The health and fitness industry is one that has enjoyed large amounts of growth in the past decade. Never before have people taken such an interest in their own health, and this has really created an industry that is very much growing and evolving to keep with people’s needs and wants.
Of the many new jobs that have popped up, a wellness coach is one of them. While they have been around for a long time, it’s only recently that they are getting the recognition and credit they deserve. In fact, it is only recently that they have been ‘certified,’ giving them even more credibility and heft in the personal health industry.
If you’re wondering whether a career as a wellness coach is right for you, then there are a few things to be aware of. We’ve gone ahead and put together the basics on this exciting field so you can make a more informed decision.
What Does a Wellness Coach Do?
In order to determine if you’ve got what it takes to succeed as a wellness coach, it’s important to first understand what the job involves. A wellness coach works with clients to help them set their own health goals, lay out a plan to reach the goals, and support the clients through the process. You are there for you clients from start to finish, no matter how long the process may take.
Are You Able to Motivate and Inspire People?
One of the most important qualities to have as a wellness coach is the ability to motivate and inspire people. It’s not enough to simply help your clients to create goals and set up a plan they can follow; you need to coach them along the way, help them to get over the rough spots, talk them through the plateau, and remind them why it is they are doing this in the first place.
Leading clients through motivation and inspiration will provide much better results than just barking instructions at them and scaring them into compliance.
Excellent Communication Skills are Required
It should come as no surprise that in order to connect with your clients and provide them with an easy-to-follow plan, you need to have excellent communication skills. This means excellent speaking, listening, and writing skills. If this is an area you don’t currently excel in, you’ll definitely want to use techniques and tips that will help you to become a better, more effective, and confident communicator.
Do You Have the Proper Training?
Clients are going to want to be sure that you offer the kind of expertise and knowledge necessary to be an effective wellness coach, so this means you’ll need the proper schooling. However, this is simple enough to achieve – learning about the fundamentals of coaching psychology and the foundation principles of the field is exactly what the TRAINFITNESS Wellness Coaching Course highlights. The course is meant to help students figure out the best way to engage and then empower their clients, something that you will need to do on a daily basis. You can start your fitness course here and get on the road to becoming a successful wellness coach in the making.
Choose Your Career Location
Did you also know that, as a wellness coach, there are a number of places that you can work? Wellness coaches can obviously be found in gyms and wellness centres, but other places of employment can include schools, health food stores, corporations, hospitals, and in doctor’s offices. If you’d rather, you can start your own business and thereby control the direction in which your career is headed.
You Like the Idea of Helping Others
There are many jobs out there that can make you feel as though you’re giving back and having a positive impact on someone’s life, and a wellness coach is no exception. If you’re the type that wants to choose a job that makes you feel like you’re making a difference in the world, this could be a great path.
A wellness coach often enters into someone’s life when they are at a low point, or a point of low self-confidence, poor health, and may even be feeling overwhelmed on how to improve their health and what steps to take. Having a calming presence and making it clear that you are there to help them can not only make the process smoother on clients, but have you feeling all warm and fuzzy inside knowing you’re making a difference.
As a coach, it will also be up to you to stay positive, stay focused, and never let clients give up on their goals. This can be easier said than done, so it’s important to accept this fact going into the job. Learning all you can about becoming a wellness coach will help you to make an educated and informed decision about your future.