Fitness/Aerobics Instructors
Work Activities
Show people how to properly use exercise equipment. Explain the rules for different sports and fitness activities.
Plan exercise routines, including music and different types of movements for different muscles.
Teach participants how to properly breathe and exert themselves during exercise.
Evaluate a person's needs, abilities, and physical condition. Based on this information, develop a specific training program.
Monitor participants' progress and make changes to fitness programs as needed.
Observe participants, making corrections to their form when necessary.
Talk to participants about nutrition, weight loss, and lifestyle issues.
Maintain fitness equipment.
Advise clients about proper clothing and shoes.
Promote health clubs through membership sales. Keep records of members.
Organize, lead, and referee indoor and outdoor games such as volleyball, baseball, and basketball. May organize and lead competitions and tournaments.
May occasionally give emergency first aid and treat minor injuries. When needed, refer people to physicians.Perform activities that use the whole body
Update and use job-related knowledge
Establish and maintain relationships
Perform for or work with the public
Handle and move objects
Think creatively
Assist and care for others
Teach others
Get information needed to do the job
Coach others
Organize, plan, and prioritize work
Make decisions and solve problems
Develop goals and strategies
Working Conditions
Interpersonal Relationships
Have a high level of communication with others. They constantly interact with clients, participants, and other trainers.
Communicate with others in person on a daily basis. They communicate less often by telephone. Trainers may need to contact clients to set up appointments, but most of the time, they talk face-to-face.
Speak in front of large groups on a daily basis. This is especially true for aerobics instructors, who lead various types of fitness classes.
May work in a group or as part of a team. This is especially true for those who work for a fitness center.
Are responsible for the health and safety of their clients or class participants.
Are somewhat responsible for the results of training. However, ultimately clients and participants are responsible for following a fitness regimen.
Physical Work Conditions
Almost always work indoors. On rare occasions may work outdoors.
Work very near others, often within a few feet or closer. They help clients with proper form and technique.
Work Performance
Strive to be accurate and exact when performing the job. It is important to teach clients and individuals proper form so they don't injure themselves.
Regularly make decisions that affect others. They rarely consult a supervisor before deciding a fitness plan or designing a class.
Set most goals, tasks, and priorities without consulting a supervisor.
Abide by strict deadlines on a daily basis. It is important to keep classes and appointments within the set time frame.
Repeat the same movements over and over.
Work in a moderately competitive environment, especially for those who are self-employed. They compete with other trainers for clients.
Hours/Travel
Generally work a set schedule.
Most work less than 40 hours a week. Fitness trainers are more likely to work closer to 40 hours, while aerobics instructors usually teach a few classes per week.
May work evenings and weekends.
Physical Demands
Fitness and aerobics instructors frequently:
Stand for long periods of time.
Walk or run for long periods of time.
Repeat the same movements.
Bend or twist their body.
It is important for fitness and aerobics instructors to be able to:
Be physically active for long periods without getting tired or out of breath.
Coordinate movement of several parts of the body, such as arms and legs, while the body is moving.
Use stomach and lower back muscles to support the body for long periods without getting tired.
Bend, stretch, twist, or reach out.
Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
Use muscles for extended periods without getting tired.
Use muscles to lift, push, pull, or carry heavy objects.
Move two or more limbs together (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while remaining in place.
See details of objects that are more than a few feet away.
Understand the speech of another person.
Quickly and repeatedly bend, stretch, twist, or reach out.
Keep or regain the body's balance or stay upright when in an unstable position.
See details of objects that are less than a few feet away.
Use one or two hands to grasp, move, or assemble objects.
It is not as important, but still necessary, for fitness and aerobics instructors to be able to:
Hold the arm and hand in one position or hold the hand steady while moving the arm.
Use fingers to grasp, move, or assemble very small objects.
Move arms and legs quickly.
Use muscles to jump, sprint, or throw objects.
Focus on one source of sound and ignore others.
Determine the distance between objects.
Skills and Abilities
Communicate
Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
Understand spoken information.
Listen to others and ask questions.
Reason and Problem Solve
Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong.
Follow guidelines to arrange objects or actions in a certain order.
Use reasoning to discover answers to problems.
Combine several pieces of information and draw conclusions.
Think of original, unusual, or creative ways to solve problems.
Analyze ideas and use logic to determine their strengths and weaknesses.
Concentrate and not be distracted while performing a task.
Judge the costs and benefits of a possible action.
Manage Oneself, People, Time, and Things
Check how well one is learning or doing something.
Manage the time of self and others.
Work with People
Teach others how to do something.
Look for ways to help people.
Be aware of others’ reactions and understand the possible causes.
Change behavior in relation to others’ actions.
Knowledge
Fitness and aerobics instructors need knowledge in the following areas:
Customer and Personal Service: Providing special services to customers based on their needs.
Education and Training: The methods of teaching and learning.
Psychology: People, their actions, and mental processes and how to treat problems.
English Language: The meaning and use of the English language.
Interests and Values
Fitness and aerobics instructors typically have the following interests:
Have social interests. They like work activities that assist others and promote learning and personal development. They like to communicate with others: to teach, give advice, help, or otherwise be of service to others.
Have realistic interests. They like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like to work with plants, animals, and physical materials such as wood, tools, and machinery. They often prefer to work outside.
Have enterprising interests. They like work activities that involve starting up and carrying out projects, especially in business. They like to lead and persuade others, make decisions, and take risks for profit.
Values
Fitness and aerobics instructors typically have the following work values:
Consider relationships important. They like to work in a friendly, non-competitive environment. They like to do things for other people. They prefer jobs where they are not pressured to do things that go against their sense of right and wrong.
Consider independence important. They like to make decisions and try out ideas on their own. They prefer jobs where they can plan their work with little supervision.
Consider achievement important. They like to see the results of their work and to use their strongest abilities. They like to get a feeling of accomplishment from their work.