AIBU to consider training as a fitness instructor in my forties

[Homeiswherethedogsare]

So, I am moderately fit with a desk job.
I have always done bits of dance growing up and fitness on and off throughout life but life, desk job and kids alwaya got in the way (excuses, I know).

Over the past year, I have rediscovered my love for dance (doing adult classes in a local school) and overall fitness and wellbeing and have started to be more active and to dislike my desk job (not just for the desk element but broader work dynamics).

Whilst I am under no illusion that I will ever be able to make the same salary I earn now by becoming an instructor, I have started to seriously think whether I could maybe train to make this my second job and, perhaps, a secons source of income to slowly pivot towards over the years.

Based on what I love and what I think I might be good at, I think that barre and zumba might be a good start. Would love to be able to teach dance to beginners but I don’t even know if that is possible.

My question is, am I silly to even consider this in my 40s, with a mortgage, kids, a career in HR and other responsibilities. How do I even go about this and how employable would I be, realistically, when competing with highly trained fitness instructors with decades of experience???

No it’s a great job :) (I’m a PT) It depends if you want to be a class instructor or PT. For PT you could do well as the majority of people with disposable income tend to be women in their 40s and they’ll appreciate that you can relate to them. Class instructor is a bit of a dying art as not many places want to pay people to deliver classes (big chains) but you can also make a good living doing small group training or boot camp style services. I’d recommend doing the full level 2 and 3 as it’s only a bit of extra studying and means you can choose either class delivery or be insured for 1-1 PT. The qualifications are not too difficult and cost around 2-3k.

I can't comment on the financial viability, but age wise I know someone who has just done this at age 65 and she said there were several people on the course who were over 50 let alone over 40. Like a pp said, as a PT your clients can relate to you if they are a similar age.

There are several instructors at the gym I go to who are over 40.
Also quite a lot of them work part time doing a few classes while still having another job this could be a good way to start.

I would definitely want to train with you

I think it's still a good career, but I do seem to live in an area where there's a lot of gyms and a lot of trainers

I think it's a growing area personally - people are so much more focused on health.

Apparently, the actual courses are pretty amazing to do as well

We seem to have a few Boot Camp people around here - lots of outdoor running, training, boxing drills and stuff

I joined a gym when I was 50, because everyone was talking about strength training being important for menopause. I chose to sign up with the female mid-40s PT because, as a pp said, I thought we’d be able to relate to each other. And she was brilliant - also, incidentally, a career-changer from an office job.

The only reason I’m not still training with her is that she moved.

Does the world not already have enough fitness instructors?

This is exactly my plan in the next few years. Once I’ve sorted my work life balance out in my corporate career and start working 9-6 instead of 9-9, I plan to train to be a barre/pilates instructor and teach part-time with the hope of fully transitioning into doing it full time. Best of luck!

I've thought about it several times. What put me off is that it totally depends on yourself being fit and well more than a non- physical job and that is no small consideration as you get older. But don't let that put you off necessarily, it's just one consideration.

I would definitely want a 40s something pt or instructor.

I’ve considered it myself from the angle of someone who’s had / has fatigue and cancer. Because half of it is also mindset

You’d have to work hard at keeping your income levels up. Constant attention to a patchwork of income streams rather than a steady monthly income.
But I’d say go for it. I’ve got into gym and strength training recently and employed a few PTs along the way. I chat to them all. Middle aged women getting into fitness are their biggest and most lucrative customer base.
The yoga instructors always seem the busiest. I have a friend who teaches dance but her main customers are children attending weekly classes.
So not an expert opinion but when AI takes all the jobs what are people going to do all day except focus on their fitness?!
If you don’t have premises though where will you work? Are you in an area with loads of gyms or will you hire a hall?
Best of luck with it all.

I think there is a real gap in PTs who specialise in perimenopause/menopausal women. It’s shouted everywhere that strength training is so important at this age, yet not offered so much as a specialism. I think that could be a real winner for 1-1 training

I don't think that age is an issue but I would research the market to make sure there is a demand for instructors.

I live in a small town and I was considering training as a Pilates or fitness instructor. But I freelanced for a Pilates/Yoga studio for a while doing their marketing and I realise there were just too many instructors already in the area for it to be financially viable.

However I am still considering doing some training but maybe as a swimming instructor instead as there seems to be more demand.

As a middle aged woman I would definitely choose an older instructor who tailors their programme to older women :).

What I want from a PT:

Good knowledge of bodies and how to target areas.
An understanding of how periods/ peri affects female bodies.
Focus on fitness and strength not aesthetics.
Encouragement and ideas to get me over blips where I don't want to do anything.
A bit of chat and a laugh while beasting me with Bulgarian split squats.
Turns up on time/ reliable.
Reasonably priced.

Im not bothered about their age or appearance. Although I'd actually prefer an older person.

My PT does training at home (kettle bells/boxing pads etc all in her boot), a weekend HIIT class in the park, offers sports massage and trains local clubs - it seems variety and more than one income stream works well for her.

Good luck! I think doing it part time and seeing how it goes/how much you enjoy it is a great plan.