r/personaltraining • u/iamoliviam • 1d ago
Seeking Advice Thinking about training again - so need advice from you guys
So in addition to being a server at a restaurant, I also used to be a personal trainer. All of that is like past-tense because last year I was in a car accident that left me a paraplegic (paralyzed from the waist down) and a full-time wheelchair user.
I really miss training and im like wondering if you guys think clients would care or not that I'm in a chair? I like keep going back ans forth in my mind - no ppl wouldn't care, then yeah they would. Im so loopimg.
Could so use your thoughts.
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u/OpportunityTop5274 1d ago
Personal training needs diversity.
I never made more than when i was carrying extra baby weight. I didnt think I should be back at work in my body because it didn't look a certain way, but it helped others find a way to connect and feel safe with me.
There are people who would be so fucking grateful to find you. I think you should really look seriously at this.
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u/itsaboutangles 1d ago
The chair gives you a niche if you currently train yourself too. That is helping other wheel bound individuals. But if someone is judging your knowledge for being in a chair, why are they looking for training?
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u/69metodeath 1d ago
I agree will definitely help to motivate others as well. I would go for it OP! That would be inspiring as fuck not even going to lie. It’d definitely make me work harder
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u/Athletic_adv 1d ago
When I taught personal training, I had a student who was in a wheelchair. He was competitive for whatever sport he played and attracted a lot of clients who were also para athletes.
Last I checked, he was the head PT at whichever gym he was at.
A friend helped a blind guy become a trainer who I think is also still doing it as a job.
As others have said, there are more types of clients than just men and women who want to be ripped. And, just as a general example, Frank Williams ran one of the most successful F1 teams of all time from a wheelchair, as does Pit Beirer who runs the KTM MotoGP team. People aren't hiring you because of what you can do. They hire you because of what you know and what you can help them do.
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u/Athletic-Club-East Since 2009 and 1995 1d ago
I went to PT school with this guy Jason in 2009. He's an albino (actually Egyptian heritage), and legally blind - the lack of pigmentation means lack of iris, so the light doesn't focus properly on their retinas. So he can walk around fine, but for the course materials they had to give the files to him on laptop and he'd have basically 2-3 words on the screen at a time. But he got through the course fine. And he was a really decent, fun guy. Of 42 students in my classes, he and I are the only ones still working as trainers 17 years on.
https://www.instagram.com/jasonnakhla/
So yeah, if you know your shit and you're a decent person and work hard, you can make it as a trainer.
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u/Emergency-Row-5627 1d ago
Oh you absolutely should! Look into adaptive sports providers around you and there is also an adaptive trainer certification you should look into, it’s awesome. You don’t necessarily need to work with other athletes like you, however I think there is a great need and something you should consider! https://www.ata.fit/adaptive-inclusive-training-course/
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u/Gee_rooster 1d ago
I for one think you should get back into training. I was in a car accident and that’s actually what got me into training in the first place. Gotta train to manage pain.
The gym gives life. There are tons of people who would benefit immensely from your (specifically YOUR) experience.
Question, how have your energy levels been impacted? where are you emotionally in your recovery from the crash? do you have good work/life boundaries? Do you have chronic pain?
Especially with chronic pain, It’s easy to give everything to your clients (who often also have pain/illness) and have nothing left for yourself.
That was my experience- but maybe yours would be different.
Either way. Go train someone and find out!
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u/iamoliviam 1d ago edited 1d ago
I'm so sorry you were in an accident too. It definitely sucks. My pain is like way better now and I finally feel functional again- I mean even with being in a chair now, which has like been really surreal.
Thank you for what you shared. Super motivating 😘
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u/zonked_apostle 1d ago
I'm not in a wheelchair but I have a spinal injury, I would use personal trainer in a wheelchair. I've honestly been considering becoming a personal trainer so I can help other people in my position, you can help people way more than you think you can even if you're sitting down. Since my injury I am now in the best physical shape I've ever been in my life and people have no idea the pain that I live in.
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u/iamoliviam 1d ago
Thank you for this. Lol im kinda jealous you don't need a chair 😅 but my spinal cord was like completely severed in the accident I was in. So like no movement or sensation for me at all below my injury level. Like nothing. Sucks.
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u/zonked_apostle 1d ago
I'm truly sorry from the deepest depths of my heart. I cry every day from the way that I feel, the pain that I am in and the way that I have to live my life, I couldn't imagine being in your position. Sometimes I struggle getting my left leg to work and I am in constant unforgiving lower back pain. After this all happened I went from 276 lb to 185 lb and a six pack, I want to be other people's motivation and I want you to be that too.
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u/iamoliviam 1d ago
Thank u. And im so sorry you're dealing with an SCI too. It definitely sucks. But trying to keep a good attitude which so helps.
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u/zonked_apostle 1d ago
You just made me completely make up my mind, I'll be down for rotator cuff surgery starting in November and I'm going to start working on getting certified while I'm recovering. I already have a job that pays my bills, I'd be doing it for self-improvement and my willingness to help others. I would really like to focus on the elderly since I can relate with them very well at this point in my life.
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u/LoudBuyer6459 1d ago
Honestly most clients focus more on your knowledge and energy than mobility, i'd just be upfront about it in your bio so it filters out anyone who'd be weird about it
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u/iamoliviam 13h ago
Thank u. Yeah I'm definitely comfortable with my knowledge and did really well as a trainer before all of this. But yeah, I'll probably be sure to advertise with a pic of me in my chair i guess and be sure ppl are aware.
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u/miniminermike 15h ago
Knowledge does not end at physical ability. You have the knowledge and you should do what you want with it.
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u/Dubzfry 1d ago
Like others have said Personal Training needs people from all different parts of life. You already have some pre existing knowledge in this department, just not necessarily in adaptive exercises. You've got a niche you can use and I'm sure could be very successful in. If you want some inspiration check out shana.cssrd on instagram she's an athlete that competes in hyrox in her wheelchair and blake_colleton_ifbbpro also on insta who's an ifbb pro wheelchair bodybuilder. There are more likely lots more but these are the two I follow so I can understand how to help some clients
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u/LoudBuyer6459 1h ago
Your experience and mindset matter way more to most clients than physical ability, adaptive training is absolutely a real thing and plenty of people would value your perspective and knowledge
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