Embracing a Second Career: 7 Reasons to Become a Health and Fitness Professional in Retirement

[This is the first in a series of guest articles by Erin Eleuterio on the topic of Health & Fitness professionals. Watch for future articles!]

If you’re already enjoying retirement and have a passion for staying physically active, consider the fulfilling path of becoming a health and fitness professional. This choice allows you to channel your love for physical activity into a rewarding endeavor that positively impacts the lives of others. Whether you aspire to work in a gym, lead fitness classes, become a dedicated personal trainer, or even venture into entrepreneurship, the world of fitness offers a plethora of opportunities to make a significant difference in people’s health and well-being. Below, discover seven reasons to embark on this journey as a health and fitness professional, accompanied by inspiring real-life examples of individuals who transitioned into a second act career in health and fitness.

1.You Will Be an Inspiration to Others: As a health and fitness professional, you will be a role model for people of all ages, showing that it’s possible to learn new skills, stay strong and active, and make a positive impact on the lives of others. Your peers and younger generations will be inspired by your commitment to lifelong learning and your dedication to living a healthy lifestyle. Take for instance, Tim Minnick, at 80, who is the world’s oldest active personal trainer. He reports that gym patrons and clients have commented on what an inspiration he is to them to continue with their exercise program.

Patricia Linderman from Fierce After 45 started adopting a healthy lifestyle in her 50s, after years of mostly sedentary living. After losing over 40 pounds and starting fitness activities she’d never tried before, like Zumba and running, she went on to become a health coach. Her journey has allowed her to be an inspiration to her clients and a reminder that it’s never too late to start on the path to improving your health.

2. An Opportunity to Learn Something New: Pursuing a new career can offer the opportunity to keep your brain and body active, and to continue developing new skills and knowledge. Just like exercise prevents physical decline, embarking on new learning experiences bolsters our cognitive capacities. Research illustrates that older adults, after just six weeks of mastering new tasks, exhibited cognitive capabilities equivalent to individuals 30 years younger.

Marla Mulkey decided to learn about nutrition and holistic health after she found traditional medicine wasn’t helping her daughter’s skin issues. Marla discovered the Institute of Integrative Nutrition and took the certification program. She started imparting the knowledge about nutrition and health she was learning to friends and family and she eventually launched a health coaching practice that helps women in middle age and beyond. 

3. It’s Rewarding to Help Others: Exercise is a powerful tool for preventing many lifestyle diseases.  Assisting people in preserving their health and improving their physical abilities is a gratifying endeavor. By becoming a health and fitness professional, you can gain the knowledge and tools to make an impactful difference in someone’s health and quality of life. 

In podcast interviews, Melinda Sukle, an experienced fitness instructor for assisted living communities, stated “I get more out of it than they do.” Adela Vangelisti, a professional dancer who teaches Silver Swan ballet classes said “from everything I’ve done, this is the one that has given me the most enrichment to my life.” Randy Bernard, a personal trainer, said “this is really an incredible way to spend your time and there’s an enormous need.”

4. Turn your passion into a career: If you already spend a lot of time working out and staying active, why not get paid to pursue the activity that you enjoy.  Entering the health and fitness field can allow you to turn your passion into a fulfilling career, as you help other live healthier, happier lives.

Traci Townsend, a retired public educator, always had a love for working out and lifting weights. After she retired she decided to get certified as a personal trainer and specialize in training women over 50 to lift weights. She now has a large following on Instagram and a successful  online personal training business.

5. Create the experiences you want: When you’re passionate about fitness, you likely have a vision of what you’d like to do to stay active as you get older. With a career in health and fitness, you can make that vision a reality and help others do the same. Whether it’s starting a basketball league for masters athletes, a rock climbing group for those over 50, or a dance class inspired by Saturday Night Fever, you can bring your passions to life and help others do the same.

Arlo Niederer, a retired geophysicist,  leads the Boomer Climb Club in Colorado Springs. It’s an indoor rock climbing club where people over 50 can improve their rock climbing skills and meet other climbers. The club has given Arlo an opportunity to use his extensive rock climbing experience to teach others and create a supportive local community of fellow rock climbers. 

6. Enjoy flexible hours: For many people, one of the biggest benefits of a career in health and fitness is the ability to set their own hours. As a personal trainer or group fitness instructor, you can often choose when and how many clients or classes you want to work with. This can make it easier to balance work with other commitments or interests, and can be a great fit for those who prefer seasonal or part-time work. 

Personal trainer Randi Bethel, with Move Thru Life, trains three clients and she’s happy with the schedule and has no intentions of growing her training business beyond the people she’s currently serving. 

Personal trainer Becky Harkema, with Fit 4 Life with Becky teaches online fitness classes to give her flexibility to travel. 

7. Connect with others and improve your own health: Retirement can mean losing the social connections at work. A career in health and fitness can be a great way to stay connected with others and build a supportive community around your shared interests. You’ll also have the opportunity to apply the knowledge you gain to your own training program, helping you stay fit and healthy as you age. 

Mary Jane Fast, a Zumba Gold instructor, says her class participants are like family. The bonds that have been created in class have extended beyond the studio walls with participants becoming friends and gathering outside of class.  

The fitness industry is currently in need of health and fitness professionals who can teach and train the mature population. You can choose to work in health clubs, community centers, or assisted living facilities, teach and train online, or even become an independent contractor or entrepreneur to start your own health and wellness business. Take advantage of this great opportunity to join the health and fitness industry and make a positive difference in the lives of others. You’ll be an inspiration to those around you and benefit yourself in the process.

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