In my opinion continuing education separates successful fitness professionals from those who merely get by.
In fact, throughout my entire 25 year career in the fitness industry I have always said that “the more you learn...the more you earn!” During my time, my goal (which I have achieved most of the time!) has been to read or listen to one book per week.
The personal trainers that I know who not only survive, but thrive in the fitness industry normally spend 50% of their time learning more about fitness training and the other 50% learning more about business, marketing, sales, psychology and personal development.
The following recommended reading list has been put together by me (Aaron Whear) Managing Director of Career Fitness to help guide you as to the best books to read to improve both your technical training skills as well as the business skills that will allow you to get paid what you are worth.
My commitment is that I will continue to add titles here on a regular basis.
Now in a revised, expanded, and upgraded edition, Ignite the Fire is the highly practical approach to personal training already relied on by thousands of trainers Worldwide.
Repeatedly called one of the "best books for personal trainers", it provides a clear road map teaching you how to become a personal trainer, to getting a personal trainer certification, to building your career from the bottom up so you can build a clientele, your reputation, and income.
This inspiring book is the culmination of Andrew May’s twenty years of experience as an elite athlete and fitness trainer for some of the world’s best athletes; studying the body (Exercise Physiology) and the brain (Coaching Psychology); working with a variety of clients including elite athletes, military, entrepreneurs, business leaders and entire organisations; and life experience.
Your glutes influence every aspect of your physical life: from the way you look and how you feel to your ability to run, jump, cut, lift, and twist. Yet few understand how to properly build and develop this all-important muscle.
In this book, Bret Contreras―PhD, personal trainer, and bestselling author―lays out a glute training system that will help you reach your strength, performance, and physique goals. Through descriptive narrative, step-by-step images and illustrations, and easy-to-follow training programs, distills the science and art of glute training into one comprehensive manual.
With new exercises, additional stretches, and more of Frédéric Delavier's signature illustrations, you'll gain a whole new understanding of how muscles perform during strength exercises. This one-of-a-kind best-seller combines the visual detail of top anatomy texts with the best of strength training advice. Many books explain what muscles are used during exercise, but no other resource brings the anatomy to life like Strength Training Anatomy. Over 600 full-color illustrations reveal the primary muscles worked along with all the relevant surrounding structures, including bones, ligaments, tendons, and connective tissue.
How to train for anything and everything, anywhere and everywhere
THE WORLD'S FITTEST BOOK is set to become every fitness enthusiast's bible. Dubbed 'the body's complete user guide', it will become the go-to resource for learning all you need to know about building muscle, losing fat, eating (healthy) cake and unlocking your superhuman physical potential.
Dear Fitness Professional
In my opinion continuing education separates successful fitness professionals from those who merely get by.
In fact, throughout my entire 25 year career in the fitness industry I have always said that “the more you learn...the more you earn!” During my time, my goal (which I have achieved most of the time!) has been to read or listen to one book per week.
The personal trainers that I know who not only survive, but thrive in the fitness industry normally spend 50% of their time learning more about fitness training and the other 50% learning more about business, marketing, sales, psychology and personal development.
The following recommended reading list has been put together by me (Aaron Whear) Managing Director of Career Fitness to help guide you as to the best books to read to improve both your technical training skills as well as the business skills that will allow you to get paid what you are worth.
My commitment is that I will continue to add titles here on a regular basis.
Business Books I Recommend
IgniteThe Fire – The Secrets to Building a Successful Personal Training Career -
Jonathan Goodman
Now in a revised, expanded, and upgraded edition, Ignite the Fire is the highly practical approach to personal training already relied on by thousands of trainers Worldwide.
Repeatedly called one of the "best books for personal trainers", it provides a clear road map teaching you how to become a personal trainer, to getting a personal trainer certification, to building your career from the bottom up so you can build a clientele, your reputation, and income.
Matchfit -
Andrew May
This inspiring book is the culmination of Andrew May’s twenty years of experience as an elite athlete and fitness trainer for some of the world’s best athletes; studying the body (Exercise Physiology) and the brain (Coaching Psychology); working with a variety of clients including elite athletes, military, entrepreneurs, business leaders and entire organisations; and life experience.
Training Books I Recommend
Glute Lab: The Art and Science of Strength and Physique Training -
Bret Contreras
Your glutes influence every aspect of your physical life: from the way you look and how you feel to your ability to run, jump, cut, lift, and twist. Yet few understand how to properly build and develop this all-important muscle.
In this book, Bret Contreras―PhD, personal trainer, and bestselling author―lays out a glute training system that will help you reach your strength, performance, and physique goals. Through descriptive narrative, step-by-step images and illustrations, and easy-to-follow training programs, distills the science and art of glute training into one comprehensive manual.
Frederic Delavier
With new exercises, additional stretches, and more of Frédéric Delavier's signature illustrations, you'll gain a whole new understanding of how muscles perform during strength exercises. This one-of-a-kind best-seller combines the visual detail of top anatomy texts with the best of strength training advice. Many books explain what muscles are used during exercise, but no other resource brings the anatomy to life like Strength Training Anatomy. Over 600 full-color illustrations reveal the primary muscles worked along with all the relevant surrounding structures, including bones, ligaments, tendons, and connective tissue.
The World's Fittest Book -
Ross Edgley
How to train for anything and everything, anywhere and everywhere
THE WORLD'S FITTEST BOOK is set to become every fitness enthusiast's bible. Dubbed 'the body's complete user guide', it will become the go-to resource for learning all you need to know about building muscle, losing fat, eating (healthy) cake and unlocking your superhuman physical potential.