Fitness instructor

You would lead people in exercise activities and advise them on healthy eating. You’d motivate and inspire them to get fitter and healthier.

You’d organise group and individual exercise programmes for your clients. You could offer a range of activities or specialise in a particular one, such as:

• Keep fit
• Aquacise (exercise in water)
• Weight training
• Yoga
• Pilates

You might also work with specific groups of people such as older adults, children, people with disabilities or people referred by doctors.

You would:

• Assess a person’s fitness and ask them about their goals
• Show people the health club facilities
• Demonstrate exercise activities
• Show people how to use exercise machines and free weights properly
• Make sure people exercise safely and effectively
• Lead group exercise classes, like circuit training, aerobics or spinning
• Create personal exercise programmes
• Advise people about healthy eating and lifestyles

You’d be outgoing and friendly to encourage people, who may not be used to exercise, to enjoy it and keep on coming to the training sessions.

As well as being healthy and fit yourself, you’d know about nutrition and healthy diets. A responsible attitude to health and safety is important.

In small health and fitness clubs you may carry out routine duties, such as working at reception and the swimming pool, and doing health and safety checks.