The Show Up Fitness Podcast

Devang & Suman (INDIA) A Trainers 12-year Journey w/ struggles & advice

• Chris Hitchko, CEO Show Up Fitness • Season 3 • Episode 251

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DeVang explores what it's like to become a trainer in Delhi India w/ IG: Thebongbeast 

What does it really take to succeed as a personal trainer in today's competitive fitness industry? Forget the Instagram highlight reels - this raw, honest conversation with 12-year veteran trainer Suman Gupta reveals the challenging yet rewarding path to building a sustainable career in fitness.

Suman shares his journey from starting without formal education to becoming a specialized coach working with senior citizens and clients with medical conditions. He candidly discusses the struggles most trainers face but rarely talk about: the financial rollercoaster of seasonal client fluctuations, the pressure from family who don't understand the profession, and the ethical dilemmas of managing unrealistic client expectations.

"I haven't found another job more tough than a trainer's job," Suman admits, highlighting the need for both physical and mental toughness. Yet he offers practical wisdom for navigating these challenges - developing multiple revenue streams across in-person training, online coaching, and specialized programs rather than relying solely on gym-based income.

The conversation delves into the critical importance of education and anatomy knowledge, especially when working with knowledgeable clients who expect expertise beyond basic exercise instruction. Suman emphasizes how proper certification and continuous learning serve as your "license" to train people effectively and command premium rates.

Whether you're considering a career in fitness or looking to elevate your existing training business, this episode provides the reality check and strategic guidance you need. The fitness industry continues to evolve post-pandemic, with increasing opportunities for trainers willing to invest in their education and build genuine expertise. Are you ready to show up and create a sustainable career beyond just counting reps?

Want to ask us a question? Email email info@showupfitness.com with the subject line PODCAST QUESTION to get your question answered live on the show!

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Speaker 1:

So you need multiple streams of revenue For that. You have to work on online training, you have to do freelancing. You have to sell your workout programs. If you have knowledge about nutrition, you can sell nutrition plans as well. You can tie up with physiotherapists and work together. A lot of opportunities are there, but trainers don't know about it yet.

Speaker 2:

Welcome to the Show Up Fitness Podcast, where great personal trainers are made. We are changing the fitness industry one qualified trainer at a time, with our in-person and online personal training certification. If you want to become an elite personal trainer, head on over to showupfitnesscom. Also, make sure to check out my book how to Become a Successful Personal Trainer. Don't forget to subscribe, rate and review.

Speaker 1:

Have a great day and keep showing up hey you all, namaste, and welcome back to the show of fitness podcast. We are doing our second episode of india edition and today we have a guest named suman gupta. He's based from delhi and he has 12 years of experience as a personal trainer. He has worked with top gyms in India like Curlfit and Anytime Fitness. The next voice you'll be hearing is from Suman. Hey, suman, how are you? Hi, devon, good evening, I'm good. I'm good, all right. So just tell us about your journey. How did you start into fitness and how things are going so far.

Speaker 3:

Okay, I started back in 2013. At that time I did not have any basic, I did not complete any basic education. So for the first two years I was working just as a trainer, without any education, just to gather some practical knowledge. Then I came to know that education is a must, obviously, must, obviously Chahiye chahiye, otherwise aap aage nahi bursakte life pe. So back in 2015, I completed my first basic CPT from an academy, new Delhi main. So waha se maine apna basic CPT complete kiya, or CPR or CFT, certified Fitness Training bhi, wohi se maine complete kiya tha. So yeh teeno certifications complete karne ke baad I started my journey.

Speaker 3:

The first gym where I started my work after completing my education, that is Sehat World, which is a part of CultFit. So I have worked there for almost 8 years. I have worked with CultFit for 8 years with Sehat World. So the journey has been quite challenging, yet rewarding. After some years, when I matched both experience and knowledge matched, it worked for me. I got to learn a lot. Things are good, Things are pretty good. My work is still going on.

Speaker 3:

I left the Sehat World and Cult almost a year ago. I left a year ago, last August. After that I worked in A&M Fitness as a freelance coach. For some months I did a job there. Then I decided to work completely as a freelancer, not to work under any brands. So I thought as a freelancer I am doing good, things are pretty much balanced for me and I have my own clients, my own group of clients. By God's grace, I am managing all the three parameters of training, both in gym, as a freelancer, as an outlier. I also do my offline training for people in home training and also I also do my online training for people from outside.

Speaker 1:

What type of clients do you have Like senior citizens or young clients? Most of them are senior citizens, most of them done from outside. What type of clients do you have Like senior?

Speaker 3:

citizens or young clients. Most of them are senior citizens. Most of them are senior citizens Almost I can say 60% of them are senior citizens. And I prefer that I handle cases of senior citizens with medical issues. That's because you get to learn a lot from them as a coach. Because that fat loss, weight loss we have done all the work of fat loss, weight loss at the start. Any trainer for the initial first 3-4 years, 5 years, we do so much. After that only weight loss remains, fat loss remains. Then we have to move forward. So I just wanted to upgrade. So I thought that now I should target a different type of clients. So I also did. No, now I should target a different type of clients. So I studied my special population. So after that I decided that I will handle people like this who have special issues, needs issues, accidental cases.

Speaker 1:

Okay, so when you said special population course, what was the name of that course?

Speaker 3:

It was a course by FSSA. Fssa is a fitness academy in New Delhi, so injury prevention or special population is part of that course. They teach a lot in that. They also have another course, diploma in Special Population. So I completed all of that with that academy.

Speaker 1:

And what is the duration of the course?

Speaker 3:

We had three days a week classes and it went for almost 45 days. It stays for 45 days almost.

Speaker 1:

So, yeah, that point is absolutely correct that after getting fat loss and muscle gain, saturation comes after a point. I don't know about Delhi, but in Ahmedabad and in Gujarat, the process of becoming a trainer here is very simple. I mean, if someone has lost 10 kg or 15 kg, they consider themselves as a trainer. They will start helping people to lose weight. If someone was leaned back in college and built some muscles, he has confidence and he starts going to the gym and train people to gain muscles, and that's like a very basic thing in fitness. I mean, anyone can make you lose weight by putting you in deficit and anyone can make you gain weight by putting you in surplus. So that's very basic.

Speaker 1:

But yeah, what you are saying is absolutely bang on that if you want to stand out, you have to work with clients who are considered a special population, because it takes real skills and real knowledge to handle them Right. Right, with real patience, With real patience, with real patience exactly. You cannot tell them to just take whey protein and everything will be okay. Yes, so tell me one thing if someone is staying in delhi and they want to become a trainer, what is the procedure for that?

Speaker 3:

if, firstly, you should work under a gym for some practical knowledge for some time, he should see that will he be able to work as a trainer for the entire life, because this field is so challenging. Here people from outside think that personal training is everything. I will become a trainer, I will earn. Personal training is everything. I will become a trainer, I will earn personal training. I will have 20 clients, I will earn 2 lakh rupees. It doesn't happen. It doesn't happen. It's very tough. It's very, very tough. I think I haven't found another job more tough than a trainer's job. I see my friends in the other field too. I know in all fields everyone has a different level of toughness. Everyone has different levels of toughness. But here you need a physical as well as mental toughness in the mind a lot. So I think if somebody wants to become a trainer, he has to work under a gym for a certain period of time, let's say 6 months, let's say 1 year, with a little patience. He should see that when he works will he be able to tolerate people, will he be able to listen to their problems, will he be a good listener and will he be able to tolerate them, will he be able to listen to their problems, will he be a good listener and will he be able to motivate people for the workout, will his clients come after seeing him? Then only he will be able to be successful In the first phase if he is able to clear the entire thing of communicating with others and spread awareness in the gym that, yes, it is necessary to get fit.

Speaker 3:

Then comes the second phase. That, yes, complete your education. You have decided, as a trainer, you have to work, you have to become a coach. Complete your education, which is very must, I feel. Nothing can be done without it. It is a license. You need it. You complete it After that, with some years of knowledge and experience, again with experience, small workshops, small certifications. I tell all the trainers, all my juniors don't look at the prices. Whatever certifications, whatever academies are being done, don't look at the price. Some are in 5000, some can be in 50000. Knowledge is knowledge. It will be useful. It will always be useful. It's up to your interest whether you want to do it or not. That's what I want to say and that's what.

Speaker 1:

I believe, a funny story. I mean, I have never known interest in kettlebell training but still back in 2023, I did a kettlebell course which was 3 days workshop in Mumbai. So I went there and did that course. I don't know how much I learnt about kettlebell, but the instructor, tim, was there. He came from Australia to teach this. I learnt how to give coaching to him.

Speaker 1:

He taught us how to give coaching, how to give cue and how to help your client without being touchy, because I have seen many trainers who get stuck with clients. So the benefit of workshop is that you don't have to learn anything basic but you get to learn a lot of other things Because there are different types of people coming there. Right, so I didn't get that much interest in kettlebell even after doing it, but I got to know how I can give coaching to people different from others, how I can stand out If there are 10 people standing on the gym floor, how I can stand out there. So the benefit of the workshop was that you meet different types of personalities and you can pick something from there. Yes, right, rest. I don't know about Kettlebell and me. When will the relationship be established?

Speaker 3:

We are on the same page. I also did a workshop of Kettlebell. It was a one-day workshop, just to see what it is, and that was one workshop in my life. And the second workshop I did I think it was cardio boxing or something Some certain academy had done it here in Delhi.

Speaker 3:

So, in that I felt that when I heard that there is boxing in it, it was really very much attracting. I felt that I will get to learn something good. Then I went there and I saw that people are doing anything. So I saw that they made me dance in the name of cardio. They made me do aerobics. I was not interested in any person and I never wanted to do it. And in that they put some boxing moves and I was so embarrassed doing all this with the group of people.

Speaker 1:

So I did it. I did it. I guess it's body combat.

Speaker 3:

No, no, no. Body combat is far better. It was not body combat. I still have that workshop certification with me, I still watch it and I think why did I did it? Why did I go there? I want to erase that chapter. And same for the second one that I said I did kettlebell. No doubt I get clients to do kettlebell, but I have never been attracted to it, never that. Do something, learn something. Nothing like that has happened to me. No off-and-to-air.

Speaker 3:

Nothing, I mean someone likes it, they do it, but I personally don't like it. No, off-and-to-way. I mean I don't like it.

Speaker 1:

I mean I don't like it personally, I have an observation about this. I mean, many coaches are there. So when I went for kettlebell class, they taught us that in kettlebell training there are two types of movements First, ballistic movement, and second is grinding movement. So ballistic is when you are doing kettlebell swings, you are just using SSSE short strengthening cycle, and you are just going for 1 minute, 2 minutes or 3 minutes back to back non-stop, so you don't focus on intensity, you focus on duration, and then there is grinding moment where you have to take out all your strength. So what I observed is that coaches like us who have been doing traditional weightlifting and working out in the gym for a long time, they enjoy grinding moments more. So their mind never aligns with kettlebell training because it is a ballastic moment. If you tell me that you want to do heavy weightlifting for an hour, I will only hit deadlift for an hour. But you tell me that you have to boot camp, like you are doing high rocks right now, I will join your hands. So those are the preferences of coaches how they have trained from the beginning and how they have to continue. So their mindset develops accordingly.

Speaker 1:

But yes, the important thing is that it should be limited to you only you can't apply this to your clients, like you said, that you get your client catered but they don't do it themselves. Yes, so you have to identify that thing. This is fine for me, but I have to give the requirement of my client. So at that time you have to put that rigidity aside. Just because I don't like it doesn't mean that I won't do it, alright. So initially you mentioned that being a trainer is a tough job, right? What are the challenges for most of the trainers?

Speaker 3:

mostly in Delhi. The very first challenge that any trainer has to face, and it will always be to find leads to generate clients, to make people believe that, yes, you need a personal coach. It's not possible, because you have to establish yourself to that level that people automatically come to you, whether it's through your education or your body or your way of working out. The other person gets so influenced that I can go to this person and he can make me fit. Otherwise, it's very hard to convert clients. So this will be the biggest challenge for any trainer, because the previous thing was a lot more. 15-20 years ago, someone made a body, became a bodybuilder, became a trainer. Now people are so aware. I have met many clients who have not been in our field, but they have done our certifications. I have met many clients in Bangalore who are certified in today's date. I say that trainers don't do it, they don't invest money. I am working out and we are debating in the middle of the session. Suman, this won't happen. Where will this movement go?

Speaker 2:

Okay, nice, nice okay, okay, so I get to learn too.

Speaker 3:

So this scenario has changed and in client base there are two categories of clients. One is that you are doing it for 2-3 months and it's over, and one is that you are doing it for a long time, for its functionality. So I always try to target those people who really need me, not that I just want to take photos or do that. I want to join them for a long time to improve their functionality, improve their body composition, not just that they are on the weighing scale up and down. That's the biggest challenge For all the new trainers To convert clients and to keep them as a client For the maximum period of time, to make them believe that I can make you do it for a long time. I can be your good coach. And to be good coach and to be a coach is not limited to just the gym. You have to see a lot of things with it On what mood is he coming. You have to keep his psychological factors, that you can't always laugh. You can't always scold him that you have to do this. You have to do that.

Speaker 3:

I have seen most of the trainers these days and I have seen this for a long time, I think initially, during my days, during my first initial phase of training, I also said 5-10 times I have done this mistake. Now I think why I have done that mistake. So we used to think when I did not study, at that time I used to think that if I get tired, then that would be considered as a good session. It is not like that. If you sweat, then that would be considered as a good session. It's not like that. It's not like that. It's not like that at all.

Speaker 3:

If you sweat, then it will be considered as a good session. When you get burpees done, then it's a session In the name of functional training. Do anything, do jumping jacks, it's done. After that, after studying, I came to know that functional training is something different. Jumping jacks are completely different. When the whole category was different, I came to know about it. So the problem of the trainer will be in this. The challenge is how quickly you can convert him and till when you can keep him fit to trust you and he should choose you as his personal coach, always for a long time.

Speaker 1:

And what do you think I mean? How do trainers find clients there? By social media or by ad runs or word of mouth? What is the? How do you think I mean trainers? How do you find clients there by social media or run ads or word of mouth? What is the? How do you get clients?

Speaker 3:

initial days when I started so, when I transformed one or two people in my gym automatically when I posted their transformation stories on my social media, I got some help from there. First, in a year after that, when your client base increased in the gym that this is a different workout. I always focus a lot on functional training. After that I come to heavyweight training. So I always tell my clients that please correct your posture first. I don't want weights. You first collect your posture. You can hit with 10 dumbbells, no problem. You don't have to make a video by hitting 30. Your posture is bad. It's taking my help. So what's the point? You do it with 10 by yourself. Change the angles of that. You will get a good benefit in muscles.

Speaker 3:

First, the phase was that I transformed someone. After that word of mouth, definitely he told his friends. Other clients saw it, clients have seen. They have started coming to me and I used to be a group exercise instructor in CULT, so I have done very well. I used to take classes, and functional classes and CrossFit classes have been my specialties. So in both of them I have done a lot of time research. My strong point is functional. Functional training is my strong point.

Speaker 3:

So, starting from there, so the people who used to come to my classes, so at that time I think in my case, 70% of the clients converted from my group class. They converted from my group class. After class they talked to me. I said yes, obviously this is an even more advanced way of training, one-on-one coaching. It happened from there and online classes there and online classes definitely online classes helped me in finding external clients, helped me a lot and again, that is also through word of mouth. It happened through someone. I mean no ads I have never run ads till date, but yes, for new trainers, if they want to find leads or make clients, then obviously they should work on their profile first.

Speaker 1:

So basically, social media plays a good role, right.

Speaker 3:

Yes, absolutely. But before that you have to have some realistic stories for some years. That's what you need. It's not possible that I became a trainer today and I run social media next month. I run ads very well and I got a client. It's not that easy. If he gets a client, he won't last for a long time One or two months. We have to target sustainability for a long time. The client should also know that he is fine with the trainer. He knows about my body, he knows everything about me. He knows about my medical issues. I am okay with this trainer. I don't want to change the trainer again and again. If this is done, then it is a bang on. There is a win-win situation on both sides. You can train with that client for 10 years. They will also take your services.

Speaker 1:

Because in Ahmedabad, mostly in Gujarat, I have observed this and I tell my juniors as well that build your social media.

Speaker 1:

Because what I observed is when I used to work with Anytime Fitness. I worked for Anytime Fitness for almost three years after Corona and at that time my social media presence was zero. And late 2022, me and my friend decided to build a social media and we were in a fantasy. If we have 10,000 followers, then we will get a lot of money, brands will come, we will earn money, but nothing happened. Followers increased and nothing happened like that. Then we stopped making content. But even today I get a very good result that if I am reaching out to someone today, followers increased and nothing happened like that. Then we stopped making content, but now I get a good result from that. If I am reaching out to someone, or if a client is coming to me on Instagram, then by looking at the number, his mindset is that he has numbers means he knows something, and if he is watching my old videos, then he gets to know from there also. So my first impression from there is good.

Speaker 1:

So that's why I keep telling my juniors that build your social media. Don't just post your ego lifting videos or workout videos. Post educational content. Post content that adds some value to people's life, because that will advocate for you that this person has knowledge. And if you will train him, he will let you learn something, because nowadays people want more education. I mean, trainers don't want to get educated, but clients want to get educated. Exactly you mentioned a few minutes ago, right? So that is the thing that nowadays clients don't care about your physical fitness, they care about your knowledge. But yes, that doesn't mean that you don't work on your own physical fitness. That is not an excuse. You have to look at least fit so that the other person also has confidence that if this person is fit himself, then he will be able to keep me fit Absolutely 100%. And what is the biggest challenge that trainer faces in his early stage of career, apart from client retention and getting clients?

Speaker 3:

I think from an income perspective, sustainability is a very bad graph. It goes up and down. In our field it always goes up and down. So we also know that people don't come. In one season People become very lazy. They don't want to come to the gym. So that's why people face the biggest challenge In this salary. It never stays stagnant. Someone is earning 50 this month. He might earn lakhs next month just because it's summer. Summer is coming, so people have to do summer body transfer. Winter comes, then it can Rs 20,000.

Speaker 3:

Now this is a problem that people face who are dependent on a gym. If they have made their client base outside, even if they are only three clients, they will never have dependency. If it is less than a gym, they will never have any dependency. If he will earn less from gym, then he will earn more from there. So obviously the biggest problem in our field is that the salary structure is not stagnant. It goes up and down, very low. Sometimes I have one or two trainers in my chhor diya tha just because of selfie. Ye line hi chhor diya tha wo achche trainers. The line chhor ke ek saal baad jo noni bahar kisi aur jaga pe wo suno ne kaam kiya. They realize ki nahi. Dusra kaam bhi nahi hoga. Hamse hume training me hi aana hai ph Client will go up and down, make a client and work in different parameters. Don't depend on just one. If you depend on the gym, you can't do it. You won't be able to earn money Because more than half the money is consumed by the gym. This is the biggest problem.

Speaker 1:

More than half 70%, I guess 60-70%, because mostly the ratio is the same 60-40 and 70-30.

Speaker 3:

Yes, absolutely, and every month. It is not necessary that you can give a sale of 1 lakh or 2 lakh. Sometimes the client is not coming, sometimes you got sick, sometimes such situations came, you could not continue, so at that time your percentage gets even lower. So this is the biggest issue in our field. I mean the pay scale, our pay ratio, the trainers. If it was good in India then it wouldn't be an issue. Today it's very low. That's why I say it's very challenging. You should think 100 times before coming here to become a trainer in this field.

Speaker 1:

That's why Chris, the CEO of Showoff Fitness, he always tells us to have more than one stream of revenue, multiple streams of revenue. You cannot make it through if you are only relying on your gym Because, as you said, it will be going up, going down. It depends on client's mood as well. If client is showing up, you are getting money. If he's not showing up, you are not getting money. So you need multiple streams of revenue For that.

Speaker 1:

You have to work on online training, you have to do freelancing, you have to sell your workout programs. If you have knowledge about nutrition, you can sell nutrition plans as well. You can tie up with physiotherapists and work together. A lot of opportunities are there, but trainers don't know about it yet. They only think that we are going to a gym, we are providing training and that's how we are making money. But no, there are many other ways to make money. As the social media craze is increasing, people started knowing that there are many ways, because I have some friends who have never given training in the gym. They just walk out and post content on Instagram and take online training clients. They have never given training to one-on-one clients personally and this is a red flag for me personally. No disrespect to anyone, but if your coach has not provided anyone with an offline training session, then you cannot rely on him totally.

Speaker 1:

Because we are working with a human body right, and a human body is a very complex thing. It is not that easy to understand. The thing that you do again and again, year after year. You are training people offline, you are training them personally. You get to know a lot about human body. So no disrespect again. But yes, I always tell my clients that in future, whenever you're looking for a coach, if I'm not available, make sure that he has an offline training experience of at least 2-3 years.

Speaker 1:

I don't know about the season in Delhi, in Gujarat mostly what we have noticed is, after Diwali, wedding season comes, that is the peak time for gym trainers. They are like richest people in the city during wedding season because people have this unrealistic expectation, like we have city during the wedding season.

Speaker 1:

Because people have this unrealistic expectation, we have a marriage in the house after two months and we want to lose 20 kg, which is not realistic. But coaches take it yeah, we will make you lose 20 kg. Just give us 20,000 or 30,000 and they start training them and them starvation, and they lose 20 kg. They enjoy the wedding and after that side effect starts, they lost 20 kg, but after six months. So they lost 20 kg, but after six months, if you see them, they have gained almost everything more than that right.

Speaker 1:

So how do you tackle this on this type of client, if, if a client is coming to you and asking you to lose 20 kg in three months or two months, what do you? What do you tell?

Speaker 3:

them. I speak the truth always. I always tell them if any client comes to me they have some unrealistic expectation, suman, uh, we have to lose this, we have to do this, we have to do that. I directly tell them ma'am, I cannot help you in this. I I'm telling the truth Because you're going to pay me for the next 3-4 months. If not, then my reputation will be ruined, your expectations will also be ruined. Your relationship will be ruined. It's better if I tell you the truth.

Speaker 3:

Let's work on the body composition. I can't say anything about weighing scale, but yes, if you have issues in your blood walk, if you have any problems in your blood routine, it will definitely get better. But I cannot promise you that it will only reduce by 20 kgs. I can't say this at all. I can't say this at all. So I tell them the truth. On the first day Earlier, there was a lot of talk about the job starting. Obviously, we didn't know. We had clients at that time. At that time we we said we will do it in 3-4 months. But now we know that this is not how it works. This is not how it works.

Speaker 3:

Realistic work is the same which helps you to form a habit and people need to know that fitness is a lifestyle. It is not a 2-3 month circuit. You, this is not a 2-3 month circuit. You have reduced it and it is over. You have gained. You will not gain weight for the rest of your life. Nothing will happen. So it is very important to teach people that. I educate people in the first hand. This is completely not possible. You will do it from somewhere else, so this will again cause you trouble. So don't go into any fake promises. Take this supplement it will reduce weight. You saw in the YouTube video. Take this diet it will reduce your weight. This doesn't happen. Nothing happens. So form a habit first. I always say this. I always try my best to make the client aware of the present scenario, which is realistic, which will work for him in the future. Also, I educate him.

Speaker 1:

But the problem of new trainers is that they feel that if we refuse that this will not happen, then the client will go away.

Speaker 1:

Yes, Chances are that the client will go away. But even if you keep him, you will not be able to provide him with the result that he has expected. So in a way, after two months your name is getting spoiled in the market. He will go and tell five people that I gave so much money but I did not get any result. As long as he got good result you have given as much as he realistically got.

Speaker 1:

But because you didn't set the expectation well from the beginning, the client will say anything that I have to do this much, that much. Now who will understand what is realistic? As a professional, that is our work, because we have knowledge about it.

Speaker 1:

We have studied. They don't have that knowledge, so we have to communicate that. We have to fill that gap, Because I'll share my personal experience. When I started in 2018, I was 21 when I started Same just like you. I had no certification. I had only my engineering degree and entered a gym, gave an interview and they hired me. On the very second week of my job, a client walked up to me and said I want to lose 10 kg in next 15 days. I mean 15 days. 15 days, not even a month, and I was trying to cut.

Speaker 1:

I was trying to explain him. Bro, this is not how body works. At that time, after watching Gurumaan, anshit, salal and all their videos, what I knew a little bit, I was understanding what is calorie deficit, how realistically you can lose weight and all. And the owner of the gym was sitting right behind me, he was listening to the conversation. Then that guy was like, okay, then I'll do it on my own. I was like, okay, best of luck. He started walking out. I was there, the owner called me, called me in his office and he was like aro benda, like that's another thing. First you take money and then convince them after 1-2 sessions. So we are getting wrong practices. So for the new trainers, the biggest challenge is that okay, money is important.

Speaker 1:

It is very important in our field because, first of all, family members pressure us a lot that this thing can't be made as a career. It is XYZ thing. So you have to give money to prove that this can't be done as a career. It's an X Y Z thing. So you have to pay to prove that you can earn money here too. But at the same time you have to keep some boundaries that if this is ethical, then I will do it. I will benefit from this in the long term. If you make fake promises like this that I will do it, you took the money and then you are convincing him that this is not possible, then it's a was a manipulation, so you should have understood before taking money Right now.

Speaker 1:

That person has given money, so now he will have to listen to you. But next, time he will come back to you. He will ask 5 people to go to him, so as a coach, you have to keep your rapport good from the beginning. Because our industry is very small, you have to meet someone after roaming around.

Speaker 1:

So I always tell all the trainers that if you are losing money in the beginning, let it go, but keep things right from the beginning, Because the name that will be made in the initial days you will have to carry on. Now. Your name has gone bad in the first 1-2 years After that, no matter how much work you do on yourself. But there will be people out there who will say that I have taken training from him. He is a very bad person.

Speaker 1:

You will not be able to change his mindset and it is possible that the client has a loss in this, that the client has a bad experience with you once, then he may not be able to trust anyone again and he may never hire any trainer and eventually the client will be the one who will lose, because he will never work on his health again. So for both parties it is not a good thing. So when we talk about family pressure, did you experience anything like this?

Speaker 3:

Yes, absolutely. In the beginning I had a lot of pressure to convince my family. I really fought with my parents. I had a lot of problems Because I have been a student of commerce, so I have a BCom background.

Speaker 3:

So I have specialized my have a BCom background, so I have specialized in Accounts major. But then since I was in 10th, 12th, I had this subject Physical Education at that time. So I had that subject in college too, and I had understood that I have to pursue this field. Only I have to come in this. I did not think of anything else, neither the preparation of a government job nor the preparation of a bank job. In my mind it was focused that I have to come to Delhi. I had planned everything To convince my parents. It was very hard. It was very hard for me back in 2013, when I came to Delhi Almost, it took me 6-7 months to convince my father. Obviously, mom is always with the boys in support, but to convince dad.

Speaker 3:

Because I think it's not wrong. Parents always think that children should get money. No matter what they do, they should earn money. They didn't even know. People didn't even know about this field. There is no awareness in India. People think that what will a gym trainer do? He will just lift dumbbells and that's it. People don't even know about the word coach. People don't even know about education. People don't know about certifications, degrees, diplomas. So parents can't know anything. So that's why I can't blame my parents. But then when they saw that I was doing well, providing for the family, taking my parents for a walk, the small things that happen I'm able to do them. So they are happy and proud now and seeing this, it makes me happy and I have taken the best decision in my life that I had to come to this field At it makes me happy and I have taken the best decision in my life.

Speaker 3:

I had to come to this field. I knew that I had to do it, otherwise it is so difficult for any student after completing his graduation to choose which line to take. It is very confusing. People don't know what is strength and what is weakness. I had this focus from the beginning that I have to come to this, and all thanks to my childhood friends who have motivated me from the beginning. Suman, you don't have to go to MBA or bank, you have to go to this field, get out of here, get out of here. So, after searching Google and Google, after searching the names of fitness academies, I finally came home after fighting, and I am very happy that I took that step. But people don't get this. It is very tough to convince parents in India. It is very tough to convince parents in India. It is very tough to convince parents in India.

Speaker 1:

I know I have fought for 2 years myself Right, I am sure. So since I have started working with show-off fitness, my job is to counsel new students on what they should do in this field. If you should do it, then what are the right things for you? So many students come and ask me if this field is sustainable and should be done in the long term or not, and my answer is the same. Just like if you have done engineering, Forget engineering. It is not that crazy. Suppose you are becoming a lawyer or a doctor. What will they have to do? If you go to any doctor, what will they say we have been practicing for 5 years. Some say we have been practicing for 6 years. Some say we have been practicing for 7 years. Same with lawyers they will have to do a good degree, go to university, spend time, work and then go to court, Day by day, day after day they fight cases and grow slowly.

Speaker 1:

So go to any field. You have to work on your own education practice and you have to be patient. You have to do the same thing every day. If you are thinking that today I will start as a trainer and after 3-4 months I will earn 1 lakh and take it home, that is not happening. Okay, you should forget about starting for 1-2 years Until, and unless you have some crazy skills, you will earn that much. But normally it happens that you have to figure out for 1-2 years that your expertise will be in this.

Speaker 1:

You have interest in this because there are many different things in fitness. It is not like that as a coach, you will do only one thing, like if it is mine, then I have a lot of interest in biomechanics, so I study something in biomechanics. But if you ask me about nutrition, then I will raise my hand and say that this is not my forte. I will make you talk to a person who is interested in nutrition. Okay, so there are many different things in this. Some people's career is based on kettlebell, that they are running their entire career on kettlebell training. Some people give training on crossfit. Some people give coaching for powerlifting. So you will have to figure out what is your interest and your ideal audience, your ideal client base, from where you will get more money.

Speaker 1:

Who is that? After that, when you study, you will spend 1-2 years well in the gym. Then you will automatically start getting clients, you will start getting money and everything will follow. But if you want success from day 1, then you will not get it anywhere. You will not get it when you a doctor, nor will you get it on becoming a lawyer. I have seen doctors who do not go to the clinic. Okay, the clinic is put in but no one comes. So if the doctor comes to earn money then everyone comes.

Speaker 1:

But even after that, you need skills. How do you talk to people? How do you market yourself? How much work do you do on yourself? How much work do you do on your knowledge? Is anyone getting cured from your treatment or not? That's when people will build trust. That's when people will come to you. So it is in every field that you have to work on yourself. You will have to spend time too. No one gets success overnight, and those who got it overnight, they also left overnight.

Speaker 2:

We have seen a lot of people who got fame, became successful and disappeared.

Speaker 1:

Today no one knows about it. So I always say that if there is resistance from home, I had resistance from my home too, because I finished my engineering. We have been living on rent since childhood, so it was a big dream of my family that my son will become an engineer and earn money build a house. I said that I am not doing it. I am doing it to follow my passion. All their dreams were shattered. But if I meet my college friends today, they are not bragging. I am earning 2.53 times more than they are earning. I have taken my own house.

Speaker 1:

Parents are happy that whatever they did was good. But when did this happen? When I was thinking that I have been doing this for 8 years. If I had said after 1-2 years that nothing is happening, I would have to change. So I was doing the same thing. I was keeping it in mind that I am going here and there.

Speaker 1:

So you have to be consistent and you have to be consistent and you have to have a commitment from day one that if you have started it, you will do it till the end. And eventually, as you said, parents need your blessings. They don't have to bear the pain that we have endured. That's why they keep telling you that this is not for you. So you have to decide whether you want to be stubborn and prove them wrong and make them happy, or to make them happy. You can leave your passion and do whatever you want to do. Do 9 to 5 jobs in any place. That is your choice. But if you have taken a decision once, then be okay with it. Then it is not that you have done this for 5 years. It is not happening. Let's do something else. You will keep changing your whole life. Okay, so now one last thing Whatever new coaches you get in the industry, what is the one advice that you give to?

Speaker 3:

everyone, Whatever. New coaches are coming.

Speaker 1:

New coaches yes, what advice would you like to give to them what to do and what not to do?

Speaker 3:

Please be presentable to all the coaches. I am saying this for everyone who are new to this field Not at all new. New new Just thinking that they will do well will become a good coach. Please be presentable physically and educate yourself education-wise. Don't think that there is a body so people will come. Don't think that it's not an easy job. My advice is it's not an easy job at all. For 10-10 years, people have left this field after doing a job job. A lot of trainers have left. A lot of people leave those who don't understand. They are earning money but still they leave, so it's not that easy.

Speaker 3:

Presentable means that at least you look like a trainer. I am not saying that there should be a lot of body. At least you look a little fit. That people have come to you. Like you said that people have a little faith that if he is fit himself, then he can fit me. If he is fit, he can fit me. If he is strong, he can make me strong.

Speaker 3:

And definitely education is needed. That is a must. Without license, even if you drive a truck, people cannot trust you. You can make an accident on anyone.

Speaker 3:

Same education, the same thing, will give you a license to train people and people will also trust you, because people ask, on today's date, good, well-paid clients who are going to give you money. They are really going to ask you where you have done your certification and they know everything. They know everything American Council of Exercises, acsm, crossfit, everything. Everything is so open on social media. People are very aware of it in today's date, nothing like before. So if you can work hard, then only you come, otherwise don't come. This is not a sitting job. You will have to run a lot. You have to run and work. You can't sleep here. I mean, this is important for you in fitness, for all of us, sleeping is very important. But I am telling you the truth To become a good trainer, you have to sleep for the first initial years, 5-6 years. You cannot sleep, you will not be able to earn, you will not be able to sustain this field.

Speaker 1:

You need a lot of hard work. That's all I want to say. Alright, and now what you pointed out clients have all the knowledge. Okay, I will share an incident. So there is this client, and he is an elite client. I mean, I charge him 2500 per session and he gets one session per week. So we were doing workout at his home gym and the second day he called me and said Devang, I am getting sore. And I asked him where is the soreness? Exact spot of the soreness? He said inferior border of scapula. Okay, now, if I don't have knowledge about anatomy, if I don't know what is inferior border of scapula, how would I tackle that question? What would I suppose to tell him? So that's why education is so much important. Just because you have a good physique, you have experience of lifting doesn't mean you are a good trainer.

Speaker 1:

You need basic education and this is the part of basic education. He belongs to a pharmaceutical firm and he knows about anatomy and everything. So he just mentioned that inferior border for scapula. Now, if I don't have knowledge, I'll be doomed. I'm like because then I was studying, now I'm able to explain him. Okay, this can be the reason. And I'm like what is he saying? So, yes, because I have studied that Now I'm able to explain him. Okay, this can be the reason. And after a few minutes or a few hours, you should do this or that stretch or this form rolling and XYZ, and you will get okay, so education is important. You will never get such a client and he is talking in this language, but you are not able to catch up with him. Then you figure out that, okay, this person doesn important, they don't have any problem in paying 250 per session. They are like fine, we are getting quality, we will pay. So if you want to work with such clients, you have to focus on your education Absolutely.

Speaker 1:

And most important part is anatomy. If your anatomy is strong, boss, I am giving you writing, you will print money easily. Clients enjoy listening. When you talk about anatomy, you take the names of muscles. The client enjoys listening to you. They think that what did you talk about?

Speaker 1:

it happens basically you go to a doctor and say that, the doctor will say that we used to study in the nursery. What is he saying? But it is a new thing for the client. Right, right, right, absolutely. That's why education is very important and that's why I keep shouting on my Instagram that you should study, study, study. But it's okay, the changes are coming gradually. The new trainers are focusing on studies. So, yeah, one day everything will be fine.

Speaker 3:

Absolutely. There has been a lot of change, but I think in the next 5-10 years it will be a good revolution. I think even after COVID there has been a good change. People have also become more serious about their health. Trainers have also taken their work seriously. Many trainers had shifted their field during COVID. When they saw the response, they said people crowd has become very crazy that now we have to fit anyhow fit. Heart attack has started to fill up.

Speaker 1:

People are coming to gym more exactly yes, alright, suman, thank you for your time. It was nice talking to you. And just for our listeners, where can they find you? What is your Instagram handle?

Speaker 3:

My Instagram handle is at the rate of TheBongBist T-H-E-B-O-N-G-B-E-A-S-T or B-T.

Speaker 1:

TheBongBist Alright. Alright, it was nice talking to you, suman. Thank you so much for showing up.

Speaker 3:

Thank you so much.

Speaker 2:

And all the best.