ISSA Personal Trainers Thrive, Even in Tough Economy

CARPINTERIA, Calif. - April 22, 2009 - While economists are projecting more future gloom, some creative fitness trainers are staying strong in today's economy.  From helping new moms get in shape, to working with older adults concerned about heart disease or osteoporosis, personal trainers have carved out dozens of niche categories to help people look and feel better.

"Every day we receive letters and emails from personal trainers doing better than ever. This tells me that people are concerned about their health regardless of the economy," says Dr. Sal Arria, CEO and Founder of the International Sports Sciences Association (www.ISSAonline.edu), the first and only fitness organization accredited by a federally recognized agency.

"I have had to increase my rates 300% because of client demand," says Brian Theiss, President of Theiss Institute in Westlake, CA, who receives a large portion of his business from a strong network of referring medical doctors. With two out of three people in the U.S. considered obese or overweight, Theiss has chosen to help corporate executives whom he says, "cannot afford to get it wrong."

Certified personal trainer Sara Fleming is a stay-at-home mom and part time trainer for Crossfit in Raleigh, North Carolina and has realized a 500% increase in clients over the last year. Fleming trains groups of new moms, and says it makes it financially easier for her clients to work out on a regular basis as they focus on strongman techniques where "we flip tires, throw medicine balls and do Olympic lifts."

In order to assist new fitness trainers with gaining experience, some fitness schools offer job placement assistance. "The ISSA online job listings service is full of wonderful opportunities for people who want to gain experience," says Dr. Arria. "If you love fitness, enjoy helping others and want to earn more income in today's economy, personal training can offer many career options for the right person."

About the ISSA
Founded in 1988, the International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA) has provided fitness education and certification to nearly 125,000 students in 85 countries worldwide. ISSA is the first and only fitness organization in the U.S. to be nationally accredited by the Accrediting Commission of the Distance Education and Training Council (DETC), in Washington, DC. For more information about a career in fitness, visit www.ISSAonline.edu.

For more information, contact Sabeen Sadiq 805-745-8111 or ssadiq@issaonline.edu

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