Eirinn Boots, a personal training regional manager for GoodLife Fitness, and an instructor at the GoodLife Personal Training Institute, discussed the institute and personal training in general with Club Solutions.
Q: Why did GoodLife decide to create the GoodLife Personal Training Institute (GLPTI)?
A: We created the GLPTI because we wanted to ensure that people were required to do a certification course with hands-on experience rather than simply writing an exam.
This way students receive consistent information, both from the theoretical side but also from the practical side. Being the largest personal training company in Canada, we have a lot of experience behind us, but the most important part is putting the theory into practice.
The GLPTI course also lets us see people in action (interpersonal skills, technical skills, professionalism), which helps us recruit the best people to share their passion and skills with our Personal Training clients.
In addition, by partnering with Canfitpro, we are able to put a complete program together that allows students to gain valuable practical insight on what has made GoodLife personal training thrive, as well as having access to the top certification provider in Canada, Canfitpro and their many benefits (membership, national recognition, conferences).
Since launching the course, we have seen a major improvement in the quality of trainers we are employing and we are seeing trainers achieve personal success faster and therefore allowed us to help more Canadians live healthier lives.
Q: What other types of skills do personal trainers learn at GLPTI?
A: Our certification program focuses on creating a well-rounded trainer who understands the key components of personal training success; technique, programming, coaching, connection and business. We spend a significant amount of time applying the theory with hands-on practical exercises on the workout floor.
Grouping students in trainer-client pairs allows for practical application of the material and direct feedback on their coaching skills in a live scenario.
Trainers leave the course with confidence in the skills to acquire clients, assess clients, create individualized programs and their abilities to successfully train and manage clients through the programs and achieve success.
Q: Are their specific Continuing Education Credits (CECs) that GoodLife PT’s are required to have?
A: GoodLife personal trainers are required to achieve and maintain their Canfitpro Personal Training Specialist certification. We also provide recognition through our Personal Trainer Blackbelt Program to ensure personal trainers acquire additional certifications and enhance the skills and services they can offer to their clients.
GoodLife maintains positive relationships with many certification providers and we are able to provide guidance to each personal trainer in selecting the certifications that will enable them to reach their personal goals, career goals, establish a personal niche skill or complement their current skill set to provide greater benefits to their clients.
Our Personal Training Blackbelt Program allows trainers to earn their own promotions from Level One to Level Six. Trainers can earn their next designation while personally selecting the Continuing Education Credits that best suit them.
This program has allowed us to grow and diversify our personal training services while keeping trainers engaged in their own education and development.
Q: Have you seen any new developments in personal training that could affect clubs and their members?
A: There are a lot of exciting developments in personal training that have a positive impact on our members and trainers — like TEAM and small group training. TEAM programs provide a cost-effective and fun way for members to work in an encouraging team setting while also enjoying the expertise and guidance of a personal trainer. This programming has also allowed many trainers to develop skills beyond their one-on-one sessions and expand their certifications and their client base.
As the Boomer population ages, another key area of growth in personal training is the demand for programming that addresses the interests and concerns of older adults — for example, low-impact strength training or post-rehabilitation training for surgeries/injuries. Personal trainers are recognizing this demographic makes up a significant portion of their client base and [are] proactively pursuing additional specialized certifications in order to understand how [they] help them reach their goals safely and effectively.
Q: What qualities should clubs look for in a personal training manager or director?
A: With GoodLife’s rapid growth, this is an area of key focus and we work very hard to consistently be developing managerial talent. To develop and monitor key candidates we run a PT Manager Internship program for qualified applicants. This also allows candidates to preview the position and ensure they are pursuing the best position for themselves.
Any managerial candidate must embody the core values of the organization in order to be able to successfully take action in any situation while cultivating organizational culture.
Additionally, they need a strong understanding of why each system and policy is in place, as this will root their decisions and actions in the best interest of associates, members and the organization. The personal training manager’s key responsibility is development of their associates. As such, a successful personal training manager needs to have a strong understanding of how to develop a successful personal trainer and a team dynamic, for this reason we generally look for someone who has been successful in the personal training role within the organizational structure.
Strong communication and interpersonal skills are essential for any personal training manager, as this allows them to effectively transfer their experience of success and best practices to their personal training team.
A successful personal training manager must be personally driven to achieve success with the intention to positively impact as many people as possible. This is an un-teachable quality.
Interview by Rachel Zabonick
