ASK the person next to you for examples of a profession they’d like to get into and most likely you will get the obvious “doctors,” “architect” and “lawyer.” Even after a long sigh and you mumbling, “What else?” I would wager that you still won’t come across “coach” or “trainer.”
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines the word “profession” as “a calling requiring specialized knowledge and often long and intensive academic preparation.”
In every sense of that definition, coaching—the general term of the multifaceted improvement of other people’s lives by means of functional training, lifestyle mentoring and the like—is a profession.
It is a calling, as coaching is very much a passion profession. Some people just have a knack to go the extra mile in lending others a hand to achieve their goals. In my 16 years in the industry, I have seen a common denominator in all the successful coaches I’ve encountered, and that’s the fire in their bellies for pushing people to the top.
Then, of course, coaching requires specialized knowledge and intensive academic preparation. One cannot simply step into this field without knowing how the human body operates. It takes years of learning and even more time perfecting.
Doubling down on this thought, wouldn’t people who seek improvement in their lives prefer to be helped by those who are called “professionals?”
Anyway, it was this thought that led me to a collaboration with Coach Anna Ramos, a certified personal trainer by the American Council on Exercise who has 25 years of experience in the fitness industry. With a vision to coaching/training rooted in integrity, honesty, respect and the belief in God, the former athlete and multiawarded trainer launched a company called BeFit, which stands for Beyond Fitness.
The impetus behind the company is for fitness practitioners to have a platform to showcase their expertise and talent, thus, promoting a culture of professionalism and continuously motivating these professionals to adhere to high levels of quality service by pursuing continuing education that will keep them abreast of the latest trends and best practices in fitness.
More important, the people in front and behind the company are committed to giving the public the topnotch holistic coaching services it deserves.
The setup of the company benefits both the clients and the coaches. For the former, they now have access to a qualified roster of trainers with specializations in the field of functional training, strength training, sports conditioning, weight management, nutrition and diet, yoga and cardio group exercise.
For the latter, they now have a network of like-minded individuals who all share the same level of passion for their jobs, and who will push them to strive even harder in their profession.
Recently, I, along with my IFit Pro Unlimited group, agreed to join forces with Coach Anna and her BeFit family.
Last month, BeFit held an orientation at the Treston Fitness Center in Bonifacio Global City to a pool of 20 trainers led by Coach Richard Smith, who has 40 years of fitness experience, assisted by Coach Mark Benjamin, Coach Chris Bond and Coach Gian Colocado. Also present during the event were Coach Anna Ramos and Coach Joseph Madriaga.
Here’s to hoping fitness remains a top priority for individuals as it’s not only the best gift that one can give himself but also to the people who matter most to him.
(With JT Nisay)
For fitness training and lifestyle coaching, contact Jonnel Cruz at 0917-8414848 or e-mail beyondfitness.befit@gmail.com.
Image credits: Trixia Cruz