Have A “Fit” Career After 12th In Fitness

May 27, 2021

With changing life, priorities are also changing and fitness has surely become a new priority in most people’s lives. Fitness is a very important aspect of a healthy body and a healthy life. And this interest in having a healthy body and life has hiked the career of a fitness trainer tremendously. Even a couple of years ago, the career as a fitness trainer was not seen as a preferable job option. But the scenario has changed a lot nowadays. There is still some hesitation among the youth about this career only due to the lack of awareness and knowledge. The career prospect in fitness has a lot of various job opportunities. In this article, the details about courses and job opportunities will be discussed for the benefit of the aspiring candidates.

Courses in the fitness field:

There are mainly three types of courses related to fitness and those are – Degree course, Certificate course, and Diploma course. The details of these three courses are provided below:

Degree Courses –

Interested people can apply for degree courses that are mostly 3 years long. A candidate can opt for these degree courses – B.A. Yoga, B.P.Ed. (Bachelor of Physical Education), B.A. Physical Education, B.Sc. Sports and Exercise Science, etc. After completing these courses, a candidate can take the role of a gym instructor.

Certificate Courses –

A candidate can opt for many certificate courses that are only 6 months to 1 year long. After the completion of the course, candidates are given a certificate mentioning their skills. There are many gyms that offer certificate courses. You can easily choose any specialization, like – yoga, aerobics, naturopathy, Crossfit, general gym instructor course, Pilates, etc. as the subject of these certificate courses. Make sure that you are taking admission in a recognized and reputed institute for these courses.

Diploma Courses –

The diploma courses are 1 year to 2 years long and the demand and value of this course is more than the certificate course. A student can opt for - Diploma in Physical Education, Diploma in Yoga and Naturopathy, Diploma in Sports Science, Diploma in Yoga Education, etc.

Eligibility criteria:

In India, many institutes, as well as private gyms offer many fitness courses that are not government approved. These institutes do not demand any such criteria. A 10th passed candidate too can apply in these gyms and institutes.

But candidates are advised to take admission in government-approved organizations for their own good. In these organizations, the eligibility criteria are to pass the 12th final exams with a minimum percentage. To get admission in government-approved institutes in diploma courses and physical education degree, a candidate needs to appear in the Physical Education Common Entrance Test (PECET). They need to pass this test as well. This is a state-level entrance exam where many institutes participate.

Institutes for fitness:

There are a lot of top institutes in India that provide various courses and the best quality of education in the fitness field. Some of these institutes are –

· Lakshmibai National College of Physical Education, University of Kerala

· College of Physical Education, Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University

· Indira Gandhi Institute of Physical Education & Sports Sciences, University of Delhi

· Bombay Physical Culture Association's College of Physical Education, University of Mumbai

· Sadguru Education Society's college of physical education

· Chandrashekhar Agashe College of physical education

· GFFI Fitness Academy (The Growth for Fitness Instructors Fitness Training Institute)

· Better Fitness for You (BFY)

· Gold's Gym Fitness Institute

· Discovery India

Many abroad institutions are famous for the fitness field as well where students can take admission and pursue their dream of becoming a fitness trainer. These institutes are –

· National personnel training institute

· American Council on exercise

· American College of Sports Medicine

· International Sports Sciences Association

· National Academy of sports medicine

· National Strength and Conditioning Association, etc.

Career opportunities in fitness:

A candidate can get many jobs after they have completed any of the courses mentioned above. The first and foremost job they get is as a gym instructor in the gyms. In India, there are several big and small gyms where you can get a job. Some of the gyms are well-known and have outlets across the country.

A candidate having proper skills and also well financial stability can open their own gym. It may sound easy but in the true sense, it is a very challenging thing to do. Because the competition in this field has increased a lot in the last couple of years. So, if you are planning to open your gym, have a proper plan to execute.

With time when a candidate becomes trained in this field, they can also get hired as a personal trainer of businessmen, actors, other high-profile persons, etc.

Duty as a fitness trainer:

A fitness trainer or gym instructor has a lot of basic duties to fulfill. Aspiring candidates must know these works before choosing their career path. These responsibilities are –

1. Helping the clients to get fit and choosing the workout schedule best suited for them.

2. Examining the client’s body structure and assigning the workout plans according to that.

3. Using various kinds of fitness tools for the benefit of the clients.

4. Showing the proper posture and way to do an exercise to the clients.

5. Monitoring the clients’ exercise plans to avoid any kind of serious injuries.

6. Spreading awareness about fitness to people and showing basic physical techniques to help the common people.

7. Fitness trainers can also work with schools, gyms, hospitals, or privately according to their convenience.

There are always some students who have a leaning towards fitness, who do not want to do a regular job. For those students, a fitness career can be very helpful. Also, if they can do a course in food and nutrition, it will add more compactness to their CV. So just follow your passion for fitness and have a different yet good career.

By Sayantika Mondal

Also Read: