Fitness and Wellness Careers

Health and wellness is a major industry with consumers spending billions of dollars on medical care, preventive medicine and health insurance each year. Fitness and wellness careers employ workers who help establish healthy lifestyles and work with clients to meet fitness goals, whether they include losing weight, promoting overall health or training for athletic competition.

Types

• Fitness and wellness careers include many different types of individual jobs. Some workers spend their time as personal trainers, working directly with clients in a one-on-one situation and developing personalized fitness plans. Others lead groups and fitness classes, teaching techniques and overseeing workout sessions. Other fitness careers involve education rather than hands-on instruction. These teachers may work at schools, fitness centers or hospitals.

Background

• Each type of fitness or wellness worker needs a background and education specific to the needs of the job. For example, personal trainers need an in-depth understanding of anatomy. Fitness instructors and educators must know about a wide range of exercise options and also understand teaching methods to get their points across to students and clients. Some states require trainers and fitness instructors to acquire certification through testing before gaining employment. Most fitness careers require a high school degree and on-the-job training to develop proficiency. Others hold bachelors degrees in fields like exercise science, physical education or kinesiology.

Benefits

• Most fitness and wellness workers have a personal interest in physical activity and a healthy lifestyle. This means that the job often aligns with personal lifestyle choices and priorities. Fitness workers stay active and remain up-to-date on the latest medical research which they can apply to themselves as well as to their clients. Most fitness jobs involve working indoors in a controlled environment such as a gym, fitness center or health care facility. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the outlook for fitness careers in the United States is very good for the future with a constant demand for skilled workers in the field.

Effects

• Fitness and wellness careers have an expansive effect on society in general. Access to fitness training and opportunities for exercise contributes to a healthier population. The Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that between 2008 and 2018 the rate at which people seek fitness programs is expected to grow rapidly. Wellness disciplines such as yoga and Pilates offer alternative forms of physical activity to clients who otherwise might be unable to participate, or uninterested in participating, in a fitness regimen.

Considerations

• Fitness and wellness careers offer limited opportunities for advancement. Many workers hold only part-time positions and may work at two or more fitness centers to earn enough to make a living. Part-time work can also mean lack of employee benefits, including health insurance and a retirement savings plan. Fitness workers also need to be able to continue to perform their work even as they age, which can be difficult for those who teach and perform more strenuous exercise disciplines. Transitioning to an educational or supervisory position is one way to remain in a fitness career on a long-term basis.