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Health & Exercise
GibsonGirl620
member
XP- Are you a personal trainer AND a mom?
GibsonGirl620
member
I am currently a SAHM, but would like to return to work part-time in the near future. I teach group fitness (just one night a week right now) and LOVE it. If I could make a living doing that, I would, but that's nearly impossible. (I'd have to teach about half of the gym's classes myself to get any decent amount of hours/pay, lol.)
I am considering getting my certification in personal training. I'd love to work mornings and have the rest of my day to spend with my son. I'm very lucky that my mom cannot wait to watch DS, so child care isn't an issue.
So, if you are a PT, how do you like it? What cert did you get? (I'm thinking ACE.) Most importantly, do you feel like you still have time/patience for your family? I used to teach kindergarten FT and was completely consumed by the long hours and stress. 
I do NOT want to be like that again, especially with a family now.
I do NOT want to be like that again, especially with a family now. TIA! 
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Re: XP- Are you a personal trainer AND a mom?
The lady that trains me started off at the YMCA, and she became a certified swim instructor for small children, then she moved to becoming a USAT triathlon coach - not sure if this is along what you want to do. In any case, word of mouth got around and she started training one on one. Meaning she left working for the YMCA and went on her own.
She would ask her clients to pass the word and she would also discount if any of her clients got her some clients. So now she has several training events per year that she does. Her training varies from 8 weeks to 15 weeks and she has about 15 + followers every training season. She also volunteers for local events, the vendors that sponsor the event love her because she passes the word, so they help refer her clients. She also is friends with the local bike shops, running stores in town.
I hope this helps.
I'm also a group fitness instructor. I teach 7-10 classes per week.
Because my body is pretty much maxed out physically, I've decided to become a personal trainer. I found an opportunity for an internship and I should find out TODAY if I get it (because my background is in engineering, not exercise science and I'd like some practical experience before I take the exam).
I have also been asked to certify so I can train with my CrossFit gym (which would pretty much just amount to a free membership, but I'd take that)!!
I really love the flexible schedule that fitness allows now that I have kids. I either schedule things while they're in school, use the daycare at the gym, or bring them along (if it's the right circumstance).
Good luck!
Sorry - I forgot to add. My trainer has kids: 6, 10 and 13. Her workout groups meet approx 3 times a week and at 5:30 am to about 7 am. So she gets back home to see the kids off at the school bus, then I'm sure she has one on one training when they leave. Then the rest of her afternoon is for cooking dinner and quality time with the kids.
Good Luck!
Thank you both for your responses!
Hikerbeth- An internship sounds like a great idea. How did you come across that opportunity? Would you shadow another trainer or work on your own? Is it paid or unpaid? Thanks again and GL to you, too!
Total fluke. Found it on craigslist and the gym is right in my town. It's 80 hours unpaid and they are definitely looking to hire afterwards (it's a gym specializing in personal training, boot camps, and weight loss challenges). I would have done just the unpaid part for experience, but if they want to hire me, I'm cool with that too LOL! I'll shadow another trainer and probably do some of my own programming by the end.