How to pursue a career as a yoga or fitness instructor?

Yoga and fitness

Who does not crave for a He-man shaped body or to keep up a fit body? But one needs to work hard for a v-shaped body or a He-man shaped body. Many of us in our teens did exercises to look fit and agile. There are also enormous examples of those who took fitness as their pet hobby and got a perfect well toned muscles on their body. But then there are those who never gave up this habit of fitness exercises and carried it along with the other must-do works of life like education etc. It is these people who are having a career of fitness and working as chief fitness consultants in the well-known multiple gyms. A person with a well-built body not only catches everyone's attention very easily but also soothes one's eye. Very often they come along remarks on the go like Wow! Great body, what a cool boy, man!

Characteristic of yoga or fitness work

There are many scopes that exist in the job of yoga training. The good thing about it is that the scopes related with this work is ever-increasing. For most of us the very nature of life style somewhat hectic. Therefore to bring in a balance in our life we have added physical fitness exercises in our routine. Today different types of fitness centers are also mushrooming up in the cities where free hand, aerobics, exercises with different equipment, exercises without equipment, yoga etc. are done. The basic nature of work of a fitness instructor or consultant is to show the path of fitness to others by properly analyzing certain factors like nature of life style, physical condition, amount of time one can dedicate to exercise etc.

With time different types of patterns got added up in the yoga classes like yoga for fitness, yoga therapy, spiritual yoga, exercises during pregnancy, important exercises for corporate executives, yoga for the aged etc. To begin a career as a physical trainer one needs to first join as an instructor in a club, gym and fitness institutes. Besides, one can also build a physical institute oneself and give physical fitness training.

Scope of yoga or fitness work

One of the most brilliant aspect of the yoga or fitness training programs is that different kinds of diseases and ailments and some chronic diseases could be cured out of this. It is not only limited to this as it also benefits one by protecting one from getting infected with certain kind of diseases. Because of the sudden rise in the popularity of yoga those who are professionally involved with this their income is getting better. But one needs to remember the nail-biting fact that one cannot bet for a handsome income from the beginning. With time and experience the income gets gradually raised because whose who are interested in physical training (the clients) they are financially well placed in the society. Hence, there is no risk of loss in the profession.

What one needs to do first is to get a training from a good institute. One needs to educate oneself with both the practical and theoretical knowledge of the work. One needs to have a good idea about the fitness psychology. To get placed in a well-known institute one needs to work hard to get a good qualification for it. Today physical fitness training or yoga is added in the curriculum of various schools. For this also the need of well-trained teachers are very much. What is important is that one has to show a proper way to people according to their personal and physical need. Moreover in different NGOs and ashrams also there remains vacancy for well-trained trainers. One need to send his bio-data and application to these institutes to get employed.

Fitness training in gym

People are flocking around multiple gyms not only to do yoga and exercise but also to get a job in it. This is more so because in any gym fitness training professionals are required. In gyms there is not much scope for yoga and exercises because what is considered as valid over here is the knowledge of handling different equipment. One have to advise his client how to cut excess fat on the body or how to get a perfect six pack on the go. It is worthwhile to mention here gyms are the modern one stop place for health requirements.

Required qualifications for a fitness instructor

To work as a physical instructor one needs to do some specific studies about the human anatomy. One needs to have a proper knowledge about the different organs of the body and how they function. Besides, the work of a fitness expert to prepare a suitable time table for the clients. An appropriate diet outline is also needed with a specific fitness program. Proper benefits of going to gym could only be accomplished if one follows the time table and diet chart appropriately. Moreover, a physical fitness expert has to do proper studies on nutrition as he may have to advice clients who are suffering from the disease of diabetes or high blood pressures. The fitness instructor also needs to monitor different things properly to rightly show his clients the proper path of health and success.

Types of fitness training

Fitness training can be broadly categorized into three types which are as given below:

Group fitness instructor: Those who give fitness training to any group or club or classroom is known as group fitness instructor. Their main job is to give fitness training to a particular group of people.

Exercise specialist: They teach exercises according to the requirement of the physicians. Normally, different kinds of patients visit them to get cured of their problems.

Personal trainers: This type of trainers train individuals who come to seek fitness help in the training institutes. They give individual attention to the clients so that they get maximum benefit from the different exercise programs. The main condition of this type of work is client satisfaction through different training programs.

Fitness training courses

Different US based institutes are growing are growing up in the big cities of India for creating a pool of talented fitness trainers. These institutes are known as American council on exercise or simply ASE. These institutes facilitate the trainers with respective certificates after the successful completion of fitness training courses.

Three types of courses are done in this type of institutes. They are as given below:

The ASE group fitness instructor certification.

ASE clinical exercise specialist certification.

ASE life style and weight management consultant certification.

Moreover, in Gwalior one may go for a masters or bachelors degree course in physical education from Lakshmibai college of physical education. Besides, the BFY sports and fitness institute provides training and certificate through different workshops.

Different yoga learning centers in India

Yoga is not at all a new concept in India as is deeply rooted with Indian culture through the centuries. The ever rising popularity of yoga attracts yoga learners from all over the world. It is the most popular way of releasing one's mind from worries. Though there are different schools in India which provides regular classes and certificates in yoga one need to do a proper research before choosing a program which suits one's timing and flexibility. Some of the famous yoga learning centers are as given below:

Astanga yoga research institute

This institute is located in Mysore, very close to Bangalore. Here the duration of the courses vary from one month to six months. Students have the liberty to opt for classes in the sanskrit language. It provides Astanga yogic classes round the calendar year.

Parmarth niketan

Parmarth niketan is located in the town of Rishikesh and it is a wonderful platform to learn yoga for anyone. It has a huge campus to facilitate students and provides teacher training courses also. Yoga festivals are also held every year. The duration of the course ranges from two weeks to a month long.

Kaivalyadham yoga institute

It is located in Lonavala and researches about yoga is also done. Here students have the opportunity to learn about health care, that is, to keep fit with the practice of yoga.

The Gordhandas seksaria college of yoga and cultural synthesis provides the opportunity of doing different certificate courses with M Phil, school teachers yoga training, diploma course on yoga therapy. Besides, there is also the opportunity of doing various other specialization courses.

Work-full time or part time as a fitness instructor

After getting certified one may have a number of options available from where one may want to start with. This is particularly a personal decision and one may sort out this according to one's need and physical strength. But one needs to be prudent enough to find out the what kind of opportunities are available and what suits one suits best. One also have the liberty to work full time or part time. Obviously full time work may bring one better outcome in comparison to part time work but the nail biting fact is that full time works are more challenging in nature. It would also be advisable for one to work hard in the initial stages of the career to add on practical experiences which may help on in the long run.