Personal training may increase sleep quality in your clients for improved wellbeing

Sleep Importance

As a fitness professional you will be responsible for promoting good sleep routines in order to help your clients recover adequately from their fitness sessions, plus improve their overall wellbeing. Sleep is as important as the exercise and nutrition side of fitness and forms the basis of sound health & wellbeing. 

“Preliminary evidence from a 2012 review indicated that physical training for up to four months may increase sleep quality in adults over 40 years of age.  A 2010 review suggested that exercise generally improved sleep for most people, and may help with insomnia, but there is insufficient evidence to draw detailed conclusions about the relationship between exercise and sleep. A 2018 systematic review and meta-analysis suggested that exercise can improve sleep quality in people with insomnia.”

Studies show that just introducing good physical training can improve sleep quality on its own. Modern life has impacted our sleep quality so being able to prescribe something that can have a good impact and help improve someone’s sleep which could lead to having a profound effect on their daily life. 

Becoming a personal trainer

Do I need a certificate? 

There are more ways to become a personal trainer today than even just a few years ago. It is no longer necessary to become certified if you don’t feel the investment is worth it in the long run. Consider how you will make money - it is no longer just a case of getting regular clients. You could simply publish videos and charge a subscription service. Personal training has moved beyond the PT client relationship and become less personal. If your business plan details your main income coming from online services then you may question wether a qualification will actually help you. It may save you thousands. The only benefit to getting certified is if you want a job in a gym or other organisation where a recognised qualification is essential to getting the role. 

Doing a course & getting certified

There are many many courses to choose from that can get you started in Personal Training, however I would recommend choosing one that is more comprehensive even if it comes out more expensive than others. A university course that includes sports science etc is the gold standard, and will open more lucrative doors for you than any courses hosted by training companies. This is because these companies profits rely on churning out more and more PTs. The jobs market then becomes saturated with recently qualified Personal Trainers all looking for work. 

Going your own Way

So how do you make a successful career in Personal Training when there are so many other PTs and fitness services competing in the same market. Hard work and dedication are the cornerstones of any success in any career. But for the best chance of success in personal training in the modern age is to specialise in a specific field or niche. This may be OAPs, Kids, Body building etc. 

Fad Diets, False Claims & Personal Trainers

Social media has become infected with many fitness influencers who claim to be all natural [and yet take steroids] Push unrealistic views about a natural body to push high profit diets and exercise plans. Fad diets were rife decades ago when telemarketing first became a thing, but it has only gotten worse since the internet became the chief marketing funnel for many in the fitness industry. A fad diet is a diet that makes promises of weight loss or other health advantages such as longer life without backing by solid science, many times these diets are extremely unhealthy and can cause serious long term problems. Celebrity & Personal Trainer endorsements are frequently associated with fad diets, and they often profit handsomely.

 You may decide to partner in some way with a diet service purely to increase your income from your fitness career, and your clients may succeed with these diet programs, however you should be aware that this may ultimately have a negative impact should the diet not yield good results or have a detrimental impact on your clients health. It is best to focus on sound time tested  nutrition practices if your aims are to truly help your clients. The benefit to you will be good brand reputation that people know they can trust and can have confidence in.

You will be better served by providing a good stable nutrition plan for your clients and help them to understand not only the good healthy foods but also aspects of nutrition like protein and calories. Manage their expectations and try to educate them that what they see on social media is not realistic in normal daily life and can be very unhealthy. 

Help them make meaningful long lasting changes as opposed to quick ‘fad’ diets where most people (as high as 98% in some descriptions) of people who diet using these diets in order to lose weight gain it back within 5 years; fad diets fail because many of them are not sustainable, and people revert to former eating habits when the diet fails.

Personal Trainer specialist : Strength Coaching

Especially when starting out as a Personal Trainer it is advised that you start to specialise in one chosen area. A personal trainer can specialise in strength training and can therefore become  strength coach an area that has surprising few options and is a good area that has few competing options. This role differs from body building as it does not mean building size and muscle mass, it has a greater focus on helping people gain and build muscular strength. This is different to a PT who helps body builder. Building strength doesn't have to mean an increase in size, and for many people this is either required or wanted. When you specifically tailor an exercise for strength you are training the muscle to use more muscle fibers rather than add muscle fibers. For example, rock climbers want to be as light as possible, but will need lots of muscular and tendon strength. Sot why won’t be looking to increase their size. Similarly many people do not want or need to be huge, and may want to keep their current size for many personal reasons. Most women will fall into this category, but also many men will who either need to be slim for their careers or just as a personal preference. 

Strength training can help a wide range of people but you could still target a specific demographic, for example you could target functional strength builing to people in certain careers or even offer this service as a b2b. Strength training can also help the elderly to help keep muscle mass, to improve stability and core strength. 

Strength training is also a great way to tone and give shape to your body without adding too much size and creating a body builder shape.

The personal trainer An Introduction to a Rewarding Career

If you have a passion for fitness and helping others achieve their health goals, becoming a personal trainer may be the perfect career for you. Personal trainers work with individuals or small groups to provide customized exercise and nutrition plans to help them reach their fitness objectives. Here are some steps you can take to get started as a personal trainer:

Get certified: To become a personal trainer, you'll need to obtain certification from a reputable organization such as the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), the American Council on Exercise (ACE), or the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA). These organizations offer comprehensive certification programs that cover everything from exercise science and nutrition to anatomy and physiology.


Build your knowledge: Even after getting certified, it's important to continue learning and staying up-to-date on the latest trends and research in the fitness industry. Attend workshops and conferences, read books and journals, and consider getting additional certifications in areas like sports nutrition or corrective exercise.


Gain experience: Many personal trainers start out by working at a gym or fitness center, where they can gain experience working with a variety of clients and learning from more experienced trainers. You can also consider volunteering at a local community center or offering free sessions to friends and family to build up your portfolio and gain valuable experience.


Network: Building a network of other fitness professionals can help you stay motivated, learn from others, and find new clients. Attend fitness events and conferences, join local fitness groups, and consider creating an online presence through social media or a personal website.


Set yourself apart: With so many personal trainers out there, it's important to find ways to set yourself apart and offer something unique to potential clients. Consider specializing in a certain area, like working with seniors or athletes, or offering a unique service like online coaching or outdoor workouts.

Becoming a personal trainer takes hard work and dedication, but with the right training and experience, you can build a rewarding career helping others achieve their fitness goals.


The average salary for a personal trainer can vary depending on factors such as location, experience, and type of employer. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for fitness trainers and instructors was $42,610 in May 2020. However, this figure can range from around $20,000 for entry-level trainers to over $80,000 for experienced trainers with a large clientele.

In addition to base pay, many personal trainers also earn additional income through commissions or bonuses for bringing in new clients or selling products like supplements or workout gear. Some personal trainers may also choose to work as independent contractors, setting their own rates and hours and potentially earning more than those who work for a gym or fitness center.

Overall, while personal training can be a rewarding career both financially and personally, it's important to keep in mind that income can vary depending on several factors and may take time to build up a steady client base.

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