A healthy body and mind is arguably the best asset for anyone. The need to stay fit and healthy has increased even more post-pandemic, plus the first requirement to perform at the best at any level or platform requires one to be in the best of health. For those at the crossroads of picking a field to study in Canada, pursuing a fitness programme can turn out to be a win-win situation. As a fitness instructor, they will not only be keeping themselves healthy but will be making a satisfactory earning out of it.
Health and fitness are important components of a person’s well-being. Pursuing a fitness career can be rewarding and fulfilling, providing a blend of physical activity, entrepreneurial opportunities, and the opportunity to help others. A career in this field will range from clinical to non-clinical engagement and all of them aim to improve patients’ lifestyles through proper nutrition, physical activity, and wellness education. If you want to make a fitness career in Canada, here is some food for thought.
A Look at the Fitness Industry in Canada
The fitness industry in Canada has returned to its pre-COVID growth level. The order to stay at home had hit the fitness industry the hardest. Even though some fitness organisations tried to maintain the momentum by providing the service online, this was barely able to catch up with the quality of service provided in a traditional gym setup. Even though the COVID restrictions have long been lifted, many are still afraid and are keeping themselves away from the gym or a fitness routine. The situation is slowly catching up with the pre-covid level and many Canadians are more active than before the pandemic. All this means that there will be a demand for more fitness instructors in the future.
New job openings for athletes, coaches, referees, and related occupations over the period 2022 – 2031 are expected to be more than 60,000. New job seekers that will fill up these jobs are expected to remain at 50,000 something, showing that there will be a shortage of trained fitness instructors who can fill up the gap. Yukon Territory, Nova Scotia, Quebec, and Manitoba are some of the provinces in Canada that exhibit good demand for fitness instructors.
There are ample job openings on government and private job portals for fitness instructors. It is worth mentioning here that the need to stay fit will be there forever, and as the demands of our daily life are increasing, this need is only going to increase. Apart from the rare incident when the entire world was locked up in their homes, people will continue to move towards gyms and fitness centres.
Pathway to Pursuing A Career in Fitness
Before we discuss how you will get there, let’s first take a look at some of the rewards that are associated with working as a fitness instructor in Canada. The biggest plus point is the flexibility of working in terms of hours. As a fitness instructor, you have the option to work as a freelancer or work for a gym or fitness studio. After being trained as a fitness instructor, you don’t need to have to work as a fitness trainer only for there are other opportunities as well, including starting your own business, starting your apparel lines, or a personal trainer studio.
To work as a fitness instructor in Canada, one will have to complete a college programme in physical education or recreation. One will also need to acquire extensive experience in a specific sport or recreational activity. If one can acquire certification in a specific sport or fitness activity such as ski instructor personal trainer or emergency care, will provide additional earning benefits. Along with fulfilling these requirements, one will have to acquire a license from the authorities of the province where they will be working.
Information of Use to be a Fitness Instructor in Canada
Apart from acquiring the technical know-how of working in this industry, you need to be a self-motivator or go-getter kind of person. Even though there is flexibility in working, there will be a requirement to work odd hours, such as early in the morning or on weekends. This will be particularly applicable to all those who want to work as freelancers, for the client will want instructors when they are free, and this is usually outside working hours.
A word of caution that needs to be mentioned here is that this profession can be physically demanding, plus you need to be injury-free to stay relevant and in working condition. There is also the need to market yourself, and for that, you need to have good communication skills. This applies to both those who want to work as freelancers and those who work in a gym. Know about all the ins and outs of studying and working as a fitness instructor in Canada by talking to overseas education consultants in Canada.
Conclusion
Pursuing a programme and working as a fitness instructor in Canada brings in many dividends. Getting a strong footing in the industry may take time and requires persistent hard work. Sufficient theoretical knowledge is a must even though this is a practical intensive field of work. Talk to an experienced counsellor and plan properly before you put in the first gear in this career.
