Think you’ve got what it takes to make a difference in someone’s life? Can you motivate someone to get fit and get well? Then you just might be a great personal fitness trainer!

Personal trainers work with people, both individuals and groups, to increase physical fitness and movement. What’s interesting is that while you may think that personal trainers are only found in gyms, more and more they can be found in the workplace where corporations are focusing on the health and wellness of their employees. Other places personal trainers can be found include:

• Hospitals and physical rehabilitation centers
• Resorts and spas
• Fitness centers
• Universities and schools
• Country clubs
• Cruise ships
• Spas and health clubs.

Personal trainers are skilled in a variety of physical activities, including cardiovascular exercise, strength training, stretching, weight management and more. There are plenty of opportunities to specialize in this field, including specializing in yoga fitness, cardiovascular training, weight lifting, and even in geriatric fitness. You may also advance to the position of fitness director, where you would be the manager of a health and/or fitness center. In this position you might:

• Coordinate fitness programs
• Train staff
• Hire, train and supervise other fitness trainers

While you may be fit and you may be inspired, in order to become a personal trainer, you do need to be qualified and, in most cases, certified. Specializing in regimes such as yoga and Pilates does take training and certification as well. Finding a school for personal trainer certification is fairly easy. To become a manager of a fitness club, you usually have to have a bachelor’s degree in physical education, exercise science, or some other related field such as kinesiology. A degree in business administration is also helpful.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics there were over 235,000 fitness workers in the United States in 2006.

So lace up those shoes and head to college for your personal trainer degree! The world is waiting for you!