How to Start Your Career in Fitness

This post is based on Roz the Diva’s webinar ”Starting a Career in Fitness with Roz the Diva” held on July 18, 2024. Members can view the entire webinar at this link. 

Roz Mays, better known as Roz the Diva, has been in the fitness industry for more than 15 years. Starting as a personal trainer in the NY area, Roz has focused on helping non-traditional athletes get over their gym-timidation.

In her talk, she outlines the pros and cons over several different avenues in the fitness industry. Roz included an outline to the pros and cons of each type of fitness training job, so we won’t re-hash that here. Instead we will focus on the pole side of things.

Teaching Group Classes

Teaching group fitness is generally the easiest way to break into the field. Most pole classes are going to be group fitness classes with 3 or more students.

If you begin coaching at a gym or studio where folks already know you, it will be easier to fill your classes. If you want to keep some separation between your student time and coaching time, consider coaching at a nearby studio while training at your current studio—just make sure you aren’t copying your coach’s lesson plan move for move to teach your students (that’s rude).

When you start coaching, coach something you love. 

If you love low flow and floor, teach low flow and floor. If you dislike sensual, don’t teach sensual. There are plenty of niches within the pole industry that you can stick to what you enjoy. If a studio owner is pressuring you to coach something you’re not comfortable with, hold your boundary and consider if that is an environment you want to stay in.

Pay for group classes varies WILDLY. For an idea of what studios are paying, check out the IPIA’s bi-annual financial survey results.

You’ve probably been taught that it’s rude to discuss your pay—big business wants you to keep quiet so there can be discriminatory pay scales and favoritism. While discussing salary can lead to interpersonal conflict, if approached with tact it will give you a better idea of what studios in your local area are paying.

Teaching Private Lessons

Private lessons are a great way to generate extra income as a pole coach. 

Usually, students will seek you out after you’ve taught them in a group class. Students may also find you on Instagram and inquire about lessons. Coaches usually see a bigger take-home from private lessons, depending on the split the studio charges. This also varies wildly from studio to studio. Some studios allow coaches to set their own price for private lessons but charge the coach a point rental fee, other studios set the price for the instructor and have a split outlined in the instructor’s contract.

Remember: The Body Keeps the Score

When working as a coach, particularly if you get into private lessons, your students will open up to you more over time. Make sure you set boundaries early on and maintain them throughout training. Especially when working with a physical art, like pole, as people’s bodies move it may unlock emotions they didn’t realize they had buried. People may also seek out sports like pole that require a lot of cognitive load to stay safe as a way to escape their problems, so ensure your students are in the right headspace before you start a session. If a student has had a hard or traumatic day, today might not be a day to check in on fonji progress. Make sure you are adapting to your clients needs.

Getting Hired

Once you’ve decided coaching is the path you want to travel, make sure your ducks are in a row.

Most studios will require you to have at least CPR training, though CPR and AED training are preferred. The IPIA has a virtual partner option, which is great for recertifiying. Try to do an in-person class for your first training ever. PoleCon, the IPIA’s convention, usually hosts on.

Additional training like through an IPIA partner XPERT, PFA, and more can get you a boost to getting hired (and is certainly helpful in your continuing education!), but is not yet required to be trained in how to actually teach pole to be hired in many studios or gyms. Some studios prefer to do in-house training of all their instructors to ensure everyone is teaching the way they want the teaching done.

Having a coaching-specific resume isn’t always a must but it will certainly show your professionalism. If you’re brand new to coaching, highlight the training you’ve done that shows you are ready to coach.

Roz recommends having at least two years of experience with any modality you plan to coach.

Wrap Up

Starting a career in the fitness and coaching side of pole can be both rewarding and challenging.

Whether you’re drawn to the energy of group classes or the personalized connection of private lessons, the pole industry offers diverse opportunities for passionate coaches. Take time to research pay scales in your area, build your professional credentials, and most importantly, stay true to your teaching style and comfort zone. With dedication, proper preparation, and a commitment to your students’ safety and growth, you can build a fulfilling career helping others discover the strength, confidence, and joy that fitness brings.