massage therapy to personal training

[Penn]

I've seen several threads on the forums from personal trainers interested in becoming massage therapists, and I know there are some who are qualified as both. Before I became a massage therapist I was interested in becoming a personal trainer, but never went that route. I went as far as even getting study materials for becoming a CPT through ACE, but things in life popped up in life and I never actually pursued it and a few years later went to massage school.

Now I am graduated and licensed as a MT, but am finding I'm still interested in personal training. I received personal training in the past that I really clicked with and then was a "fitness consultant" at that gym for a while during that time (but that gym has since closed, sadly. It was a women's only gym and I liked that. There are no more like that in my area now besides places like Curves.)

So...long intro to ask: Now I'm looking at becoming certified as a personal trainer. I have the study materials for the ACE CPT test, but now I'm more interested in the NASM approach to training, and it seems like it might be more of the foundation I'd like. If I went with NASM I'm interested in also doing the Corrective Exercise Specialist (CES) training. My own ongoing physical issues have guided my interests in this. Are there any therapist/trainers here that have any insights into the different certification bodies and what made you choose one or the other? I also want to receive some more personal training as part of my education (and for the obvious personal benefit.)

The thought of doing the personal training actually excites me more about being a massage therapist. When I was a fitness consultant I designed simple exercise plans and got to do some teaching and loved that dynamic with clients, and it was exciting being involved in their self-care/improvement process in that way, and seeing clients take some initiative in their care.
Any thoughts/experiences?

 

[Pompal 09.]

massage therapy to personal training

I've seen several threads on the forums from personal trainers interested in becoming massage therapists, and I know there are some who are qualified as both. Before I became a massage therapist I was interested in becoming a personal trainer, but never went that route. I went as far as even getting study materials for becoming a CPT through ACE, but things in life popped up in life and I never actually pursued it and a few years later went to massage school.

Now I am graduated and licensed as a MT, but am finding I'm still interested in personal training. I received personal training in the past that I really clicked with and then was a "fitness consultant" at that gym for a while during that time (but that gym has since closed, sadly. It was a women's only gym and I liked that. There are no more like that in my area now besides places like Curves.)

So...long intro to ask: Now I'm looking at becoming certified as a personal trainer. I have the study materials for the ACE CPT test, but now I'm more interested in the NASM approach to training, and it seems like it might be more of the foundation I'd like. If I went with NASM I'm interested in also doing the Corrective Exercise Specialist (CES) training. My own ongoing physical issues have guided my interests in this. Are there any therapist/trainers here that have any insights into the different certification bodies and what made you choose one or the other? I also want to receive some more personal training as part of my education (and for the obvious personal benefit.)

The thought of doing the personal training actually excites me more about being a massage therapist. When I was a fitness consultant I designed simple exercise plans and got to do some teaching and loved that dynamic with clients, and it was exciting being involved in their self-care/improvement process in that way, and seeing clients take some initiative in their care.
Any thoughts/experiences?

I started training people first, and shortly afterward decided to pursue massage therapy. Now I've got a full roster of clients that are referred to me by other trainers, by medical pros, or by my other clients. Having a massage background has really helped me because I have a much better grasp of how the body functions than most trainers do. Learning how to do a real intake has also helped me better understand what questions to ask and how to get more info when I need it. These skills have made it easier to develop a reputation for being able to work with challenged clients.

You can see my background, certifications, and continuing education on my web site. The most unique thing I have is certification in Circular Strength Training(CST). That alone has given me far more practical methods for training clients than my ACE or most ACE-approved CE courses ever will.

The only reason I have my ACE is because most gyms require trainers to have one of the better-known "standard" personal training certifications. At the time, ACE was fairly cheap and easy, so I went with it and have kept it up ever since. However, some prospective employers will require you to have a specific certification. For example, Lifetime Fitness gyms require their trainers to have NASM (or equivalent) certs. So you need to do your homework and find out what potential employers in your area are looking for.

The NASM Corrective Exercise Specialist cert looks interesting. I have considered in the past but am too busy to pursue it now... and I really don't need it. I can't get any busier - 10 training appointments per day is plenty. The main reason I'd go for it now would be for curiosity and some hope that I'd learn something useful... or if I needed to compete for a new position. I generally recommend against paying big bucks for specialty certs unless you have a real need for them. Most clients will never give a rip what your certs are just so long as you are able to help them.