Before gaining her qualifications, Rhiannon Parks had zero experience of working in the Fitness Industry. When an opportunity arose to become a Personal Trainer, she chose T2 Fitness because of the invaluable and continued support we offer to all of our students.
Take a look at Rhiannon’s journey, from zero experience to becoming a fully qualified PT with T2 Fitness Education.
Don’t forget to take a look at our other T2 Student Stories.
Name: Rhiannon Parks
Position: Personal Trainer
Organisation: The Atrium Health Club
Located: Reading
Hey, I am Rhiannon and I’ve been working as a personal training and class instructor since I qualified with T2 fitness education. I work as the class lead for The Atrium Health Club based in Reading, where I will teach classes such as spin, circuits, kettlebells, and boxing.
I also have my own unit that I use for training my personal training clients in. Since I prominently work with women it was important to me to create a private space where my clients can gain the confidence within their lifts prior to taking them into a gym setting.
My own personal aim as a trainer is to work with women within performance training. I offer them tailored programs to enhance their performance and reduce the impact of the hormonal changes a woman will go through throughout her lifetime. Part of that is using my pre/ post-natal qualification gained with T2 Fitness Education.
What were you doing before you became a PT?
Before completing my qualifications, I had little experience of training, let alone working in a gym. I had taken up running after reaching my thirties after having my third child. I then started weight training at home to support my running.
I started to take an interest in turning my hobby into a career, I wanted to help women like me learn about weightlifting. I was introduced to the manager at The Atrium (previously Rivers). They were looking for female PT/ instructors. He told me to get my qualifications and then there would be a job for me there.
Why did you choose T2 Fitness Education?
T2 Fitness Education was recommended to me and after a chat with Stu I signed up. I completed my Level 2 Fitness Instructors and Level 3 Personal Training qualifications with Stu and the T2 team. Before I knew it, I was a fully qualified PT.
I was horrifically nervous. Apart from an intermittent history of attending gyms I had little experience within the gym setting. Both Stu and Paul are brilliant teachers, they were able to break down each element of the course, using practical demonstrations to really dial in the physiological aspects of the course. They were always open to questions and available to support each student with their own personal struggles.
What have you found most helpful about the course(s)
Since gaining my first qualifications, I have completed several additional CPD courses with them: including the Spin Class Instructor Course, Kettlebells, First Aid for Personal Trainers and pre and post-natal course. Again, each course was well structured with each tutor showing not only their wealth of experience but their enthusiasm for teaching.
I have always recommended their course to my fellow PT’s and to anyone looking to start within the fitness industry.
What advice do you have for others who want to train to become a PT or instructor?
My advice to anyone looking to join the industry is to work in a commercial gym and gain experience working with a varied range of different fitness levels, body shapes and gym experience. I have learnt the most from teaching classes, working on a gym floor and from being part of a team.
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Key Takeaways
- You don’t need any previous experience to become a fully qualified PT
- To become a fully qualified PT you need to the correct training and qualifications
- Always choose a provider who can offer accredited courses and on-going mentoring and support
- CPD courses are a great way to enhance your skill-set and advance your career
When starting out, work at a commercial gym for lots of exposure to different clients.
