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Q: What area of fitness are you currently
working in?
The areas of fitness that I am currently working in are mainly
gym floor resistance training and programming for all specific
needs e.g. hypertrophy, fat loss, strength and sports specific
training.
Q: How did you get into the fitness
industry?
The fitness industry was a passion for me as I started training
at martial arts, gymnastics and power lifting at the age of
11, which was 1977. I am now 40 years old and have been in
the industry for over 25 years. The FIA made me a professional
in the industry, in which I have been working full time for
5 years and I love what I do very much. I have stopped competing
now but have many clients who still compete in various sports.
Q: Your reason for being in the fitness
industry?
My reason for being in the fitness industry is the joy of
working with the people who I choose to help and train. Seeing
the positive results they can attain also helps other aspects
of their lives therefore making me feel that I have the ability
to help people and bring happiness to them.
Q: Any gripes about the fitness industry?
Yes I do have gripes about the fitness industry, the main
one being that there seems to be a huge drive against hard
work in training and a forward drive into so many ridiculous
fads of false exercises. I often see these exercises being
carried out on a daily basis, producing unsatisfactory, negative
results with regards to the desires of the clients. I would
be unprofessional to mention any of these training methods
but there are so many of them going nowhere.
In the next few years it would be nice to see more members
in the gym applying themselves to a sport, so as to make use
of their physical attributes in this manner as well as for
fun. I would also like to see more serious people working
out other than the average member who sits on a piece of equipment
for an hour on their mobile phone.
Q: Did you study any areas of exercise
or fitness?
Most of my studies relating to the fitness industry were
mainly self-learned as a young child. From the age of 11 I
developed a keen eye for body mechanics, and by the age of
36 I decided to become a full time trainer. The FIA provided
me with all the knowledge and learning that I needed to start
working professionally as a personal trainer. I have since
completed my Cert IV and feel very confident in my industry
however I still would like to attend and enrol in the next
level of education, Diploma of Fitness, which the FIA can
provide for me.
Q: How important do you think it
is to update your learning in the fitness world?
I feel that it is important to ‘keep on top’
of the education drive. Apart from increasing personal knowledge
and understanding, it is uncertain when the minimal requirements
of this knowledge will increase to a higher level –
the more you know, the more you’re worth!!
Q: What would you like to see happen
in the industry over the next few years?
Over the next few years I would like to see that when a person
leaves the gym after their session they really feel they have
been challenged physically and mentally. Too often I observe
a social session between members and trainers in which no
results can be seen year after year.
Q: Any predictions?
I predict that there will be an increase of training techniques
that do very little to improve peoples physical appearance
and fitness levels within an acceptable time frame. For some
ridiculous reasons people also feel that sweating during a
session will be a thing of the past! I also envisage, with
regards to my own career, that that I will continue along
the same path as I am currently, which is to train people
who want to be challenged within and outside of the gym setting.
Q: What advice do you have for anyone
wanting to learn more about fitness?
My advice to anyone who desires to acquire knowledge and
learning within the fitness industry would be to contact the
FIA and enrol themselves into the Cert III and IV courses
they have to offer. As well as these courses the FIA offer
a wide range and variety of speciality courses that will interest
anyone with a thirst for knowledge in this fast growing industry.
James can be contacted at: jamesraftos@hotmail.com
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