Is 45 too old to retrain as a personal trainer?

[zippyswife]

Probably should have done this 10 years ago when I was first considering it…. But I didn’t.

revisiting it now as I would like to ultimately package myself as a wellness and fitness coach… (so looking at mental well-being and physical coaching) potentially as 1:1 or ultimately as consulting to businesses on their well-being/wellness for staff.

But looking at starting by doing my PT training then adding coaching training as an additional layer.

just wanted thoughts as whether this is a thing… whether it’s too late to launch into this…

i currently work loosely within well-being and mental health but would like to step it up a notch.

No

However expect your clients to be older so make sure you focus on older people.

I'd have said that I would prefer someone older, because I really can't compete with a shapely 20-something!

It's not too old no, I imagine lots of over 50s would prefer a trainer who was more mature. It's a very over-crowded industry though and it's tough to make a decent living. Apart from a handful of young tiktok and instagram influencers I imagine most PTs really struggle to retain enough clients year on year. When people's finances hit a tough patch things like PT sessions are always the first thing to go.

I think it's a great idea. My old gym gave me an option of 11 personal trainers and they were all in their early 20s and looked so fit/perfect it was very intimidating, I would've signed up for an 'older' PT in a flash!

My old company actually hired someone to come in for a well-being day and advise on staff wellness and I remember thinking it would've been very well paid/fulfilling work. The company I used were booked out most days - it was hard to find a date they could come in!

i would so love a menopausal trainer! Someone who really understands hormones and women's bodies. The ones in my gym are terrifying.

I once did a yoga class with a teacher who was 45+ and fantastic. It really helped me. Sadly, she left the area.

Not at all. Perfect age for a trainer. Lots of older people with plenty of disposable income who would prefer someone of this age to train them.

I’m in my thirties and wouldn’t think twice about a forty something PT. Only unless they were visibly unfit themselves.

Go for it! I would sign up for your sessions in a heartbeat - the idea of having a 20-something (as they all seem to be at my gym) as my trainer is hideous, I’m a pretty out of shape 55 year old who doesn’t really have a clue how to exercise properly beyond my dog walking and weekly pilates. I would feel far more comfortable with someone closer to my own age and I’m sure I’m not the only one who feels like that.

Do it! I also considered hiring a PT but felt they wouldn't understand me, my body shape and needs as I'm mid 40s and overweight. I think there would be a huge market for 40s upwards. I can imagine men have the same concerns.

My PT is 48, I picked her out of a lineup of 20 something's because it's easy to look cracking at 20, I want to look cracking at 48 and she can show me how!

I prefer to see a PT my own age than an early 20s just qualified who thinks HIIT is the be all and end all.

Wow- I think you’ve all convinced me to give it a go. So much positivity. Really appreciate all those comments. I’ll look for courses now. Feel like I want to crack on and do this instead of stalling more.

Not too old but the market is very saturated round here so have a back up plan for regular income.

You definitely aren't too old! I am older than you and follow fab online trainers who are older like Petra Genco, Pat Heard, Lois Hughey, Chris DeHollander and Caroline Idiens. All great.

Perfect age. I am an early 40s woman and not intimidated by the PTs at my gym. However, I trained last year with an excellent male PT who is probably in his mid-30s. We got on great but at the time I was entering peri and it was really affecting my performance. I could tell that he was baffled by how my strength / energy levels were fluctuating in a cyclical way vs. being linear according to my training. He was always very responsive to any feedback and willing to adapt my training plan, but I just couldn't bring myself to discuss peri with him - partly because I didn't really understand it myself at the time, partly because it was already making me feel self-conscious and low. I would have no hesitation with a female PT in the same age range (or older).

If I were you I would deliberately train / market yourself as someone with expertise in this specific area. There is a growing understanding of the menopause, it affects all women eventually, but still very little expertise on hand.

PS Am now on HRT and flying at the gym!

No one’s suggested browsing the Mature study and retraining board?

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/mature_students

You should find plenty of relevant threads there, @zippyswife.

We have a local lady who’s retrained as a PT and who has finally retired from The City and is doing it FT. She’s early 50s and an ex weight lifter.

She’s absolutely brilliant and has cornered the local market for all the older 50+ locals. She now runs regular classes and does 1-2-1 PT too.

Id look at your target market and aim for the gaps in your locality. She seems to have nailed it!

A friend has done this but kept her main job, she is 53 now. Clients love her as she relates to them. Go for it

We have a great instructor at our gym in his early 60s I think. He's really good in classes because he understands the needs for adaptations and that it's important not to push it until you hurt yourself damn the young instructor who thought everyone could do full push ups and now my trapped neck nerve has come back.

I would love an instructor who focused on working mature females. I did have PT for a while in my 40s, I tried my absolute hardest and was so disappointed at the end of the block of sessions when he said he thought I would be lifting heavier weights at this point, rather than focusing on the inch loss and muscle gain.

Reminds me of all those 20 year old Instagram models pushing magic beans or fad workouts saying if you do this, you can have my body. No, you have that body because you're 20!

I agree with the comments above saying I'd trust an 'older' person who has that body, and their experience WAY more than some 'kid'.

I don't think you are too old. But I would worry about getting work. I think having some additional training in menopause etc would be good. Also older people as many of them may well be able to afford having a personal trainer. I would also look at getting training so you could support someone following a stroke. My mum would really have benefited from this. She attended some NHS gym sessions but getting back out exercising, simply going for a walk was really daunting.

You’re definitely not too old at all. I retrained as a Pilates instructor at 40 and at times I have had too much work and a wait list….I’m now 49.

What I will say is I am exhausted! You have to be careful not to take too much on. It is a physical job and you’re talking the whole time. So I have found it more tiring than a desk job.

But then I also have a dog to walk and want to do my own exercise (well all this was true before long Covid).

So just think about that side of things. Plus you may need to work unsociable hours. Many people want early starts after work- evenings and Saturdays.

You may be fine with all that but just something to think about.