Self-improvement is as important as courses: Fitness trainer

Nisha Varma talks about the need for more fitness trainers and career avenues

Would India need more fitness trainers soon?
Yes. India, especially the cities, has witnessed a surge in lifestyle diseases like diabetes, sleep apnea and heart ailments. As a result, many of us are adopting a healthier lifestyle by adhering to a fitness regimen. Multinational chains of gyms [like Fitness First and Power Plate] are now expanding their base in India and they prefer to hire formally trained instructors. So there lies a lot of scope for budding trainers.

With increasing competition, can one make a career as a fitness trainer without getting any certification?
Some people think it’s easy to be a trainer without an intensive study, which is not true. There is a full-fledged science involved in fitness training. Without the course, one remains deprived of this science. Even after doing a course, one should keep re-learning through self-study and online programmes.

What changes do you expect in the industry in the near future?
The industry would be better organised. As of now, there’s no accountability to a trainer for any injury during the course of the job. As the industry progresses, trainers would get better deals and might also get insurance cover and provident fund.    

Do Indian fitness trainers have job prospects abroad?
There are avenues but the number of trainers settling abroad is very small.

How important is it to learn communication skills?
The fitness business comes under the service industry, and a trainer can’t be neither over-authoritative nor extra polite. Good communication skills are definitely quite important.