The Truth Is..
For some of you, you may not be able to get to the About me Section of my blog and that is perfectly okay because it probably needs updated anyways. I decided to make a more personalized post today since I have been connecting with so many other bloggers who are personal trainers, or health coaches. I love the reasons why people have chosen this profession and i even love the ones who started in this profession but have moved on to something more like nursing or physical therapy and occupational therapy, among other occupations. I think no matter what, you all have chosen to do that profession because you enjoy it – at least I hope so and hope that you if you don’t enjoy it, you find something you do enjoy.
I found that my passion lies with fitness, lies with wanting to be a personal trainer and making the most of it with what I have learned and experiences. I started off as physical therapy student (which I loved, btw) but soon changed my degree to exercise science and never regretted it yet, although sometimes I was in question about it. For some people, they think of this degree as a dead end, a no go, a pointless achievement but for me, it means I have the power to change someone’s life in a way that is transforming them into better people physically and hopefully building them up mentally as well. Now for starters, this doesn’t mean that I might not go back to school for something more or different if I need to, or decide that I want a change of scenery or if I want a profession that has more benefits, etc – this just means for the time being, personal training is my highest goal. I know this job is hard because most trainers are working part time and having to build a client list while carrying another job and I realize this job can be tiring because you are having to work around a client’s schedule that may be really early in the morning or really late at night but in order to keep them as a client and build rapport, you do it no matter.
In my mind I know this is something I want to do and love watching other trainers with their clients. I want to make a career of this, but I also have given thought about becoming a strength and conditioning coach or perhaps going back to school and going for physical therapy again..and those are ALL things I can do at any point in my life If I choose to. I want to be a personal trainer because I feel as though I have come a long way in myself and I have seen changes that happened gradually and I want to see those changes in others; and if this sounds about right, let me add that I also want to be a personal trainer because I want to be a fitness mogul – someone who isn’t just a person in the world training people but a person who has taken their training to new heights, traveled, well versed with other trainers and professionals in the field, someone who has a general audience they train but specializes in something that makes them stand out among the crowd, someone who has an app that people use because they know it will benefit them, someone who does public speaking/motivational speeches because people love what I have to say and want support, I want a book that I publish; maybe even a series that gives not only the fitness aspect of my life but my development as a person and where my obstacles lie. I want to be able to network with people – nutritionist, doctors, sports medicine professionals, coaches, etc in order to make the best of my job and deliver the best part of me. I have no idea if any of this is possible and if it is, I want it and if it isn’t, well shit I will try anyways.
Being a personal trainer isn’t about looking good, or being strong – to me, it goes above and beyond that, it is about dedicating your life to making sure that every client feels like they achieved something – achieved something that made them feel better about themselves and their capabilities. I never want a client to feel inferior next to me, I want them to feel like they are my teammate and we both have to do this together if we want to be successful. When I think of everything I hope to do as a personal trainer, I want it to mean something. To some of you this is crazy, impossible, maybe even shocking, and potentially a dream that might never happen – but this is why I chose to graduate in exercise science and why I want to be a personal trainer, this is what I believe in.
P.S for all those who are trainers – feel free to let me know the pros and cons of being a personal trainer, let me know why you chose this occupation, let me know what you think about the fitness industry, let me know if you were a trainer and went on to something more and why you did so, let me know what you think of my reasons, let me know if you prefer working in a gym or being an independent trainer, tell me everything you know and have learned working as personal trainer. Did you have dreams of training celebs? Do you feel like personal trainers get paid well? Do you feel like it is a growing job choice or dying occupation? do you think exercise science is a dead zone degree? Name other jobs you can get with an exercise science degree, I want to know everything you are willing to share and please feel free to connect with me through social media or email. I love being able to speak with all of you.
Thanks for reading, feel free to share, like, comment, and follow me.
Fitness WonderWoman,
Shay-lon xo
Be the best version of you 
Getting ‘better’ on a personal level is empowering however enabling somebody else to better themselves can often be far more fulfilling.
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Yes, agreed. Thank you!
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I actually you chose the right field at almost the right time. Healthcare at some point will have to change to helping people get healthy and stay health. Far from that now. But fitness professional will be in high demand like nurses. There are medical center already doing this and consumers will demand it. So it not even close to reaching its true potential.
Anyway not to get all religious but we all have a higher purpose. Fitness is how we serve the greater good of the world.
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Wow!
Well this makes me feel good hearing this, because with so many opposing views, sometimes it is hard to tell if we are going to grow or decline. I like that it is a growing market and while most don’t see investment now in this profession, I am hoping the importance of it will spark interest in many different ways. Thank you Russell for contributing a comment to this post.
Shay-lon
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It is no rational reason to suggest a decline. People are not getting healthier. People are in pain from inactivity or bad body mechanics. Our military personnel are out of shape. Our kids have it far worst because they will enter adulthood in poor health or maybe good just weak. Our professional need people with a strong foundation in exercise science to integrate beyond healthcare.
Either you can exercise. Or get two minutes with the doctor, misdiagnosed, prescribe medication that they never want you to stop taking. Get sicker see other specialist to get more meds. Finally feel better then get a medical bill $1000. Yeah pretty soon this will have to stop and they will have to exercise specialist and health coaches.
I say this like it will happen next year.
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When you put it that way, it seems so surreal. I didn’t stop to think of why this could increase but these are definite good reasons, especially since medication and health care are getting more expensive for most people – sometimes it is nearly impossible to get the proper help. Not to mention child obesity has always been an issue, so that plays a huge part in this whole cycle as well. Considering P.E is being taken out of schools and sometimes optional to a certain extent, I can see this being one HUGE reason why we need more exercise professionals who can help lower these numbers to prevent conditions that could/would be avoidable.
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Hi Shay! I have been on a journey of coming out of an abusive situation with very low self esteem and severe depression. I am making small changes so I can make them part of my life for good. I’m kinda in a trial and error time, if you will. I have a very long way to go, but I want to get fit.
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Hello,
I understand. I was just discussing depression with a friend of mine the other day, because we were talking about my past situations and the choices I made when I was in a black abyss. I have never been diagnosis with depression (my friend has) but I know I have had my share of moments of deep lonliness, etc. With this being said, don’t rush the process or feel like it is a race or your being timed. The whole process will be long, it will be annoying and it will be very hard but it is very possible to see results within yourself mentally and physically. My blog caters to both mental and physical well-being because I feel as though mental health gets overlooked or mis-understood and people end up in situations that cannot be reversed. No one can truly understand how someone with depression really feels unless they have gone through some form of it themselves and even then, everyone copes differently, everyone handles it differently and reacts to differently.
I am not a doctor and cannot heal any wounds or mental strains but I am here on this blog in hopes that somehow it can be a guide, a friend, a realistic form of information and personal experiences so my readers never feel judged or alone. In the meantime, thank you for sharing this personal insight about yourself and never feel as though you cannot contact me if you have questions or concerns about something I post or about fitness/health in general.
Shay-lon
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It’s so great that you want to help other people and yourself with your degree. A lot of people tend to major in a degree that will get them a well paying job but is it really worth it. I would rather spend my life doing what I’m passionate about then be stuck at a well paying job completely miserable. When I tell people I’m majoring in History they’re sometimes just like ‘okay…but what job can you get with that?’ but honestly in my opinion there are a lot of jobs I can do with History and no they won’t all pay well but at least I’ll do something I care about.
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True. I know that part of living in this world is making enough money to survive and find comfort without financially struggling BUT at the same time, being rich isn’t necessary, if my job allows me to live a stable lifestyle where I don’t have to live paycheck to paycheck, I think that is just as well. Ya know? I mean, sure would I like millions of dollars, well YES, but sometimes that isn’t in the cards and neither is making 6 figures, so I have to find a job that is realistic to my passion and can earn me a living that is appropriate for my lifestyle choices.
When it comes to majors, it all depends anymore on where you live and what you want to do with it and I see it as a way to be creative if the job market is small, you find a way or you choose another path.
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Yes exactly! Everyone would love a job that pays amazingly but that’s not always going to happen depending on what path you choose. I agree having stability is all you need because you’re doing something you love and enjoy! I just don’t think money is a good enough reason to waste away your life. The guy who did my tattoos is an accountant who does tattoos in his free time which I think is so super cool because he is making a living and doing what he’s passionate about which is art!
Yeah I think you can always find a job no matter what your major is if you try hard enough and are passionate enough. Like find out what countries are best for your major and than apply there! That’s what I’m planning to do!
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Wow! seriously, he is an accountant and does tattoos? that is amazing! he makes good money and also does things he enjoys doing, he is goals. Very few people do that but I think that is an excellent way of doing things.
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Yeah I think it’s super cool that he can maintain doing both! I actually had a bet going with my mum before I met him and I was like he probably has a boring day job like accounting and she’s like no way. I obviously won 😂
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Hahah did you win? did you really? because I think your mom won, just saying! she is always a winner in my eyes. loser.! lol
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Lol I thought I was the cool one?!? Of course I won!! 😂😂
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Great post Shay-lon 🙂
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Thank you Lynne,
You should do a post about why you chose to make a blog about recipes. That might be nifty 😀
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Just to follow up my last response. We as fitness professional have to change our profession. We just has to make exercise seem more acceptable for the sick, hurt, and sedentary population. Yes that is about 60- 70% of the population that don’t exercise but want to. Could you imagine if 7 of 10 people wanted pizza? However they keep seeing pizza too hot, too many topping, crazy shapes, and non gluten free. Probably had bad pizza in the past. They keep looking just undecided. Maybe I am optimistic but I would think the pizza market is where the money is if you make good pizza. Just another one for the “wtf are you going to do in exercise science”. Tell them buying stock in Apple before the iPhone.
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Haha, The pizza one makes total sense to me, because you are right, that is a lot of people undecided but having thoughts about it – that means the majority of people now want to do something about their health but haven’t take the step aka plunge because of everything that could go wrong, things they have heard about it or a bad experience and so if we can somehow make fitness not seem so “scary” , or make it so people feel more inclined to want to take that chance, we can change the market and the overall growth in this profession. I always said, it is the people that are afraid to step inside a gym that should be just as much of a focus because if you can get them to step inside a gym or at least start some form of a program; that can be the difference.
Shay-lon
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My best advice is to become a specialist at something in our field. It could be as broad as biomechanics, exercise physiology, and exercise psychology. That doesn’t mean college. You could just learn about HIIT and how/why everyone is doing it wrong. So you can create a HIIT workout for a 60 year old male with bad knee who has never exercise.
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Hm, yes, I plan on wanting to specialize in something and hoping it will come to me at some point because I have some ideas , but nothing in stone.
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