In the garage gym that I had joined before, there were just the spotters.. like houseboys who managed the gym. They didn't know shit but since at that time I was studying for my Physical Therapy licensure exam, I was able to study all the exercises, the anatomy of the body, the kinesiology of the exercises. I got big then, just working out on my own.
When two of our american friends asked me to train them 5 years ago, I decided to be a certified trainer. Well, why not. Got the materials from the US., and took the exam. We were like 60 in the classroom all fitness trainers and managers of the top fitness centers in the country today. Most of them bragged about their clientele, their schedules, their fitness clubs. They boasted themselves with their pumped up bodies. I was quiet.. being just knew in the group. We all took the American Council on Exercise (ACE) Personal Trainer Certification, a one day exam-- half day about principles of fitness and half day of simulated program planning. This was then sponsored by then Fitness Professionals organization.
After a month or so, FITPhil called up to tell me that I was one of the only two applicants who passed the exam (the other trainer is the current trainer of Piolo Pascual in Planet Infinity). Whew!! I was in heaven. Got my first certification as trainer! That started it all. My clientele grew and 2 years ago, I renewed my certificate and became a Lifestyle and Weight Management Consultant.
Being a trainer meant a lot. I became confident about training people. I knew my limitations. I learned more about people.
In this time when most fitness clubs hire mostly physical therapists as trainers, I believe that having a real certification on fitness training is necessary. Most know about exercises but still there is a big difference when training people who have fitness dilemmas.
