To help you understand the role of a fitness instructor, we’ll provide you with guidance and information about the following topics:

• What Are The Responsibilities Of A Fitness Instructor?
• What Qualifications Do You Need To Become A Fitness Instructor?
• Insurance Requirements Of A Fitness Instructor
• Salary Expectations Of A Fitness Instructor
• What Fitness Instructing Position You Can Apply For
• Additional Qualifications You Can Take To Improve Your Career Opportunities As A Fitness Instructor

Before we begin, did you know you can kickstart your career as a fitness instructor with a Level 2 Fitness Instructor? This gives you the best start into the fitness industry and is the first step if you’re looking to become a personal trainer.

Alternatively, you can learn about our full range of courses by downloading our FREE prospectus.

What Are The Responsibilities Of A Fitness Instructor?

When you read a fitness instructor job description, you’ll learn that your primary goal is to help people improve their physical health when you work in the fitness industry.

In this role, you’ll act as the first point of call for gym members, where you’ll be responsible for:

• Performing inductions- showing new members where changing facilities and fire exits are, where different equipment is situated and who the building’s first aider is.
• Assisting members with technique and equipment use- help members maintain correct posture and proper form.
• Keeping gym environments safe- provide frequent checks on equipment to make sure they’re functioning correctly and the floor is free from slippery surfaces and hazards
• Teaching group exercise classes- planning classes that you later deliver to several gym members at once.

Besides working on the gym floor, you may also be responsible for answering emails, contacting management for assistance during your shift and registering new members.

When you apply for fitness instructor positions, you’ll see these responsibilities listed on a fitness instructor job description (UK), such as this one from Let’s Get Healthy in Birkenhead:

It’s important to note that this position is not the same as working as a personal trainer, which requires a greater level of expertise.

For example, as a fitness instructor, you won’t be able to:

• Work with members 1-2-1.
• Write training programmes that reflect the needs of individual members.
• Perform medical assessments.
• Work with high-risk members.

Now that you have an understanding of a fitness instructor’s responsibilities, you’ll next need to know what qualifications you require to become one.

What Qualifications Do You Need To Become A Fitness Instructor?

When reading the job description of a fitness instructor, you’ll notice that you’ll need a level 2 gym instructor qualification to apply for jobs, such as this position at Sefton Council:

A level 2 qualification in gym instructing is vital to your development as it can teach you a wide range of skills, including:

• Understanding human anatomy and physiology
• The principles of exercise and fitness
• How to reduce the risk of injury to people

When enrolling in this course, make sure it is endorsed by CIMSPA and regulated by Ofqual. Your instruction, as a result, will be of a professional standard and recognized by employers.

Insurance Requirements Of A Fitness Instructor

When you’re reading the job description of a fitness instructor, you’ll discover that most companies require you to have insurance to apply for their position.

There are three essential types of insurance you’ll need to consider securing policies for, including:

• Public liability
• Professional indemnity
• Personal accident

This is because some employers require you to have insurance coverage, whilst others may provide this for you- it’s important to check out the fitness instructor job description to see if you’ll need additional insurance or not.

At Our Parks Ltd, for instance, they require you to have public and professional liability insurance to apply for their fitness instructor vacancy:

If you’re not familiar with these types of insurance, we will provide you with further information to explain what each coverage provides you:

• Public liability insurance-provides coverage in the event a person is injured whilst under your supervision or property is damaged or lost owned by a third party.
• Professional indemnity insurance-covers you for claims of professional negligence that resulted in a person becoming injured or ill after following your advice.
• Equipment insurance-this will provide you with financial coverage for any treatments you require, following an injury at work.

There are plenty of insurance providers who can provide you with this coverage, including Markel Direct and Insure4sport.

If you would like to find out more about the different types of insurance available for fitness professionals, you can read about them in this article.

Now that you understand what fitness insurance you require to safely operate as a fitness instructor, you may be questioning what the earning potential of a fitness instructor is.

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If you’re enjoying this article, we think you’ll enjoy these ones too!

• How To Become A Fitness Instructor
• Level 2 Fitness Instructor Exams Explained
• What Makes a Good Fitness Instructor

Salary Expectations Of A Fitness Instructor

When you’re reading each job description for a fitness instructor, you’ll notice that location and the type of role being offered will influence the salary you could earn.

If you want to know whether a gym that wishes to employ you is offering you a competitive salary, you’ll need to learn what the average salary of a fitness instructor is.

Glassdoor, for instance, indicates that the average salary of a fitness instructor in the United Kingdom is £23,196:

This number can vary depending on the region where you plan to work. A London fitness instructor can earn an average of £26,215, compared to £21,872 for a Birmingham instructor.

It’s important to note that depending on the role you undertake, you can earn up to £30,000, according to data held by Payscale:

This figure will reflect the type of establishment you work at, along with the qualifications and level of expertise you possess.

What Fitness Instructing Position You Can Apply For

Once you have your qualifications as a fitness instructor and secured your insurance, you’ll notice in a job description of a fitness instructor, there are different places you can work at, including:

• An employed position
• Freelance position
• Self-employed position

Let’s take a look at these employment types in more detail.

#1 Employed Position As A Fitness Instructor

One of the most traditional routes you can go down to get employed as a fitness instructor is to get a job working at a gym, typically with fixed hours per week.

For example, you could apply for this fitness instructor job at Sefton Council which requires a fitness instructor to work at their different fitness centres:

It’s important to note that these types of jobs will require you to work at various times, which is the case here, as the ideal candidate will need to be able to work evenings and weekends too.

Alternatively, you could work as a fitness instructor as part of your community or in a school environment.

For example, if you were looking to provide fitness services to young people, you might be interested in this job at The Birtenshaw Group:

Roles like this are a great opportunity to transform the health of the underprivileged or people with special needs.

#2 Freelance Positions As A Fitness Instructor

In this fitness class instructor job description, you’ll be responsible for planning and teaching classes.

You’ll also discover, as a result, that hours aren’t fixed, unlike an employed position. It will provide you with greater flexibility when choosing your hours of work which can complement the hours you decide to work at other gyms.

In this job description below from Our Parks, you can see the hours you’re required to work, including the requirement to work mornings, evenings and weekends depending on demand:

If you’re looking for control of your work schedule then working as a freelance member of staff might be a great option for you.

It’s a line of work you could undertake, particularly if you’re currently employed and are looking to boost your salary.

#3 Self-Employed Position

If the idea of working in a gym doesn’t appeal to you and you’re looking for alternatives to work as a fitness instructor, then you could seek self-employed work.

This fitness instructor job description would see you renting a private space, likely in a gym/ fitness studio, and arranging classes yourself as well as sourcing your own clients.

You’ll also need to make sure you have the relevant fitness insurance as covered in our insurance section above.

If you want to teach how you want and at hours that are convenient for you, being a self-employed fitness instructor is beneficial.

If you’d like more details on how to become self-employed, then there are steps you can follow in our article to become a fitness instructor with your own business!

Additional Qualifications You Can Take To Improve Your Career Opportunities As A Fitness Instructor

#1 Complete A Level 3 Personal Trainer Qualification To Become A Personal Trainer

After spending time working as a fitness instructor, you may want to advance your career by becoming a personal trainer.

In addition to carrying out your fitness instructing duties, it will enable you to engage with customers one-on-one and design customised training plans.

To apply for personal trainer positions, first, you will need to complete a level 3 personal training qualification– this is a necessity, as highlighted by this job advert from NMotion in London:

You’ll be able to earn more money as a PT, with the national average of a personal trainer in the UK reported to be £6,000 higher than a fitness instructor at li.

You can always maintain your role as a fitness instructor and become a personal trainer as a way to add another income stream!

#2 Complete CPD Qualifications To Offer Specialised Services

Completing CPD qualifications is a great way to increase your employment prospects in the fitness industry.

They can help further your knowledge of health and fitness in general and help you develop specialist skills to improve your fitness instructing income, such as:

• Group Training
• Kettlebell
• Circuit Training
• Boxing & Pad Work

As you can see from this job advert from Rise Community, CPD skills are highly sought after in the fitness job market:

Since you’ve developed skills in a specialist area, you’ll increase your chances of securing employment as employers will look to retain your skills for the betterment of their business.

Alternatively, you can use your CPD knowledge to launch your own business if you wish to become self-employed.

#3 Complete A Level 4 Nutritionist Qualification To Expand Your Skill Set

Completing a nutritionist course is a great way to advance your career in the fitness industry.

You’ll be able to marry your nutritionist knowledge with your experience as a fitness professional to help clients optimise their performance in the gym.

You can give recommendations for diets to help improve a person’s fitness levels and charge more for these additional, specialist services.

You can then create packages that you could sell online if you wish to become self-employed, such as those offered by Bare Nutrition:

This is a great qualification for you to complete at any stage of your fitness career as there are no prerequisites to enrol on the course.

Before You Go!

After reading this article we hope you have all the information you need to understand what’s included in a fitness instructor job description.

Remember, you can enrol on OriGym’s L2 Fitness Instructor to help kickstart your fitness instructor career.

You can also learn about our courses by downloading our course prospectus.

If you’ve been looking to break into the booming fitness industry, you may be interested in becoming a trainee fitness instructor.

OriGym has curated this guide to give you all the information you could possibly need to get started!

Contents:

• What Qualifications Do You Need To Become A Trainee Fitness Instructor
• The Skills You’ll Need To Succeed As A Trainee Gym Instructor
• Where Can I Apply For A Fitness Instructor Apprenticeship?
• How Much Do Trainee Fitness Instructors Get Paid?
• What Alternatives Are There To A Gym Instructor Apprenticeship?

If you’re set on taking the first steps of your career to eventually become a personal trainer, get started with OriGym’s industry-leading L2 Fitness Instructor qualification. We offer unlimited, 7-days-a-week support both during and after your course, as well as guaranteed post course interviews and a bespoke learning platform.

What Qualifications Do You Need To Become A Trainee Fitness Instructor?

Before we fully dive in, it’s important to note that a trainee fitness instructor and an apprentice fitness instructor are the same things – it’s just a matter of semantics!

You become a trainee fitness instructor by observing and shadowing a fully qualified fitness instructor who has usually been teaching for at least two years. This allows you to experience and learn the roles of a gym instructor in an active environment.

Because this is an entry-level apprentice fitness instructor position, it offers a simple way to learn on the job whilst gaining practical experience.

A crucial piece of information to note at this point is that any trainee fitness instructor will be working towards, or have already completed, a Level 2 Gym Instructing course. This is the bare minimum necessary to work in any fitness setting.

You will also be expected to have a minimum level of GCSEs, for example, two or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D) or equivalent. These are the same qualifications you need to apply for a Level 2 course.

The Skills You’ll Need To Succeed As A Trainee Gym Instructor

We’ve just examined the roles of a trainee fitness instructor, as well as what you can expect to achieve, but it’s also important to be aware of the skills and traits that would make you an ideal candidate.

We’ve outlined a few of the key qualities you’ll need to possess to be a successful and forward-thinking beginner fitness instructor.

Successful Trainee Fitness Instructors Demonstrate Excellent Verbal Communication

Gym members are your business, so you need to understand them in order to succeed! You’ll need strong communication skills to build rapport and trust in order to help them reach their health and fitness goals. You also need to be able to motivate them when and where they need it.

Communication skills also go a long way in professional working relationships and marketing or recruitment efforts. Check out the job posting below that states ‘good written and communication skills are essential’.

The Best Apprentice Gym Instructor Is Reliable

This doesn’t just mean that you can be relied upon with your knowledge of form and posture corrections, but that you can keep appointments, be on time for work, and be organised and prepped for each day.

When you demonstrate reliability, you’re also showing your employer that you can be trusted to be a good representative of the gym when you do complete your fitness instructor apprenticeship. This job posting example below states a ‘dedicated approach to customer service’ is required.

Punctuality Is Key For Your Fitness Instructor Apprenticeship

Punctuality is about more than just arriving on time; it also means that you familiarise yourself with the class schedule so that you can greet gym members before classes and build rapport.

It also means understanding your shift patterns so that you can effectively communicate with your colleagues and other trainee fitness instructors when something changes. For example, if you’re off sick, you know who to contact to fix the situation as soon as possible.

See the example below, which states that to be a reliable instructor, ‘punctuality is of the utmost importance’.

Apprentice Fitness Instructor Jobs Require Empathy

Being able to put yourself in someone else’s shoes is a key skill for a trainee gym instructor, as it helps you to sense when a client is feeling frustrated, disappointed, or unmotivated. It gives you the self-awareness to realise that just because you find it easy to train and eat healthily whilst avoiding temptation, not everyone does!

Another element of empathy is understanding your client’s needs in the moment, whether it be some tough love, words of wisdom, or even a hug. All of this can make a massive difference to your client’s motivation and longevity. 

See the example below, which looks for someone who can ‘provide motivation and support to customers’.

You Need Patience To Thrive As A Trainee Gym Instructor

Often, gym members are in a rush to achieve visible results, but this means their patience can dwindle into frustration fairly quickly. It is, of course, completely natural for your class members to want to see results as quickly as possible.

But it’s your job as an apprentice gym instructor to bring some calm and patience back into the proceedings. Be prepared to constantly remind your members that gradual, sustainable improvement is what they should be aiming for.

Check out the example job listing below, which lists patience as a required skill for the fitness instructor role.

Where Can I Apply For A Fitness Instructor Apprenticeship?

Once you’ve got your CV sorted (remember, you can demonstrate the skills above from work experience at school or from an event that occurred), it’s time to start looking for and applying for trainee gym instructor jobs! 

There are a few ways to go about this, primarily by searching on job boards or government websites. Job boards like Indeed and Glassdoor are great places to start, as well as the National Careers Service.

On job boards, you need to search for the term ‘trainee fitness instructor’ or ‘apprentice gym instructor’, and select the city or postcode where you are searching for open positions.

You have a number of other methods of refining your searches, such as the date posted, salary estimate, and education level.

Once you’ve found a posting that fits what you’re after, such as the above paid apprenticeship from Universal Fitness Fenton, it’s as simple as clicking ‘Apply Now’.

If you’d prefer to search on government websites such as GOV.UK, you’ll see a similar search system:

Use the same search terms as before, and select the maximum distance you’d be happy to travel to work. The GOV website even has an option for the apprenticeship gym instructor level you’re after, covering Intermediate, Advanced, Higher, and Degree, depending on your level of education.

Once you’ve found your ideal position, such as the above post from Bolton Arena for an Apprentice Health & Fitness Instructor, you’ll just need to sign in with your GOV account and apply.

How Much Do Trainee Fitness Instructors Get Paid?

Now that you know the skills you’ll need to gain a gym instructor apprenticeship and how to apply to your dream jobs, it’s time to dig into what you can expect to be paid.

Unfortunately, the answer may be a little disappointing, as fitness instructor apprenticeships (as with all apprenticeships) are capped by the National Minimum Wage.

This essentially means that the maximum rate per hour for those in their first year of being a trainee fitness instructor is £4.81, which cannot increase until after a year of being an apprentice fitness instructor.

After this first year, for those over the age of 23, this increases to be in line with the National Living Wage of £9.50. The table below explains how this increases incrementally as you get older, depending on your having completed the first year of your fitness instructor apprenticeship.

For instance, if you’re 19 after you’ve completed your first year as a trainee gym instructor, you’ll only be entitled to £6.83 per hour.

Compare this to the wage of a fitness instructor who qualified using a Level 2 Gym Instructor Course.

The average hourly wage for a fitness instructor, regardless of age, is £13.71. This wage can only increase, too, and you’ll be earning that amount immediately after you qualify, compared to the year of your apprenticeship, where you’ll only be earning £4.81.

This gulf in wage is often a deciding factor when it comes to choosing between a fitness instructor apprenticeship and completing a Level 2 Gym Instructor Training Course, but there are other points you might want to consider.

Once you have completed a Level 2 course, you can move away from the trainee fitness instructor jobs and search for jobs looking for a full qualification. Check out this job posting below that is offering £50,000 for a qualified fitness instructor.

Interested in learning more about the wages of a fitness instructor? OriGym’s comprehensive explanation of fitness instructor salaries fully explores what you’ll be earning and how you can earn even more.

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Once you’ve read this article, here are a couple more you might find useful:

• What Can A Level 2 Gym Instructor Do?
• How To Become A Fitness Instructor
• Key Fitness Instructor Skills, Qualities, and Requirements

What Alternatives Are There To A Gym Instructor Apprenticeship?

If apprentice fitness instructor jobs aren’t grabbing your attention, you can always look for different options. For example, you could gain a Level 2 Gym Instructor Course with a private training provider, such as ourselves. 

With this, you achieve the exact same level of qualification necessary to become a certified fitness instructor.

People often choose a fitness instructor course over a gym instructor apprenticeship because the entry requirements and the way you learn are very similar. There are no entry requirements beyond being aged 16 or over, and you’ll learn through practical elements.

Private training providers like OriGym even offer what is known as a Personal Trainer Diploma, which combines both the Level 2 Gym Instructor and Level 3 personal Trainer course within one qualification. This is particularly useful for those interested in broadening their services and increasing their annual salary.

There are a few key aspects of a Level 2 Gym Instructor course that make it better than a fitness instructor apprenticeship, the most obvious of which is wage.

As mentioned previously, you’ll be earning £4.81 per hour as an apprentice in the UK, which equates to an annual salary of just £8,300. Compare that to the average salary of a qualified fitness instructor which is £13.71 per hour, or £25,000 per annum.

Along with this massive wage boost, there are a myriad of other benefits, such as getting qualified quicker. A gym instructor apprenticeship can take anywhere from 15 to 24 months to complete, during which you’ll be on the apprentice wage.

Completing a Level 2 vocational gym instructor course is also much quicker than completing a fitness instructor apprenticeship. With numerous study methods available, you can be fully qualified in as little as:

• Full-time students: 2 weeks
• Part-time students: 6 weeks
• Online students: 8 weeks

Another benefit of studying with a private training provider is that you’ll learn from industry experts that know the ins and outs of the industry. 

You’ll receive specialised training specific to the fitness industry as well as tons of useful resources that go beyond the bare minimum curriculum you may find in college.

Now that you know how to become a fitness instructor, there’s nothing stopping you! Get out there and start your new career!

Before You Go!

Whether you were looking for guidance on your future career, or were apprehensive about taking that first step into fitness, the aim with our guide was to clear up the misconceptions that often surround becoming a fitness instructor.

And regardless of whether you opt to become a trainee fitness instructor, or get started much quicker with our Level 2 gym instructor course, it’s important to choose the option that’s right for you.

Or if you’ve got your heart set on a lucrative fitness career, then the ideal option is OriGym’s L2 Fitness Instructor qualification. Learn more by downloading our FREE course prospectus!

If you’ve ever considered a career in diet and nutrition, it’s natural you’d be curious about the key nutritionist skills and characteristics you’ll need to succeed.

OriGym’s complete guide explores all the best job skills for a nutritionist to have, as well as how you can work on developing the nutritionist skills you need to succeed. 

Contents:

• What Is A Nutritionist?
• Soft vs Hard Nutritionist
• Soft Nutritionist Skills
• Hard Nutritionist Skills
• Is Becoming A Nutritionist Hard?

The first step to becoming a nutritionist, though, is to first achieve a qualification in the field, and OriGym’s prestigious sports nutrition course offers the ideal introduction to the industry.

Learn about our courses today by downloading our prospectus, or get in touch with our dedicated expert team to find out more. We’ve also linked a free resource below, to help you get the best possible start in your nutrition career.

What Is A Nutritionist?

While this may seem a simple question, especially as we’re predominantly looking at the skills needed to be a nutritionist, it’s vital to understand exactly what we’re exploring. Fitness can often have overlapping or similar terms, and addressing misconceptions can help us to make a more informed decision on career options.

In simple terms, a nutritionist is someone who is qualified to dispense formal advice on diet, nutrition, and how food affects the body, both positively and negatively. 

They’ll often (but not always) have a degree in nutrition, or a nutrition-based field, and have worked on developing their nutritionist skills, which we’ll cover in more detail shortly, over the course of their study.

Learn more on how you can qualify in nutrition with our complete guide to becoming a nutritionist, as well as all the options available to you.

They’re commonly used in conjunction with a personal trainer to create comprehensive plans for those looking to achieve their fitness goals, lose weight, or develop a more complete understanding of nutrition for their workout plans.

Nutritionists also work in more clinical settings, such as hospitals and clinics, providing expert support to those who need it most, as well as designing plans that are designed to get those patients back on their feet.

Because of this wide range of areas a nutritionist can work in, they need to fully develop and understand the right nutritionist skills, as well as how they can deploy these in their day-to-day duties.

Soft vs Hard Nutritionist Skills

Fully understanding your nutritionist skills (for your resume or CV) is a complex process, especially as different skills can apply to nutrition that might not apply to other areas of your expertise.

From experience, we’ve found that the best way to do this is to break these skills needed to be a nutritionist down into soft and hard skills.

Soft skills are the kind of trait that you can’t learn from a textbook or online. They’re personal characteristics that define who you are, and how you deliver your services. These are usually measured through emotional intelligence, which can make them tricky to quantify.

For example, your levels of empathy and understanding would be classified as a soft skill – this still affects your ability to get involved with your role as a nutritionist, but can’t be learnt by conventional methods.

Hard skills are the opposite – these are more tangible nutritionist skills that can be learned, and developed over time through regular practice and study. An example of this would be how well you understand macro- and micronutrients, and how they fit into an average diet.

When it comes to the nutritionist skills needed to be successful, let’s explore the key traits you can work on, as well as what you’ll need to prioritise to excel in your field.

Soft Nutritionist Skills

First, let’s look at some of the more emotional traits and characteristics that form fantastic foundations for your nutritionist skills.

#1 – Great Communication Skills

Communicating is a key part of any role in the fitness industry. Whether you’re a personal trainer who’s passing on instructions, a gym instructor organising your class members, or a nutritionist outlining the benefits of eating healthily, it’s crucial to put that information across in an insightful and intelligent way.

This is perhaps one of the most important nutritionist skills for your resume. Your level of communication is often an indicator of how accomplished you are in your role, and how well you relate to those you’re helping.

It can also be a good way to establish relationships with those you’re working with, and help you to build bonds of trust. This can be especially helpful with clients that have issues with diet and nutrition, or find it difficult to enact meaningful changes in their lives.

Not to mention that, if you’re working in a clinical environment as a nutritionist, skills like communication are absolutely invaluable, and offer an excellent way to ensure that issues are dealt with effectively, quickly and, above all, safely.

#2 – Compassion & Empathy

As we’ve previously discussed, emotional intelligence can often be difficult to measure or keep track of. One of the best ways to understand your own emotional intelligence, as well as being one of the most important skills of a nutritionist, is how compassionate you are.

Empathy and compassion are crucial in any job where you work closely with others, but it’s of particular importance in fitness. 

You need to be able to understand others’ motivations, and how they might be feeling if they’ve achieved (or not achieved) something they’ve been working towards, as well as how you can better tailor your advice and consultation to their current emotional state.

This not only underpins many crucial job skills for a nutritionist, but it’s also a great trait to take into consideration when thinking about your own accomplishments, too.

Giving yourself credit when you’ve achieved something you’ve worked hard for, and cutting yourself some slack if you’ve not quite managed it this time, can significantly improve your overall mental health, and, in turn, the way you deliver your nutritional advice.

#3 – Excellent Time Keeping Skills

This is perhaps one of the more common traits that are mentioned in job applications and CVs, and for good reason. Being punctual is an excellent characteristic to have, and it’s one the most important soft skills of a nutritionist.

Regardless of whether you’re working in a freelance capacity, or you’re contracted at a more clinical facility or hospital, ensuring that you arrive when you should, and have the right amount of time to move between consultations and appointments, is absolutely crucial.

While this can seem like a basic step, and one that you assume you’d do automatically, it can be a difficult skill to master. Many people struggle with timekeeping, and working on this soft nutritionist skill is an ideal way to make sure you’re always in control of your commitments.

We’d strongly advise making a note of your appointments. Some people choose to do this using an app or calendar on their phone, but it’s a great idea to use a dedicated fitness journal to keep track of your consultations in another place.

You might also want to build in a habit of setting off slightly earlier than you might need to, to allow for more travel time. This is important if you’re driving to the gym or hospital, but it’s equally important if you’re walking to work, too, especially as bad weather can increase your travel time.

#4 – Well-Organised

This ties heavily into our previous point, but being organised is hugely helpful when you’re thinking about the list of skills a food nutritionist needs to possess. Let us explain why.

In a similar vein to personal training, you’ll need to keep track of any appointments or consultations you have with clients, as well as ensuring that you always have the correct data to support your ideas and suggestions.

This is where your organisational skills need to be as sharp as possible, especially if you want your sports nutrition business begins to grow. As you start to take on more responsibilities and clients, you need to manage your time effectively. 

Keeping track of all of this data can prove a challenge, especially if you’re new to the industry, or you’ve struggled with organisation in the past, which is why we’d suggest finding a piece of software that can help you to organise your schedule, as well as add in clients to available time slots.

Utilising technology, as well as more simple options like a diary or journal, can substantially improve your overall levels of organisation, and ensure that you’re always where you need to be, when you need to be there.

#5 – Provide Encouragement

All of us, at one time or another, will suffer from a lack of motivation. That’s especially true of fitness and our diet – these can often be sticking points for the vast majority of people, and rediscovering motivation can be difficult.

That’s where you need to be adaptable in your role as a nutritionist. One of the key nutritionist skills is the ability to provide encouragement, motivation and support when your clients are at their lowest, or are finding it difficult to get going.

Understanding your clients goals and motivations are a key way to do this. Learning each individual that you work with, what they’re aiming for, and how you can help them to achieve that, is an essential part of being a successful nutritionist.

For instance, using SMART goals and simple steps can help a client to visualise how each step along the way is ultimately going to help them achieve their goals, and can provide a more manageable outlook for their future.

Or even just a short conversation that helps a client to reevaluate their goals, making them more realistic, can go a long way towards helping them with any issues they may be experiencing to do with motivation.

#6 – Highly Self-Motivated

While motivating others is one of the most important nutritionist skills you can work on, it’s just as important to work on motivating yourself, especially as we can all struggle with inspiration at times.

Having a good grasp of what motivates you, as well as your own overall goals and aspirations, is crucial to ensuring that you can provide the best possible experience for your clients and customers. 

This is especially true on the days where you’re really struggling to find the motivation or drive to do what you need to do. This might be because of personal reasons, or perhaps you’ve just lost sight of why you’re undertaking a role as a nutritionist. 

Being able to give yourself that boost is absolutely crucial, and can even help you to pass on helpful advice to your clients and customers. For instance, if you find a particular tactic is helpful in motivating you, you could then pass that information on.

Or, if you find inspiration through specific motivational running quotes, you might find it helpful to make those a part of your nutritionist skillset, and deploy them when your clients are struggling to get going.

#7 – Enthusiastic About Nutrition

It might seem self-explanatory, but having a passion for diet and nutrition is perhaps one of the most important skills needed to be a nutritionist. Enthusiasm is one of the key aspects of helping your clients achieve their goals.

There’s actually a good reason behind why this is one of the key job skills for a nutritionist. If you seem noticeably interested in what you’re talking about, or you come across as enthusiastic about the advice you’re giving, it can significantly help a client make a healthy lifestyle change.

Showing enthusiasm and passion for a specific way of thinking, or even a diet plan that’s perhaps worked for others in the past, can have a significant impact on how likely your client is to get involved with, and stick to, the plans you outline.

Having a good level of enthusiasm also ties heavily into the idea of self-motivation. If you’re working alongside clients and customers everyday, doing something you’re passionate about, you’ll feel far more motivated, and willing to go the extra mile for those you’re working with.

#8 – Committed To Self-Development

Often, with careers in fitness, you’ll need to continue developing and growing in your field to make sure that you can retain your clients, as well as provide the most up-to-date information to those you work with.

This is especially true in nutrition, meaning that a strong desire to continually develop is one of the most important nutritionist skills you’ll need to possess to succeed in the industry.

Understanding how and why development is important often comes from learning what you can gain from following the latest updates in the world of nutrition.

Development doesn’t have to be through strict academic courses, though – something as simple as following online articles (such as those on OriGym’s insightful blog), reading a book from an author you admire, or browsing scientific journals for the latest in cutting edge developments. 

However, undertaking additional courses (OriGym’s Level 4 Obesity and Weight Management course, for instance) not only provides you with additional expertise in the field, but your additional qualification makes you immediately more attractive to potential clients.

– – – –

We’ve put together 3 more articles that closely relate to this one:

• Pros And Cons Of Being A Nutritionist In 2023
• Sports Nutritionist Salary UK: Ultimate Guide
• FREE Nutrition Courses: Are They Worth It?

Hard Nutritionist Skills

#1 – Knowledgeable About Nutrition

As we’ve previously mentioned, hard nutritionist skills are those you’ve worked on over time, and can continue to build upon as you develop as a professional. Arguably the most important of these is a firm understanding of the principles of nutrition, diet, and how food affects the body.

Of course, as you train as a nutritionist, skills of this nature become part of what you know, and what you’re passionate about. Learning these skills, and ensuring that you retain and deploy this knowledge in your consultations, is absolutely crucial if you’re looking to succeed in the field.

This includes all the components of a healthy diet, such as the right minerals and vitamins for energy, the correct dosages of macronutrients, and how you can effectively structure a diet to incorporate all of those.

As you might expect, these are all elements you’ll learn as part of any good Level 4 nutrition course, but it’s also important to build an understanding of how you can include each of these elements into a tailored diet plan for the clients you’re working with.

We would also strongly recommend supplementing that more academic knowledge with the suggestions, recipes, ideas and information that nutritional resources (such as blogs, articles and books) can provide.

Knowledge is something that you’ll continue to develop over the course of your career in nutrition, making this one of the most important nutritionist skills you can work on.

#2 – A Good Understanding Of Marketing

While it’s not necessarily one of the first things you think of if you’re wondering “what skills must a nutritionist have”, marketing can make a huge difference when you’re looking for clients.

Even a good grasp of the fundamentals of marketing can have a huge positive impact on how well you do as a freelance nutritionist, as well as how you frame yourself to those who are looking for specific packages or services that you offer.

Marketing is an umbrella term that incorporates all the things you can do to market yourself as a nutritionist. We’ve detailed more in our complete guide to a nutritionist’s business plan, but there are simple steps you can take to help market your business.

Setting up social media pages dedicated to your nutritionist business, building a simple website for clients to book consultations with you, and even producing business cards and flyers that better advertise your business, are all easy ways to get started with a dedicated group of clients.

Certain nutrition courses, such as OriGym’s sports nutrition course, will even offer advice and guidance on how best to market your business, as well as providing support for your future career endeavours.

Is Becoming A Nutritionist Hard?

Now that we’ve established all the nutritionist skills for your resume, it’s important to address one of the more frequently asked questions – is it difficult to get qualified as a nutritionist? 

Unfortunately, there isn’t a simple answer to this question. To become a nutritionist, you’ll need to have completed an accredited qualification, as well as possess all the nutritionist skills we’ve mentioned above. 

These courses can be completed as part of a degree, or as a vocational qualification through a registered provider like OriGym. To learn more about the degree route, check out our complete report on how to become a nutritionist. As you might expect, though, this is completed over a few years in a university.

With OriGym’s Level 4 sports nutrition course, though, you’re guided through the whole process by a team of dedicated experts, all of whom have experience with nutrition, who can answer any questions you have, 7 days a week.

With an average completion time of 12 weeks, you can qualify much quicker than you might with other options. 

Ultimately, though, how easy it is to qualify as a nutritionist depends on the effort you put in, as well as how effectively you can develop the hard skills needed to be a nutritionist.

Before You Go!

With this article, we aimed to outline all the key nutritionist skills needed to succeed in the industry, as well as how you can expect to incorporate each of these into your consultations.

The first step, though, is to qualify as a nutritionist. OriGym’s L4 sports nutrition course takes you from novice to expert in as little as 12 weeks, with expert guidance every step of the way. Download our FREE prospectus to learn more today!

Pairs of muscles in our bodies are made up of an agonist and an antagonist muscle, which control their range of motion, as well as how effectively they function. But what are each of these muscles, and how do they work together to create movement?

OriGym’s comprehensive report explores agonist and antagonist muscle pairs, how they form stretches and pulls, and how you can target these with your workouts in order to maximise your progress.

We’ll also look at expert tips and tricks on how to ensure these muscles are used to their fullest potential, and actions to take to mitigate against any potential injuries your agonist and antagonist muscles may suffer from.

Contents:

• What Is An Agonist Muscle?
• What Is An Antagonist Muscle?
• How Do Agonist and Antagonist Muscles Work Together?
• Examples Of Agonist and Antagonist Muscle Pairs
• Exercises That Use Antagonist And Agonist Muscle Pairs
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Our Conclusions

Alternatively, if you’re already familiar with how muscles function, but you’re looking to take that knowledge to the next level, then perhaps a career in personal training could be your next step.

OriGym’s prestigious personal training diploma takes you from no prior training to a completely qualified PT in as little as four weeks, with expert guidance available 7 days a week, a wealth of resources and materials at your fingertips, free examination resits, and a guaranteed interview when you graduate.

Enquire today, or download our FREE prospectus to discover more about who we are, what we offer, and how it could be perfect for you.

What Is An Agonist Muscle?

First, let’s examine the agonist muscle definition. This is the tensed or “strained” muscle during an action, and acts as the primary mover during any action. It’s an absolutely crucial component of any kind of action, and works alongside the antagonist muscle to create contractions and extensions.

In any pair, the agonist muscle contracts, while the antagonist muscle relaxes, allowing for the free movement of our joints and muscles. Let’s use an everyday example of agonist and antagonist muscle pairs to fully realise the definition of the antagonist muscle and its counterpart – the biceps and triceps.

When we flex our arm (with a bicep curl, for instance), the bicep is contracted, making it the agonist muscle, and the tricep is relaxed, and therefore the antagonist muscle in this scenario.

Then, when we bring our arm back to a natural position, our bicep is relaxed (the antagonist muscle), and the tricep is contracted, and is referred to as the agonist muscle.

This logic applies to many of the movements we perform, and is an absolutely integral part of performing any exercise, as well as everyday tasks such as walking up the stairs, or reaching for something from the cupboard.

We can strengthen these agonist and antagonist muscles with simple tricep stretches, as well as by ensuring that we follow the correct form when performing exercises that use these muscles to their fullest potential. But what about the antagonist muscle definition?

What Is An Antagonist Muscle?

Alongside agonist muscles, antagonist muscles function as part of a pair that work in tandem to allow the joints and limbs to perform more complex movements. These muscles move in the opposite direction to the agonist muscles, and offset the force these muscles exert so that we don’t damage our fragile joints.

One crucial piece of information to note is that a muscle can only move in one direction. The antagonist muscle in the pair stretches or gets longer, whilst the agonist muscle contracts, which in turn creates the movement we’re looking for.

This is perhaps the main antagonist muscle definition, and what differentiates them from agonist muscles. A more concrete example of this would be the two muscles we find in our upper arms, which we used in our previous agonist muscle example – the biceps and triceps.

When we relax our arm, the bicep is the antagonist muscle, in that it’s relaxed, where the tricep is contracted, and is therefore the agonist muscle. This is reversed when we tense our arms – the bicep becomes the agonist muscle, with the tricep relaxing and becoming the antagonist muscle.

How Do Agonist and Antagonist Muscles Work Together?

Now that we fully understand the agonist and antagonist muscles definitions, and what function each of them perform, it’s important to examine how they work together to create the movements we expect, and how you can make the most of these when exercising.

Essentially, with each pair of agonist and antagonist muscles, one muscle will contract (the agonist muscle) and another will relax (the antagonist muscle) during each movement.

Having these muscles function simultaneously is absolutely essential, in that it prevents damage to the joints and bones, as well as allowing the muscles to successfully return to their original positions. If one muscle outperforms the other, we risk overexerting ourselves, or being unable to effectively perform the actions we’re aiming for.

Overexertion (or overtraining) is often associated with more intensive activities.

Put simply, the antagonist muscle will provide the necessary resistance for the movement that the agonist muscle undertakes, allowing just the right amount of force to be used. This includes simple tasks we may not even consider, such as being able to stand up straight, or hold our arms in a natural position.

It’s also important to note that there are two primary types of these movements – isometric (an action where no movement takes place, such as pushing against an immovable surface or object) and isotonic (an action where movement does take place, such as pushing or pulling an object) contractions.

So, for instance, if you’re wondering “what is the agonist muscle in a push up”, you’ll first need to consider that it’s an isometric contraction, meaning no movement occurs. This means less pressure is placed on the agonist muscle, which here is the bicep, and there’s therefore more pressure on the antagonist muscle (in this case, the tricep).

While our bodies don’t need to be specifically conditioned towards any one of these different contraction types, it’s crucial to be aware of them in order to fully maximise the muscle gain you experience.

Examples Of Agonist and Antagonist Muscle Pairs

Let’s focus now on more practical examples of agonist and antagonist muscle pairs, as well as some of the primary functions these muscle pairs perform, and where you can expect to encounter them in your routines.

Biceps & Triceps

Perhaps one of the most immediately recognisable antagonist and agonist muscle examples, the biceps and triceps are the two largest muscles in the upper arm. We use these muscles every single day, and largely without realising that we do, as they’re used in many everyday tasks.

As we’ve touched upon in our previous sections on both agonist muscles and antagonist muscles, the biceps and triceps function as both agonist and antagonist muscles.

To recap, as we flex (or curl) our arm, the bicep functions as the agonist muscle during its contraction, whereas the tricep is the antagonist muscle, as it relaxes. As we uncurl or relax our arm, these roles are reversed, with the bicep becoming the antagonist, and the tricep the agonist muscle.

In your routines, this antagonist and agonist muscle movement is most recognisable as part of a dumbbell or barbell curl, but it also has its place in other common exercises, such as deadlifts, and the shoulder press.

Hamstrings and Quads (Quadriceps)

Two of the primary muscles in your upper legs, this is one of the prime examples of agonist and antagonist muscle pairs. Similarly to the bicep and tricep pairing we’ve just examined, these are often overlooked when it comes to their contributions to everyday tasks.

The quads and hamstrings control the extension and contraction of the knees, which are an integral part of some of the most basic things we can do, such as walking or sitting down.

When our legs are relaxed (such as when we’re in a more natural standing position), the quads function as the agonist muscle, in that they contract and tense, while the hamstring is the antagonist muscle, meaning it’s relaxed.

However, when the leg is bent (when you’re crouched or squatting, for instance), these roles are switched – the hamstring is now the agonist muscle, whereas the quads are antagonist muscles in this scenario.

While we’ve touched upon some of the more basic actions that require these agonist and antagonist muscle pairs, they’re also a fundamental part of some of the most basic exercises, and are equally important for proper form and posture.

For instance, you’ll be using this particular group of agonist and antagonist muscles for squats and specific lifts, especially those where you’ll need to keep a slight bend at the knees before hinging at the hips.

Glutes (Gluteus Maximus) and Hips

While we often use our glutes and hips without fully realising, they are crucial for maintaining the right form during exercise, as well as helping us with balance and stability in our everyday lives.

These specific agonist and antagonist muscles help with the movement of the hips, and function similarly to other agonist and antagonist muscle pairs that we’ve looked at so far.

Essentially, when you thrust the hips forwards, you’ll be tensing the glutes (making them the agonist muscles) and relaxing your hips (making these the antagonist muscles). When you return to a more neutral position, you’ll relax your glutes, which are then the antagonist muscles, and start to contract your glutes, the agonist muscles.

This is often the principle behind walking, and how more intense exercise (such as walking or running uphill) can significantly improve your cardiovascular health, as well as help to tone key areas around your glutes and hips.

You’ll also utilise this contraction and relaxation of these agonist and antagonist muscles during deadlifts and snatch movements, especially if you’re focused on lifting heavier weights.

Other Examples Of Agonist & Antagonist Muscle Pairs

While we’ve gone into specific detail about a few of the more common antagonist and agonist muscle movements, there are a few more that don’t play as integral a role, but that are no less important, especially if you’re looking to maximise gains, and train to the highest possible level.

If you’re looking to fully train your agonist and antagonist muscle pairs, you’ll also need to look at:

• The deltoids (shoulder) and the latissimus dorsi (upper back)
• Pectoralis major (chest) and the trapezius (upper back)
• Tibialis anterior and gastrocnemius (both anterior and posterior calf muscles)
• Abdominals (stomach) and erector spinae (lower back)

There’s also smaller, more minor antagonist and agonist muscle examples in your wrist, neck, and ankles, which help with flexibility, and can play a key role in grip, movement, and stability, especially during exercises.

Exercises That Use Antagonist And Agonist Muscle Pairs

Now that we’ve fully explored what agonist and antagonist muscle pairs, as well as both antagonist and agonist muscle examples, it’s equally important to look at how they can play pivotal roles in your exercise routine.

Understanding the different muscles, and how each of these can have a huge impact, is crucial to creating a sustainable, effective routine. Let’s explore some key examples.

Educate yourself on lucrative fitness occupations to navigate potential career paths.

Bicep Curl

One of the key examples that utilises the agonist and antagonist muscles, the bicep curl is a staple of many routines, and for good reason. Its easy adaptability, coupled with the wide array of potential equipment for this exercise, means it’s an ideal option for those looking to diversify their workouts.

As we’ve previously mentioned, the bicep curl goes through two main motions – the lift, and the subsequent relaxation. During the lift, the bicep becomes the agonist muscle, tensing and contracting, and the tricep is the antagonist muscle, relaxing as you lift.

This is then reversed when you lower your arm, with the bicep becoming the agonist muscle, contracting as you lower the weight, and the tricep becomes the antagonist, which relaxes as you lower the weight.

By adding weight to the mix, you’re not only placing more strain on the muscle that’s tensed (the agonist), but you’re also increasing the amount your antagonist muscle needs to stretch to offset the strain on the agonist.

With this, we would strongly recommend working your way up slowly with regards to weight, especially as this can have a huge impact, and potentially cause issues or injury if you increase it too quickly.

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Deadlifts

Another key staple of exercise routines for those who are looking to build muscle and train hard, the deadlift makes use of several different agonist and antagonist muscle pairs in order to create more complex movements.

With a deadlift, you’ll need your arms to be in a straightened position, which means your bicep is in a relaxed, antagonist muscle position, with the tricep functioning as the agonist muscle.

A deadlift starts with slightly bent knees (to avoid “locking” the knees), which requires the use of your quads and hamstrings. For the starting position, your hamstrings will be the agonist muscle, being contracted and strained, and your quads will take the place of the antagonist muscle, meaning they’re more relaxed.

As you move up to a standing position, these muscles will swap roles, with the quads becoming the contracted, agonist muscle, and the hamstrings in a more relaxed, antagonist muscle position.

Deadlifts also make use of other agonist and antagonist muscle pairs, and these are of the utmost importance when considering the right form to adopt when deadlifting, as well as ensuring you perform these exercises safely.

You’ll also need to use your hip flexors, thrusting them outwards to achieve extra lift on the bar. This involves pushing out your hips (meaning they’re in an agonist muscle position) and relaxing your glutes (they’ll be the antagonist muscle here), before returning back to a more natural position.

Finally, your wrists, while they are more minor agonist and antagonist muscles, are absolutely vital for maintaining a firm grip on the bar. Be sure to explore the various different grip options to find an option that works for you, especially as this can have a drastic effect on how impactful your lifts are.

Cardiovascular Exercise

Physical activity is integral to leading a healthy lifestyle, and one of the easiest ways to do this is to reap the benefits of cardio and aerobic exercise. It’s also one of the best ways to activate key agonist and antagonist muscle pairs at the same time, allowing you to work those muscle groups without having to specifically target them.

As you might expect, when we walk (or run), the main muscles we’ll use are our leg muscles, and predominantly our quads, hamstrings, calves and glutes. However, we’ll also be moving our arms and shoulders, which do require some antagonist and agonist muscle movements.

Let’s first focus on the legs. As we bend our knee to stride forward, we’ll primarily be utilising our hamstrings (the contracted, or agonist muscle) and our quadriceps (the relaxed, or antagonist muscle).

These then switch roles as we place our foot back down, with the quads now contracting (agonist muscle) and the hamstrings relaxing (antagonist muscle). This represents our basic stride, and happens without us even considering it, especially on a treadmill.

Our shoulder muscles are also a driving force when we’re completing cardio exercise, and help to push the body forward. As we stride forward, we’ll also move our shoulders forward, meaning our pectoralis major (chest muscle) takes on the role of the agonist muscle, and the antagonist muscle is our trapezius (the upper back).

As we’ve seen with previous agonist and antagonist muscle pairs, these roles are reversed as we return to a natural position, with the trapezius now the agonist muscle, and the pectoralis major the antagonist muscle.

There’s also minor activity in our ankles when it comes to antagonist and agonist muscle movement. This is predominantly to ensure good balance, maintain posture, and ensure that we can continue to travel at the same pace consistently.

Frequently Asked Questions

While we’ve already touched upon all the key aspects of agonist and antagonist muscle pairs, as well as both agonist and antagonist muscle definitions, it’s still important to dispel any misconceptions, and answer some of the questions that might arise.

Why Do Muscles Work In Pairs?

With this article, we’ve predominantly focused on key agonist and antagonist muscle examples, but it’s equally important to explore the root cause of why muscles need to work in pairs, and what can happen if one muscle weakens, or doesn’t function properly.

As we touched upon earlier, each pair of muscles is made up of an agonist muscle and antagonist muscle, which alternate as we complete movements and actions. Muscles are usually found in pairs for one very specific, very important reason.

As one muscle contracts (this is the agonist muscle) and applies the necessary force to complete the action you’re aiming to complete, the opposite muscle (the antagonist muscle) provides force in the opposite direction in order to balance out the effort you’re exerting.

Without this opposing force, you seriously risk damaging your muscles, joints, and overall skeletal health, especially with movements like bicep curls or deadlifts, which can often be coupled with significant weight in addition to the muscular exertion.

While there are numerous benefits to deadlifts, it’s vitally important to understand the fundamentals, and how the necessary antagonist and agonist muscle movements form the basis of all the exercises you complete.

This principle applies to all agonist and antagonist muscle pairs across our body, including the smaller, less noticeable pairs that we find in key joints (such as our wrists and ankles).

Why Do We Need Antagonist Muscles?

This is a completely understandable question, especially as the agonist muscle movement is the one that’s predominantly responsible for applying the force we need to undertake an action or exercise.

While this is true of all agonist muscle examples, they simply would not function correctly and effectively without their counterpart, the antagonist muscle. Let’s look at an example of this.

When we bend our knee to take a stride forward, regardless of the pace at which we’re moving, we’ll use two main muscles – the hamstring and the quadriceps.

In this scenario, our hamstring is the agonist muscle (in that it’s contracted, and applying the necessary force to move the knee) and the quadriceps are the antagonist muscle (these are relaxed, and offer a counterbalance for the force that the agonist muscle is applying).

When we re-extend our leg, these roles switch, with the agonist muscle now being the quadriceps, and the antagonist muscle the hamstring. Each muscle movement requires an opposing force, in order to ensure that we don’t overexert, and that we can return to a more natural position once we’ve finished our agonist muscle movement.

Antagonist muscles are also absolutely essential for that reason alone – they allow us to return our body to a more comfortable, natural state. However, they also help to protect bones from being damaged, and our fragile tendons, joints and ligaments from tearing or suffering painful injuries.

Is It Good To Train Antagonist Muscles?

When we’re looking to reach the pinnacle of our personal fitness, it’s natural that we’d want to pursue opportunities to activate and strengthen the muscle groups we may never have even considered. The same is true of our antagonist muscle definition and tone.

However, it can be difficult to work out exactly how we target those areas, especially as they’re predominantly used to relax our agonist muscles, or those that take the bulk of the strain.

The most simple answer to this question is that you’re likely already training your antagonist muscles without realising, especially as these often form part of every exercise, and particularly those we’ve mentioned previously.

For instance, while the agonist muscle in squat position is the hamstring, you’ll still be activating and putting strain on your quadriceps, allowing you to strengthen your antagonist muscle without consciously targeting that area.

One crucial piece of information to note, though, is that proper warm ups and stretches are vital to ensuring a safe workout, especially when you’re aiming to work muscles that you perhaps haven’t focused on before, or that are weaker than other areas of your body.

Stretching your legs (especially using hamstring stretches) and arms prior to cardiovascular exercise, or performing key bicep and tricep stretches before lifting heavy weights can not only help you maximise your gains, but it’ll also mitigate against some of the more common injuries you could experience.

Before You Go!

This article aimed to provide you with the complete definition of the antagonist muscle, as well as how agonist and antagonist muscles work in pairs to create the movement that we expect.

Whether you were seeking inspiration for your workouts, or were looking for agonist and antagonist muscle examples to enhance your routine, our guide provides everything you need to know, and how you can utilise these unique muscle pairs.

But if you’re already familiar with how to use your agonist and antagonist muscle pairs, and are looking for a way to impart that expertise, then perhaps a career in fitness could be your calling.

OriGym’s CIMSPA-accredited personal training diploma offers the ultimate package, with expert guidance available 7 days a week, a custom-built online learning platform, unlimited career guidance, and a guaranteed interview when you graduate.

Interested? Click here to download our FREE comprehensive prospectus, and learn more about what we offer, and how it could be ideal for you.

What we consume can affect our bodies in a wide variety of ways, and drinking black coffee benefits us in surprising ways. But what are the benefits of black coffee? And how can you make the most of them?

To answer those questions (and many others), OriGym have compiled a comprehensive guide to the myriad benefits of drinking black coffee, while touching on specialist areas such as how black coffee benefits our digestive system.

Whether you’re seeking out the benefits of black coffee for your skin, or considering making use of the benefits of black coffee in your bodybuilding routine, our thorough report covers everything you’ll need to know.

Contents:

• What Is Black Coffee?
• 15 Health Benefits of Black Coffee
• Black Coffee Nutritional Benefits & Profile
• What Are The Side Effects of Drinking Black Coffee?
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Our Conclusions

But if you consider yourself an expert on diet, meal plans, and what nutrition is right for the body, then perhaps you should become a nutritionist?

OriGym’s Level 4 Nutrition Course is the industry leader, providing unparalleled levels of expert nutritional guidance, a wealth of bespoke training resources, and completely free examination resits.

If you’re interested, download our FREE prospectus and learn more about what we offer, and how it could be ideal for you!

What Is Black Coffee?

While this may seem like a basic question, especially given that we’re specifically examining black coffee benefits, it’s vital that we fully define what we’re talking about so you can take full advantage.

Coffee is a diverse drink – it’s most commonly enjoyed mixed with milk or a milk alternative (oat or almond milk, for instance), or mixed as a flavouring with other products, creating decadent treats like healthy ice creams or tiramisu.

However, the majority of its benefits are most concentrated when we consume it black. Black coffee is simply coffee mixed with boiling water, with no additional flavourings or mixers.

Characterised by its bitter taste and strong aroma, black coffee benefits us in ways that are often unexpected, but that can really revolutionise the way we view coffee, and how we incorporate it into our diets.

Let’s examine some of those black coffee health benefits in more detail.

15 Health Benefits of Black Coffee

#1 – Increases Energy Levels

One of the most commonly discussed health benefits of black coffee is the energy it provides us with, and how that can help with day-to-day tasks.

In coffee, the main active ingredient is caffeine. You may already be familiar with caffeine – it’s often found in other products that are designed to boost your energy levels, such as sports drinks and cola.

Caffeine works by blocking a neurotransmitter in our brain called adenosine, which is what makes us feel tired or lethargic as the day goes on. It also allows our brain to release more of the chemicals we associate with having good energy levels, such as dopamine.

In black coffee, these caffeine levels are concentrated, and because of the lack of other ingredients, it’s able to enter the bloodstream much quicker than it would otherwise be able to, therefore making for a much quicker blocking of adenosine, and subsequent release of dopamine.

This speedy absorption is what makes this one of the main health benefits of drinking black coffee – you’re able to quickly access the levels of energy you need, and continue with what you want to achieve.

#2 – Boosts Performance

As we’ve just examined, one of the main health benefits of black coffee is the additional levels of energy it provides us through it’s high caffeine content.

This boosted caffeine level not only provides that additional energy, but it can also be incredibly beneficial when it comes to athletic and sporting performance, outranking even some of the best natural energy drinks. 

These additional energy levels from caffeine also provide a significant boost to your levels of physical performance, especially during intense activity. A recent study uncovered that caffeine (and in particular the fast-acting caffeine found in black coffee) has a dramatic effect on endurance and continued high-level performance.

The speedy availability of the caffeine that black coffee provides is arguably one of the biggest health benefits of drinking black coffee, especially before any activity where you’ll need to fully concentrate, and use as much energy as you can.

#3 – Burns Fat

Perhaps one of the most surprising black coffee benefits for weight loss is its ability to actively aid in burning fat, as well as providing the energy to keep going with your exercise routines. 

Let us explain.

In addition to its energy content, the caffeine in black coffee benefits us by actively speeding up the metabolism, burning fat at a much quicker rate than it otherwise would have. In fact, in many diet supplements, caffeine acts as the main catalyst for speeding up weight loss results.

Caffeine is, in fact, one of the best natural ways to achieve fat burn. Whether it’s ingested as part of the benefits of black coffee for weight loss, or through other sources such as pre-workout supplements, caffeine plays a pivotal role in boosting the metabolism, and burning fat.

For more information on metabolism and metabolic rate, check out OriGym’s comprehensive report on foods to speed up your metabolism and burn fat.

Drinking a cup of black coffee each morning can seriously help speed up your metabolism and fat burning throughout, which is arguably one of the biggest health benefits of drinking black coffee, particularly ahead of a busy day.

#4 – Helps Regulate Mood

We all have days where our mood dips and we aren’t as sociable as we normally would be. One of the more subtle mental health benefits of black coffee is that it can help to boost your mood and even combat signs of depression.

As we’ve already established, one of the main black coffee benefits is that it contains a healthy dosage of bioavailable caffeine, meaning that the body can absorb it quickly, and put it to immediate use.

This caffeine has long been associated with improving mood and fighting off the signs of more severe mood disorders, such as depression. A recent research review confirmed these ideas, finding that coffee (and black coffee in particular) were indisputably linked to improved mood.

This is often why it’s a good idea to enjoy the benefits of drinking black coffee in the morning, as it can often provide you with a more positive mindset for the day ahead, as well as the boost of energy we’ve already looked at.

#5 – Helps With Focus

When you’ve got a long day or a difficult workout ahead of you, it can be difficult to maintain your focus. Next on our list of black coffee benefits is that it can help you concentrate on the task at hand.

We’ve already explored how caffeine can aid in performance, but part of this also relates to how you can focus on what you need to do, and how your brain can direct your attention exactly where it needs to be.

Caffeine (especially when consumed in tandem with the other benefits of black coffee) aids in focusing on both simplistic tasks (like typing an email), and more complex things (like driving a car).

This increased focus and huge boost of energy are arguably two of the most important health benefits of black coffee, and can often combine to ensure you’re working at your best throughout the day.

#6 – Reduces Risk Of Liver Cancer

It’s estimated that at least one in three of us will be directly affected by cancer in our lifetime. It’s a good idea to use black coffee to mitigate against this, as one of the biggest black coffee benefits is that it can reduce your risk of developing certain types of cancer.

Primarily, black coffee will significantly reduce the risk of contracting liver cancer, according to recent research. However, further study has discovered potential links between black coffee consumption and reduced risks of endometrial cancer, although there’s inconclusive evidence for this to be considered factual.

However, until recently, many assumed that coffee was associated with increased risks of cancers of all kinds, which has now been completely disproven, with a wide range of sources confirming that coffee does not contribute towards our cancer risk.

Therefore, our recommendation to fully take advantage of the benefits of black coffee would be to enjoy it when you normally would, but potentially limit your intake. 

#7 – Provides A Huge Dose Of Antioxidants

You may already be aware of antioxidants and their benefits, but one of the more surprising black coffee health benefits is that it’s among the best antioxidant foods.

Antioxidants are molecules that we receive from our foods that inhibit dangerous “free radicals” (cells that are naturally produced in the body which can cause severe harm), and ensure that they benefit the body, rather than cause harm. 

These are vital for our bodies, and although we do produce them in small quantities, we get the majority of them from our foods. One of the main black coffee benefits is that it provides a quick and easy way to gain a huge boost to your antioxidant levels.

This would be fantastic even on its own, but given the range of benefits of black coffee comes with, you’ll also be getting a whole range of advantages as well as a boost to your antioxidant levels.

#8 – Reduces Risk Of Diabetes

Diabetes can often be a frustrating and even dangerous part of daily life for those who suffer from it, but one of the main health benefits of black coffee is that it helps mitigate your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

When we consume black coffee, it lowers our insulin sensitivity, and therefore means that we can more effectively regulate our blood sugar levels. In diabetics, this isn’t present, and sufferers cannot properly self-control their blood sugar levels, resulting in a range of complications and risks.

According to the latest research, coffee drinkers have a much lower risk of developing diabetes as a direct result of the compounds found in coffee, but in particular in the more bioavailable black coffee.

This is potentially one of the most life-changing health benefits of black coffee, in that it can significantly affect your chances of suffering from a life-altering illness such as diabetes.

Enjoying one or two cups throughout the day, as well as a balanced diet that incorporates metabolism-boosting foods, is enough to drastically decrease your risks of developing diabetes at any point during your life, which is arguably one of the biggest benefits of drinking black coffee.

#9 – Aids With Weight Loss

While we’ve already talked about how coffee’s active ingredient burns fat and boosts the metabolism, black coffee can help us to lose weight in more subtle ways, too.

In our previous section, we touched upon how one of the black coffee benefits for weight loss is that it reduces or even removes our risk of developing diabetes. This also comes with the secondary benefit of regulating our blood sugar levels and suppressing our cravings for sweet stuff.

This reduced appetite comes from coffee’s satiating compounds, which make us feel fuller for longer, and therefore less likely to reach for foods that aren’t as healthy. 

Without the cravings we might expect to have, we’re more likely to wait until mealtimes to eat, and therefore be less likely to indulge outside of those times. 

It’s often recommended as part of more strict diets because of this reason, and when combined with healthy choices, black coffee can work exceptionally well to create a sustainable weight loss regime.

#10 – Minimises Risk Of Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s disease is a condition that’s often characterised by shaking or tremors and is caused by the gradual breakdown and loss of cells in a certain part of the brain. One of the more understated benefits of drinking black coffee is that it can mitigate against your risks of developing Parkinson’s disease.

The active compounds in coffee protect against Parkinson’s, even though the root cause of the illness is still uncertain. Coffee, and in particular the bioavailable black coffee, protects against the disease, even with drinking just one cup per day.

The science supports this, too, finding that participants in a comprehensive study had a much lower chance of developing Parkinson’s disease, even when they had a family history of the condition.

While you might already include a cup of coffee in your morning routine, learning how black coffee benefits us in ways that we may never even realise is crucial to understanding why it’s such an integral part of starting our day.

#11 – Lessens Your Risk Of Cardiovascular Issues

Next on our list of the health benefits of drinking coffee black is its link to a decreased risk of having cardiovascular complications, such as stroke and heart failure.

Our heart is arguably one of our most important organs alongside our brain and lungs, and while we can find plenty of foods good for lung health, and take time to relax and destress to ease tension and headaches, we must look after our heart, too.

That’s where drinking black coffee benefits us in another unseen but incredibly important way – consuming black coffee regularly has been shown to reduce the chances of stroke, heart failure, and a variety of other cardiovascular issues.

A recent research review found a distinct connection between those who drink coffee regularly, and a decreased risk of stroke, as well as heart failure and hypertension (very high blood pressure). 

This connection forms the basis of one of the more life-changing health benefits of black coffee, and one that we can take advantage of by simply having a cup with breakfast, or throughout the day.

#12 – Boosts Your Liver Health

While we’ve already examined how black coffee benefits us by reducing our risk of developing liver cancer, it also has a wide range of other benefits for the liver.

As you might already be aware, hot drinks such as tea and coffee (particularly black coffee) can act as a diuretic, meaning you urinate more frequently, which can cleanse your liver and kidneys of harmful chemicals and compounds that we receive from other foods and drinks.

Not only that, but black coffee benefits the liver even further by drastically reducing your risk of cirrhosis, which is irreversible and severe damage caused to the liver by bad habits such as smoking and heavy drinking.

Black coffee also positively affects enzymes and compounds in the liver, meaning it can continue to function effectively and efficiently, as well as offering mitigation against liver diseases.

This vast array of black coffee benefits for the liver will not only go a long way towards protecting one of your vital organs, it also means the rest of your organs can function as efficiently as possible.

#13 – Promotes Good Digestive Health

Perhaps one of the most well-publicised health benefits of drinking coffee black is its positive effects on our digestive health, and our bowel movements.

Many of us will often drink coffee as part of our daily routine, whether that’s a cup with breakfast in the morning, or throughout the working day, and by doing so, we’re helping to promote good digestion of our food, as well as disposal of our body’s waste products.

The caffeine we find in our coffee has been proven to activate the muscles in our colon, resulting in better digestive habits, as well as promoting more regular bowel movements, which in turn can ease issues like constipation and stomach aches.

Coffee can also stimulate certain hormones in the digestive system, which also prompt more consistent bowel movements across the course of the day, and therefore means that we properly and effectively dispose of the waste products our body creates.

These wide-reaching digestive benefits of black coffee (without sugar) can often form part of your day-to-day life, ensuring you continue to feel these black coffee benefits regularly and can develop better digestive habits, such as eating fibre-dense foods or incorporating some superfruits into your meal plans.

#14 – Helps With Skincare

You may be surprised to hear this, but next on our list of black coffee benefits is its profound effects on our skin and complexion.

In many modern skincare products, there’s often an active ingredient that’s shared with coffee – caffeine. It’s used as a stimulant for the skin (similar to how black coffee benefits us by providing us with energy), and possesses anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that are beneficial for the skin.

By consuming it in moderation, coffee can provide that stimulation, and keep our skin looking vibrant and youthful. However, one of the key things to stress here is the concept of moderation. 

Moderation is crucial across all aspects of life, including exercise – read more about managing your fitness regime properly in OriGym’s comprehensive report on the importance of rest days.

Drinking a more substantial amount of coffee (more than 4 cups) per day can have the inverse effect, meaning you may dry out your skin, and cause spots or dryness to develop. 

It’s important to drink your coffee black, too – you’ll get the most from these benefits of black coffee without sugar or milk mixed in, as impurities in these coffee additions can make skin problems worse, or have a detrimental effect on your complexion.

#15 – Keeps Your Mouth Healthy

The final entry on our list of black coffee benefits is its effect on our oral hygiene, and the antibacterial properties it can bring to our mouths.

It’s been found that caffeine (the active ingredient in coffee) is incredibly effective at fighting bacteria and reducing the levels of harmful bacteria that we have in our mouths.

However, these black coffee benefits for oral health do come with a significant caveat – they are much more effective when consumed without milk or sugar. One of the key benefits of black coffee without sugar is that it ensures that the antibacterial properties that caffeine possesses can be used effectively where it’s needed most.

Not only does coffee possess antibacterial properties, recent studies point towards a definitive link between coffee consumption and a reduced risk of oral cancers.

These black coffee health benefits are often overlooked, especially with coffee’s reputation as a drink that can have adverse effects, but it’s important to address any misconceptions and understand how drinking black coffee benefits many aspects of our bodies.

Black Coffee Nutritional Benefits & Profile

Now that we’ve answered the age-old question of “What are the benefits of drinking black coffee?”, and examined in great depth how drinking black coffee benefits us in a vast range of ways, it’s important to focus on what makes up a good cup of black coffee

Let’s also look at how these nutritional factors come together to create the multitude of benefits of black coffee that we’ve just examined.

We’ve outlined an average cup of black coffee and its nutritional benefits below, as well as highlighted exactly what nutritional components you’ll receive from it:

• Calories: 2 calories
• Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 0g
• Sodium: 4.7mg
• Protein: 0g
• Potassium: 116mg
• Caffeine: 95mg

Coffee’s incredibly low-calorie content means that it’s a great idea to take advantage of the black coffee benefits for your weight loss journey, as well as for disease prevention and overall good health.

One key point to note here, though, is that the recommended daily intake of caffeine for an adult is approximately 400mg, which means you should aim to consume no more than 4 cups of coffee per day. 

It’s a good idea to track your intake in a dedicated fitness journal, or on a smartphone app, to ensure you don’t go over your recommended amount, especially as too much caffeine can have detrimental effects.

What Are The Side Effects of Drinking Black Coffee?

While we’ve explored a wide variety of the health benefits of drinking coffee black, it’s vitally important to look at black coffee benefits and side effects side-by-side. Below, we’ve outlined some of the main side effects of drinking black coffee.

#1 – Can Affect Your Sleeping

As we’ve previously covered in our section on black coffee benefits, caffeine is the active ingredient in black coffee, and one of its main purposes is to provide energy, and motivate us to do the things we need to do.

However, this abundance of energy can be detrimental, especially if we consume black coffee later in the evening, or before we need to relax and get ready for sleep. When caffeine reaches our brain, it blocks the production of adenosine, which is the chemical compound that makes us feel tired.

This lack of adenosine means we don’t feel the same levels of tiredness after we’ve consumed caffeine, and therefore don’t feel ready to sleep. Of course, this is easily remedied by limiting your caffeine intake, and ensuring you don’t drink any caffeinated beverages (such as black coffee) shortly before sleeping. 

We would also strongly recommend not drinking more than 4 cups per day, as continually drinking too much coffee can affect your sleeping pattern, and even lead to sleep issues like insomnia.

It can also be a good idea to undertake some form of mindfulness practice to alleviate stresses that can impact your sleep schedule – find one that works for you in OriGym’s exploration of the different types of yoga styles.

#2 – Can Create Feelings Of Anxiety

While caffeine provides us with the energy to complete the tasks we need to, one of the main black coffee side effects is that this energy can’t always be put to good use, which can cause issues with anxiety, stress, and shaky movements often called “jitters”.

When we drink too much black coffee, our body will start to release stress hormones known as cortisol, which leads to a sharp increase in feelings of anxiety and stress. This can also cause what we’d commonly refer to as being jittery, where we have excess energy that we are unsure of how to deploy.

It’s easy to avoid these black coffee side effects – we simply need to monitor our caffeine intake and aim to drink less than the maximum of 4 cups per day.

Prolonged excessive caffeine consumption can not only lead to increased feelings of anxiety and stress, but the cortisol that’s released can lead to increased blood pressure and strain on the heart and brain.

#3 – Can Cause Stomach Cramps

Black coffee is, as we’ve already mentioned, high in caffeine – that’s the reason behind many of the black coffee benefits we’ve just looked at. However, this caffeine content is also coupled with a high level of acidity, which can lead to abdominal cramps and stomach issues.

When acid builds up in the stomach (either through excessive caffeine intake or otherwise), it can cause a range of issues, including nausea, stomach aches, bloating and diarrhoea, all of which can have wide reaching impact.

Coffee, especially when you have more than 4 cups per day, can be a huge contributing factor to your levels of stomach acidity, and as such can leave you open to experiencing some of these more serious black coffee side effects.

As with most other side effects of drinking black coffee, the way to combat it is simple – limit yourself to an amount of coffee that you feel comfortable with, and experiment to find what works best for you and your body.

Frequently Asked Questions 

How Do You Prepare Black Coffee?

Black coffee is simply a cup of coffee made without the use of any additional ingredients, such as milk, sugar, sweeteners, or syrups. But, as you might expect, there are multiple different ways you can make a cup of black coffee, and much of it comes down to your personal preference.

Many people will choose convenience, and opt for an instant black coffee, using store-bought granules or powder, and boiling water. This is an excellent option if you’re in a rush, and is often inexpensive and easy to source, meaning you don’t have to worry about how to take advantage of the black coffee benefits we’ve looked at.

However, if you’re looking for more of a bespoke coffee, you can opt to purchase a coffee grinder and machine, meaning you get the freshest possible cup, and are guaranteed a cup that doesn’t contain any additives or preservatives. This is obviously much more time-consuming, though.

Coffee in any form is a great way to experience the benefits of black coffee, and it’s ultimately your own personal decision that shapes what you decide to do to receive those black coffee benefits.

Is Black Coffee Good For Weight Loss?

Of course! Many of the advantages we’ve just looked at often form some of the key benefits of black coffee for weight loss.

For instance, as we previously examined, black coffee can function as an appetite suppressant, ensuring you feel “satiated” (or fuller) for longer periods due to its significant role in helping to regulate blood sugar levels and prevent the development of diabetes. 

This blood sugar control also feeds into the idea that you therefore won’t crave sweet things, which are often associated with being high in calories or fats. If you do still crave something sweet, though, natural alternatives like fruits, nuts, and healthy cereal bars can satisfy that sweet tooth.

Not only this, but caffeine has long since been proven to actively burn fat, and boost the metabolism so that we burn fat naturally and sustainably. This is often why, after a large meal, you’ll be offered a cup of coffee, as it aids in the digestion and processing of the food you’ve just eaten.

It’s hugely important to take advantage of the vast array of black coffee benefits for your weight loss journey, especially as it’s likely a beverage that’s already part of your diet, and it’s an important change that’s easy to implement.

How Much Black Coffee Should I Have?

This is, unfortunately, one question that doesn’t have a singular answer, especially as everyone is different. First and foremost, though, it is strongly advised that you do not exceed more than 4 cups of black coffee in a single day. 

An average cup of black coffee will contain between 95mg and 100mg, and with a recommended daily intake (RDI) of 400mg of caffeine, 4 cups is the limit before you begin to exceed your RDI, and start to see some of the black coffee side effects we’ve just discussed.

After that, though, this is entirely down to your discretion, and your own personal habits. For many, a cup of coffee with breakfast, and then one at some point during the working day, is normal, and you’d simply need to replace any coffees with milk or sugar with a black coffee.

If you’re looking to start coffee for the first time, though, we’d suggest starting off small, especially as such a concentrated dose of caffeine can be overwhelming at first. 

Having one cup in the morning with a hearty breakfast can ensure you get all the black coffee benefits without any of the side effects of black coffee. 

Before You Go!

Whether you’re a coffee connoisseur or are just enjoying the occasional cup of instant brew before a tough day, our exploration of black coffee benefits (and side effects) aims to explain everything you need to know about one of the most consumed beverages across the world.

The black coffee benefits and side effects all contribute towards how much you should include in your diet, and how well it can work for you. But if you’ve already mastered your dietary habits, then perhaps it’s time to take that passion further.

OriGym’s industry leading Level 4 Sports Nutrition Course offers unmatched levels of guidance from an expert team 7 days a week, a constantly expanding library of resources, free examination resits, and all for the lowest price amongst our competitors.

Explore more in our FREE comprehensive prospectus, or call us today to discuss the range of options available to you!

References

1. Doherty M, Smith PM. Effects of caffeine ingestion on exercise testing: a meta-analysis. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab. 2004 Dec;14(6):626-46. doi: 10.1123/ijsnem.14.6.626. PMID: 15657469.
2. Wang L, Shen X, Wu Y, Zhang D. Coffee and caffeine consumption and depression: A meta-analysis of observational studies. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry. 2016;50(3):228-242. doi:10.1177/0004867415603131
3. Susanna C. Larsson, Alicja Wolk, Coffee Consumption and Risk of Liver Cancer: A Meta-Analysis, Gastroenterology, Volume 132, Issue 5, 2007, Pages 1740-1745, ISSN 0016-5085, https://doi.org/10.1053/j.gastro.2007.03.044.
4. Agardh, E.E., Carlsson, S., Ahlbom, A., Efendic, S., Grill, V., Hammar, N., Hilding, A. and Östenson, C.-G. (2004), Coffee consumption, type 2 diabetes and impaired glucose tolerance in Swedish men and women. Journal of Internal Medicine, 255: 645-652. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2796.2004.01331.x
5. Hu, G., Bidel, S., Jousilahti, P., Antikainen, R. and Tuomilehto, J. (2007), Coffee and tea consumption and the risk of Parkinson’s disease. Mov. Disord. 22: 2242-2248.
6. David S. Liebeskind, Nerses Sanossian, Katherine A. Fu, He-Jing Wang & Lenore Arab (2016) The coffee paradox in stroke: Increased consumption linked with fewer strokes, Nutritional Neuroscience, 19:9, 406-413, DOI: 10.1179/1476830515Y.0000000035
7. Stefano Petti, Crispian Scully, Polyphenols, oral health and disease: A review, Journal of Dentistry, Volume 37, Issue 6, 2009, Pages 413-423, ISSN 0300-5712, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdent.2009.02.003.

Before entering the fitness industry you may be wondering ‘What does a personal trainer need to know?‘. Thankfully, OriGym is here to help get your career started on the right foot, covering topics such as:

Contents:

• What Is A Personal Trainer?
• What A PT Needs To Know About The Fitness Industry
• Key Exercise Knowledge A Personal Trainer Should Have
• What A Personal Trainer Should Know About Clients
• What A PT Needs To Know About Diet
• Key Areas Of Personal Trainer Expertise
• What A Personal Trainer Needs To Know About Business
• How Can I Develop My Personal Trainer Knowledge?
• Our Conclusions

Developing knowledge for your career begins by completing a Personal Training Diploma. By graduating from this course, you can gain relevant industry experience and skills to help you succeed in the role.

You can also download our FREE prospectus to learn more about expanding your knowledge through our industry-leading courses.

What Is A Personal Trainer?

This may seem like a redundant question, especially as we’ll primarily be answering the question of “what do you need to be a personal trainer”, rather than defining the role.

However, we always feel it’s important to address any misconceptions, especially as the fitness industry has so many roles that overlap or have similar functions.

A personal trainer works on a 1-to-1 basis with clients, providing bespoke advice on exercises and workout routines that are tailored to their individual needs and goals. A PT will also dispense advice on diet, and making sustainable lifestyle adjustments that can lead to many larger-scale changes – though note that they are not qualified to prescribe diet plans, only offer guidance.

There are also many different types of personal trainer, who might specialise in different aspects of fitness.

They’ll always be a certified professional, having completed a Level 3 personal training qualification at the very least, with many successful PTs having gained additional certifications outside of that initial qualification.

For more information on how you can personally explore this career, check out our article detailing how to become a personal trainer.

What A PT Needs To Know About The Fitness Industry!

As with any job in any industry, it’s always important to be aware of what’s changing, what you need to stay up to speed, and how future developments could impact you and your business.

This is especially important in fitness, as it’s one of the fastest evolving industries, and it can be highly competitive (we’ll look at how to set yourself apart from the crowd later in this article).

First and foremost, it’s vital to ensure any qualification you complete is endorsed by CIMSPA (the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity), as this is an internationally recognised awarding body, and one that any prospective employer (and clients) will be looking for.

Now, the vast majority, of course, providers will work closely with CIMSPA (including the industry leader OriGym), but it is hugely important to ensure that your course provider works with them, especially as this can affect your employment prospects.

You’ll also need comprehensive insurance to ensure you’re fully covered once you’ve qualified, which is often a vital element of personal trainer knowledge that gets overlooked. OriGym’s complete exploration of personal trainer insurance looks at all the best options, as well as exactly what you’ll need.

It’s also a great idea to stay abreast of developments in the fitness world – following specialist news sites and blogs (such as the well-renowned OriGym blog) can help you brush up on what a personal trainer needs to know about the changing landscape of the fitness industry.

Finally, and arguably most importantly, it’s vital to be aware that fitness is an incredibly competitive field – OriGym alone qualifies thousands of budding fitness enthusiasts every year.

The most effective way to stand out is to ensure you’re aware of exactly what you need to know to become a personal trainer, and to put as much effort into those areas as you can.

Key Exercise Knowledge A Personal Trainer Should Have

This is, as you might expect, quite a broad field, especially as there are so many exercises and variants out there that you could incorporate into your client routines and schedules.

Crucially, when you’re looking at what a personal trainer needs to know about exercise, you absolutely must be adaptable. Learning the gym floor and the machines that will be available to you,is a necessity, and it’s a piece of personal trainer knowledge that will ensure you’re ahead of the game.

It’s also important to recognise that not all your clients will be able to, or want to, complete the same regimes, and as such, you’ll need to create tailored solutions that work for both you and your client.

For instance, if a client is focused on building strength in their legs, you’ll need to be familiar with a wide range of exercises that activate those muscle groups (such as weighted squats, lunges, or the leg press).

Or, if all the machines are unavailable, you’ll need to ensure you understand how to construct a workout that incorporates the benefits of calisthenics (or bodyweight training) and utilises minimal equipment but still targets the desired muscle groups.

While this may seem a lot of information to digest at once, it’s important to recognise that much of this is encompassed in all good training courses, most notably OriGym’s Level 3 personal training qualification.

What A Personal Trainer Should Know About Clients

This is perhaps the most important section of this article – without clients, personal trainers simply wouldn’t exist, and the industry wouldn’t be thriving like it currently is. But what do you need to be a personal trainer who understands their clients, and can ensure that their relationship is built on trust and respect?

First and foremost, it’s important to recognise that no two people are the same, and that is especially true of exercise and fitness journeys.

As we’ve just examined with our section on exercises and what a personal trainer needs to know about how to tailor them specifically, everyone will have different goals, and therefore different reasons for signing up with your personal training services.

Understanding what each of your clients wants to achieve, what they can do to get there, and how you can help them realise those ambitions, is vital to providing the kind of quality service that clients will want to continue using.

It’s what forms the foundation of holding onto your personal training clients.

From our extensive experience in the industry, one of the lesser known things you need to know to become a personal trainer who’s successful is knowing how to market yourself towards the clients you want.

For instance, if you’re a PT whose passions lie in training those who are at the peak of their physical fitness, perhaps people training for competitions or events, you can work on building your skillset with additional professional development courses, such as Sports Massage Therapy, or sports nutrition.

Or, if you’d prefer to diversify into weight management, you can look into qualifications that allow you to appeal more to those clients that are looking to achieve weight loss goals, such as weight management training, which helps you develop a much more complete picture of nutrition and diet.

What A PT Needs To Know About Diet

Of course, as part of your personal trainer training, you’ll be given a general overview of macro- and micro-nutrients, as well as how to properly structure meals and meal plans in order to maximise what you get from your diet.

This grounding will allow you to not only dispense informal advice to your clients, but it can help to shape your workouts and regimes. For example, you might do a particularly intense workout when you know your client will be consuming a well-balanced meal that incorporates substantial protein sources.

It’s also vital to be on top of what you personally eat, as this can have a drastic influence on the advice you impart to your clients.

Following your own structured personal trainer meal plan can help you take stock of the foods that you think could be helpful for your clients, and what you feel is sustainable or manageable for that individual. Diet is, we believe, a huge part of weight loss, and understanding your client’s goals with regards to weight is crucial.

It’s also important to consider any allergies, intolerances, or preferences when giving nutritional advice, especially as this can hugely affect the foods you recommend. Learning how plant protein and animal protein sources differ is integral to planning meals for a vegan client, for instance.

Ultimately, though, diet forms another important part of what a personal trainer needs to know to be effective and efficient in creating sustainable, manageable and fulfilling plans for your clients.

– – – – –

Once you’ve finished this article, here are 3 more you might find useful:

• The Different Types Of Personal Trainer
• How Long Should You Have A Personal Trainer?
• How To Find A Personal Trainer

Key Areas Of Personal Trainer Expertise

So far, we’ve covered some of the more pressing duties of a personal trainer, and what a personal trainer needs to know to be able to carry these out efficiently and effectively. But, there are many other skills and areas of personal trainer expertise that all shape how impactful your sessions are, and how influential you are as a PT.

We’ve outlined some of the more important personal trainer skills you can supplement your personal trainer knowledge with:

• People Skills – Having a sympathetic understanding of your clients, and learning what motivates them to push towards their goals, is a crucial part of being the PT you want to be.
• Punctuality – It might seem a little basic, but having a great grasp of the time you have available, and how you can best apportion it to maximise your client satisfaction and your earnings, is vital.
• Health and Safety – Having a thorough grasp of your gym’s health and safety procedures and protocols (or fully understanding your own, if you’re a freelancer) is incredibly important, as this won’t only keep your clients safe, it ensures you’re providing as safe a service as possible.
• Human Anatomy & Physiology – A good knowledge of the human body, and how the decisions you’ll be making for your client will affect it, is an ideal skill to have, as it can allow you more comprehensively explain your ideas to you client with scientific precision. This is included as part of some Level 3 personal training courses, with OriGym’s expert team leading the way in this regard.

Of course, as you develop and grow in your role as a personal trainer, you’ll begin to better see how each of these skills (combined with your own personal outlooks and opinions) are integral parts of what you need to know to become a personal trainer who not only succeeds but thrives in their industry.

What A Personal Trainer Needs To Know About Business

While this area of personal trainer expertise is particularly important for those who are working on a freelance basis, or those that aren’t partnered with a gym chain, it is vital for personal trainers to be aware of the business elements that form part of their role.

When you work as a personal trainer, you’ll essentially be running your own business in an industry you’re passionate about, which is a dream come true for many. However, this does mean that you’ll need some awareness of what you need to do to continue to prosper.

Firstly, it’s important to promote yourself and your services. This can be done in a variety of ways, but we’ve compiled a short list of some of the strategies we’ve seen success with:

• Social Media – Once you’ve completed your Level 3 personal trainer qualification, get yourself set up on popular social media platforms such as Instagram and Twitter, as this not only allows you to promote yourself, but you can also keep up to date with the latest developments in fitness.
• Fliers and Business Cards – Handing these out to family and friends, as well as to other gym goers, can allow you to rapidly and effectively spread the word about your personal training business.
• Website – Having a well designed, easy to use personal training website establishes a foundation for your business, and can go a long way to promoting you as an established face in the fitness industry.

You’ll also need to familiarise yourself with how best to manage your personal finances, and the finances of your personal training business, especially as you continue to grow in the fitness industry.

We’d suggest using a piece of financial software to help you keep on top of what your clients are paying, manage bookings and cancellations, and apportion your time effectively to keep your customers happy, and your profits high.

By qualifying through OriGym’s personal training courses, you’ll also be eligible for a host of discounts on a wide range of incredibly helpful softwares and products, including those that provide crucial guidance on tricky areas, such as tax returns.

How Can I Develop My Personal Trainer Knowledge?

Unfortunately, these ideas and our expert advice can only take you so far when it comes to what a personal trainer needs to know – you’ll have to undertake formal qualifications in order to truly progress in the industry, and develop both as a professional and as an individual.

That’s where further study courses come in – they offer opportunities for people in a professional capacity to develop new skills, especially those who are in the fitness industry, after you’ve completed your Level 3 personal trainer qualification.

Take, for instance, OriGym’s industry-leading sports nutrition course. You’ll have already laid the foundation of your personal trainer knowledge by completing your initial Level 3 personal training certificate, but with nutrition training offered by OriGym, you’ll be able to elevate your personal trainer expertise.

You’ll not only learn countless new skills (such as developing a complete understanding of nutrition legislation, and building a mastery of the bond between diet and exercise), but you’ll be able to apply those skills to your current clientele, helping them in ways that can revolutionise how they go about achieving their goals.

We’d also suggest undertaking further training, for example with OriGym’s Fitness Business Management CPD course you can learn how to operate as a self-employed PT.

Before You Go!

When it comes to personal trainer knowledge, there’s a huge amount of development opportunities and additional study you can undertake to boost your understanding of diet, exercise, and the fitness industry as a whole.

All that remains is to develop your own knowledge through the completion of a Personal Training Diploma!

You can also check out our FREE prospectus to learn more about how you can become an industry expert!

Plyometric boxes (also known as “plyo boxes” or “jump boxes”) can often make a cheap and convenient addition to any home gym, especially if you’re looking to change up your training routine and add some new fitness goals to the mix.

However, with so many options on the market, ranging from wooden plyometric boxes to more advanced box jump equipment, it can be difficult to choose the right option for you and your fitness goals.

Fortunately, OriGym’s shortlist will discuss the best plyo box on the UK market, and provide everything you need to know to make an informed choice (including jump box prices), as well as answering any questions you might have.

Contents:

• What Is A Plyometric Box?
• The Best Plyo Boxes
• How Do I Choose The Right Plyometric Box?
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Our Conclusions

But if you’re at the peak of your fitness game, and already consider yourself familiar with plyometric platforms, then a career in exercise could be calling.

Our personal trainer diploma represents the best in quality, expertise, and price, with unlimited career advice, custom-built learning resources, and guaranteed post-course interviews.

Interested? Download our FREE prospectus today, and learn more about what we offer, and how it could be perfect for you.

What Is A Plyometric Box?

A plyometric box (more commonly referred to as a plyo box or a jump box) is, as you might expect, a sturdily constructed box that’s used for plyometric exercises.

Plyometric is the more scientific name given to intense exercises that involve muscles exerting maximum force in short intervals of time, with the goal of increasing power. Perhaps the most simple example of this is jumping – as we jump, we stretch out our leg muscles, and then as we land, our muscles shorten or contract.

While you might expect these exercises to primarily, or solely, provide a tough leg session, they actually offer a full body workout, testing your biceps and triceps (particularly in exercises such as plyometric push-ups), your core muscles, and the integrity of your joints.

They can also be included as part of your flexibility training, especially as they focus predominantly on extending and contracting the leg muscles.

But what equipment can you use to complete these exercises?

That’s where plyo boxes come in. Available in varying heights and sizes, this piece of box jump equipment provides a stable, secure platform to push your jumping to new heights, while playing a pivotal role in building muscle power.

Let’s explore some of the best options for plyo boxes, as well as what you should be looking for in an ideal plyometric platform.

The Best Plyo Boxes

#1 – Functional Fitness 3 in 1 Wooden Plyo Box

Price: £69.95

Dimensions: 20” x 24” x 30”

First on our list of the best plyometric jump boxes is this offering from Functional Fitness. Standing at an impressive 30” tall on its longest side, this wood plyo box (UK) offers a significant challenge to even the most spring-legged fitness enthusiasts.

The sturdy plyo jump box uses “robust, 18mm plywood, specifically selected for its hardwearing nature”, ensuring a durable construction, and one that can withstand any amount of exercise.

This wood plyo box kit is also incredibly convenient, with a speedy build time after arriving flat pack, ensuring you can jump straight into your next home workout.

What really sets this wood plyometric box apart from the competition, though, is its versatility – with three different heights, its versatility means it can continue to challenge you as you progress, and stay with you on your fitness journey.

Not to mention the incredibly low price tag of this cheap plyo box. Its affordability, combined with its adaptability, ensures that Functional Fitness’ plyo box (UK) offering is comfortably among the best.

#2 – Escape Fitness’ Multiplyo

Price: £636

Dimensions: 20” x 24” x 30”

Looking for a premium quality plyometric platform? How about one that offers multiple heights, challenging you as you smash past each milestone? The Multiplyo from Escape Fitness ticks both those boxes and many more when it comes to high-end plyo boxes.

With a superb build quality, this luxury fitness jump box is an exact replica of those used in the ever-popular CrossFit, ensuring you can emulate the high intensity workouts at home with your own CrossFit plyo box.

It comes with “anti-slip landing zones” on each of the six sides, guaranteeing a smooth landing and zero movement after you’ve jumped on, and reducing the strain you’ll be putting on your ligaments and joints.

The bespoke foam core cushions your feet as they hit the surface of this soft plyo box, ensuring minimal impact to your feet, especially when coupled with a pair of comfortable trainers.

While this is one of the more expensive options on our list of the best plyo boxes, jump box prices can often be quite steep in general, as it is a piece of equipment that’s not often seen outside of a gym environment.

However, we feel that it justifies that price tag by bringing gym-quality equipment (in this case, a CrossFit plyo box) to the comfort of your own home.

#3 – The Big Jim Box

Price: £105

Dimensions: 16” x 21” x 27”

Wooden jump boxes can often be a daunting prospect, especially in terms of price and build quality.

However, this superb plyo box in the UK combines all-British, premium materials with convenient handholds, and thoroughly sealed edges to ensure it can handle any exercises you can throw at it, whether you’re enjoying the benefits of calisthenics, or testing out some plyometric movements.

Made from “Grade BB birch plywood”, The Big Jim Box’s sturdy frame ensures you can really challenge yourself. And at 27” on its longest side, this wood plyometric box proves a test for even the most confident of plyometric pros!

It doesn’t have to be, though.

While not an adjustable plyo box, the Big Jim does have sides that can accommodate different fitness levels, with a modest 16” side that could be ideal for those who are just beginning their plyometric journey, but that still want to test themselves.

Not to mention that this wood plyo box is available in bespoke sizes, ensuring that you can find the best plyo box (UK) for your fitness needs, and whatever you want to achieve.

#4 – Domyos Plyometrics Box

Price: £59.99

Dimensions: 16” x 20” x 24”

Decathlon are a well-recognised name in the exercise industry, and their signature 3 height plyo box (UK) encapsulates everything that makes them a mainstay in fitness.

With the lowest price tag on our list of the best plyo boxes, you might expect this cheap plyo box to offer an incomplete package, or lower quality construction. That’s simply not true of the Domyos, which utilises durable birch wood and strong adhesives to maintain its integrity, and ensure you can exercise without worry.

This plyometric box’s sides offer unmatched versatility when it comes to the level of challenge, with a height to suit almost all ability levels, ranging from 16” (for those just starting out) to 24” (providing a real challenge, even to those who are accustomed to the unique difficulties of plyometric boxes).

Made specifically to be used in cross training, the Domyos plyo box (UK) is comfortably among the best jump boxes available, and for such a low price tag, it’s an ideal budget-friendly option.

#5 – Power Guidance Soft Plyometric Jump Box 

Price: $63.99 (£46.07)

Dimensions: 12” x 14” x 16″, 18″ x 20″ x 24″, and 20″ x 24″ x 30″

Made of construction-grade plywood, this product from Power Guidance is a must-have for anyone in search of the strongest wooden plyo boxes.

It is extremely solid and durable thanks to this, as well as the internal bracing that comes fitted with the two largest sizes. These features give the product a maximum load of 350 pounds, which is impressive compared to many other products available on the market.

The product is available in three different sizes; 20” x 24” x 30”, 18” x 20” x 24” and 12” x 14” x 16”, which is great if you’re looking for a whole set of box jump equipment, or simply to add to your existing collection. It also ensures that you can continue to progress without having to look at another plyometric box for sale.

Each version of this plyometric step box is incredibly fast and easy to assemble thanks to its advanced design, which includes pre-drilled holes. Not only this, but it also features rounded corners to reduce the user’s risk of injury, and is poly-coated on the exterior to protect it from damage.

We couldn’t recommend this product enough for those looking for an exceptional wooden plyo box from a company that genuinely cares about their customers. In the unlikely event that you are unsatisfied with your purchase, Power Guidance will do their best to rectify this.

#6 – BLK BOX 3 in 1 Soft Plyo Jump Box

Price: £253.80

Dimensions: 16” x 20” x 24”

It can often be difficult to find a premium quality soft plyo box, especially with many options on the market that lack key features, or don’t provide the protection you need to complete exercises safely.

That (amongst many others) is where BLK BOX excels, and no more so than with their flagship soft plyo box.

Designed with longevity in mind, this foam plyo box’s construction is what really sets it apart from the competition, and justifies its price tag. With “textured PVC leather for increased grip”, and reinforced stitching to prevent rips and tears, as well as all the basics you’d expect (such as anti slip coating), its build quality is truly exceptional.

The core of this soft plyo box (UK) mirrors that excellence, too, with “high density, shock absorbing compressed foam” to guarantee safe landings at every possible opportunity.

This security and safety allows you to put together tough workouts without having to worry about your equipment letting you down, and also means you can focus on other aspects of exercise, or how to structure your schedule to ensure a thorough balance.

#7 – Plyometric Soft Plyo Box Set

Price: £699.99

Dimensions: 3”, 8”, 12”, 18”, and 24”

Plyometric box sets can often be difficult to find, and in particular those that can truly take you from zero experience in plyo exercises to a master of all things plyometric.

That’s where our pick of the best plyometric box sets comes in – they offer an entire set that ranges from an ideal-for-beginners 3” to the middle ground of a 12 inch plyo box, right up to a colossal 24” foam plyo box.

We R Sports have put together a complete collection of their signature soft plyo boxes, incorporating the elements that make these plyometric platforms excellent (such as highly durable foam at their core, and heavy-duty vinyl coverings) into one comprehensive set of plyometric step boxes.

And while the price tag may seem a little steep, it’s important to remember that this plyometric platform box set gives you everything you’ll ever need to successfully progress through all the stages of plyometric exercises.

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#8 – Primal Strength Covered Wooden Plyo Box

Price: £199.99

Dimensions: 20” x 24” x 30”

Offering a blend between a more rugged wooden plyo box, and the coverings of a foam plyo box, Primal Strength’s offering combines the benefits of the two into one structurally solid piece of kit.

With a “dense foam inner layer”, the 20-24-30 plyo box provides a cushioned landing while still maintaining the rigidity and sturdiness that we would expect from a high quality wooden plyo box.

At just shy of £200, it is a little more expensive than other entries on our list of the best plyometric boxes on the market, but it does a lot to warrant that extra cost – using only the highest quality PU canvas that can withstand repeated pressure and jumps, as well as a thick layer of shock absorbing form, it’s construction quality is excellent.

And with a selection of heights (ranging from a 20” plyo box to a huge 30”), there’s plenty of scope for serious progression, testing your limits and helping you achieve your desired results from plyometric exercise, whether that’s muscle gain or burning calories.

#9 – Rogue Foam Plyo Box

Price: €338.80 (approximately £292.13)

Dimensions: 20” x 24” x 30”

Last but by no means least on our selection of the best plyo boxes is Rogue’s flagship fitness jump box. Their 3-in-1 plyo box is imported directly from the US, and makes use of superb quality materials in its construction.

With an “ultra-dense” foam core, this soft plyo box provides a cushioned landing for any and all plyometric movements. Coupled with the reinforcing foam on each side, this plyometric jump box prioritises your safety, but doesn’t compromise on intensity.

The dimensions are somewhat standard for a plyometric platform box – adjustable to 20”, 24” or 30” by simply placing it on a different side – but there’s a good reason for this. These heights are optimal levels of progression, and offer the greatest challenge when using your plyo box to build muscle.

These softer sides also mitigate some of the risks associated with plyo box jumping, such as scraped shins, bumped knees or much worse (injuries to the ACL or other ligaments, for instance).

Rogue’s offering presents not only a huge challenge to even the most experienced plyometric enthusiast, but the focus upon safety makes this a sensible choice for beginner plyo boxes.

How To Choose The Right Plyometric Box

Now that we’ve explored the best options for box jump equipment (UK) and plyometric platforms, it’s important to work out exactly what’s right for you, taking into account your fitness levels, your goals, and how much experience you have with plyo exercises.

With the choices we’ve looked at, there’s options available at a range of different heights, as well as adjustable plyo boxes if you’re a little unsure, or want to set yourself up for future progression.

However, in terms of more specific advice, we would always recommend opting for one that offers several different heights (such as a 3-in-1 plyo box), as this not only allows you to gauge your current levels, but it’ll also give you a goal to aim for, especially if you choose a plyo box that goes up in significant but manageable increments (e.g. a 20-24-30 plyo box).

Or alternatively, you could opt for one of the plyometric box sets that we’ve just explored, as these will often provide a much smaller lateral plyo box that can provide you with a baseline of how to get started.

Ultimately, though, it’s about understanding your body and your fitness levels – with plyometric boxes, it can be easy to get discouraged or demotivated, especially if you purchase a plyo box that’s simply too high, or that you feel is unattainable.

Start small, and build yourself up incrementally, as this will not only help with your confidence, but it’ll also mean you’re building muscle at every stage of your fitness journey.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do I Use A Plyo Box?

So, you’ve got your ideal plyo jump box. Perhaps you’ve gone for a rugged wooden jump box. Or maybe you’ve opted for a foam plyo box and are looking to prioritise a softer landing. Either way, you’ve got an excellent piece of exercise equipment.

But one question remains – just how do you use a plyo box?

You might already be familiar with some of the more basic plyometric exercises, but we’ll outline a few others that can revolutionise how you use your plyometric step box.

Just bought your first plyo box? Here are a few that are ideal for beginners:

• Plyo Box Step Ups: Standing in front of your box, extend your leg and place your foot on top of your box. Then, bring your standing leg up to the top of the box and stand.
• Plyo Box Jumps: Facing the lateral plyo box, squat down in front of the box, and then jump up by fully extending your legs, landing on top of the box. You can then hop down and repeat.
• Incline Push-Ups: Similar to a normal push up, but using your plyometric jump box as a base. Place your hands on the top of your plyo box, and then stretch your legs back before performing a push-up motion.
• Incline Mountain Climbers: In a similar way to the plyo box push-ups we’ve just looked at, place your hands on top of your box, and then extend your legs. Then, bring one knee up to your chest before bringing it back down and then doing the same with the opposite leg.

For those who have previously owned a plyo box, or those that are confident with plyometric exercises, here are a few others that can really stretch and strengthen your muscles when you’re building a plyo box home workout routine:

• Single Leg Plyo Box Jumps: An adapted version of a more traditional plyometric box jump, but only using one leg to perform both the jump and landing.
• Burpee Plyo Box Jumps: Start by performing a burpee, before jumping onto your plyo box as normal.
• Lateral Plyo Box Jumps: Again, this is an adaptation of the more typical form of plyo box jumping, except you’ll jump sideways onto your box as opposed to straight on.

It’s also important to experiment; find the exercises that work best for you, and augment them in different ways. For instance, if you particularly enjoy plyometric box jumps, but are finding them too easy (even after you’ve altered your adjustable plyo box), you could add in kettlebells or body-mounted weights.

What Muscle Groups Does A Plyo Box Work?

Now, given the emphasis that a plyometric platform box places upon jumping and leg exercises, you might expect the leg muscles to be the only group that these exercises work.

Fortunately, that isn’t true, as plyo box exercises not only provide a strenuous leg workout, but they’re an excellent way to work the arms and abdominal muscles, too.

We’ve outlined a full list of the muscle groups that lateral plyometric box exercises work below, with the muscle groups you’ll be using most highlighted in bold:

• Hamstrings
• Quads
• Calves
• Glutes
• Core
• Hip Flexors
• Biceps
• Triceps
• Deltoids

Combining plyometric jump box exercises with an intense arm workout will ensure you start to see results as quickly and efficiently as possible.

What Are The Risks Of Using A Plyo Box?

Sadly, as with any and all forms of exercise, there’s an inherent danger of injury when performing exercises using your plyometric platform. Of course, these risks can be mitigated, but it’s important to be aware of them.

#1 – Shin and Toe Injuries

As we’ve previously touched upon, one of the main risks that come with plyo box jumping is not quite jumping high enough, and catching your shins or toes on the edge of the box.

While this may seem inconsequential, repeatedly doing this could cause damage to your toes or feet, meaning that landing may be more difficult or painful. It could also cause bruising or soreness around your shins or, in the worst case scenario, minor fractures.

This can, of course, be easily avoided by finding the right height of plyometric box for you – our comprehensive list not only provides options that range in size from 12 inch plyo boxes, to an 18” plyo box, all the way up to a massive 30”, but there are also adjustable plyometric boxes, meaning you’ll be able to progress consistently and effectively.

#2 – Difficult Landings

The second, and arguably more pressing, concern with plyo box exercises is the landing. Now, while many of the options we’ve looked at will be cushioned, stress-absorbing foam plyo boxes – some are not and can have hard surfaces, and it’s important to find solutions for wooden plyo boxes, or those that don’t offer the same level of comfort and protection.

Landing awkwardly on any plyo box, cushioned or not, can cause serious injury, and ones that can often mean you’re unable to perform at your optimal level for a long period of time.

A good idea is to couple your plyo box with a pair of sturdy weightlifting shoes – not only will these often have protective soles and sturdy construction, they’ll also have an excellent grip level, ensuring you can land safely and without stumbling.

#3 – Risks Overtraining

One of the less discussed, but no less important, risks of plyo box training is the danger of overtraining or exhaustion.This is a risk that can be associated with any form of exercise, and especially those that are as intensive or physically demanding as plyometric exercises can be.

Overtraining doesn’t just have short-term impacts – it can reduce your effectiveness over time, and you can often find it difficult to complete even day-to-day activities, such as walking up the stairs or carrying the shopping.

Of course, there are ways to mitigate against, and even stop, overtraining. Having a good grasp of the importance of rest days is crucial, as well as understanding your own limits, and your current fitness levels.

It’s always important to take it slowly, and never exercise beyond your means. Rushing into any exercise can carry risks, and overdoing will often only result in injury, disappointment and demotivation.

Before You Go!

Here at OriGym, our passion is – and always has been – making fitness accessible for everyone, and our guide to the best plyo boxes aimed to do just that.

The versatile piece of equipment is a mainstay in any good home gym, and whether you’ve opted for a cheap plyo box set, or stretched the budget and gone for a premium quality adjustable plyometric jump box, we know you’ll be able to achieve your goals.

And once you’ve excelled in exercise, then a fitness career is the next logical step. And with OriGym’s L3 PT Diploma, that move has never been easier.

We offer unparalleled support, guaranteed post-course interviews, as well as 7-days-a-week advice and guidance from industry experts, all for the lowest price amongst our closest competitors.

Download our comprehensive prospectus to learn more about our packages, and how they could be ideal for you.

The fitness world is constantly evolving, and virtual personal trainers are one of the newest and most exciting developments in exercise.

Offering all the benefits of a personal trainer, but utilising cutting edge technology to monitor progress, diet, and exercise, virtual personal training is an ideal compromise between face-to-face interaction, and home comforts.

But, while all this sounds incredible, it’s often tricky to find the ideal online virtual personal trainer.

That’s why OriGym have done the research for you, and sourced what we feel are the best and brightest virtual PTs right now.

Whether you’re looking for the best virtual personal trainer in the UK, or the best online personal trainer and nutritionist, we’ve outlined some of the best options available.

Contents:

• What Is A Virtual Personal Trainer?
• What Are The Benefits of a Virtual Personal Trainer?
• The Best Virtual Personal Trainers
• How Do I Become A Virtual Personal Trainer?
• Our Conclusions

Or, if you’re already familiar with fitness, and are looking to take it that step further, then a career in exercise could be the right move for you.

OriGym’s L3 PT Diploma offer unparalleled flexibility, as well as being the most affordable option available. With guaranteed post-course interviews and unlimited career support, OriGym is the sensible choice.

Our FREE comprehensive prospectus outlines exactly what we offer, and how it could be right for you. Or, you can make an enquiry below to learn more about this career path!

What Is A Virtual Personal Trainer?

While this may seem a little basic, it’s important to begin by explaining what an online (or virtual) personal trainer is (we’ll be using these terms interchangeably), and what they do, so that you can make an informed decision, and see the results you want to see.

A virtual personal fitness trainer is, as you might expect, a coach or personal trainer that works online to provide professional dietary and exercise advice that you can then implement at home.

They’ll speak with you (usually multiple times a week) and arrange plans and regimes that work around your schedule, ensuring that you can ultimately achieve your goals, whether those are centred around weight loss, building strength, improving your health, or just boosting your overall fitness levels.

They’ll often use specialist personal training software, or nutrition tracking apps (such as MyFitnessPal or Nutrium), to ensure you’re meeting your goals, especially when it comes to macros and weight loss. This also provides a sense of accountability, as you’ll need to submit results and chart your progression towards your goals.

“But aren’t virtual PTs not as good as traditional PTs?”

This is quite an important question when it comes to virtual personal trainers, as many people worry that they won’t get the same level of interaction or service that they would with a more traditional PT.

We’re here to tell you that that simply isn’t the case.

Many virtual personal trainers are PTs that have branched out and taken advantage of the vast array of resources available online, integrating their already solid service with apps and software that many of us already have in our pockets.

As we’ve already touched upon, they’ll usually utilise diet tracking software to ensure you’re meeting your macronutrient (usually referred to as “macros”) and calorie intake, which is particularly important for those who have weight loss-oriented targets.

Virtual personal trainers will also use tracking and spreadsheet software to set up workout plans that are tailored not only to your goals, but also to the equipment available to you at home.

They may recommend buying a set of adjustable dumbbells, or resistance bands, to ensure you can fully get involved with your exercises, but will usually offer alternatives in the interim, or if you don’t have room in your budget for extra equipment.

Not to mention that with the advent of video calling programs (such as Zoom or Google Meet), consultations, advice, and reassurance are just a short call away. This is often a sticking point for many people, but the readily available nature of these apps means that you’ll always be able to contact your virtual personal trainer no matter where you are!

It’s also worth noting that virtual personal trainers will have completed the exact same training as more conventional personal trainers – a Level 2 & Level 3 personal trainer diploma – meaning they’re equally qualified to dispense advice, tailor workouts, and train you to achieve your goals.

What Are The Benefits Of A Virtual Personal Trainer?

#1 – Easily Contactable

Arguably the biggest benefit of having a virtual personal trainer is that they’re easily contactable, and any concerns, queries or worries can be easily addressed.

The impact of this support cannot be overstated – having a virtual personal trainer available whenever you’ve got a question about macros, or are unsure how best to progress, is incredibly beneficial.

It won’t only be helpful when it comes to seeing physical results – motivation and finding help when you’re struggling with how best to continue can have a huge positive impact on your mental health, and as a result how you feel about exercise and fitness in general.

This change of mindset is one of the lesser discussed benefits of virtual personal training, but that doesn’t mean that it’s any less impactful or important than seeing physical results.

#2 – Offers Tailored Home Workouts

When it comes to exercise and fitness, the gym may not always be an option – whether that’s because your local fitness centres are too busy, or they’re too far away to make it a practical solution, the gym simply might not be feasible.

That’s where virtual personal training really shines.

Because you’ll be in direct contact with the best online personal trainer (UK) for your needs, you can work together to produce a workout schedule that both accommodates your fitness level, and that accomplishes your goals in a realistic timeframe.

You and your virtual personal trainer can schedule in a time to video call (possibly using some of the software we mentioned earlier in this article), so you’ll be able to negotiate and work in tandem to strike a balance between your work and life commitments, and incorporating exercise into your routine.

And not to mention that this is all done from the comfort of your own home, meaning no waiting around for a machine you need, as all the workouts you agree upon with your virtual personal trainer will utilise anything you have at home.

#3 – Monitors and Improves Your Diet

Diet is often a difficult area for many when it comes to constructing and adhering to a healthy lifestyle. Understandably so, we feel – it’s often challenging to find the right balance of macros and nutritions, and the right diet creates the base of any successful fitness journey.

A virtual personal trainer removes all the uncertainty and difficulties, and provides you with expert advice on how to incorporate the most nutrient-rich options for your diet.

We’ve already touched upon the ways in which virtual personal trainers can track your food (utilising apps you may already have downloaded to your smart device), but it’s what they do with this data that can really benefit you.

For instance, if your remote personal trainer spots that you’re going over your recommended daily intake of carbohydrates or fats, they might recommend lower fat or low carb alternatives to some of the foods you’re eating.

This expertise will not only mean you can make meaningful, healthy swaps, but you’ll also be able to learn and understand why you’re making these changes.

The Best Virtual Personal Trainers

LEP Fitness

LEP Fitness (based in Sheffield) makes it onto our list of the best online personal trainers, and for good reason.

They’re a well-recognised member of the fitness community, having been established for over 10 years, and their founder Nick Screeton has personally completed over “10,000 personal training sessions”.

It was only natural, then, that they would follow the current trends, and translate their excellent service and results-based plans to virtual personal training.

Their virtual personal training services first started in 2015, which means they were not only ahead of the curve, but they’ve had over 5 years to develop and hone their ideas and exercises, ensuring their clients get the best possible service and the best possible results.

They provide bespoke training plans which they guarantee are “fully customised”, and even supply their virtual personal training clients with a book of high performance recipes that they incorporate into their tailored plans.

Not only that, their workouts are delivered online by certified personal trainers, and are tailored both to the equipment you have available to you, and to your overarching fitness level.

But if you’d rather not take our word for it, this virtual personal training provider has hundreds of testimonials from real customers, as well as success stories from a wide range of clients who set goals to achieve everything from muscle toning to weight loss.

Expand your knowledge of industry career opportunities by examining the highest-paying fitness jobs.

Peter Gaffney PT (PGPT)

From humble beginnings, offering bespoke PT programs to the wealthy elite of London, to a fully-fledged business that encompasses virtual personal training, as well as a patented model of how to achieve the biggest and best results possible, PGPT has gone from strength to strength.

It’s now one of the most recognised personal training services across the UK, with a growing number of highly qualified personal trainers joining their ranks, all representing that proven model.

And that’s what really sets Peter Gaffney apart – they have a system that practically guarantees results by focusing on specific, attainable areas that you can maintain, regardless of how busy your lifestyle is.

That includes “auditing and appraising” your body so you’re aware of what you need to change, providing you with the right foods to boost your metabolism (alongside a bespoke diet plan), and then implementing workout plans that not only fit around your lifestyle, but that provide you with everything you need to achieve your goals.

Not only that, but you’ve got the reassurance of a personal training company that’s delivered over “12,000 hours” of PT sessions, as well as a team with substantial experience across a vast range of fitness industry roles.

The beauty of the PGPT blueprint, though, is that it not only provides you with the results you’re looking for in the short term, but it also sets you up to make healthy lifestyle choices for the future, too.

Red Pill Fitness

Seeking a virtual personal training experience that’s more tailored towards a mature audience? Red Pill Fitness, based in the Shoreditch area of London providing bespoke PT services to those who need a trainer that fits around their schedule, have made the move online, offering their services to exercise enthusiasts across the country.

And their pedigree ensures that they can continue to provide the tailor-made packages they’re well known for. Having worked in the fitness industry for over 12 years, chief trainer Salman Kassam understands the pressures it can bring, and uses that knowledge to bring personalised plans that are not only achievable, but sustainable.

Working alongside two other dedicated trainers and colleagues, you’ll be inducted, and provided with absolutely everything you need to not only succeed, but thrive, too.

What really sets Red Pill apart from other virtual personal trainers, though, is not the focus upon building plans and exercise regimes – it’s the sustainability element that really cements this virtual personal trainer option as one that you can follow even after your training finishes.

The pillars of this online personal trainer’s plans revolve around providing ideas of high energy foods that keep you going throughout the day without the need to snack, as well as teaching you the fundamentals of exercise, so you can construct a healthy lifestyle that fits around your schedule.

Not only that, but the team will provide you with key information on how to boost the metabolism with the right metabolism boosting foods, and how all of these components come together to create a bespoke virtual personal training program that’s specific to you and your body.

Luke Worthington

If you’re browsing for the best online personal trainers, it’s likely you’ll have already encountered Luke Worthington – his reputation precedes him, and for good reason.

This virtual personal trainer can usually be found providing the highest calibre of training to models, professional athletes, and actors, but has in recent years begun to develop virtual personal training services for the general public.

His place on our list of the top online personal trainers is not because of his reputation as a celebrity personal trainer, however, but rather because his knowledge and understanding of fitness is arguably second to none.

Honing his expertise over the course of 20 years in the fitness industry, Luke has channeled this proficiency into creating several high quality programs that provide not only the results you’re looking for, but instills healthy habits that ensure you can continue to see results even after your virtual personal training experience ends.

Ranging from workouts that only utilise body weight, to regimes that use dumbbells and weights, Luke’s mastery is infused into each one to ensure that you’re able to undertake advanced training methods and take your fitness to the next level.

Whether you’re a beginner, or are seeking a virtual personal training style that truly challenges your abilities, Luke’s tried-and-tested programs offer a unique online personal trainer experience.

StrongHer

If you’ve been searching for a female online personal trainer in the UK, then look no further!

As a strictly women’s only gym, StrongHer’s mantra is simple – to provide bespoke, tailored support for women of all shapes and sizes to achieve their goals, and feel comfortable in their own skin.

This core ideal forms the foundation of their virtual personal trainer program, in that the team at StrongHer are entirely committed to ensuring you can smash past your milestones with bespoke virtual personal trainer support.

You’ll first undergo a consultation with the virtual personal trainer that’s right for you, taking into account your budget, your goals, and your fitness experience.

This is perhaps where StrongHer excels – unlike many others on our list of the top online personal trainers, StrongHer has an entire team dedicated to delivering your virtual personal training, and your consultation will determine which trainer is ideal for what you want to achieve.

Fitness isn’t (and never has been) a one-size-fits-all solution – this is why StrongHer offer so many options when it comes to virtual personal training, with the aim of ultimately revolutionising online fitness for women across the UK.

Gordon Greenhorn

Next among the best online personal trainers (UK) is professional fitness and nutrition advisor Gordon Greenhorn.

Having worked in the fitness industry for over 10 years, this virtual personal trainer hails from Aberdeen, but currently works at his own training gym in London, specialising in “combining personal attributes with a science based approach”.

This scientific strategy ensures that Greenhorn can help his virtual personal training clients achieve results that are not only proven through testimonials, but backed up by data and medical evidence.

As a former bodybuilder himself, this virtual personal trainer understands the critical importance of proper nutrition and tailored workouts, and that’s exactly what he provides to his clients.

This personal experience not only makes Gordon a great virtual personal trainer for those who are just looking to get started on their fitness journey, but also one of the best online personal trainers for those who want to build muscle quickly and effectively.

With packages starting at as little as £79, this virtual personal trainer offers a superb balance between affordability and quality, ensuring that even those who may be on a tighter budget are still able to receive tailored guidance from one of the best online personal trainers.

For further information on price, check out OriGym’s comprehensive discussion of online personal trainer prices, which explores exactly what you can expect from your budget.

Jack Moon

Jack Moon is among the most highly regarded online certified personal trainers out there, with a self professed “10,000 hours of coaching experience”, and a multitude of qualifications, ranging from expertise in body composition to a specialism in strength and conditioning.

This virtual personal trainer focuses on three core principles – “exercise, habits, and foods”. These pillars form the foundation of Jack’s virtual personal training program, instilling those same ideals and principles in his clients.

Jack’s aim with his bespoke virtual personal training program is to create manageable, meaningful changes, rather than implementing impractical, short term ideas.

For instance, a key part of this virtual personal trainer’s ideas is to offer “simple nutritional principles” that can be applied to everyday life, and slowly become part of your daily routine.

By changing fundamentals, this virtual personal trainer and nutritionist sets out to action long term changes, as well as providing tailored routines and regular virtual personal trainer sessions that burn fat, build muscle and improve your endurance.

If this remote personal trainer sounds ideal, he also offers a completely free consultation session so you can discuss plans, goals, and how you can work together to create a realistic routine specific to you.

Ian – Gym Wolf PT

Gym Wolf PT is arguably the complete package – with a custom-designed app that supports your virtual personal training journey, as well as a dedicated remote personal trainer (Ian) to provide guidance and advice, you’re sure to achieve your goals.

This bespoke smartphone app is specifically designed to allow you constant access to your own bespoke virtual personal trainer program.

While many virtual personal trainers will rely upon 3rd party applications that may incur an extra cost, Ian’s Gym Wolf PT app is always included as part of your virtual personal training package.

You’ll also have direct contact with Ian throughout your time on the virtual personal training program, so even if you just fancy a chat with a personal trainer in a virtual setting, you’ve got that option, too!

Of course, as great as this app is, it wouldn’t be half as effective without the virtual personal trainer support of the Gym Wolf himself.

Ian creates tailored solutions for both dietary advice and tips, and virtual personal training workouts that are specifically designed to meet goals you’ll have already agreed upon in your initial consultation.

Don’t want to take our word for it? This online personal trainer’s reviews are overwhelmingly positive, praising the hands-on nature of Ian’s virtual personal training, his constant support, and how he inspires clients to make meaningful changes in their lives.

Collins Fitness

Established by Adrian Collins in 2015, and all based in an exclusive, privatised gym in London, this prestigious virtual personal training program has earned its reputation through hard work and dedication.

As a certified personal trainer, Collins expanded the intimate nature of his gym in Shoreditch to encompass tailored virtual personal training, and has received plaudits and critical acclaim from publications and clients alike.

What really sets this virtual personal trainer (UK) apart from the crowd are his specialisms, though.

Having trained in a scientific method of pilates, as well as earning accreditation in strength and conditioning and post-injury training, Collins is arguably one of the best online personal trainers (UK) when it comes to diverse qualifications.

This virtual personal trainer will use this expertise to better tailor your training, and incorporate elements that other virtual personal trainers may never have thought to include.

It’ll also allow your virtual PT to adjust and tweak your sessions, increasing the intensity of key elements as you reach and pass your agreed upon milestones.

Rachel Amies

Rachel Amies is the definition of a well-travelled virtual personal trainer – combining fitness expertise from the US, the UK, and Australia, this female online personal trainer (UK) aims to tie together her international ideas, and create a bespoke package.

And we feel as though she achieves that. Here’s how.

This female virtual personal trainer’s flagship package combines tailored, bespoke workouts with expert nutrition advice, ensuring you not only achieve your goals (whether that’s weight loss or muscle gain), but maintain those ideals even after your virtual personal trainer sessions end.

This balance is absolutely fantastic, but what really sets Rachel apart from other virtual personal trainers is her focus upon nutrition, and how it can revolutionise not only how you look at food, but how you find your motivation for exercise.

As part of her virtual personal training and nutrition package, this female online personal trainer (UK) provides meal suggestions to add to your fitness journal for each day that are specific to your plan and the amount of macronutrients that are part of your intake.

Rachel’s approach combines her robust understanding of personal fitness with a softer, sympathetic side – she believes in taking a “gentle, compassionate approach to coaching”, ensuring that changes can take root and continue to become embedded as part of your daily routine.

Ronan Personal Training

As online personal fitness trainers go, you’ll struggle to find one with more industry experience than James Ronan, and his budding company Ronan Personal Fitness.

With 13 years as a personal trainer, James took his expertise to the Internet, and expanded his business to incorporate virtual personal training and nutritional expertise, allowing him to reach and teach an entirely new audience.

This virtual personal training component isn’t just a second thought, however – they provide bespoke training packages that rival their in-person services, ensuring that those who live a busy lifestyle, or those that simply cannot attend a gym, can still receive the same level of instruction.

One part of this virtual personal trainer program that may not be offered by others are the video guides to exercises that have been included as part of your bespoke virtual personal training program.

Utilising these resources not only allows you to get a much clearer understanding of what you need to do for your assigned exercises, but it’ll also allow you to work on vital elements of exercise, such as form and proper posture.

And with weekly check ins, as well as specialist tracking software provided, you’ll never feel too far away from your next meeting with your virtual personal trainer!

Perpetual Wellbeing – Petra

When it comes to master personal trainers (or PTs who have a multitude of additional qualifications and specialisms), there are very few that specialise in cancer and injury rehabilitative treatment – Petra at Perpetual Wellbeing is our pick when it comes to highly qualified virtual personal trainers that specialise in bespoke and effective rehabilitation through personal training.

Her years of experience, coupled with a more mature, seasoned outlook, ensures that she’s an ideal option if you’re looking for a virtual personal trainer who understands and can empathise with your aches and pains.

She promises to “work tirelessly with you to create a bespoke training and nutrition program”, ensuring that your virtual personal training program is ideal for you to achieve your goals, whether they’re oriented around weight loss, muscle gain, or just improving your mental and physical health.

As with many virtual personal trainers, her programs and regimes are always driven by their ultimate results, but what sets Petra apart is that she understands how difficult it can be to learn new skills, forms and postures, and employs this compassion to ensure her sessions move at a pace that’s comfortable for you.

This drive towards goals and aspirations doesn’t come without support, though – Perpetual Wellness’ custom built virtual personal training app ensures you’re never far from contacting Petra, whether you’re struggling with a workout or what to have for breakfast.

Henry Ives – H+ Performance

With over 7 years of experience in the personal training industry, Henry Ives established H+ Performance to provide tailored fitness to as many people as possible, utilising virtual personal training to ensure that all resources are always available to his clients.

He’s since put his years of expertise to great use, providing tailor-made exercises and nutrition programs for his virtual personal trainer customer, and warranting his place on our list of the top online personal trainers.

While other virtual personal trainers may overcomplicate things, Henry opted to keep things simple – book a consultation, decide on your plans, and get started!

This simplicity does not mean a dip in quality – in fact, it’s the complete opposite. By using such a “barebones” model, this virtual personal trainer can focus on what really makes an impactful and thorough fitness experience.

Henry’s communication is second to none, too – with a weekly, 30 minute check in, as well as constant support through messaging services, and a dedicated virtual personal training app, you’ll never feel stranded when it comes to your virtual personal training.

Not to mention that this virtual personal trainer will take into account your lifestyle and how you can comfortably fit your virtual personal training sessions around your work, social and family commitments.

Fitness With Albert

The next entry on our list of the top online personal trainers is ideal if you’ve been searching for the ideal combination of a superb personal trainer and nutritionist.

This virtual personal training company was established back in 2019 by actor, professional dancer and online certified personal trainer Albert Linsdell. It began as a humble YouTube channel, and slowly expanded to become a well-recognised virtual personal training service.

Based in Cambridgeshire, the virtual personal trainer (UK) offers comprehensive packages that combine certified virtual personal trainer sessions delivered in conjunction with tailored diet plans and a bank of healthy, affordable recipes.

Not only that, but, as a trained dancer and creative thinker, Albert promises “fun, effective training”, and ensures that you won’t be subjected to stale or repetitive virtual personal training regimes.

Albert isn’t among the top online personal trainers for just his creativity and passion, though – his expertise and knowledge will allow you to achieve goals that you’ve set together, and the tailored workouts are specifically established to target the areas you want to work on, whether that’s muscle gain, weight loss, or just improving your overall fitness.

Still unsure? Unlike many personal trainers in the virtual space, Albert offers a totally free consultation at a time that’s convenient for you, so you can discuss your goals, and how compatible you’d be on your fitness journey.

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Enjoying our list of the best personal trainers online? Here’s a couple more articles we think you’ll enjoy:

• 11 Social Benefits of Exercise to Boost Your Motivation
• Staying Active While Isolated
• 21 Best Fitness YouTube Channels

Rachel Ratcliffe

Rachel’s approach to virtual personal training is tailored to each and every individual – while some virtual personal trainers may use methods that have worked for others, this virtual PT creates entirely new, bespoke plans that can revolutionise your lifestyle.

What exactly do we mean by that?

This virtual personal trainer takes into account everything, ranging from your current dietary habits, to your long term goals, to your budget, and ensures that every element of your plan is specifically tailored to you and your body.

She put her experience as a personal trainer in a nationwide chain of gyms to excellent use, providing a bespoke but down-to-earth approach in her virtual personal trainer sessions.

This female online personal trainer (UK) not only specialises in providing tailored workouts that ensure you can build muscles and tone the areas you want to, but she’s also got a proven track record of helping her clients to shed weight and go above and beyond their goals.

Still unsure? Rachel’s comprehensive testimonials section highlights just some of her virtual personal trainer success stories, showcasing her friendly yet firm approach, and easy to follow yet effective plans.

Lottie-Daisy – The Lottie Method

What first began as exercise classes took off, and The Lottie Method has now expanded to bring Lottie-Daisy’s signature method of instruction to the world of virtual personal training.

Combining an energetic, bubbly approach to exercise with a serious passion and knowledge of personal training (virtual and in-person), Lottie-Daisy creates plans that can be both fun and incredibly impactful.

This female online personal trainer (UK) utilises her knowledge of group exercise classes and more traditional personal training to provide stellar guidance on posture and form, and how you can adjust and tweak your workouts to see the results you want from your virtual personal trainer sessions.

Her work with reality TV stars and other high profile clients has ensured she’s able to tailor workouts to fit any aspirations, whether that’s toning and strengthening, or weight loss and management.

This links in to what really confirms Lottie-Daisy’s position on our list of the top online personal trainers are her testimonials – with overwhelmingly positive reviews and reports from clients, she continues to impress and inspire, with praise for everything from her “motivating personality” to the “challenging workouts”.

Jake Wood

As far as independent online personal trainers go, Jake Wood is fast becoming one of the most recognised and renowned trainers. Here’s why.

While this online virtual personal trainer’s approach to exercise is similar to many of the PTs we’ve already looked at (with a focus on correcting misconceptions and addressing issues with diet, as well as customised workout regimes), Jake places the onus on the client.

His belief is that, by providing you with bespoke tools, virtual personal training plans and “24/7 support”, you can implement changes that are not only meaningful to your life and what you want to achieve, but that you can maintain in the long run, and change for the better.

Jake’s constant support is coupled with biweekly sessions over video calling software, ensuring you’ve always got a personal trainer virtual meeting to look forward to, where you can discuss the highs and lows of your week, how you can move forward with your plans, and what you can do to achieve your next SMART goal.

And for just £80 a month for Jake’s virtual personal training program, it’s not only great for your health, but your budget will thank you too!

How Do I Become A Virtual Personal Trainer?

As we discussed earlier in this article, virtual personal trainers follow the exact same rigorous qualification procedure that more traditional, in-person PTs do.

The reason for this is not just to guarantee that all personal trainers are qualified on an equal level, but also to ensure that (regardless of who a person chooses to train with) all clients receive an incredibly high standard of tutelage, knowledge, expertise and guidance across their fitness journey.

However, there are some minor differences between how you achieve certification for virtual personal training, and for more conventional personal training.

Before You Go!

Our guide to the best online personal trainers aims to provide you with all you need to know to make an informed decision. We’ve explored our picks of the best personal trainers online, and exactly what qualifies them to be on our list.

But if you’re already excelling in exercise, and want to take that passion to the next level, then a career in personal training may be your next step.

OriGym’s L3 PT Diploma are not only the cheapest option available, but they’re the industry leaders in student support, providing unlimited career advice and guaranteed post-course interviews.

Check out our comprehensive FREE prospectus to learn more about what we offer, and how it may be right for you.

Group personal training has revolutionised how sessions are delivered.By combining the benefits of group sessions and the bespoke exercise plans of personal training, it provides a dynamic and motivating environment for reaching your fitness goals.

In this article, we break down how group personal training works and the benefits it offers for those looking to accelerate their fitness journey.

Contents

• What Is Group Personal Training?
• What Are The Benefits of Group Personal Training?
  • #1 – Increased Motivation
  • #2 – Lower Cost
  • #3 – Greater Workout Variety
  • #4 – More Accountability
• What’s The Difference Between Group Personal Training and Fitness Classes?
• How Can I Include Group Personal Training in My Schedule?
• What Should I Look For In A Group PT Session?
• How Do I Find A Group Personal Training Session?
• Our Conclusions

What Is Group Personal Training?

Group personal training shares many of the qualities you can find in more traditional personal training sessions. It offers guided practice, professional advice, and bespoke workout plans designed to help you achieve your goals. The difference is that you won’t be working on a 1-to-1 basis. Instead, you’ll be working alongside other clients with similar goals or targets.

It’s important to note that group personal training is different to group classes such as Zumba or Pilates – though it has many of the same benefits. In a group personal training class, you won’t necessarily be doing exactly the same exercise as the others in your group. Instead, the exercises will have been adjusted by your PT to better fit your specific aims.

Group personal training sessions will usually consist of between 3 and 7 people with similar goals. This means you can still have the tailored feedback and the specificity that we associate with a PT session, but have others around you to motivate and inspire you.

What Are The Benefits Of Group Personal Training?

#1 – Provides Additional Motivation

While it can be intimidating to exercise in front of others at first, this is arguably the biggest benefit of group personal training.

Each person involved in these group PT sessions is there for a similar reason and you’re all under the tutelage of a trained professional. For that reason, you start to become each others’ motivators.

Working alongside others has scientifically proven merits, too. Studies show that working in a group (and in particular smaller group personal training sessions) is not only beneficial for your physical well-being, but it also plays a big role in how you find motivation and desire to exercise.

By surrounding yourself with people who have similar mindsets and are there for a similar purpose, you can find inspiration in their successes and spur yourself on to achieve similar results.

#2 – Costs Less

Our research shows that group personal training sessions are, on average, slightly cheaper than traditional 1-on-1 sessions.

According to our research, the average price for a group personal training session is usually around £30-35, with significant discounts offered for block bookings of group PT workouts. The price of traditional personal training can vary based on a range of factors, but it’s not unusual to pay £60 per session. On this basis, group PT sessions represent a significant saving.

It’s also worth noting that some group personal training sessions may not require you to have a gym membership. Instead, they will charge a flat rate to use the equipment during your group personal training workouts.

#3 – Greater Workout Variety

Group personal training sessions are focused on achieving your goals and progressing in your fitness capabilities.

However, because you’re training with others, your PT will have to cater to different needs and preferences. While this may sound like a downside, it means you’re more likely to experience a wider variety of exercises.

Offering you the chance to explore different exercises not only challenges you and accelerates your progress towards your goals, it also helps your trainer establish what works well for you and how best to implement that into future sessions.

It also means that the leader of these group personal training workouts can observe form and posture across multiple different exercises. This can reduce the risk of injury or strain, ensuring you can continue to see the results you’ve become accustomed to, as well as a multitude of benefits of good posture.

#4 – More Accountability

Another one of the benefits of small group training is the level of accountability that comes with this type of training.

Simply put, there is less accountability when you’re training alone, which could result in o giving up through a lack of external motivation.

But with small group training, the situation is different. Whether you join a group with your friends or simply form friendships through the sessions themselves, there is much more accountability.

Let’s say you miss a session one week. If you’ve built up some sort of friendship and community within your training partners, chances are there will be questions the week after like:

“Where were you last week? We missed you here!”

Though this is a friendly comment, it’s still a sense of accountability. It works as a gentle push in the right direction, helping you to keep moving forward on your fitness journey.

What’s The Difference Between Group Personal Training and Fitness Classes?

This is one of the more common questions about group personal training classes, and understandably so. How do you distinguish between regular fitness classes (such as Spin or Zumba) and group personal training? 

In fact, there are a number of key differences, including:

• Number of participants. A smaller group personal training session will only have a maximum of 7 people involved, alongside a trainer. On the other hand, an exercise class can have up to 30 people involved or as many as 50 in larger gyms and fitness centres.
• Level of attention. With larger class sizes, the teacher can’t pay the same level of attention to individual fitness needs. A personal trainer who specialises in group personal training sessions will be able to offer more support to each individual participant.
• Cost. Group personal training will always come with an additional cost, whereas classes (such as Zumba) will often be included as part of even the most basic gym memberships.

How Can I Include Group Personal Training in My Schedule?

Group personal training will often coincide with your regularly scheduled PT sessions if you’re already a client. That means you can easily interchange these sessions and continue to work under a personal trainer.

Our recommendation would be to aim to do one or two group personal training sessions per week. This is usually what you would be doing in a 1-to-1 session and strikes the right balance between cost and engaging in meaningful, results-driven exercise. 

However, if you’re determined to reach a specific milestone and all of your small personal training groups are of a similar mindset, you can increase this to 3 sessions per week. This would incur extra cost and is only advisable if you’re able to budget for this extra expenditure.

It’s also a great idea to take advantage of any block booking services that your group personal trainer offers. Not only will this save you money, but you’ll also be able to better organise other events or commitments around your sessions.

What Should I Look For In A Group PT Session?

Appropriate Fitness Level

This is arguably the most important area to consider when looking for your first group personal training session. 

If you want to be pushed and challenged, it might be worth seeking out a personal trainer who’s well-equipped to take you to your limits and challenge you with every exercise.

Personal trainers like this will generally attract clientele with a similar mindset. As a result, their group personal training classes are likely to be more intensive and drive you on to your next milestone. Many will also refer to themselves as master personal trainers, which means they’ve achieved a multitude of qualifications and certifications.

However, if you’re not confident in your fitness abilities, we’d recommend looking for a personal training group that caters more towards those just beginning their fitness journey.

Convenient Location

Location can significantly affect the price of your group personal training sessions. For instance, group PT in smaller towns and cities will generally be much cheaper compared to those in London.

This price difference naturally affects which personal trainer group you attend, especially if you’re looking to attend but are on a tight budget, or can only afford to attend once per week.  In this scenario, we’d recommend searching your local area and the surrounding gyms and fitness centres so that you can find the right option for you.

Further, many personal trainers who operate in a gym won’t charge a premium. This is usually because they don’t need to purchase their own suite of essential personal training equipment.

Location also applies to where you’ll complete your training sessions, too. It may seem simplistic, but if you’re specifically seeking outdoor group personal training sessions, it’s important to ensure that there’s an area nearby (such as a park or a playing field) where you’ll be able to complete your sessions.

Your Personal Trainer’s Qualifications

As with any decision relating to exercise classes, it’s always important to know how well-qualified your instructor is and whether they have any additional training they can use to tailor their training to your specific needs.

All personal trainers  a Level 2 Fitness Instructor qualification and a Level 3 Personal Trainer Certificate, which can be achieved through a combined Diploma in Personal Training. However, additional qualifications can make a decisive difference when it comes to choosing the right personal training group sessions for you. 

For instance, your new group personal trainer may have completed an Obesity and Weight Management course, enabling them to offer tailored advice on weight loss. Or they might be experts in using kettlebells or medicine balls, allowing them to tailor these workouts to activate and challenge specific muscle groups.

How Do I Find A Group Personal Training Session?

So, you’ve decided to take the plunge and dive into the world of group personal training. You’ve made a checklist of what you’ll be looking for in your ideal PT, and all that remains is to find that dream trainer.

There are a few ways in which you can do this, including:

• Searching on Google. This will generally give you the largest number of results, so you can narrow down your options to encompass everything you want. It also allows you to view reviews and client feedback before you opt for any particular group PT sessions.

• Asking at your local gym. Most mainstream gyms will have onsite trainers that will train you, and some may offer group personal training sessions or already be running a group that you’ll be able to join.

Again, as with any of our recommendations, ensuring that your group personal training is ideal for meeting your requirements and facilitating your fitness journey is vital. This ultimately determines how much you can get out of it, and whether you’ll be able to continue progressing.

Before You Go!

Group personal training is the ideal option if you want to share your fitness experiences and successes with others. If this sounds like something you’d like to explore, why not make a career out of it?

By completing OriGym’s CIMSPA-accredited Personal Training Diploma, you can kickstart a fitness career in as little as 4 weeks! If that sounds ideal, you can download our comprehensive free course prospectus.

Female bodybuilders are some of the hardest working members of the wider fitness community. Their gains are a triumph of discipline and ambition. The names on this list are some of the biggest in bodybuilding, from young female bodybuilders in their 20s, to mature female bodybuilders competing well into their 50s.

If you’re seeking the next step in your own fitness journey, why not turn your passion into a career by completing OriGym’s Level 3 Personal Training Diploma. Learn more about the variety of health and fitness qualifications we offer by downloading our free course prospectus!

Who Are The Best Female Bodybuilders?

#1 – Andrea Shaw

Instagram – @mzprettymuscle

Andrea Shaw is an American female bodybuilder. Shaw began muscle building at 17 with the guidance and support of her mother, a nurse and former personal trainer. This ripped female bodybuilder has a BA in Exercise and Sports Science and in 2018 entered five shows, earning her pro card at the NPC Nationals.

Andrea was placed 2nd at the 2018 Nationals and 1st in the 2018 Lenda Murray Detroit Classic, marking the start of her hugely successful physique competition career.

However, at the Toronto Pro in 2019, she spoke to judge and bodybuilding legend Lenda Murray, arguably the best women bodybuilder of the last 50 years, who encouraged her to switch divisions from physique to bodybuilding.

Shaw took her advice to heart, entering the 2019 Chicago Pro as a bodybuilder. The ripped female bodybuilder came second by 1 point in just her first tournament as a bodybuilder. Andrea went on to win Ms Olympia 2020 and Ms Rising Phoenix champion (two of the most prestigious, huge female bodybuilder tournaments), making her the biggest female bodybuilder in the world at the time.

#2 – Melina Keltaniemi

Instagram – @melinakatarina

A young female bodybuilder at only 22 years old, Melina Keltaniemi is just beginning her career, but she’s off to a flying start!

This ripped female bodybuilder came 2nd place in the 2018 Nordic Elite Pro, 3rd place at IFBB Elite Pro Russia, and was 2018’s IFBB Elite Pro World Champion. Her drive to become the most successful female bodybuilder is clear, and her mindset matches that of a champion competitor.

An intelligent challenger, Melina prefers to focus her drive into understanding her limitations and overcoming them, maximising her potential as an athlete as opposed to allowing herself to become fixated on winning alone.

Striking a balance, this young female bodybuilder takes time to rest in the offseason, allowing her mind and body to recuperate, and living a normal life as she prepares for her next IFBB Elite Pro World Championship.

Our guide to the importance of rest days and how many you need outlines the importance of resting properly, and how it can affect your workouts for the better.

#3 – Monique Jones

Instagram – @fitnique

American Monique Jones is a mature female bodybuilder ranked 7th best female bodybuilder in the IFBB Pro Women’s Bodybuilding Ranking List.

Monique was a natural athlete and began training at 13 when her father got a set of weights. Monique says she began using them and felt an “instant connection with this kind of training.”

In 2010 Monique entered the IFBB North American Championships as a heavyweight female bodybuilder, winning first place, she was awarded her IFBB Pro card. She won first place in the North American Championships and the Wings of Strength Chicago Pro-Am Extravaganza.

Monique came 1st in women’s bodybuilding in the 2018 IFBB WOS Romania Muscle Fest Pro, and 5th in 2019’s Rising Phoenix World Championships.

#4 – Andrulla Blanchette

Instagram – @ms.olympia2000

Andrulla Blanchette is a UK female bodybuilder who actively competed in various bodybuilding championships from 1986 to 2002, making her one of the most decorated British female bodybuilders.

She had an illustrious career as a huge female bodybuilder, competing in various IFBB (International Federation of Bodybuilding) tournaments, and earning wins in both the World Games (in 1993) and the Ms Olympia competition (in 2000).

Of course, these wins aren’t this ripped female bodybuilder’s only accomplishments – she also has podiums in multiple other IFBB tournaments and competitions, with 2nd place finishes in Ms Olympia (2001), and the Ms International (2000) tournaments, and 3rd place awards in consecutive IFBB Grand Prixs.

Nowadays, this highly regarded British female bodybuilder owns her own personal training gym, dispensing advice and tips to the next generation of UK female bodybuilders.

#5 – Yaxeni Oriquen

Instagram – @yaxenita

Yaxeni Milagros Oriquen-Garcia Perez is a Venezuelan-American mature female bodybuilder and professional bodybuilding champion ranked as second-best in the IFBB ranking list.

In 2005 Yaxeni won the Ms Olympia title, making her one of the most successful female bodybuilders ever, as the only Venezuelan-American to win the title.

Yaxeni is the winner of five Ms International titles, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2008, and 2012, and has over 20 years experience in nutrition, weight training, and body sculpting.

At 54 years old, mature female bodybuilder Yaxeni says she loves training and following a healthy lifestyle as it keeps her feeling young, motivated by a genuine love for her sport and a drive to inspire and motivate others to live their healthiest life.

#6 – Theresa Ivancik

Instagram – @tivancik_ifbbpro

Theresa Ivancik is a professional female bodybuilder for the IFBB Pro League and certified personal trainer ranked 6th in the world for female bodybuilding. She achieved a 6th place finish at the 2019 Rising Phoenix World Championships.

In 2019, this ripped female bodybuilder won the Lenda Murray Norfolk Pro show qualifying her for the Rising Phoenix World Championships, as well as being placed 6th Theresa won the best poser award, and an invitation to guest pose on the Olympia expo stage.

She also went on to dominate the competition in the IFBB Chicago competition, earning herself the title of “Best Poser” for her female bodybuilder posing and stances.

This ripped female bodybuilder also works with Wings of Strength, an inspiring company advocating for female bodybuilding. Ivancik said: “Wings of Strength gives us women the opportunities to be who we want to be and show the world that we are female bodybuilding!”

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#7 – Elisa Pecini

Instagram – @isapecini

24-year-old Brazilian Pecini (one of the most successful female bodybuilders in the bikini competition) won the 2018 MuscleContest Nacional Pro Bikini, 2018 Pittsburgh Pro Bikini, 2018 MuscleContest Brazil Pro Bikini, and the 2019 Bikini Olympia category during the 2019 Mr Olympia.

However, her journey hasn’t been an easy one.

Dropping to 81 pounds at 5’4″, Pecini battled anorexia nervosa from age 13 to 15, which led to her being hospitalised. After a month of intensive treatment, Pecini says she had a breakthrough wanting to “get back to a healthy weight in a safe, gradual way that wasn’t harmful.”

She hit the gym and began developing healthy eating habits, and, after eight months of regaining her health, she said she felt empowered by her transformation. Pecini made her debut as a bodybuilder in Rio de Janeiro in 2015.

Strong and thriving, Pecini triumphed in her fight against anorexia, won her pro card at the age of 19 and shares what she has learned via her website. Pecini says: “I try to remember every day the dreams that I’ve conquered and those that I still want to achieve.”

#8 – Sarah Villegas

Instagram – @iamsarahfit

IFBB Pro, personal trainer and certified sports nutritionist Sarah Villegas won 2020’s Olympia: Women’s Physique and is a three-time IFBB Pro Olympian with both silver and a gold medals.

She also earned a 2nd place finish in the 2019 Olympia Women’s Physique competition, meaning her career as one of the most successful female bodybuilders is just beginning!

The ripped female bodybuilder earned her pro status at the Universe Championships in 2017 going on to win the Chicago Pro. Sarah is the Fitness Director at AFS Premier Fitness, and an expert in nutrition and personal training supporting hundreds in accomplishing life-changing fitness transformations.

Sarah places her achievements down to discipline and hard work (qualities she encourages in her personal training clients), and this industrious huge female bodybuilder fully intends to return to the Olympia stage in 2021.

Being disciplined and setting achievable goals is a key part of any successful fitness routine, though – we’ve compiled a list of the best fitness journals to help you keep track of all your personal milestones.

Familiarize yourself with lucrative fitness careers to understand job prospects in the industry.

#9 – Shanique Grant

Instagram – @therealfitnessbeauty

Shanique Grant is an American IFBB professional bodybuilder and online coach. She won her pro card four months into her competitive career, she won her first Women’s Physique Olympia title at 23 years old in 2018, an accomplishment which she repeated in 2019.

A victim of teenage bullying, Shanique had deep-rooted issues with confidence and self-esteem. Partying as a coping mechanism, she was hospitalised with near kidney failure in her teen years. Turning to fitness she reinvented herself, and at 19 Shanique won first place in the East Coast Championships. Shanique went on to win first place in IFBB Pro Women Physique in the 2016 New York Pro.

Shanique began training for the Olympia competition in 2016 but was forced to withdraw as she recovered from a violent attack by three women in August 2016. Shanique suffered moderate nerve damage and torn muscle tissue, losing almost 1 litre of blood. After physical therapy, she pulled back and repeated her previous year’s win for women’s physique at the New York Pro in May 2017.

Shanique was placed second at the 2020 Olympia. Shanique formally announced her retirement from competitive bodybuilding on her YouTube channel in 2020.

#10 – Stefi Cohen

Instagram – @steficohen

Dr Stefi Cohen, a wildly popular female bodybuilder on Instagram, and an icon in the strength community and physical therapist, holds a multitude of world records, as well as a state gold medal in Olympic weightlifting.

Cohen currently holds the record in both squat and deadlift with a 202.5kg squat and 205kg deadlift. She’s universally recognised as arguably the biggest female bodybuilder in the world, with a substantial social media following, as well as being a podcast host and all-round fitness inspiration.

Stefi is also the co-owner of Hybrid Performance Method, a coaching company that helps their clients accomplish their athletic and aesthetic goals.

Goals are a crucial part of all our fitness journeys, but it’s important that they’re achievable – OriGym’s investigation into the idea of SMART fitness goals explores how you can make your goals realistic and manageable.

In 2020 Cohen dropped to a lower weight class to continue setting new all-time world records, weighing just 114.2 pounds after dropping 15 pounds. She capped this off with 3 brand new world records, bringing her total number of world records to an incredible 25!

#11 – Carriejune Bowlby

Instagram – @misscarriejune

A ripped female bodybuilder and American fitness model, Carriejune Anne Bowlby has been on a years-long journey from slender to strong, amassing 1.2 million Instagram followers along the way.

This female bodybuilder on Instagram is an inspiration to her followers worldwide. Carriejune began exercising at school with track and field, gymnastics and cheerleading.

She moved onto weight-lifting when she hit her first year of secondary school. Carriejune works out 6 days a week, documenting her journey on her platform which she uses to motivate others.

She follows a strict nutritional regime, too, ensuring she can maintain the physique she wants. Learning more about nutrition and what you should be eating is vital for having a good balance and maintaining your body’s metabolic rate – our pick of the best metabolism-boosting foods has options for all tastebuds!

#12 – Beatriz Biscaia

Instagram – @biscaiapro

Two times youngest Bikini Olympian and two times Pro Champ Beatriz Biscaia is a Portuguese IFBB Bikini Pro competitor, winning her Pro Card at only 17 years old, an accomplishment which is unrivalled in the bodybuilding industry.

The youngest IFBB Bikini Pro ever, Beatriz has won first place in the Diamond Cup Thorn, first place in the Rui Ferreira Contest and first place in the Portugal Classic. The young female bodybuilder also achieved silver medals in the European Pro Bikini, MuscleContest Japan Pro Bikini, and the Vancouver Pro Bikini.

Beatriz trains five to six times per week, dedicating each workout to a different muscle group, switching up her routine to prevent her muscles from adapting. Her hard work and dedication ensures she can maintain her incredibly well-defined physique, and continue to compete at the highest level.

This ripped female bodybuilder is a firm believer that women can lift just as much as men, and her training regime and diet support this idea.

#13 – Helle Trevino

Instagram – @helletrevino

Danish/American IFBB Pro Helle Trevino (born Helle Nielsen) earned her pro card at 27 in 2004. She competed in her first Olympia that same year and herniated multiple discs in her back to be told by her doctor she would never compete again.

Over the course of eight years of rehabilitation, this heavyweight female bodybuilder recovered and recuperated. A fierce and persistent competitor, she won the 2011 FIBO Pro in Germany and in 2017 won the Wings of Strength Rising Phoenix World Championships, an achievement she went on to repeat in 2019.

Trevino wants to inspire women into bodybuilding. Competing in the industry since the 90s, the huge female bodybuilder has seen women move from wanting to be very slender to a desire to be strong and fit, and she wants to pave the way for female empowerment and gender equality.

Trevino hosts mind and training technique seminars around the world as well as offering private mental strength sessions where she teaches how to discipline and strengthen the mind.

#14 – Margie Martin

Instagram – @marvelousv

American professional female bodybuilder Margaret “Margie” Marvelous won first place in the Ms Rising Phoenix of 2015 and the 2016 IFBB Wings of Strength Rising Phoenix World Championships

A former Marine Corps sergeant like her father before her, Margie had dreams of becoming a bodybuilder, inspired as a child by powerful heroines such as She-Ra: Princess of Power and Tigress from ThunderCats.

In August 2012, Martin was named NPC’s August 2012 Athlete of the Month and won 1st place in the heavyweight category at the 2013 NPC USA Championships, winning her an IFBB pro card.

At the 2015 IFBB Wings of Strength Rising Phoenix World Championships, she won her first Ms Rising Phoenix title. She repeated this triumph at the 2016 IFBB Wings of Strength Rising Phoenix World Championships, winning her second title in a row.

She’s since gone on to win both the Toronto and the Omaha Pro Women’s Bodybuilding tournaments in the same year, as well as earning podium finishes across multiple other competitions, making her a formidable competitor, and arguably the biggest female bodybuilder in the world.

#15 – Nataliya Kuznetsova

Instagram – @nataliya.amazonka

Heavyweight female bodybuilder Nataliya Kuznetsova has amassed nearly half a million followers on Instagram. Many sources claim the Russian athlete is the biggest female bodybuilder in the world, and with her standing at 5’7″ and over 220 pounds in the offseason, it’s easy to see why!

Nataliya holds the world arm lifting, bench press, and deadlift titles, as well as the European bench press and deadlift titles.

The heavyweight female bodybuilder won 1st place at the 2018 IFBB WOS Romania Muscle Fest and 2nd place at the 2019 IFBB Romania Muscle Fest Pro.

A pioneer and trailblazer for women’s bodybuilding, Kuzetsova is an inspiration for anyone, male or female, interested in fitness. Her self-discipline and determination has ensured she’s become a mainstay in almost every female bodybuilder competition.

#16 – Jessica Buettner

Instagram – @djessicabuettner

Breaking three junior powerlifting records at the 2018 World Championship, 24-year-old Jessica Buettner is a Canadian powerlifter who won the silver medal at the 2019 IPF World Championship in Helsingborg.

At 19, Jessica made her debut at the Canadian Powerlifting Union (CPU) Saskatchewan Provincials where she won first place in the Junior division with a 352.5kg/777lb total.

The young female bodybuilder has competed in sixteen events since her debut. Of the sixteen events she competed in, Jessica took home the gold for fourteen of them, which is a feat that’s yet to be matched by many other contestants.

At the CPU Nationals of March 2020, Buttner came in first by over 113kg/249lb and set three unofficial world records. Her career is just starting to take off, so this young female bodybuilder is certainly one to watch for the future!

#17 – Gayle Moher

Instagram – @moherg

Arguably one of the most recognisable American-British female bodybuilders, Gayle Moher has had an impressive career spanning across multiple decades and a host of tournaments in a wide variety of countries.

This UK female bodybuilder competed between 1995 and 2010, accumulating podium finishes in numerous different competitions, including the Jan Tana Classic and the Southwest USA Pro Cup.

However, this mature female bodybuilder’s biggest win came in 1999, where she finished top in the Jan Tana Classic. What makes this more impressive is that this American-British female bodybuilder had already competed 3 times in that same year!

More recently, this impressive UK female bodybuilder has opened her own gym and spa (Gayle Moher’s Face and Bodyworks), where she aims to impart her wisdom to the next generation of heavyweight female bodybuilders.

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#18 – Iris Kyle

Instagram – @iriskyle

Ranked as the best female bodybuilder in the IFBB Pro Women’s Bodybuilding Ranking List (2013), American professional female bodybuilder Iris Floyd Kyle holds seventeen titles including ten overall Ms Olympia wins, the most Olympia wins of anyone, male or female, making her the most successful female bodybuilder ever.

Moving to California in the early nineties Iris was surrounded by physically fit and inspirational people and wanted to obtain a similar sculpted physique – our article on how to get a summer body has tips and tricks on achieving your dream body. Iris recalls the first time she saw a photo of Lenda Murray in a magazine and how she had been completely in awe. Kyle began her winning streak with the 1994 Long Beach Muscle Classic.

Kyle won the NPC USA Championships in 1998, Ms Olympia in 2001, Ms International in every year between 2004 and 2013, and Ms Olympia in every year between 2004 and 2014.

In July 2020, Iris announced she would be returning to compete at Ms Olympia, making her one of the most formidable mature female bodybuilders to compete against.

#19 – Cydney Gillon

Instagram – @vytamin_c

Cydney Gillon is a professional bodybuilder, three-time Figure Olympia Champion, and contestant on Survivor lasting a total of 37 days in the game.

With both her parents being competitive bodybuilders, Cydney Gillon had an early start in fitness and an appreciation for the discipline necessary for fitness. In 2012 Gillon won the NPC Nationals receiving her pro card and graduated university in 2014 with a Bachelor’s degree in psychology.

Gillon has been placed in the top ten of every pro show she has ever competed in. While that fact in itself is impressive, the ripped female bodybuilder has won her last 6 tournaments, earning a first place finish in the Olympia Figure for 2020, ‘19, and ’18, as well as the Arizona Pro and Figure International competitions.

Gillon says she is inspired by her mother, a two-time breast cancer survivor, who, even though she could barely walk because of her treatment, attended every one of her daughter’s competitions.

#20 – Juliana Esteso

Instagram – @jujubafit_

This female bodybuilder on Instagram not only has a hard-earned physique, but she also has almost half a million followers! Brazilian athlete Juliana Esteso competed in the IFBB’s Wellness division when it made its debut in France in 2015.

The Wellness division judges for a developed lower body with a toned-down upper body, allowing for more body fat than other women’s categories, and Juliana’s figure perfectly fits this category.

Juliana sees her mission in life as one to motivate and help others, describing fitness as a passion which should be practised with respect, devotion and joy.

Even though she rarely competes, Juliana keeps herself in competitive shape motivating and inspiring her followers. Her aim is to inspire and push others to achieve their own goals.

#21 – Dana Linn Bailey

Instagram – @danalinnbailey

In 2011, American IFBB Pro fitness and figure competitor Dana Linn Bailey won Jr. USA in Charleston, SC, receiving her IFBB pro card, and in 2013 she won Joe Weider’s Olympia. Dana has competed in the Fit Expo, the Flex Lewis Classic, the American Ninja Warrior, the Nationals and The Arnold Classic for Powerlifting.

This ripped female bodybuilder’s illustrious career includes numerous first place finishes in hotly contested tournaments, including Olympia (2013), Dallas Europa (2013), and Jr. USA (2011).

With her husband Rob Bailey, Dana owns ‘The Warhouse’ gym, a state of the art training facility for pro bodybuilders featuring top of the line equipment brands such as Rogue, Legend, Hammer Strength, and Life Fitness as well as custom made pieces.

The Baileys own a clothing brand (Flag Nor Fail, catering to pros in the fitness community who may struggle to find their size), a supplement brand (Run Everything Labs, which includes pre-workout blends and thermogenic supplements), and DLB Daily, an online training program.

#22 – Deepika Chowdhury

Instagram – @deepikapune_ifbbpro

Deepika Chowdhury, a molecular biologist, is India’s first female IFBB pro and the first Indian woman to win the Overall Figure category at the 2015 NPC Steve Stone Metropolitan Championships, USA.

An inspiration, Deepika has an enthusiasm for competing, believing that optimal health and fitness goes beyond your dream body; that it is essential to care for mind, character and spirituality to nourish your fitness journey.

She believes in an honest and achievable approach to fitness. “Be honest about your goals and ideal body type. You define it yourself. The ideal body for YOU, not for the WORLD. Use wisdom, intellect and vision to know the reasons for your every action.”

She works closely with Bombshell Fitness, which sets out to prove that women bodybuilders and those who want to achieve a muscular physique can do so, regardless of gender.

#23 – Juliana Malacarne

Instagram – @julesfit10

Brazilian IFBB professional bodybuilder Juliana Malacarne is a four-time winner of Olympia’s Women’s Physique Showdown, winning in 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017. Her female bodybuilder posing techniques and ideas are highly sought after, especially given her tournament pedigree.

Juliana earned her IFBB Pro Card in 2005 at the IFBB Amateur BodyFitness Championships in São Paulo. Juliana followed this by going on to win the New York Pro Championship Women’s Physique category three years in a row after moving to the United States, 2012, 2013, and 2014. In 2015 she came first at the IFBB Arnold Sports Festival.

Malacarne says she is “hungry” for more, and will continue to compete on international stages cementing her place among the legends of female bodybuilding. Her determination and grit has surely cemented her place as one of the future biggest female bodybuilders.

Before You Go!

We hope our list of the most successful female bodybuilders has inspired you to achieve your dreams, or just to start on your own fitness journey.

If you’re ready to pursue your dream career in the fitness industry, you can do that by enrolling on our Level 3 Personal Trainer Diploma or downloading our full course prospectus to learn about our full range of accredited courses!