Just some Friday night thoughts on being a woman in the fitness industry.
When I first started personal training, I was the token female trainer on a team of eight. When I walk into my local 24 Hour Fitness, I see a wall of male trainer biographies on display.
Although, yes, there are female group fitness instructors, when it comes to personal training, men dominate the industry.
I am often asked why there aren’t more female trainers in the gym. This question comes from both clients and male colleagues. My standard response is a casual, “I don’t know”. But I do know. I know exactly why. And this is it:
If you grew up in the United States, I want you to think for a second about how many guys at your school took weightlifting as an elective course. Now compare that to the number of girls. Think about which sports teams were given priority in the weight room – a hint: it definitely wasn’t the gymnasts. Growing up as a female athlete, my exposure to strength and conditioning was pretty non-existent. Consequently, stepping into a career in the fitness industry was intimidating – almost like the guys had a five year running start.
And then there is biology. It takes a certain level of confidence to stand next to a male trainer who can lift twice what you can and feel solid in your ability to coach a client as well as they can. It’s hard not to let feelings of inferiority creep in when a client asks you what you bench and then proceeds to ask what your male coworker can bench. Of course the dude is going to lift more. I think embracing that biological disparity requires a decent amount of self-assurance. If you ask me, it makes a lot of sense that we don’t see more female trainers.
Despite the challenges, the fitness industry is experiencing a positive shift. Women who choose to step into the world of fitness are breaking down barriers and challenging stereotypes. At Eastside Athletics, we value diversity within our team. Our female personal trainers and strength coaches are both highly qualified and committed to helping you achieve your fitness goals.