I’ve just qualified as a personal trainer/fitness instructor – what do I do now?

Congratulations! The fitness industry is a really positive and vibrant industry to work in. You have the skills and power to hugely improve, and even transform, people’s lives – and there aren’t many professions in which you can say that.

So – now you’ve got your cert III or IV in fitness, what do you need to do to get started working in the fitness industry? There are a few things.

1. Get registered – most employers will require it
You may plan to run your own studio or training operation, but most people will start out by gaining experience working for an established gym or fitness facility. Most club owners/operators will require you to be registered with a fitness industry registration body before they will employ you or contract you to work in their facility. Why? Because registration (which requires proof of ongoing education every two years) helps to maintain high industry standards.

‘Fitness Australia’ – and ‘Physical Activity Australia’ – are industry registration bodies for fitness professionals in Australia.

When you register, your registration lasts for 2 years. After this you will need to renew your registration by proving ongoing education. This is where membership of Australian Fitness Network (known as ‘Network’) can be very useful – see below.

2. Consider becoming a member with Australian Fitness Network
In order to renew your registration with one of the two registration bodies mentioned above, you need to prove your ongoing learning in the fitness industry by doing courses that earn you credits (CECs for Fitness Australia or PDPs for Physical Activity Australia).

This is where membership with Australian Fitness Network can be very beneficial. It’s not compulsory to become a member with Network – but it’s very helpful to do so because it provides you with access to 8 CECs (or equivalent PDPs) annually at no extra cost – that’s 16 in each 2-year period. Fitness Australia requires you to provide evidence of having earnt 20 CECs within each 2-year period, so membership with Network is a very cost-effective way of achieving most of these. 

Network Membership also provides big discounts on its vast range of other online CEC courses, as well as its face-to-face courses and the industry’s pinnacle event, FILEX, which have credits attached.

And why should you trust Network? It was established way back in 1987 and has been leading the way for the Australian fitness industry ever since, through ongoing education courses, events and information/publications.

3. Get Professional Indemnity Insurance. Why?
Most facility owners/operators will require you to be insured with ‘public liability and professional indemnity insurance’ to protect you against potential legal action from clients and members.

Network Members can take out Network Insurance which covers a fitness professional’s specific needs. Other insurance is available, but Network Insurance is the most affordable option if you are a Network Member. HERE is where you can find out more.

4. Get to work!
So, now you know what to do, you can set the ball rolling on your fitness career. It’s an amazing industry to work in. At Network, we believe that the membership we offer – coupled with Fitness Australia or Physical Activity Australia registration – makes you more employable, keeps you connected to developments in our industry and supports the development of a long and successful career.
Source: Jason | Andor From Australian Fitness

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Overcoming Adversity

Two office workers-turned gym owners on a devastating fire and the inspirational rebuilding.

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Autumn Escapes?

Is fall the best time of year? The answer is obviously “yes”. Check out this educational video on camping in the autumn.

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Camping in the Cold

Seriously, just because it can get cold does not mean you can’t go camping.

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The Best Camping Hacks

Great video, even better hacks. Can’t wait to get back out there!

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4 Fitness Hacks You Need Right Now

COFFEE!

We know that coffee works wonders when we rise in the morning. We also know it’s crucial for when we’re experiencing the near inevitable post-lunch slump in the office. But did you know it can have a beneficial effect on your workouts, too? Men’s Fitness has identified at least five ways coffee can positively add towards your fitness journey. For starters, coffee has been linked to the use of fat cells as an energy source, aiding in the weight loss process. It can also decrease muscle pain, which means you can complete more reps at a higher resistance.

Temptation Bundling

Sometimes our minds are more than ready for a workout, but our bodies are not cooperating For those days when you find yourself in a body and soul struggle of epic proportions, temptation bundling will make your final decision– to go, or to stay?– infinitely easier. At its core, temptation bundling is an economic concept. And like most principle of economics, it revolves around the incentivisation of undesirable or tedious activities. Basically, when you complete or participate in a routine activity, you reward yourself. Example: going for your bi-annual dental examination may be your least favorite thing in the world, but if you manage it, you take the rest of the day off and go to the theatre. Now consider in the context of health. Maybe you only watch your favorite show or listen to a podcast or the next chapter of an audiobook when working out. There’s actually a really interesting episode of Freakonomics radio that explores a study surrounding temptation bundling and university students’ gym habits.

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Weighted Clothing

You can actually get pretty creative here. The key to training with weighted clothing is to not do it in excess. But when done right, it can make even the most mundane activities serious calorie burners. Buzzfeed’s Peggy Wang suggests donning a weighted vest. Jog around the neighborhood while doing your routine errands. That extra bit of weight and resistance can lead to a nice boost in calorie usage. Keep in mind that although weighted armbands and ankle bands are on the market, they have a reputation of being destructive on one’s joints. These should only be used at the recommendation of a physician or physical therapist.

Supplements

For those who are primarily concerned with bulking up, taking the right supplements could enhance the effects of a particularly strenuous workout. Men’s Fitness recommends taking supplements before or during a workout in order to maximize their effect. Their ultimate pre-weightlifting combination? “1-3 grams of beta-alanine, 5 grams of creatine, and 100% of your recommended daily intake of vitamin B12, vitamin c, vitamin e, and zinc with a trace amount of magnesium”.

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Camping Upgrades

By now, you’ve probably figured out that camping is one of my favorite activities. There’s just something about slipping away from the mechanized, digitized, and routinized demands of day-to-day life and returning to your primal roots. Filling your lungs with fresh air and sleeping under the watch of nature herself is a great way to revitalize your mind and equip you that needed vim to take on the daily grind.

But camping, like any other activity, can constantly be improved upon via hacks, secrets, and tips. National Geographic has shared ten camping tips that will make your great (outdoors) escape that much more enjoyable. Check out a few below!

Let there Be Light: Nat Geo suggests increasing the warmth (mood, not temperature) of your campsite with some additional lighting options. LED bulbs can look isolated and cold, so why not invested in a powerful lantern? Even if you’re more of the backpacking type, there are plenty of portable and lightweight options available to you.

Work-Night Getaway: Camping trips needn’t be lengthy exhibitions. If there’s a campground easily accessible from your city (about 90 minutes away, at the most), why not go for it? On the weekdays, the ground won’t be crowded, and there will be a sense of sweet isolation you just can’t get when it is filled with people.

Don’t Stop: When you get to your campground, keep going. Dive a few more miles into the brush to uncover a much quieter piece of camp ground. You may distance yourself from some amenities, but your newfound tranquility will only add to a feral sense of self-sufficiency.

The Importance of Pillows: It’s no secret that a good night’s sleep is integral to the functions of the next day’s work, even if you aren’t in the office. Just because you’re camping doesn’t mean you have to forgo comfort during your slumber. Pillows have been used since ancient times, and for good reason. They provide support for your head and shoulders, and keep bugs out of your mouth and ears. The Nat Geo article has several suggestions for camping pillows. If you forget to bring one, you can use a jacket or a sack.

Eat Well: A few days in the wilderness doesn’t mean that your diet only needs to be made up of freeze-dried snacks and bland grains. Know the shelf-life of different foods, and you’d be surprised at what lasts in a backpack. Some cheeses can last for several days, as can produce. Just know when you’re going to be eating what, and you should be fine!
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World’s Most Dangerous Hike?

I love hiking, but this could definitely give me a fright!

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