JOB Talk: Personal trainer
JOB Talk: Personal trainer
Name/age: Michael C. Barnes, 41Occupation: Personal trainerEmployer: Self-employed, president of DownTown Fitness on ElmYears in field: 15 Salary range: About $37,000 to $64,000, according to www.Salary.com
Education and certifications:■ Bachelor’s degree in physical education■ Master’s degree in exercise physiology■ Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS)■ Certified in CPR by the American Red Cross
Goals of the job:■ Administer safe exercise for clients by teaching them proper form and technique during resistance training and by devising a regiment appropriate for each client’s overall health and fitness goals■ Motivate clients to exercise How did you become involved in this line of work?I was a physical education major and athlete at Elon University. It was then I began to understand the benefits of resistance training and the role it played in the quality of my life. When I went to graduate school at UNCG in the mid-1990s, I needed a secondary income, so I applied for a job as a personal trainer at a local gym.
Because of my level of education, I became the resource on the staff for new clients with existing medical problems. I understood the terminology and specific concerns regarding their various issues; therefore I was able to communicate with medical practitioners and immediately identified a niche in the industry.
What areas of fitness can personal trainers specialize in, and what are your specialties?Trainers work with athletes, adolescents, seniors, clients with special needs and healthy general populations. Each of these areas has a particular style and type of training. For example, a trainer who works with athletes understands plyometrics (using explosive movements to build muscle) and Olympic lifting.
I have tailored my career to work with clients with special needs. My master’s degree studies focused on heart disease, Type 2 diabetes and obesity, so I have been drawn to working with clients who have disease or orthopedic problems.
What advice do you have for people interested in this job?Anyone interested in personal training as a career should obtain a four-year college degree in either exercise and sports science or health and nutrition.
During the last 15 years, one of the biggest changes has been the quality and credentials of personal trainers. Due to the surmounting evidence of the benefits of resistance training, health practitioners are encouraging patients to begin active lifestyles.
Baby boomers are retiring and seeking the advice and guidance of a personal trainer. These individuals have a (variety) of health concerns, so a knowledgeable and certified resource is needed. It is vitally important that all personal trainers understand a broad range of diseases and the implications and contraindications in relation to exercise.
Every two weeks, Job Talk highlights a different job in the Triad area with input from those who actually do them. Interested in participating or have a suggestion for a job you’d like for us to feature? Contact Patrick Collins at 412-5934 or patrick.collins@news-record.com.
Michael C. Barnes, DownTown Fitness on Elm 051009
Michael C. Barnes, a personal trainer and president of DownTown Fitness on Elm in Greensboro, assists a client during a workout session.
Nancy Sidelinger Special Sections Photographer
