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Once considered a luxury, personal trainers have become commonplace in health clubs in the private sector. Yet the presence of such professionals who focus on customized, one-on-one instruction varies widely in park and rec fitness facilities. How much close supervision on exercise and equipment use do we—or should we—provide patrons? Because personal training is an educational service concerned with health, safety, and recreation, how much of an ethical responsibility do we have? What does it take to make personal training a viable component of fitness programming?
Here are three different perspectives from agencies with thriving personal-training programs. All three consider this a special service, and all three compete head-on with a vigorous private industry.
Denver, Colo.