- Chloe Reynolds
Why a fitness qualification might be the best investment you make in 2020
The time we all spent in lockdown got us all thinking. For many people it was a time to consider whether they were happy in their current career or living situation, and if they weren't, what they could do to change that. It is undeniable that fitness has been one of the major trends of 2020, with millions of people taking up running or exercising during lockdown - creating habits and new hobbies that are going to last way after this is all over.
You may have realised in lockdown that you want to add a side hustle to your current career, in case we ever get locked down again, or you may be thinking that you want to change up your career entirely. Here are 5 reasons why investing in a fitness qualification could be the best investment you will make in 2020:
(Note: GFT will be launching a range of accredited level 2 and 3 fitness courses within the coming months. Pop your email in the box at the bottom of the page to receive more information and an exclusive discount code to use when we launch!)
The interest in health and fitness is only going upwards
Right now is probably the best time to be thinking about undertaking a fitness qualification. A combination of public consciousness about their health and well-being, combined with a government pledge to tackle obesity means that millions more people will be looking to join gyms, hire a personal trainer or start a new home workout program. The industry is only going to expand over the next few years, hopefully creating more jobs and more earning potential for fitness pros.
Fitness careers have flexibility
Many fitness professionals are self-employed, whether full time or part time in the industry. This gives you the flexibility to choose when you want to work. If you have a career that you love but want to work in fitness as a side hustle, you can choose to just do a few hours of coaching or teaching a week. If you want to make it a full time living, you can do. Self-employment also comes with extra benefits like taking holiday when you fancy it and only accepting work if it suits you.
You can work remotely
There has been a shift over the last 5 years or so towards online coaching and training, something that COVID has accelerated. During lockdown, thousands of fit pros were able to keep generating an income through teaching classes and delivering coaching online. The ability to work over the internet can give you location independence, if this is what you desire. You are not subject to local lockdowns or quarantines, you can keep working and earning through crisis.
The skills you learn from a fitness qualification are translatable
My own personal fitness career has given me many skills that I have been able to transfer into other areas of my life. The discipline I gained when studying for my own courses transferred over into my personal life, making me more organised with my time. It also helped me keep more consistently to my own training programmes. Working as a fitness instructor also gives you confidence presenting to large groups, which can be great help when public speaking or pitching. If you've been out of education for a while, studying for a fitness course can also make your brain a little sharper - there will be a lot of new words and terms to get your head around. You will also learn about anatomy and physiology which can help you understand and look after you body better. A fitness course can enrich your life in more ways than just a piece of paper!
