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[jannylee]

Hi all:

I thought I would try this forum first for some feedback since I am a new mother.

I have a one year old baby girl (just turned one). I have been very fortunate to have spent the past year at home with her...I am from Canada and maternity leave is one year. Prior to this I worked in a Credit Union, but do not really like my job. Over the past few months I started working out with Cathe. I really like fitness, although I will be honest this is the first time I have consistently worked out. I want to change my career and would like to get into the area of fitness. I suffered extreme post-partum depression and have been on meds for the past year. I am presently taking a nutrition and fitness course. I would love to stay at home and work. I want to help women who just had children and those moms who suffer from post-partum depression. I am trying to think of the best way to do this...start a website, maybe put a workout studio at home. I would really love some feedback...ideas...would this interest women.

Thanks so much.

Janet

 

[cjbate]

Janet: You might try posting this on the open discussion forum, I think there are a few folks that post sometimes on there that are in the fitness biz. I am not (I am a mom of 3 very young kids though)...but here are a few thoughts.

If you decide this is your passion, I would pursue getting some kind of credibility, like through certification in fitness, maybe ACE or another entity. If you are going to be working with new moms of young kids, I think your best bet would be to meet them in their home rather than yours, so I wouldn't think you would need a studio in your home. Also, you should be near an affluent area because these are the types of women who would be able to afford your services (many women would love a personal trainer to come into their home but many can't afford it). Also, I would track your own progress so you have a testimony that you are your own best client....look how I've improved my body, etc., before and afters are very motivational for people.

You are going to have to market yourself, it is all about selling yourself and finding clients in order to make $$. That is going to be the bottom line. You might also see about getting a parttime job in a gym so that you can get some more experience and maybe meet more folks who could be potential clients. Also, you might (once you have the credibility to have what a potential client might want) try doing some speaking to moms groups about fitness and pass out your cards. That would be a good way to drum up some business.

I do think there is a market out there but you will need to lay some ground work first so that you have something people are willing to pay for....

Also could volunteer to help/counsel people in a charity setting if possible or train some people for free so you can have some credibility and a list of references....

HTH
Jen