Module 3: Scope of Fitness Trainer and Health and Fitness Component

Objectives
On completion of the topic, one should be able to understand:
 the five Components of health related fitness and its secondary components
 the scope of the fitness trainer and their different kind of work
the different roles , names of the trainer and their employment opportunities

Introduction
Many health clubs, fitness studio, gyms and health & fitness related training centers have
cropped up in the past ten years across the globe especially in India, meaning that many are
taking on to fitness more seriously than ever resulting in specialized fitness trainers engaged
to shape and develop fitness levels of individuals.    Beyond being coach of a specialized
sport, fitness training could be classified in to many spheres such as personal fitness training,
group fitness training, strength & conditioning coach, sports conditioning specialist and many
more. Very few into sports are much aware of such programmes that gives fair chance to earn
substantially. All that is required is a good base in sports with substantial amount of
knowledge in science will take through the course that can be made effective by private
training and practice.
A fitness trainer is a specialized professional involved in exercise prescription and instruction
motivating clients by setting goals and providing feedback and accountability. Trainers
evaluate their client's strengths and weaknesses with fitness assessments. They also educate
their clients in many other aspects of wellness besides exercise, including general health and
nutrition guidelines. A trainer facilitates to enhance the components of fitness for general
health or sports related. Appropriate exercise prescription results in improved body
composition, physical performance and health outcomes. A trainer pays close attention to
their client's exercise form, workout routine, and nutrition plan. On the whole fitness training
improves various aspects like cardio-respiratory endurance, strength, power, agility,
functional movements, flexibility, explosive power, neuro-muscular coordination and
reflexes.

The scope of the fitness trainer

A fitness trainer will train people in different aspects of physical fitness and help the obese
and sedentary get into shape. You will instruct or coach groups or individuals in various
exercise routines (weights, aerobics, and flexibility training), besides monitoring their
progress through methods such as BMI (body mass index) and cardiovascular levels. If
required, the trainer will also give them basic advice on health and nutrition. The trainer will
demonstrate the correct use of various training apparatus and gadgets such as trampolines,
weight, rowing machines etc.
Fitness trainer’s help clients assess their level of physical fitness and help them set and reach
fitness goals. They also demonstrate various exercise routines and help clients improve their
technique. They also keep records of their clients’ exercise sessions to analyses their progress
and physical fitness.
Let’s take a look at some of the different kinds of work of fitness trainer;
Personal trainers: Personal trainers work with clients on a one-on-one basis with celebrities
and others who like privacy while they work out; either at a gym or at the client’s home. The
workout is specially tailored to suit the client’s specific health and fitness requirements.
Obviously, you would prescribe a far more exacting routine for a football player or swimmer
as compared to that for a film or company honcho.
Aerobics instructors: Aerobics instructors conduct group workout sessions that involve
aerobics, stretching and muscle conditioning exercises. These classes are normally conducted
in a gym or at the studio.
Sports instructors: Sports instructors coach professional and non-professional athletes on an
individual basis. They organise, instruct, train and lead athletes specialising in indoor and
outdoor sports or self-defence training such as judo and karate. Using their expertise in the
sport, sports instructors evaluate the fitness level of the athlete and the athlete’s opponents to
devise a competitive game strategy. 
Yoga and naturopathy: Yoga and naturopathy experts work in yoga or fitness institutes and
in hospitals as consultants or instructors. Similarly, one could also work as a personal trainer
for the well-heeled client who does not have the time or desire to go to a public gym or for
someone suffering from a specific health problem. As more and more people look for holistic
alternative cures and remedies that are natural and free from side effects, naturopathy and
yoga have great promise.

Different roles and names of the trainer

The role of a fitness instructor can be classified as
1. Aerobics instructor- a fitness instructor specialising in aerobic exercised and routines
2. Clinical exercise specialist – a trainer who works with patients and assists them to
overcome and recover from injuries and physical aliments
3. Group fitness or gym instructor – a person who specializes in imparting the nuances
of fitness routines to a group of people
4. Personal trainer – a fitness trainer who is exclusively associated with a particular
client and looks after their fitness schedule, diet and training
5.
Employment opportunities

Today, fitness in India is a whopping Rs.2,000 crore industry and most fitness centres are
swanky studios offering an array of fitness regimes such as aerobics, kickboxing, yoga,
dancercise and other workouts with sophisticated machines. Moreover, be it at home or at the
fitness centre having a qualified trainer has become the ‘in-thing’. With gyms and health
clubs mushrooming all over the country, the demand for qualified instructors is going up
sharply. And this spells good prospects for those aiming to pursue fitness as their career.
Trainers with the ‘right’ qualification can teach just about anybody who can pay to be healthy
and fit — from hardworking executives to the stressed-out CEOs, the politicians, the self-
conscious student, the middle-aged housewife. 

John F. Kennedy rightly told that, ‘physical fitness is not only one of the most important keys
to a healthy body; it is the basis of dynamic and creative intellectual activity.’ Today’s work
has led us to have a sedentary life style which makes us being far from fit. No magic tea,
cream or pill and get you back in shape but a physical trainer can be the magician. Fitness is a
lucrative career and in today’s world can be termed as a sustainable business. The fitness bug
has got on to everyone and there are numerous people who are making a bee-line to a trainer
in the bid to get into shape.

Five Components of Health Related Fitness 

What does it mean to be physically "fit?" Physical fitness is defined as "a set of attributes that
people have or achieve that relates to the ability to perform physical activity" (USDHHS,
1996). In other words, it is more than being able to run a long distance or lift a lot of weight
at the gym. Being fit is not defined only by what kind of activity you do, how long you do it,
or at what level of intensity. While these are important measures of fitness, they only address
single areas. Overall fitness is made up of five main components: 
1. Cardiorespiratory endurance
2. Muscular strength
3. Muscular endurance
4. Body composition
5. Flexibility 
In order to assess the level of fitness, look at all five components together.
Cardiorespiratory endurance: Cardiorespiratory endurance is the ability of the body to take
in oxygen (respiration), deliver it to the cells (circulation), and use it at the cellular level to
create energy (bioenergetics) for physical work (activity). In fitness, we also refer to
cardiorespiratory capacity as aerobic capacity. This capacity includes aerobic endurance (how
long), aerobic strength (how hard), and aerobic power (how fast). Some of the long-term
adaptations of cardiorespiratory training are: decreased resting heart rate, decreased risk of
cardiovascular disease, improved endurance, increased stroke volume and cardiac output.
Muscular strength: Muscular strength refers to the spectrum of muscular capability. This
includes muscular endurance (i.e., the ability to apply force over a long period of time or to
complete repeated muscle contractions); muscular strength (i.e., the ability to generate force,
or the maximum amount of force that a muscle can exert in a single contraction); and
muscular power (i.e., the ability to generate strength in an explosive way). Some of the long-
term adaptations of improving muscular capacity are increased strength, improved muscular
endurance, increased basal metabolic rate, improved joint strength, and overall posture.
Muscular endurance: Muscular endurance is the ability of the muscle to continue to
perform without fatigue (USDHHS, 1996 as adapted from Wilmore & Costill, 1994). To
improve your muscle endurance, try cardio-respiratory activities such as walking, jogging,
bicycling, or dancing.
Body composition:  Body composition is the proportion of fat-free mass (muscle, bone,
blood, organs, and fluids) to fat mass (adipose tissue deposited under the skin and around
organs). Some of the long-term adaptations of improving body composition are decreased
risk of cardiovascular disease, improved basal metabolic rate, improved bodily function, and
improved Body mass index (BMI).
Flexibility:  Flexibility is the range of movement or amount of motion that a joint is capable
of performing. Each joint has a different amount of flexibility. Some of the long-term
adaptations of improved flexibility are decreased risk of injury, improved range of motion,
improved bodily movements, and improved posture.

Secondary Components of Fitness

The secondary components of fitness (also known as the components of performance based
fitness) are involved in all physical activity and are necessary for daily functioning. Athletes
experience different levels of success depending on how well these secondary fitness
components are developed. Although the primary components of fitness are thought to be the
most important, we should not ignore the secondary components because of their importance
in the completion of daily tasks. The secondary components include the following.
Balance: Balance is the ability to maintain a specific body position in either a stationary or
dynamic (moving) situation.
Coordination: Coordination is the ability to use all body parts together to produce smooth
and fluid motion.
Agility: Agility is the ability to change direction quickly.
Reaction time: Reaction time is the time required to respond to a specific stimulus.
Speed: Speed is the ability to move rapidly. Speed is also known as velocity (rate of motion).
Power: Power is the product of strength and speed. Power is also known as explosive
strength.
Mental capability: Mental capability is the ability to concentrate during exercise to improve
training effects as well as the ability to relax and enjoy the psychological benefits of activity
(endorphins).

Conclusion
Fitness trainers are the ones who motivate and focused to achieve ones goals of becoming fit
and in shape. They train either a group or an individual and chalk out the regime based on
age, lifestyle, fitness level and health. They help to get into a routine doing weights, aerobics
and the various machines available in the gym. They also make the clients be able to push the
envelope and reach better fitness levels. Their advices are valuable and they help the
correction of good posture and food intake. They bring about a change in clients lifestyle if
required. They assess the fitness level of clients and also help to set fitness goals and
demonstrate the various routines and guide the clients to do it the right way.
FAQ
Q1. What are the secondary components of fitness?
Ans.The secondary components are:
1. Balance: Balance is the ability to maintain a specific body position in either a
stationary or dynamic (moving) situation.
2. Coordination: Coordination is the ability to use all body parts together to produce
smooth and fluid motion.
3. Agility: Agility is the ability to change direction quickly.
4. Reaction time: Reaction time is the time required to respond to a specific stimulus.
5. Speed: Speed is the ability to move rapidly. Speed is also known as velocity (rate of
motion).
6. Power: Power is the product of strength and speed. Power is also known as explosive
strength.
7. Mental capability: Mental capability is the ability to concentrate during exercise to
improve training effects as well as the ability to relax and enjoy the psychological
benefits of activity (endorphins).
Q2. Write about Cardiorespiratory endurance.
Ans. Cardiorespiratory endurance is the ability of the body to take in oxygen (respiration),
deliver it to the cells (circulation), and use it at the cellular level to create energy
(bioenergetics) for physical work (activity). In fitness, we also refer to cardiorespiratory
capacity as aerobic capacity. This capacity includes aerobic endurance (how long), aerobic
strength (how hard), and aerobic power (how fast). Some of the long-term adaptations of
cardiorespiratory training are: decreased resting heart rate, decreased risk of cardiovascular
disease, improved endurance, increased stroke volume and cardiac output.
Q3. Classify the different roles and name of the fitness instructor.
Ans: The name and role of a fitness instructor can be classified as:
1. Aerobics instructor: A fitness instructor specialising in aerobic exercised and routines
2. Clinical exercise specialist: A trainer who works with patients and assists them to
overcome and recover from injuries and physical aliments
3. Group fitness or gym instructor: A person who specializes in imparting the nuances of
fitness routines to a group of people
 4. Personal trainer: A fitness trainer who is exclusively associated with a particular client
and looks after their fitness schedule, diet and training
Q4. What are the main five components of health related fitness?
Ans: The main five components of fitness are as follows,
1. Cardiorespiratory endurance
2. Muscular strength
3. Muscular endurance
4. Body composition
5. Flexibility 
Q5. What is the different between muscular endurance and flexibility?
Ans: Muscular endurance is the ability of the muscle to continue to perform without fatigue.
To improve one’s muscle endurance, try cardio-respiratory activities such as walking,
jogging, bicycling, or dancing. Whereas, flexibility is the range of movement or amount of
motion that a joint is capable of performing. Each joint has a different amount of flexibility.
Q6. Write about different kinds of work perform by the fitness trainer.
Ans: Following are the different kinds of work of fitness trainer;
1. Personal trainers: Personal trainers work with clients on a one-on-one basis with
celebrities and others who like privacy while they work out; either at a gym or at the
client’s home.
2. Aerobics instructors: Aerobics instructors conduct group workout sessions that involve
aerobics, stretching and muscle conditioning exercises. These classes are normally
conducted in a gym or at the studio.
3. Sports instructors: Sports instructors coach professional and non-professional athletes
on an individual basis. They organise, instruct, train and lead athletes specialising in
indoor and outdoor sports.
4. Yoga and naturopathy: Yoga and naturopathy experts work in yoga or fitness institutes
and in hospitals as consultants or instructors.

Glossary
Endurance: The power to withstand hardship or stress
Stimulus: Any stimulating information or event; acts to arouse action
Naturopathy: A method of treating disease using food and exercise and heat to assist the
natural healing process
Professional: Engaged in a profession or engaging in as a profession or means of livelihood
Instructor: A person whose occupation is teaching
Flexibility: The property of being flexible; easily bent or shaped
Psychological: Mental or emotional as opposed to physical in nature
Nuances: A subtle difference in meaning, opinion or attitude
Athlete: A person trained to compete in sports
Metabolic: Of or relating to metabolism
Posture: The arrangement of the body and its limbs

References
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Physical activity and health: a report of the
Surgeon General. Atlanta: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health
Promotion; 1996.
 American College of Sports Medicine. ACSM Certified Personal Trainer job task analysis.
ACSM.org. 2010. Retrieved 2014
Carter, L. The personal trainer: A perspective. Strength andConditioning Journal 23(1): 14-
17, 2001.
Channell, BT, and Barfield, JP. Effect of Olympic and traditional resistance training on
vertical jump performance improvement in high school boys. The Journal of Strength and
Conditioning Research 22(5): 1522-1527, 2008.
Christakis, NA, and Fowler, JH. The spread of obesity in large social network over 32 years.
N Engl J Med 357(4): 370-379, 2007.

Link web
http://www.topendsports.com/fitness/components.htm
www.elementssystem.com/pdfs/Scope.
kalvimalar.dinamalar.com
www.hotcoursesabroad.com 
http://certification.acsm.org