For personal trainers wanting to become more involved with the overall health of their clients, health coaching may be the perfect solution.
As a fitness professional, do you feel you have the potential to make even a bigger difference in the lives of your clients? If you said yes, you’re not alone - more personal trainers are now transitioning into health coaching for the opportunity to help their clients make health and lifestyle improvements without being limited to just the fitness component.
What Makes Health Coaching Different?
A health coach shares some of the same responsibilities as a personal trainer, except that they focus on overall physical, mental and in some cases spiritual well-being. Any issue that interferes with a client’s health and happiness is open for you to discuss and implement change.
These health specialists develop a unique, collaborative relationship with their clients in examining their aspirations and evaluating/planning the necessary changes required to meet these goals. As a health coach, you will be able to discuss various health topics with your client in developing a more holistic plan of action.
Becoming a health coach requires sincere concern for your clients’ overall health, involving regular discussions on how they’re feeling. As part of going over the ways to sustain or improve your clients’ quality of life, you may share or recommend relevant information (i.e. internet resources, health publications, etc.) and make referrals to other health professionals in optimally managing their health.
Health Coaching vs. Personal Training
Health coaching is a relatively new and growing profession in the field of health and fitness. It is not the same as personal training, though includes some of its aspects. Whereas a personal trainer primarily instructs people on how much and what types of exercise to do, a health coach is able to do that plus address other ways to improve their client’s overall health - not only in the gym. They’re able to help with almost all aspects of physical, mental and spiritual health.
Health Coaches usually have a background in fitness and/or healthcare and are specially trained in many areas including exercise, nutrition and diet, disease risk factors, stress management, weight control, smoking/alcohol cessation, and motivational strategies. These certified health specialists enable others to conquer obstacles in achieving their health goals as well as pinpointing strengths to build upon and weaknesses that require special attention.
A personal trainer generally focuses on just the fitness component of health, being limited to coaching and training people in different types of physical activity and exercise. Some trainers may also offer nutritional recommendations.
The Future of Health Coaching
Health Coaches often work in corporate environments playing a significant role in employee wellness programs, as well as commercial (e.g., fitness center) settings. However, these health specialists are gradually becoming more popular in the consumer market, as more people realize a holistic approach to health is required for optimal long-term quality of life.
Many people require more than just personal training services to address major areas not related to their fitness levels, such as diet, disease risk factors, pre-existing conditions and behavioral issues. Health coaching sessions, which can demand in the range of $50 to $200 per hour, are typically not covered by most health insurance providers. However, the increasing recognition, respect and demand for this profession by the healthcare industry will most likely change this in the not-so-distant future.
Making The Transition From Personal Trainer To Health Coach
If you are currently a personal trainer, chances are you hold at least one NCCA-accredited certification. The American Council on Exercise (ACE) offers a health coach certification that is primarily designed for personal trainers and other fitness professionals. The ACE Health Coach certification builds upon existing fitness knowledge and integrates other major components of health to expand the education, qualification and services of it’s holders. As the only nationally accredited health coach certification, it may open up more employment opportunities.
For more information and details you can visit ACE’s Health Coach Certification website.
