Exploring the embodied, performative and social world of personal trainers

Abstract

Although research has been conducted into the social world of Personal Trainers, this study tries to further the knowledge and understanding of this topic area. The focus of this research is in the area of Personal Trainers and the social patterns through the medium of contemporary theory to identify patterns and anomalies so to increase the knowledge base and understanding of this topic area. The research approach adopted in this study includes qualitative semi structured interviews conducted with two male and one female Personal Trainers. The findings from the study provide evidence that there is a Personal Trainer habitus with the main disposition being the need to conform to specific body shapes. There are also gender differences in clients and Personal Trainers and finally there were detrimental effects of injury on the Personal Trainer identity and their occupational identity. The main conclusions from the study are there is a high level of importance placed on body modification and the need for the commercial ‘look’ in Personal Trainers, furthermore, when a Personal Trainer sustains an injury, a loss of confidence and focus occurs causing harm to their identity as a Personal Trainer and their occupational identity. The study recommends that to further the research, the relationship between society’s body image and Personal Trainers body image and the effects of ageing and retirement on the Personal Trainer’s identity should be addressed in order to increase the knowledge and understanding of Personal Trainers and the social world around them.