Profession of Personal Training

There is a growing need for qualified fitness professionals who can meet the demands of a population that is becoming increasingly aware of the benefits of preventative health care. National surveys reveal that that almost half of Americans have used complementary and alternative health care techniques, many of which involve self care modalities such as exercise.

Over the course of the last century, fitness trends have changed as scientific research began to look at what actually worked, moving the industry from "lore based" practices to more evidence based practices.

In the early 1900's emphasis was on strength/resistance training. In the early 1970's and 1980's, emphasis moved to aerobic fitness. In the 1990's a comprehensive paradigm was created that incorporates cardiovascular, strength and flexibility training. This "whole athlete" model continues to be the standard today.

Opportunities for fitness instructors abound, in gyms, schools, and spas (according to an industry survey conducted by PriceWaterhouseCoopers in 2000, the number of spa locations has grown at an annual rate of 21% during the past five years, which means the number of establishments more than doubles every four years.) Many fitness instructors have private clients and can be independent practitioners with flexible hours. Combined with an existing profession, such as massage therapy or acupuncture, it is an ideal way to enhance services and build a varied practice.

There is currently no licensing requirement for personal trainers. Successful completion of the Exercise Science/Personal Training curriculum meets and surpasses the highest standards of care in the fitness industry. In addition to receiving a Swedish Institute Advanced Personal Training Certificate, graduates will be prepared to take national certification examinations given by the American Council on Exercise (ACE) and the National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA).

Read about a graduate practice in our online newsletter.

American College of Sports Medicine (www.acsm.org)

American Council on Exercise (www.acefitness.org)

National Academy of Sports Medicine (www.nasm.org)

National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA) (www.nata.org)

National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (www.nccam.nih.gov)

National Strength and Conditioning Association (www.nsca-lift.org)

National surveys on CAM use mentioned are from the Journal of the American Medical Association, (jama.ama-assn.org)

For a more extensive list of references go to the Resources section of our web site.