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Why write an article on personal training tips for beginners?
If I could, I would travel back in time to slap myself with some knowledge! Things would have been much easier if I had known what I know now. I hope to make the journey easier for new personal trainers with a few tips.
The menu at the top of this page will answer any question related to your personal training. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to leave me a comment here (I’ll respond within 24 hours). Also, visit the home page for the most recent and popular articles. Make sure to take the quiz to see which personal training certification is the best match for you if you are not yet certified.
I could make a super long list, but I will stick with my top three tips for now if you do not yet have a personal trainer certification check out the new list of my favorite ones and a guide on how to become a CPT!
You can make significant money as a personal trainer and do something you love! Let’s hop right into my training tips for beginners!
Build Your Network!
This is extremely valuable for expanding your own business and opening up opportunities as a personal trainer. It is essential both in a commercial gym setting and in running your own business.
Word-of-mouth is a powerful tool. It can make or break you as a trainer. If you work with clients who love your services, they will introduce you to friends and family (all potential clients!).
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The real money comes from working for yourself or a local gym that takes a small cut of the client’s pay. If you want to work independently, bringing in as many clients as possible is essential to make the transition smooth.
From the beginning, you should order a stack of 1000 business cards you can hand out. You can get these online for as little as $20.
You should also consider building your website to handle personal training inquiries. Be sure to talk to everyone in your gym, even if they are not interested in buying training.
If you help these individuals, they will likely recommend you to anybody they know who would be interested in your services. You will also need to learn how to sell personal training!
Test Lots of New Things at the Very Beginning
Most personal trainers that are just starting out have minimal hands-on experience. The knowledge that they have comes from the textbook that they studied to get certified.
I often see these new trainers scared to try anything outside the strict guidelines in their textbooks. The truth is that there are thousands of different exercises to choose from in addition to the ones that were in the study materials.
So much more information on personal training is available that can fit into any textbook. Don’t be scared to try different exercises, techniques, and intensities.
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The ability to adapt and develop a truly custom fit exercise routine for each of your clients will make you stand out.
All of your clients will respond differently to specific exercises based on their age, sex, limitations, and goals that they have.
Switch things up to find out what they like and what works best for them. Don’t be afraid to get creative with your workouts!
Record Everything: Track Progress to Keep Your Clients Motivated
I have observed so many of my fellow trainers who do a very poor job of recording workouts and tracking their clients’ progress.
As a result, their clients have no idea whether they are improving or getting worse in their workout program. They can’t tell if they are making progress, which is hugely demotivating.
On the other hand, when you can show them quantitative data that demonstrates their improvement, it is hugely motivating. Visuals are a great way to keep pushing through plateaus. If you chart their progress, it is incredibly reassuring.
It would be best if you tracked their progress regarding the weight they use, the reps they do, weight measurements, circumference measurements, and body fat percentage.
You should also encourage them to track their diet using a journal or calorie counter app. Go over these factors with your clients once a month, at the very least!
Here is a cool article from IDEA Health and Fitness about client motivation. Also, check out my article on keeping your clients motivated!
Conclusion
Maybe at some point in the future, when time machines have been invented, I will travel back in time and hand this article to myself. There will be a more in-depth article on personal training tips for beginners down the road.
For now, though, I think these three tidbits of advice will take you a long way! Let me know in the comments below what your favorite beginner tips are!
Check out some other articles in the personal training tips section, such as beginning core workouts and small-group personal training advice.
Also, if you are curious about habit formation, you may be interested in becoming a health coach. Check out my favorite health coach certification here!
![What Is a CPT Certification? + Other CPT Questions [year] 1](https://www.ptpioneer.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/what-is-a-cpt-certification.jpg "What Is a CPT Certification? + Other CPT Questions [year] 7")
Hey Tyler
I’m currently working with private elderly clients 54-70 yrs of age , I’m also a certified yoga instructor and Alvin Ailey trained dancer , dance teacher . My base knowledge is yoga and pilates and dance of course ( ballet ) .
I have a pretty strong base knowledge of anatomy and physiology ( currently taking an online course ) .Im not sure which certification I should be looking into , I currently have my CPR/ AED CERTIFICATION and my own insurance ..side note , my math skills are questionable and my study skills are on the slower side …would love your input
Denise 🙏🏻
Hello Denise,
I would definitely look into the international sports Sciences Association certification. They typically have great combination packages with personal training and nutrition which is pretty cool. Also, they allow you to take the exam online which reduces a lot of the test anxiety one might experience. Just make sure to check in your area to see which personal training certifications the fitness facilities accept. Good luck with all the studying and you are going to do great.