Types of Personal Training and Certification

Though the history of fitness trainers dates back further, it was not until the 1980s and 1990s that personal trainers began to grow in popularity. Whereas once only professional athletes worked with trainers, soon soccer moms and average Joes were being professionally trained. Now, with most gyms offering trainers who have a wide array of certifications to their clients, personal training is a nationwide phenomenon.

  1. General Fitness Training

    • Most personal trainers work within the realm of general fitness. Working with individual clients to meet personalized goals, general trainers focus on a range of fitness movements and disciplines to help their clients develop a broad level of fitness that includes cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength and endurance, and flexibility. Though some trainers will have bachelor's or master's degrees in fitness related fields such as kinesiology, physical education and exercise science, most have fitness training certifications. Certifications can vary in credibility, but an accreditation by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies signifies legitimacy. Credible certification associations include American Fitness Professionals and Associates (AFPA), the American Council on Exercise (ACE), the International Sports Science Association (ISSA) and the National Federation of Professional Trainers (NFPT).

    Yoga Training

    • One of the most popular forms of fitness training is yoga. Yoga trainers can work with large groups or in private individual sessions. Unlike general personal training certifications, becoming a yoga trainer requires not just knowledge of the discipline, but personal yoga skills. Since yoga instruction is taught by example, those leading the class must be able to demonstrate poses to their clients. Yoga certification can be less formal than general personal training certifications, with an experienced Yoga instructor, not an association, providing certification. Not all yoga instructors, however, are credible teachers. For a list of registered yoga schools and teachers, visit www.yogaalliance.org.

    Area-specific Trainers

    • Area-specific trainers work in a very specific discipline for which they have great knowledge. Though some have gained their knowledge academically, most area-specific trainers are former or current participants in their area of fitness and use their years of gained wisdom to train clients. Examples are high-level swimmers, body builders, cyclists and marathon runners. Though these trainers might have very specific areas of expertise, they often will gain general training certifications that allow them to work with a broad range of clients as well. While there are rarely legal certification requirements to train others in their area of expertise, trainers can find it necessary if their achievements in the field are not easily marketable. Whereas a champion bodybuilder likely will not have any trouble getting clients without an International Federation of Body Building certification, a less professionally successful body builder might have trouble getting clients without this certification.