14 Pros and Cons of Being a Fitness Instructor

Becoming a fitness instructor can be a very rewarding career choice.

It can also be extremely challenging, both physically and mentally.

As with any job, there are pros and cons to being a fitness instructor.

It is important to consider all of these before deciding to choose this profession.

Pros of Being a Fitness Instructor

1. A fitness instructor has the opportunity to help people achieve their fitness goals.

As a fitness instructor, you will be able to work with people of all ages and levels of experience.

You will be able to help them set realistic goals and then support them as they work to achieve those goals.

You will also have the chance to share your own passion for fitness with others and help them develop a lifelong love of exercise.

In short, as a fitness instructor, you will have the chance to make a real difference in the lives of others.

2. A fitness instructor can work in a variety of settings, such as gyms, health clubs, or even in people’s homes.

Fitness instructors typically work in gyms, health clubs, or even in people’s homes.

They may teach group classes, give private lessons, or provide one-on-one coaching.

In addition to their fitness expertise, fitness instructors need to be able to motivate and encourage their clients.

They should also be able to adapt their workouts to meet the needs of different types of clients with different sets of equipment in different places.

If you can balance this complexity, the job can be a lot of fun!

3. A fitness instructor typically has flexible hours and can often choose the hours they work.

For those who love fitness and enjoy working with people, becoming a fitness instructor may be the perfect career.

Once an instructor builds up his client base, he can pretty much choose his own hours.

What’s more fulfilling than helping others achieve their goals and improve their well-being on your own schedule?

Check out this awesome infographic on work-life balance.

Guess which profession made the list!

4. A fitness instructor can earn a decent salary, especially if they are certified and have experience.

If you are thinking about becoming a fitness instructor, you are in luck.

Not only can you help people get healthy and improve their quality of life, but you can also earn a decent salary.

Of course, your earnings will depend on factors like your certification and experience level.

And with the Certified Personal Trainer (CTP) certificate, you can earn as much as 34% more than the average instructor.

5. A fitness instructor can work with people of all ages, which means you get to help more people and have more fun doing it.

There’s no age limit on being fit, which is why working as a fitness instructor can be so rewarding.

You get to help people of all ages and experience levels achieve their fitness goals, whether they’re just starting out or trying to get back in shape after a long break.

And because you are working with different age groups, you never get bored – each workout is a new challenge.

Plus, it is always enjoyable to see the progress your clients make over time.

So if you are looking for a career that is both challenging and rewarding, look no further than fitness instruction.

6. A fitness instructor can work as part of a team or on their own.

No matter what their chosen method, a fitness instructor’s goal is always the same – to help people achieve their fitness goals.

Solo instructors have complete control over their classes and can design their own workouts and routines.

This allows them to be more creative and flexible with their teaching.

Working as part of a team, on the other hand, gives instructors the opportunity to bounce ideas off of each other and learn from each other, and you can find these opportunities everywhere, even at your local YMCA.

You can work in whatever style you like most!

7. A fitness instructor can often find job satisfaction in helping others improve their health and well-being.

A fitness instructor’s job is two-fold: they must help their clients improve their health and well-being, and they must also find job satisfaction in their work.

Fortunately, these two goals are often complementary.

By helping others achieve their fitness goals, instructors can feel a sense of accomplishment and pride in their work.

They can also take satisfaction in knowing that they are making a positive difference in the lives of others.

Fitness instructors ranked in the top 5 best jobs in the social services!

Cons of Being a Fitness Instructor

1. Being a fitness instructor can be physically demanding, and instructors may have to work long hours on their feet.

Being a fitness instructor can be demanding work.

Not only are you expected to be in excellent shape, but you also need to have boundless energy and enthusiasm for your job.

And to top it all off, you usually have to work long hours on your feet.

So, if you are thinking of becoming a fitness instructor, be prepared for some tough times ahead.

This long-time instructor says plainly, “It’s pretty exhausting.”

2. Instructors may have to deal with difficult or uncooperative clients.

Learning can be difficult.

You are trying to change a habit that’s been ingrained since birth.

It is no wonder some people get a little bit frustrated.

As a result, sometimes you have to deal with clients who are… less than cooperative.

Maybe they are not putting in the effort, or maybe they are just plain difficult to work with.

Whatever the case may be, it is your job to keep them on track.

3. The job can be stressful, as instructors must often meet deadlines or quotas.

Working as an instructor on a team or under management can be especially stressful for many reasons.

For example, large class sizes make the gym more money but take the joy out of training.

Additionally, instructors must also deal with disruptive students or difficult parents (if they are training student-athletes).

This can be frustrating and time-consuming, taking away from the time that could be spent teaching.

Thankfully, there are good resources online for coping, but you still have to decide if this is the right job for you.

4. There is always the risk of injury when working with clients.

No matter how cautious you are, there is always the risk of injury when working with clients.

From paper cuts to smashed fingers, there are a thousand ways to end up in the emergency room.

The weight room is an especially dangerous place, and if you are not prepared to be on guard at all times, you could end up in big trouble.

Oh, and not to mention the chronic pain that plagues many instructors.

5. Fitness instructors may have to work in less than ideal conditions, such as hot, humid gyms or cold, drafty studios.

Fitness instructors are no strangers to working up a sweat.

Unfortunately, until they build up their client base, they may have to work in less than ideal conditions, such as hot, humid gyms or cold, drafty studios.

This can be tough on the body, and it can be difficult to stay motivated when you’re not comfortable.

Day after day, week after week – the conditions can wear on you.

6. The job can be emotionally challenging, as instructors must often motivate clients who are struggling to meet their goals.

Being a fitness instructor is not all about showing off your six-pack abs and flexing your biceps.

It is also about emotional strength and resilience.

Unfortunately, the job can be emotionally challenging, as instructors must often motivate clients who are struggling to meet their goals.

This can be difficult when you yourself are feeling discouraged or exhausted.

7. There is a lot of competition for jobs, and instructors may have to market themselves to find work.

Unfortunately, there is a lot of competition for jobs, and instructors may have to market themselves to find work.

This means creating a brand and promoting yourself through social media, networking, and personal connections.

It can be a lot of work, but it is worth it to land the job you want.

Pros and Cons of Being a Fitness Instructor – Summary Table

Pros of Being a Fitness Instructor	Cons of Being a Fitness Instructor
1. A fitness instructor has the opportunity to help people achieve their fitness goals.	1. Being a fitness instructor can be physically demanding, and instructors may have to work long hours on their feet.
2. A fitness instructor can work in a variety of settings, such as gyms, health clubs, or even in people's homes.	2. Instructors may have to deal with difficult or uncooperative clients.
3. A fitness instructor typically has flexible hours and can often choose the hours they work.	3. The job can be stressful, as instructors must often meet deadlines or quotas.
4. A fitness instructor can earn a decent salary, especially if they are certified and have experience.	4. There is always the risk of injury when working with clients.
5. A fitness instructor can work with people of all ages, which means you get to help more people and have more fun doing it.	5. Fitness instructors may have to work in less than ideal conditions, such as hot, humid gyms or cold, drafty studios.
6. A fitness instructor can work as part of a team or on their own.	6. The job can be emotionally challenging, as instructors must often motivate clients who are struggling to meet their goals.
7. A fitness instructor can often find job satisfaction in helping others improve their health and well-being.	7. There is a lot of competition for jobs, and instructors may have to market themselves to find work.

Should You Become a Fitness Instructor?

So, do you think you have what it takes to be a fitness instructor?

Great!

But before you quit your day job and invest in a gym membership, there are a few things you should know.

First, being a fitness instructor is not all about exercising.

In fact, you will probably spend more time cleaning equipment and scheduling classes than you will spend working out.

Second, being a fitness instructor requires a lot of energy and enthusiasm.

You will need to be able to motivate people of all fitness levels and keep them coming back for more.

Finally, being a fitness instructor is not always glamorous.

Now that you know a little bit more about what the job entails, you can decide if it is the right fit for you.