Gym Instructing | It's Not All It's Cracked Up To Be? | Pros & Cons

Welcome back and I hope you enjoyed reading my first blog where I briefly introduced myself. 

Through these blogs, you will gradually get to know more about me, my life, my beliefs, my likes and dislikes etc.  For example, below I will tell you about the physical activities I have taken part in and perhaps this is why I became a gym instructor.  So, without delay, let's get to it!

Exercise and me

Throughout my life I’ve always taken part in some kind of physical activity; Cubs, Boy Scouts, Army Cadets, Boxing, Running Club, Karate and then exercising in the gym.  Funnily enough, I disliked school sport activities, especially Football. 

I know, I can hear you saying, “You are English and you don’t like football?”

It seems that no matter where I’ve travelled, as soon as I tell people I’m from England, they ask “What football team do you support?”, and are always shocked that I answer “none”.  It seems like being English means you must follow football. I guess we all have our preconceptions.

So, is being a gym instructor all it's “cracked up to be?”

Becoming a Gym Instructor

After working in other jobs in my life; a Credit Control Clerk, a HGV2 Driver, plus other short term jobs and after other events in my life (which I will cover in later blogs), I decided I needed a change and looked for a job which I thought I would enjoy doing.  

At this point of time in my life, the only constant was ‘exercise’ so I looked for a role which would involve some kind of exercise and at the time I was going to the gym and attending exercise classes, so I thought about teaching exercise classes, but tie it in with my Boxing experience.

Online, I found a ‘Boxercise’ course, but to enrol in the course I needed a Gym Instructor 

(Level 2) qualification, so I looked around and found a Gym Instructors course.

After qualifying as a Gym Instructor, (Level 2), I decided to also book a ‘Circuit Solutions’ (Circuit Training) course and a Group Cycling (Spin) course. They were only one day courses and thought they would be handy qualifications to have.

Boxercise Classes

After qualifying, I bought some gloves and pads and looked for places where I could run my Boxercise classes.  I eventually found two ideal locations and advertised in local shops, online etc.

Boxercise was a trademarked company and they provided ideas for class formats, music etc, so after deciding on a format and music to use, I opened for my first class.

You know, even though I was nervous as heck, I found that I really enjoyed teaching the class and I went on to teach many many more.

While teaching my classes I applied for a Gym Instructor role with a company called Fitness First in my hometown.  I was enjoying teaching classes, so I thought I would also enjoy being a gym instructor.

Actual Gym Instructing

Yes, it may seem weird to say “actual” gym instructing, as you would think that this is all that the role would entail.  However, I was soon to find out that other duties were included.

Quickly going back in time; from early childhood I was always a quiet person (maybe a bit of an introvert), but after leaving school and starting work I gradually started to open up, so by the time I became a gym instructor I was a more outgoing and confident person.  I wouldn’t say completely outgoing, nor completely confident, but more so than when I first left school. 

I found myself really enjoying being a gym instructor; instructing people, chatting, having a laugh while at the same time trying to remain professional.

As a gym instructor you will have the usual duties to perform; gym inductions, writing exercise programs and general instructing and exercise guidance on the gym floor.

Like other customer facing roles, a gym instructor's job is to provide a professional and friendly service and since gym goers pay a membership fee, it was my job to give them value for money.  I believe good customer service starts with a smile from you and ends with a smile from them.

Health Questionnaires

Most gyms, if not all, require members to complete a health questionnaire before taking part in any exercise and anyone with a health condition has to get clearance from their doctor. 

These questionnaires provide vital information about a person's health and if they have any conditions that would be negatively affected by exercising.

We will also be able to find out about a person’s exercise history, what activities they have or do take part in.  This information helps us to offer sound advice on exercises they are looking to complete and for exercise programs that they may want designing; be it a daily, weekly or monthly plan.

Instructing Gym Members - Important Note

I do want to stress that it is important, really important to listen to people, to find out what the gym member really wants to achieve health and fitness wise.  We have to fit an exercise program to the customer, make sure it's initially within their range of capability.

Gym Instructors come in all shapes and sizes, just like everyday people and also have their own exercise preferences; some like cardio exercises, some prefer bodybuilding, but whatever they personally like, they should forget what they like and focus on what the gym member would like.

Sadly in my time I have seen some instructors simply fail to listen carefully to gym members and give bad advice and inappropriate exercise programs.

If you decide to become a gym instructor, please remember that the gym is all about the gym member and not you.  Give the customer what they are looking for and later in your own time you can train how you like.

Rewards

I believe you will find the actual gym instructing very enjoyable, and even rewarding.

What made me feel proud of being a gym instructor was when people would later come up to me and say “thank you”.  It could have been for an enjoyable program, an exercise technique tip, a health tip etc.  Whatever the particular thank you was for, I found it satisfying and heart warming that I had actually helped someone. 

Seeing someone smile at you and being grateful for your help; it's priceless.

Gym Instructor to Counsellor 

Yep, funnily enough, being a gym instructor did at times feel like I was a bit of a counsellor. It was surprising to me how people would open up to you, tell you nearly everything about their lives and not actually being a counsellor, I did try ‘not’ to give advice, but rather listen to what they had to say and let them “vent” so to say.

Most people who come to the gym are actually happy to be there, so are more likely to enjoy a good chat, tell you about their day, whether it was a good or bad day, and being English, complain about the weather.

People being people, some may talk about problems they are having, maybe at work or at home with friends, family members etc. 

Even though it’s hard not to get involved, we must remember that we are first and foremost Gym Instructors, so try to remain professional and not let what they have told you in confidence become known all around the gym or out in the world.

A Glorified Cleaner

This is a title that I would jokingly give to myself

Yes, being a gym instructor does entail cleaning, cleaning and probably a bit more cleaning!

How much cleaning you do will depend on the company you work for.

As a gym instructor, each day you will definitely have general cleaning duties to perform; mainly “maintenance cleaning”.  This means keeping the gym floor area clean; for example clearing up weights people have left on the floor instead of putting them back on the weight racks (so heavy lifting is also involved), tidying away rubbish, wiping down sweaty cardio equipment that members sometimes forget to do themselves.

Also, cleaning of toilets and showering facilities; cleaning up messes, spills etc.

Generally speaking, you will perform cleaning duties to help keep the place looking nice for every member that turns up on your shift and ideally leave it nice and clean for the next staff member on shift.

That’s Too Much Cleaning!

Personally, I think various companies go too far and get gym instructors to do “too much cleaning”. 

What I mean by this is, rather than employing evening or early morning cleaners; the owners will get the instructors to do “deep cleans”, and I mean deep cleaning toilets, showers, steam rooms, saunas, swimming pool floor areas etc.

Oftentimes they ask for this cleaning to be done in opening hours which to me looks very unprofessional and can be dangerous; afterall you will be using harsh chemicals that without PPE (Personal Protection Equipment) can be inhaled, skin exposed to and even just be slipped on.

My advice to any would-be Gym Instructor is while in the interview process, ask them about what is expected of you in regards to cleaning; ask them how much time during a shift would you be expected to clean vs. actual gym instructing time.

Conclusion

In this blog I have provided just a brief glimpse into being a Gym Instructor, and I hope I haven’t put you off?  In fact, apart from the cleaning duties part of the job, it’s very enjoyable and rewarding.

Overall, it's an easy enough job and you are getting paid to talk to people, to help them make positive changes that can benefit them for the rest of their lives.

Imagine if you will, walking around your local supermarket and a gym member sees you. They come up to you and can’t seem to thank you enough for the help you have given them.  I don’t know about you, but that’s reward enough.  

Like anywhere else in life, you will have good days and you will have bad days.  I can recall many times that I’ve set off to work in a sombre mood, feeling like I can’t be bothered, but that all disappears when smiling customers turn up and say “goodmorning!”  They smile, ask you how you are doing and you will most often find yourself smiling back at them and eventually start to feel better yourself

So, if you enjoy exercising, speaking with people and are thinking of becoming a Gym Instructor; I’d say “GO FOR IT!”

Ok, thank you so much for joining me on another blog.  

I hope you found the content helpful and if you have any questions please do leave a comment.

Also, if you have any suggestions for other topics, please do get in touch, and again, Thank You!