CHENNAI: In any field, it’s the results that matter in the end. With the growing number of gyms and clubs in the city, fitness trainers, also face the heat to meet their clients’ goal. “It’s a result-oriented field,” says fitness trainer, Hari Krishnan, who works in 99 Degree Fahrenheit in Nungambakkam. “If you deliver the goods, you make a name for yourself and get more clients. People will recognise you and insist on getting trained by you,” adds the 23-year-old who handles 15 clients including actors, doctors and other professionals.A similar sentiment was echoed by other fitness trainers in the city. “It gives immense satisfaction when you meet your clients’ goal. That’s what we get paid for,” says Manjula Moorthy (25), who works with Pink Ladies Gym in Anna Nagar, and has had handled about 100 clients in three years. However, during the initial years, when trainers like Hari were starting out, they didn’t get the full support of their family members, as careers in fitness training were still at a nascent stage. After Hari completed diploma in electronics and communications engineering in 2007, he opted for a Certified Fitness Trainer course, rather than a run-of-the-mill career. Little did he know that he would have to face resistance from his family members. “Initially, my parents were hesitant to my decision of being a fitness trainer. But I managed to convince them about my love for fitness and desire to make a career in this field,” smiles Krishnan. “They understood my passion, and soon my cousin followed in this profession. I was like a trendsetter in my family for this field.” Other fitness trainers like A Kumaravel of Talwalkars Fitness Studios in Alwarpet, gave up three years of work in marketing in his family business to pursue a career as a fitness trainer. “My brother replaced me in our family business. I’m glad that I chose to follow my passion. I was interested in fitness since my younger days,” recalls Kumaravel, who handles 16 clients in the age group of 16-61 years, including six women. The decision to choose a career in fitness training is justified, as salaries for Kumaravel and Hari have increased by 5-8 times in four years, though they have to change a few jobs. They started with a salary of less than a lakh per annum, but are currently earning anywhere between `3-6 lakh per annum. With more certification and experience, there is no limit for earning money in this field, says Hari. However, on the personal front, 30-year-old Kumaravel continues to struggle to get a bride for himself. He explains, “People still question the earning capacity of a fitness trainer, as this is still not a well-known and recognised field yet.”However, the scope in this field is immense, asserts Govindaraj (32), who has been working at Maverick Fitness Studios at T Nagar for five years. “Earlier, anyone could become a fitness trainer without any certification,” he says. “But with growing lifestyle diseases, qualified trainers will be need of the hour and hence better career growth awaits them.” Hari adds, “At least 85 per cent of Chennaiites today are unfit, while the rest 15 per cent are basically sportspersons. Hence, there is urgent need for quality fitness trainers to help them out.”
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