Daniel E. Lofaso http://trainingnewmoms.com 3m 796 #careermoms
The views of this article are the perspective of the author and may not be reflective of Confessions of the Professions.
5 Reasons Personal Training Is A Perfect Part-Time Career For New Moms
According to research out of Harvard, women who are employed in two-parent households spend about twice as much time, 17.7 hours, caring for family members as men (9 hours). The same amount of time is spent doing housework, 17.8 and 8.8 for women and men, respectively.
For new moms, these numbers are not startling, as there are obvious gender-related activities that require more time from mom at home and that are physically impossible by dad.
Today, many new moms are interested in working part-time jobs, but still have important roles they want to play at home and thus need flexible schedules. We’ll outline five reasons a part-time job as a personal trainer is a perfect career for new moms and how to get started if you are seeking a career with good work-life balance.
New Moms Want Flexibility in Their Schedules
Moms who want more flexibility in their schedules are becoming the norm. In fact, a study from the University of British Columbia showed that working moms with flexible schedules can earn more than women without kids.
So, why does personal training fit this work-life balance so well? Personal trainers can construct their own schedules, see clients on pre-defined hours, and if they set up their own businesses, can even work as online personal trainers with any hours they want.
There is a Market for Training Prenatal and Postpartum Moms
If you were ever concerned about what market you might go after as a new mom, you don’t have to worry. As trainingnewmoms.com has shown, there are entire business models designed to help other postnatal moms with the specifics of post-pregnancy challenges such as:
- Rehab with fat loss
- Good alignment
- Strength programs
- Safe workouts for postnatal moms
Beyond that, you’d be working with a group of individuals who have a lot in common with you and will be encouraged by your support.
Getting in Shape is Part of Your Job
Along the lines of the above, many women cite that pregnancy has made them less comfortable with their new physiques. As a personal trainer, you’ll be learning a lot about fitness and your line of work will mean that getting in shape is part of your day-to-day job. You’ll be “getting your old body back” (as my wife puts it) and be getting paid to do so.
In addition to getting your old body back, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) says that exercising postpartum has the following benefits:
- Boosts in energy
- Strengthening of abs
- Prevention of postpartum depression
- Better sleep
- Relieves stress
Getting a Certification only Takes a Few Months
Before you embark on a career as a personal trainer you should get a certification from a recognized fitness organization. The top organizations have what is called National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) credentials, a seal that ensures your program has the essential elements of a high-quality certifying program.
There are several of these organizations available, but my personal pick is a NASM certification. For starters, NASM is the most popular personal trainer certification in the world, meaning it will provide some of the best assurance that you can get a job anywhere. Another reason I really like them is because their education focus is on training instruction as well as exercise technique, something that is really helpful as training is so personal. Finally, the average income of NASM compared to other certs is the highest and let’s admit it, if you’re working part time you want to maximize every hour.
There are, of course, other certifications you can check out such as ACE, NSCA, ACSM, NESTA, NCCPT, NCSF, NFPT.
- You can Train Clients in Person or Online
Perhaps one of the most appealing aspects of personal training for new moms is the ability to train in-person or online. The most common in-person place to work is within a gym, but you can also work at country clubs, alongside physical therapists, with sports teams, or at your clients’ homes.
The online approach is also viable, and you can create custom programs for your clients to follow and engage with them via various communication mediums. Of course, the online route requires a fair bit of marketing know-how, but it also the only approach where successful, makes you money while you sleep.
Is Personal Training the Perfect Part-time Mom Job?
If there is a perfect job for new moms, personal training certainly is it. With the ability to have a flexible schedule, a large target market to work with, the ability to get in shape and get paid for it, the quick certification period, and the ability to work online, its no wonder so many moms are considering this avenue.
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