For personal training, what are some good places to job shadow?
My recommendation for you would be to choose 2-3 different places/environments. Commercial gyms (Equinox, Y, Gold’s, Any Athletic Clubs, etc.), small PT studios, in-home training business and community/city rec centers are some good examples. If you can shadow trainers from 2-3 of the above options you will get a better and more rounded experience of what PT is all about. Today PT has evolve to a more complex industry and gyms are not the only places where one can find Personal Training.
Hello Alex Hatlevig,
Since you mention a gym, I would go to a few gyms to ask about shadowing a personal trainer or two, and speak with those people who can also give you more ideas of where to go in your area, even schools. Yes, the personal training field is so diverse now that you will want to check out all options available.
Take care,
Natalie aka NAPS 2 B Fit.
I occasionally allow new trainers to shadow. If they approach me in a professional manner and make a good impression in a brief conversation.
You should connect with a few personal trainers in your area. Or talk to the manager at a local facility to see if they are open to the idea. They may even have a mentoring program in place.
Another thing you can do, without being creepy about it, is start noticing the posture of the people around you. When you’re standing in line at the grocery store, what’s happening in the shoulders and hips of the guy standing in front of you? Posterior or anterior pelvic tilt? Lordosis? Kyphosis? Transverse rotation? Shoulders level, rotated, dropped, etc.
We get good at body-reading by reading lots of bodies. When you don’t have client bodies to learn on, you can still learn a ton by people-watching.