If you’re starting your fitness career or you’re an experienced professional seeking new opportunities, you might wonder which workplace might suit you best. Job descriptions for fitness instructors are often very similar, making it difficult to know which job and work environment is right for you.

Below, BCRPA Registered Fitness Leader, Alexandra Pintea, outlines key considerations to help you decide, exploring options at community centers, private gyms, a franchise and a boot camp.

To start, give the following question some thought:

What type of impact do you want to have on the participants in your class, and what impact do you want them to have on you?

Teaching involves a transfer of energy – you to the group, the group to each other, and the group back to you. Working in fitness requires heart, mind and body. It’s important to always consider the balance.

Inside a fitness studio. Five people sideplanking on yoga mats facing away from the camera.
As an instructor, what type of impact do you want to have on the participants and what impact do you want them to have on you? Photo submitted by Alexandra Pintea

Key Considerations

Finding the right fit for your career and personal goals can be tricky. It can help to start by examining and reflecting on the details of a potential job or workplace.

Location:

  • Do you have a clear and realistic idea of where you want to work?
  • Will you hit rush hour traffic during your commute to this location? Is parking available for free?
  • Is it safe if you are walking to this workplace in the early morning or late at night?
  • Will this workplace allow you to fill-in as a substitute at various locations?
  • Is the class indoors or outdoors, and are you comfortable teaching in that environment?

Amount of Work and Timing:

  • When do you want to, or when are you expected to teach? What time of day would work best for you?
  • Do you want a structured permanent schedule, or do you want to fill in for other instructors on occasion? Are both options available?

Class Size:

  • What size of class works best for you?
  • Consider if you want to critique and work with each person in a smaller class or if you would rather be on a stage with a crowd of participants working together in a larger class.

Demographics:

  • The demographic of the class depends on the program you will write.
  • Consider the class description, the type of music you’ll play, and the participant information including age, athletic ability and whether they’re new or regulars.

Management and Co-Workers:

  • Teaching is very personal. You’ll want to find a place of work where you are supported, valued and appreciated by management, co-workers and class participants.

Class Type and Layout:

  • How long is the class? Are you doing a warmup and cool-down?
  • Are you teaching in classroom style or boot camp style?
  • Are you breaking into groups or playing games?

Equipment and Programs:

  • Are you on stage? Do you have a mic, or do you have to yell?
  • Do you have to bring your own speaker, cones, cords, weights, and mats or are these provided by the workplace?

Wage:

  • What is the hourly wage? Is it on a pay scale based on experience or time with the company?
  • Are you paid for the 15 minutes spent before & after class?
  • What about benefits or discounts on products? Is there a gym membership included?
  • Do you have to buy equipment or cover other costs?
  • Will you need to pay for parking or expensive transit to get there?

Visit BCRPA’s job board to see the latest fitness postings, and keep this information in mind when you apply for your next fitness opportunity.

Looking for more guidance in your fitness career? Check out other stories in the Healthy Living Matters Fitness Essentials series.

Learn more with Alexandra

Alexandra’s Navigating Diverse Work Environments in the Fitness Industry session on BCRPA’s e-Learning website provides a snapshot of each type of workplace and details how clients, programs and environments vary and should inform your career decisions. Completing this course is worth 1 BCRPA Fitness Continuing Education Credit (CEC).

About Alexandra Pintea

Alexandra works full-time in business with a BBA in Finance and an Accounting Diploma but has been a truly passionate part-time fitness instructor for 8 years. She has taught in different cities and a variety of businesses such as community centers, private gyms, indoor/outdoor boot camps, and small and large franchises. She is known for her very challenging HIIT classes and Abs and Glutes classes. She loves teaching hard classes with options for every fitness level. Her goal is to have every class participant leave with a sense of accomplishment.

Cover image: Photo submitted by Alexandra Pintea.

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