advice Education Exercise Science New Format Roadmap Popup video

Personal Trainer Salary: Which Gyms Pay the Most?

There are numerous ways to make money as a personal trainer, but unquestionably the most common way is to start working at a gym.

If you are looking to get certified as a personal trainer, check out our blog on the best personal training certification.

Watch Our Video: Personal Trainer Salary – Which Gyms Pay the Most? How Much do Private and Online Trainers Make?

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12 Customizable Program Templates!

Regularly $169. Get access today for $31.

Launch Quiz

If the most common question I get asked about personal training is what certification to get, the second most common question has to be “how much can I make as a personal trainer?”

There are numerous ways to make money as a personal trainer, but unquestionably the most common way is to start working at a gym. I started my career as a personal trainer by working at Equinox and 24-Hour Fitness.

Also be sure to join the conversation with hundreds of fitness pro’s, six-figure personal trainers, fitness mentors and coaches on our discord here:

When people first consider becoming a trainer they begin to think about the major gyms and how much they pay. And as much as certification bodies like NASM want to tell you that their average trainers make $42k a year, the reality of a personal trainer salary ultimately lies in what the gyms will pay as this is the most common career route.

However, the gym route is not the only one and many existing or aspiring trainers want to venture into the more entrepreneurial routes of private, or online personal training, as higher income levels are more easily achieved.

So, to help trainers understand what popular gyms pay their trainers and to showcase some insider knowledge on what private and online trainers can make, I’ve put together this post that outlines personal trainer salaries as well as what trainers at the most recognizable gym brands around the country get paid, and how they set up their payment structure. Overall this blog answers the question, “how much can I make as a personal trainer?”.

I’ll also discuss the three pay structures that are common to trainers and provide you with next steps from a seasoned personal trainer who has gone through the experience of getting a gym job first-hand as well as utilized the private and online routes.

Before You Get Paid, You Have to Get Certified

First things first, if you want to work in personal training or at a big box gym like 24-Hour Fitness, Equinox, LA Fitness, or the like, you’ll need a personal training certification from a credentialed fitness organization.

Gyms want their trainers to get, or have, certifications, because they provide a baseline for credibility.

We have written a very comprehensive blog on the best personal trainer certifications where you can take a look at our side-by-side analysis of 10 different, popular personal training certification organizations. If you are unsure the exact steps to become a trainer and the prerequisites — education, age requirements, CPR/AED certifications.

Keep in mind that many gyms may hire you before you get a certification, and some will even have you go through their internal certification, so if you have a gym in mind for your place of employment it doesn’t hurt to ask what their requirements are first. Note that a true personal training certification will allow for a job at a much wider range of locations than just that one gym, something you’ll want to consider as your career evolves.

But before you enter the personal training employee marketplace, it pays to know some of the various pay structures that are common within the personal training industry so you know what to expect going in.

3 Types of Gym Pay Structures Common to Personal Trainers

When you begin your search for gyms that will provide you gainful employment, you can expect the pay structures to fall into one of these three categories:

1. Commercial gym
2. Independent personal trainer
3. 1099 personal trainer

1. Commercial Gym Pay Structure

In the gym world, the gyms who make you get clients and don’t feed them to you will generally pay the most. The opposite is true too; the gyms that feed you clients will generally pay you the least.

Commercial gyms will typically pay you minimum wage to “work the floor” and try to drum up new clients. Once you are actually training clients, you’ll get a bit more per hour as you are increasing the gyms revenue by performing a training session. If you sell a large personal training package, commercial gyms will often give you a commission.

2. Independent Personal Trainer Gym Pay Structure

Independent pay structures, or those that pertain to the self-employed personal trainer, are much more favorable to the trainer, but the negative is that they are obviously not as exposed to as many potential clients as they would be on the floor of a major gym, and are only getting paid when they train.

When you are self-employed, or an independent personal trainer not on a gym’s payroll, you may be able to develop relationships with smaller, privately-owned gyms that will allow you to bring in your own clients.

The catch is that you have to pay the gym a fee when you use their gym to train your client. For example, I used to pay a privately-owned, non-chain gym $15 a session to bring my client in and train them.

I could ultimately charge my client whatever I wanted, and had no pressure from any boss to sell more training sessions as it was entirely up to me. I did have to do more for marketing and found these metal cards to be a professional way of displaying the quality of my business to new potential clients.

Keep in mind that with this independent structure, you are running your own business, which means you are responsible for additional tasks like accounting, taxes, marketing, advertising, sales and lead generation.

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3. 1099 by a Gym Pay Structure

The 1099 model is similar to the self-employed trainer model except the gym has a relationship with the clients. A 1099 is a tax form given to an independent contractor as opposed to a W2 which is given to employees.

In this pay structure, the gym does not actually employ you as a personal trainer, but they contract with you so that they can make money on personal training and alleviate themselves from the costs of having an employee.

The 1099 model is like when you hire a plumber to come fix your broken toilet; they are getting paid for their service but they are not your employee.

In the contractor payment style, the personal trainer and the gym typically get a split, like 50/50, on whatever the gym charges. So, if the gym charges $60 for an hour long session, they’d keep $30 and you’d get paid $30. The gym collects the money from the client and then will pay you, the trainer, for the session performed.

With this type of structure the personal trainer will be responsible for claiming taxes on the money they make, as the gym does not set aside any income since the trainer is not an employee.

Now, you may be asking yourself, “how do I know what kind of payment structure the gym I want to work at has?” Excellent question, let’s address that below.

How Popular Brand Name Gyms Pay Their Personal Trainers

While I could have left you hanging with the above information on the three various pay structures that are common for trainers who work at/with gyms, I wanted to do a deeper dive and get some answers from real trainers who work, or have worked, at some popular gym chains.

The Fitness Mentors team reached out to several gyms chains and their current employees, as well as conducted a survey with our current and previous students on Facebook, to get currently used payment structures and insight on how various gyms pay their trainers. We have provided that information below.

If you have any experience with these gyms or would like to comment on something different, please feel free to let us know in the comments so we can update this post.

Equinox
24-Hour Fitness
La Fitness
Anytime Fitness
Crunch Fitness
YMCA
Planet Fitness

Equinox Personal Trainer Salary

Non-training payment:

Floor hours at minimum wage – typically 20 hours a week until your client base grows.

Payment structure:

Less than 42 sessions per pay period (2 week pay period):

Tier 1: $26 per one hour session
Tier 2: $30.50 per one hour session
Tier 3: $36.50 per one hour session
Tier 3+: $45.50 per one hour session
Tier X: $64 per one hour session

More than 42 sessions per pay period (2 week pay period):

Tier 1: $31 per one hour session
Tier 2: $42.50 per one hour session
Tier 3: $53 per one hour session
Tier 3+: $61 per one hour session
Tier X: $74.50 per one hour session

The average full-time trainer at Equinox performs 25-30 training sessions per week.

Equinox Income Potential

24-Hour Personal Trainer Salary

Non-training payment:

Minimum wage for non-training hours.

Payment structure:

20% Commission on all individual personal training package sales paid up front.
10% Commission on all TC24 group training package sales.

Also, a 5% bonus commission is added to total salary when 60 training sessions or more are performed in one pay period.

24-Hour Personal Trainer Salary 24-Hour PT Tier Structure and Associated Pay per Session:

24-Hour Bonus Structure per Training Session:

24-Hour Fitness Commission for Package Sales:

24-Hour Fitness Tiers:

An example monthly salary of a new PT 1 trainer that is building up their business at 24-Hour Fitness is shown below:

Example minimum wage is $10/hour
120 hours worked in the month at $10/hour = $1,200
60 training sessions performed in the month x $7 = $420
$2,500 in training package sales x 20% commission = $500
Total Monthly Salary = $2120

24-Hour Fitness Salary Example of a Master Trainer

An example monthly salary of a full-time Master Trainer:

Example minimum wage is $10/hour.
160 hours worked in the month at $10/hour = $1,600
120 training sessions performed in the month x $17 = 2,040
$5000 in Training package sales x 20% commission = $1,000
Monthly Salary = $4,640
5% commission added to the monthly salary of $4,640 since more than 60 sessions per pay period were performed = $232
Total Monthly Salary after 5% bonus commission= $4,872

LA Fitness Personal Trainer Salary

Non-training payment:

Minimum wage for non-training hours.

Payment structure:
$6 – $7.50 per 30 minute session
$12 – $15 per 1 hour session

$7.50 – $15 is for larger cities with higher cost of living like in Los Angeles.
$6 – $12 is for less populated, lower cost of living areas like Arizona.

Other findings:

No findable bonus structure. Trainer turnover is very high.

Every person in the Facebook group concurred that LA Fitness is a less than ideal place to work as a trainer, but a few people mentioned they pay their group exercise instructors significantly better.

Anytime Fitness Personal Trainer Salary

Non-training payment:

Varies

Payment structure:

Varies, these are franchised gyms and each one has a different pay structure.

Answers varied on payment structure for the trainers we surveyed:

50/50 split
Minimum wage plus bonuses to sign people on to monthly training packages
Trainers can increase income by teaching group exercise classes

Other findings:

Collective agreement that Anytime Fitness is an enjoyable place to work. They are 3,000-5,000 sq ft gyms with only 5-10 trainers per location.

Crunch Fitness Personal Trainer Salary

Non-training payment:

None

Payment structure:

These are franchised gyms and each location may have a different pay structure.

Here are some quotes from Crunch Fitness trainers concerning their salary. Answers varied on payment structure:

I’m only paid for hours trained and commission on sales. I’m not paid while trying to get clients.”

“I work at Crunch. Mine is a level 3 gym but because I just started I’m at level 2 for a few months. If I charge a la carte the client pays $80/hour or $50/30 minute session. Depending on my sales volume I can make between 40% and 65% of what I sell. I’m given “potential clients” but I have to sell them the personal training sessions. There’s not a sales force like at LA Fitness but the income potential is much better. I set my own hours and can work whenever I like. They encourage me to sell package deals which requires a 3 month commitment from the client. They are not allowed to cancel. Money is debited from their account either monthly or biweekly. They can also get a discount if they pay in full. For level 2, if you wanted to be trained 2x week, it would cost $504. For 3x week $697. Those are monthly rates for hour long sessions. Level 3, of course, is higher and most of the trainers at my gym are level 3. We have about 17 trainers. It’s a great place to work! Just takes time to build your clientele.”

YMCA Personal Trainer Salary

Non-training payment:

Minimum wage is paid when not training.

Payment structure:

Basically, YMCA trainers make $15 – $28 per session/hour depending on their tier.

We were able to find some training salary data for YMCA but it is just for the Charlotte, NC area. I assume that cities with higher costs of living would be accounted for in pay (and vice versa for smaller cities), but we were unable to find any other data on that.

The information for YMCA trainers and their tiers can be found below, respectively:

Tier 1 Trainer– Pay Rate: $15.89 – $19.86; Responsible for training a minimum of 2 sessions per week; Responsible for working the fitness floor 4-8 hours per week for initial 3 months
Tier 2 Trainer– Pay Rate: $17.48 – $21.85; Responsible for training a minimum of 5 sessions per week; Responsible for working the fitness floor 4-8 hours per week for initial 3 months
Tier 3 Trainer– Pay Rate: $21.00 – $26.24; Responsible for training a minimum of 10 sessions per week; Responsible for working the fitness floor 4-8 hours per week for initial 3 months
Tier 4 Trainer– Pay rate: $22.89 – $28.61; Responsible for training a minimum of 20 sessions per week; Responsible for working the fitness floor 4-8 hours per week for initial 3 months; Serve as a Continuing Education Provider for YMCA of Greater Charlotte teaching at least 1 workshop per year; Serve as a mentor to Tier 1-3 trainers

Other benefits include:

YMCA pays for all the trainers CEUs
The “Y” also pays the trainers’ recertification fee – approximately $100 every two years

Planet Fitness Personal Trainer Salary

Non-training payment:

Full-time minimum wage positions.

Payment structure:

Typically no higher pay for trainers, but it is an easy job that requires no sales and just training. Decent for beginners looking to gain training experience but not really career-worthy. No commissions. No bonuses.

Personal Trainer Salary FAQ

Can I make good money as a personal trainer?

Yes, making good money as a personal trainer is very viable. Even entry-level personal trainers can make upwards of $25 an hour, and easily up to $100 an hour if they are experienced.

How much do personal trainers make an hour?

Our research indicates that personal trainers make anywhere from minimum wage up to $75 an hour, at more prestigious gyms. Private personal trainers can make even more per hour, charging up top $100 an hour.

What does a beginner personal trainer salary look like?

The typical beginner personal trainer starts off their career in a gym as opposed to training private clients. On average, personal trainers make around $42,000 per year but the salary can vary by city, with more urban areas commanding higher salaries.

Is a personal training career a good choice?

Personal training is a great career choice because it is constantly ranked highly for providing an excellent quality of life, flexible work hours, and a solid work-life balance.

Can I make six figures as a personal trainer?

Yes, many trainers that put in hard work can make $100,000 or more a year as a personal trainer. Personal trainers that take their businesses online also benefit from higher incomes as they can sell services while they sleep and are not limited to the available hours in a day as are in-person trainers.

Is it difficult to get a personal training job?

No, it is not difficult to get a personal training job once you have a personal trainer certification. Many gyms are actively hiring personal trainers and the health and wellness industry as a whole is forecasted to continue its growth trend.

Private Personal Trainer Salary

It is a well known fact that private personal trainers have the potential to make far more than gym trainers.

Why? Because private personal trainers can set their own rates.

There is a catch for private personal trainers, however, and that is that they have to drum up enough business to write their own paycheck. But before we get into a sample private personal trainer salary let’s define exactly what a private personal trainer is.

A private personal trainer is a trainer that is self-employed, creates their own work schedule, and is free to choose the clients that they work with. For many personal trainers, this is the end goal of their personal training careers and is what sees some trainers working with celebrities and making big bucks.

Unlike gym trainers, private personal trainers don’t get help from the gym or get funneled clients from fitness organizations. They utilize their own networking, sales, and marketing skill sets to drive leads and ultimately generate new clients.

For that reason, many private personal trainers struggle to make a decent income. You can’t simply get a personal trainer certification and expect leads to come your way. (Check out this course to learn how to build your business and get clients). This is also why so many trainers start out in the gym, get experience, make relationships, begin taking on private clients on the side, and eventually leave the corporate gym environment behind.

How Much Do Private Personal Trainers Make?

A respectable private personal trainer can make upwards of $70,000 per year.

Compare this to the full time salary of a respectable personal trainer at 24-Hour Fitness which would likely fall in the low $40,000 range. And by respectable I mean one with a couple thousand hours of sessions under their belt and training 20-30 sessions per week. This low $40,000 range is also commensurate with what NASM says their average trainer makes.

For example, a 24-Hour Fitness trainer in their middle tier (PT3) makes $13 an hour when training. If you compare a potential salary of an entry-level trainer at 24-Hour Fitness, $22,440/year, to that of a Master Trainer at 24-Hour Fitness, $58,464, and split it down the middle (which is more or less where a PT3 would be), you’d get $40,452.

Now, let’s compare the above salary of a gym trainer to that of a private personal trainer.

The average private personal trainer in the U.S. charges around $50 session. Let’s say this trainer works a total of 30 hours per week and making $1,500 in that time. Multiple this time the weeks in a year, 52, and you have a respectable private trainer who is making $78,000 a year.

Potential Salary of Private Personal Trainer

Charges $50/session
Works 30 hours per week (sessions)
Makes $1,500/week
Makes $78,000/year

That same trainer can charge $100 a session, work 15 hours a week, and make the same salary.

Gym trainers typically have to work a lot more hours than private personal trainers for a fraction of the salary which is why private training is often the more desirable route. But as we’ll learn, private personal training is not the only way to make money as a trainer outside the gym.

Interested in getting a CPT with an emphasis on entrepreneurship and business development? Check out the FM-CPT for more info.

Next Steps for Aspiring Personal Trainers

Now you know what you can potentially make when you become a personal trainer at a gym. With this information, you may understand the gyms you want to work at and those you potentially want to stay away from.

One thing that should be clear with this information is that personal growth equates to more money as revealed by the tier systems many of these gyms have. The goal of continually developing yourself as a personal trainer is so you can build your book of business and generate a better income for yourself.

If you are interested in becoming an all-around better personal trainer and business-savvy individual, check out my book and online course I’ve made specifically for hungry self-starters looking to earn the income they deserve: Business and Sales: The Guide to Success as a Personal Trainer.

In addition to understanding which gym to kickstart your career, you’ll still want to have an understanding of which personal trainer certification is right for you. Amongst the three most popular certifications are Fitness Mentors, NASM and ACE, of which we cover side-by-side in this in-depth blog post.

If you liked this post or want us to try and find additional information, please let me know in the comments. If you have experience at other big brand gyms and want to share the salary information, please help us educate other personal trainers by sharing your thoughts below.

Check out our Top 5 Exercise Science Careers and The Best Education Paths

Instructor

Eddie Lester

CEO of fitnessmentors.com – Teaching 30,000+ students how to become CPT’s

NASM Reviews: Personal Trainer Certifications – CES, CNC, PES, WLS, MMAS, GPT, YES, WFS, SFS, GFS

NASM Reviews: Personal Trainer Certifications –
CES, FNS, PES, WLS, MMAS, GPT, YES, WFS, SFS, GFS

This is the heading

Watch Our Video: ACE vs NASM: Which CPT is Right for You?

NASM Reviews | How to become a certified personal trainer

Certified Personal Trainer, CPT The NASM-CPT is the most widely chosen certification among fitness professionals, making it the most widely accepted in the industry. As a future personal trainer it is important to align yourself with the most reputable certification and we believe that NASM is just that, which is why we are giving you an objective way to learn about NASM reviews.

The way that you receive your CPT credential is by passing the NASM CPT Exam. This is done by learning the information from the NASM CPT Textbook that is most relevant to succeeding as a personal trainer. NASM will provide you with education packages ranging from $800 – $2500 dollars, but most people agree that their education is confusing, which is probably why the pass rate is at 79% (proctored/accredited) and 90% (non-proctored/non-accredited).

The best and least expensive way to pass their exam and learn the information you need to be successful, is by taking our Free NASM Study Course (we use to charge $500 for this course) and then purchasing the exam and textbook separately. Our course goes into specific detail regarding what makes it onto the test so you can better prepare yourself for what to expect. The course also adds real world experiences and examples that teach you how to use the material to train your clients more effectively. Whichever way you chose to learn, the NASM certification should be your top choice as it is accepted at almost any training facility.

Other NASM Reviews for Specialty Certifications

Convinced NASM is the way to go?

Your next steps for NASM certification:

Get Fitness Mentors’ Free NASM CPT Study Course
Begin Your Studies Using the Fitness Mentors’ 4 & 8-week Study Timeline
Purchase NASM’s Cheapest Study Package Here
Begin Your Career as a NASM Certified Personal Trainer!

Written by:

Eddie Lester BS, NASM-CPT, CES, PES, FNS, WLS, MMAS, GFS, YES, SFS

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Extra Credentials are like super setting your favorite two body parts, it pumps you up! (insert Arnold voice). When you are already a NASM Certified Trainer, I highly recommend focusing your continuing education on sales or sticking with their other certifications, as they transfer to equal the amount of CEU’s you need to recertify (1.9 CEU’s + 0.1 CEU for CPR). When choosing your additional certs, think purpose. What credential is going to make you more valuable to the type of clientele you want to attract? Below is an honest breakdown:

Corrective Exercise Specialist, CES:

Train people in pain

The CES certification is far and away NASM’s best cert, as you will learn extremely applicable information. It forces you to understand origins of pain and how to fix it. My biggest concern with my training was learning how to always progress in strength, athleticism and body image, while avoiding any training associated injury. Here’s the truth, if you don’t have perfect flexibility and muscle balance, you are on your way to finding injury. In the CES materials you learn about all the mobility issues that can lead to these injuries. Beyond this, the value you can build knowing and understanding your clients’ pain is immense. Imagine you look at the most basic movement patterns of someone in their everyday life and are able to tell them about how their overactive Pec Major is giving them that shoulder pain they have been dealing with for months. They are blown away. Another great thing about this cert is that the test you have to pass, which is NASM’s hardest by far, makes sure you have completed your studies and understand these difficult topics. All of this combined makes the Corrective Exercise Specialist Certification a true educational experience that is held to the highest standard.

Certified Nutrition Coach, CNC:

With a huge mess of information out there on nutrition, it is extremely important to be able to differentiate the good from the bad. When put simply we can say things like, avoid processed food; eat whole foods; avoid Trans fats, but we need to understand why these things are important. The Certified Nutrition Coach by NASM takes a detailed college level textbook and goes to town on understanding everything you need to know about PRO, CHO and FAT, as well as all of the vitamins and minerals, what they do and where to get them. Although there is no definitive way to eat (some may argue otherwise), being able to analyze the true nutritional content of what you are eating and understand why you are eating it, the knowledge gained through the Certified Nutrition Coach will help you to boost your own and your clients’ fitness goals.

Performance Enhancement Specialist, PES:

Unless you are planning on focusing your fitness career in sports specific training or you are a competitive athlete yourself, the Performance Enhancement Specialist may be of little use. The market for sports training is not a large one, and typically caters to high school and college aged clientele, which usually don’t have room in their budget for private training. It’s not too frequent that business men come to personal trainers looking to become a better running back or shortstop. In review of what you are learning there are great things about the PES. Through the assessments chapter you are introduced to some great sports specific assessments that can expand your repertoire when considering performance as a goal. Also they have a great Olympic Lifting chapter that is essential to understand for improving explosiveness and power in sports that have those needs. Same goes for the plyometric chapter. If you like understanding concepts behind why these types of training will benefit athleticism, then the science based information throughout the book will be a great resource. Overall the PES is great, but remember it has a very specific and small market. Certifications to explore that will benefit your sports based training knowledge would be the USA-Weightlifting’s (USAW) Sports Performance Coach and National Strength and Conditioning Association’s (NSCA) Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist. These certifications are very focused on the college and pro level setting and it would not be easy to carry out their training programs in your typical commercial gym.

Weight Loss Specialist, WLS:

I may sound a little harsh towards this certification, only because they beat the law of thermodynamics to death (calories in vs calories out). When will NASM jump off the government recommended nutrition band wagon and realized there is more to altering body composition; ie. Hormonal Optimization, Macronutrient Ratios, and eating low inflammatory profile foods to name a few. Unfortunately they don’t discuss any alternative methods to weight loss, and just repeat what you already know, to slightly more detail. I do have to say that having this title will make you sound great, but recognize your investment in furthering your education provides little return.

Mixed Martial Arts Specialist, MMAS:

Is this your target audience? Then get it. Similar to the Weight loss Specialist, if you expect to get great insight into how to train someone like MMA fighters you are understandably misled. Mixed Martial Artists are athletes and you are better off applying the PES principles to understand and program toward the demand of the sport, rather than take them through circuit training with added kicks, knees and elbows. I really only see this as a clever way to capitalize on the recent MMA influenced fitness training boom. Once again the education is lacking, so the title is all you’re really paying for.

Group Personal Training Specialist, GPT:

Did you know that no gyms require you to have this to train their group exercise classes? I can only see this benefiting you in a few ways; one of them being that you’re starting a boot camp or private group class and want to bring attention to the fact that you are qualified, and the other being that you really suck at training groups and you need more insight, which is unlikely. If you fall into one of these categories I guess you could try it?

Women’s Fitness Specialist, WFS:

If this is your target market, adding this certification may be of value. It dives a bit deeper into the uniqueness of female clients including monthly cycles and hormonal factors. Sounds okay but you decide. I will be waiting for the Men’s Fitness Specialist to arrive. Any day now…

Youth Exercise Specialist, YES:

Teach them how to play and perform speed, agility and quickness drills. Once again if this is your target market it may hold value. The special considerations for youth can be found in chapter 16 in the NASM Essentials of Personal Fitness Training Textbook. The additional information in this cert does not add to much benefit beyond what the basic standards are for youth training.

Senior Fitness Specialist, SFS:

Great title if this is your main focus for your business. Besides that your money is better spent on the CES, learning ways to address musculoskeletal pain.

Golf Fitness Specialist, GFS:

Do you already kick ass at golf? Is this your Target Market? I love golf. If you love golf this does provide some great baseline knowledge for you to build upon in the real world, but check out the Titleist Performance Institute if you are serious about getting to golf training.

Highly Recommended: CES, CNC, PES

Honorable Mention: MMAS, WLS

CES FNS GFS GPT MMAS Personal Trainer Certification Review PES SFS video WFS WLS YES

Up to 40% off certification courses!

What Exactly Is Pilates?

How Pilates Can Help Expand Your Client Base

1. Pilates Is Increasingly Becoming Popular

2. Pilates Suits All Demographic Cohorts

3. Incorporating Pilates Diversifies Your Service Offerings

4. Adding Pilates Can Build Client Relationship

5. Pilates Can Give You Unique Selling Proposition

Professional Development for Personal Trainers

Marketing Strategies for Pilates Integration

Frequently Asked Questions:

Do I need prior Pilates experience before adding it to my personal training services?

How long does it take to get a Pilates certification?

Can Pilates really attract new clients to my personal training business?

How do I price Pilates sessions compared to my regular personal training sessions?

Do I need special equipment to offer Pilates to my clients?

How do I market my Pilates services without a large following?

Is Pilates suitable for clients who are recovering from injuries?

Why an Online Portfolio Is No Longer Optional for Personal Trainers

Building Trust Through Transparency, Credentials, and Client Results

What Makes a High-Converting Personal Trainer Website

Using Content Marketing to Demonstrate Expertise and Rank on Google

How SEO Helps Personal Trainers Attract Both Local and Virtual Clients

Improving Client Engagement and Retention Through Online Tools

Growing Your Fitness Business Beyond the Four Walls of the Gym

Common Mistakes Personal Trainers Make with Their Online Presence

FAQs:

Do personal trainers really need a website in addition to social media?

What should a personal trainer website include to attract and convert clients?

How does SEO help personal trainers get more clients?

Can I realistically build an online coaching client base through my website alone?

How long does it take to see results from content marketing and SEO?

Is social media enough to sustain a personal training business long-term?

7 Ways to Train for Your Destination Wedding

1. Create a Fitness Timeline

2. Work With a Personal Trainer

3. Incorporate Movement Into Daily Life

4. Focus on Nutrition

5. Make Working Out Fun

6. Prioritize Mental Health

7. Track Your Progress

Final Thoughts: How I Prepared for My Destination Wedding

FAQs:

1. How far in advance should I start training for a destination wedding?

2. Do I really need a personal trainer for my wedding fitness?

3. How can I stay active if I have a busy schedule?

4. What type of workouts are best for destination weddings?

5. How important is nutrition in wedding fitness prep?

6. Can mental health really impact my fitness prep?

7. How do I track my progress effectively?

8. What if I miss a workout or fall behind?

Why Personal Trainers Need the Best Fitness Apps

Best Fitness Apps for Personal Trainers in 2026

1. Hoola

2. Nike Training Club

3. Peloton App

4. Apple Fitness +

5. Strava

6. JEFIT

7. Trainerize

How to Choose the Best Workout App Based on Your Goals

Tips for Getting Started with Fitness Apps

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Conclusion

Understanding Metabolic Workouts

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Key Benefits of Metabolic Workouts for Your Clients

How to Design an Effective Metabolic Workout for Your Clients

Practical Examples of Strength Training at Home

Integrating Cardio for Optimal Results with Aroleap

Your Path to a Boosted Metabolism

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Judging for Bikini Competitions

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