4 answers
Felicia
Student
Ruskin, Florida
1
Question
Asked
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What are three important things I should know about being a Fitness and Wellness Coordinator (e.g. working conditions, typical schedule, rewards, and challenges including those for people new to the job)?
#fitness #wellness #healthcare #fitnesscoordinator #career #medicine #Dietitian #Nutritionist
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4 answers
Nicole Lawrence
Supervisory Dietitian
3
Answers
Winslow, Arizona
Updated
Nicole’s Answer
Fitness and Wellness Coordinators can work in a variety of work settings which can include, gyms, clinics, hospitals, schools, and government agencies just to name a few. You can anticipate that much of your role will include spearheading events or activities that encourage people to engage in healthy lifestyle practices and offering them at a time that is most convenient to the participant. If you are a certified fitness instructor then you can anticipate that you might be engaging in activities that require lots of movement. if your have a background in nu
Three things to consider as you enter this profession:
1. Your programs will be most successful when you have the support of your organization's leadership, so keep them informed of your efforts and ask them to help you promote your events when possible.
2. Your program participants will need lots of support as they make behavior changes so work with them individually to set SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) goals.
3. Your participant's ability to make sustainable lifestyle changes will be highly influenced by her emotional state and earlier life experiences so include activities that help to support her mental well-being.
Consider earning a certificate in Worksite Wellness if you're considering working in that area.
Free to reach out to me if you have additional questions.
Three things to consider as you enter this profession:
1. Your programs will be most successful when you have the support of your organization's leadership, so keep them informed of your efforts and ask them to help you promote your events when possible.
2. Your program participants will need lots of support as they make behavior changes so work with them individually to set SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) goals.
3. Your participant's ability to make sustainable lifestyle changes will be highly influenced by her emotional state and earlier life experiences so include activities that help to support her mental well-being.
Nicole recommends the following next steps:
Jessica Sebastian
Clinical Design Specialist
4
Answers
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Updated
Jessica’s Answer
I previously worked in a similar setting and I can share some experience. Work schedules varied and rotated (some early morning and some later into the evening). It was wonderful establishing relationships with the members of the fitness/wellness center which is rewarding. Getting certified through the ACSM or ACE are helpful because they are the gold standard in the industry. Additional opportunities were available for compensation for teaching group fitness classes and personal training so those skills are a benefit.
Jamie Birk
Admin
2
Answers
Irvine, California
Updated
Jamie’s Answer
My top 3 important things about being a fitness/wellness coordinator:
1. Work life balance- when choosing this field be careful about physical burnout. You will most likely be very active during work hours (depending on the specific job). I recommend trying to balance your fitness teaching schedule with your own workouts. I worked with many co-workers who ended up hating teaching fitness classes because they felt like they could never get in their own workout. One thing that really helped me was using the classes that I taught as part of my workouts. This can be tricky because you don't want your clients to feel like you are doing your workout so you have to be able to focus on the client(s) and maybe pick something from the fitness class/training that you can do that would be part of your own routine.
2. Employee engagement- being engaged with the clients is what will set you apart from other professionals in the field. You have to be a good lister, find some common ground with the clients, and make them feel special. This will set you up for long term success.
3. Lots of failure- you will have some clients that will listen to you and tons that won't. It is tough to put so much effort in people and not get a good return on investment. Just remember to use the failures and growth in your career. Reflect on your process and thin about what you could have done differently to get a better result. Sometimes it feels like you put in so much work, but just like in any relationship it takes two to be successful.
1. Work life balance- when choosing this field be careful about physical burnout. You will most likely be very active during work hours (depending on the specific job). I recommend trying to balance your fitness teaching schedule with your own workouts. I worked with many co-workers who ended up hating teaching fitness classes because they felt like they could never get in their own workout. One thing that really helped me was using the classes that I taught as part of my workouts. This can be tricky because you don't want your clients to feel like you are doing your workout so you have to be able to focus on the client(s) and maybe pick something from the fitness class/training that you can do that would be part of your own routine.
2. Employee engagement- being engaged with the clients is what will set you apart from other professionals in the field. You have to be a good lister, find some common ground with the clients, and make them feel special. This will set you up for long term success.
3. Lots of failure- you will have some clients that will listen to you and tons that won't. It is tough to put so much effort in people and not get a good return on investment. Just remember to use the failures and growth in your career. Reflect on your process and thin about what you could have done differently to get a better result. Sometimes it feels like you put in so much work, but just like in any relationship it takes two to be successful.
Tracey Foreman
Wellness Consultant
4
Answers
Cameron, Missouri
Updated
Tracey’s Answer
Hello,
First you need to decide what setting you are looking to work in. When interviewing make sure that setting has leadership support and buy in. You will also need support to create a wellness team and have champions to help with your efforts. This is team work and it can not be done alone. WELCOA is a most have membership.
Best of luck!
First you need to decide what setting you are looking to work in. When interviewing make sure that setting has leadership support and buy in. You will also need support to create a wellness team and have champions to help with your efforts. This is team work and it can not be done alone. WELCOA is a most have membership.
Best of luck!