If you’ve ever seen someone in gym clothes yelling “One more rep!” or doing an impressive lunge to retrieve a dropped pen, chances are, they’ve been inspired by a health and fitness instructor. Lately, I’ve been on the move—literally and figuratively—delivering speeches, workshops, and keynotes to folks passionate about wellness. With the health and fitness sector expanding faster than a bicep on arm day, we instructors are the go-to gurus for exercise advice. Think of us as personal trainers for your motivation and accountability muscles. Now, let’s flex some insights on how we’re shaping up the industry!
It’s time we stopped playing in separate leagues and teamed up. Picture this: fitness experts and healthcare pros on the same squad, tackling the rise of non-communicable diseases like a well-coordinated relay team. If exercise became the go-to prescription, imagine the gains—not just in biceps but in healthier, happier lives. So, why not join forces? After all, when it comes to health, teamwork makes the dream work!
The Dual Role Health and Exercise Pros Play
As certified health and exercise professionals, we’re not just cheerleaders in gym gear or timers for your planks—we’re guardians of both prevention and transformation. On one hand, we’re the frontline warriors in the fight against chronic diseases, crafting programs to manage, prevent, and reduce their grip. On the other, we’re motivational architects, building confidence and inspiring clients to embrace a lifestyle of movement.
In Kenya, however, the fitness industry is still warming up to the idea that structured qualifications are essential. It’s a bit like skipping the warm-up—you can do it, but it’ll cost you later. Thanks to some government policies that seem stuck in a perpetual cooldown, progress has been about as fast as someone carrying a kettlebell up a hill.
Maybe it’s time to sweat over a more vital question: “Does a fitness pro’s education and training affect their clients’ success?” The short answer: absolutely! Because when knowledge and passion collide, we’re not just helping people move better—we’re empowering them to live better.
Teamwork is key.
Once upon a time, health and fitness instructors were like the cool cousins at family gatherings—part of the wellness conversation but not really invited to sit at the grown-ups’ table with the healthcare pros. Why? Well, historically, we weren’t seen as extensions of the healthcare team. Apparently, lacking the training to tackle topics like nutrition and weight management with the finesse of a surgeon’s scalpel meant we were stuck cheering from the sidelines.
But here’s the kicker: the health and fitness world operates on principles that complement, not contradict, those of the medical system. And let’s be honest—general practitioner training doesn’t exactly dive deep into the specifics of health-enhancing physical activity. (When was the last time your doctor prescribed squats and lunges for stress relief?)
Philip-Exercise and Sports Scientist.
It’s time we stopped playing in separate leagues and teamed up. Picture this: fitness experts and healthcare pros on the same squad, tackling the rise of non-communicable diseases like a well-coordinated relay team. If exercise became the go-to prescription, imagine the gains—not just in biceps but in healthier, happier lives. So, why not join forces? After all, when it comes to health, teamwork makes the dream work!
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
Adopting new habits may result in weight loss. We should focus on the adoption of healthy habits that will have an impact on our clients health, regardless of their weight. Individuals will avoid millions of shillings in healthcare costs later by becoming more physically active today. Lifestyle ailments such as obesity, heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, stress, and depression can all be prevented by the habits we embrace. Prevention is better than cure.
Exercise professionals should work adjacent to, or within the healthcare setting, supporting teams of doctors, nutritionists, physiotherapists, physical therapists or alternative healthcare. We need to align with allies across healthcare advocacy and physical activity promotion to push for fitness and health policies that can get more people active.
Philip-Fitness Professionals Association of Kenya Chairman.
It takes a village.
Health and wellness is a team sport, folks—think less solo marathon, more relay race. It’s high time all professionals in the industry laced up their teamwork shoes and embraced this truth. Sure, we each play a critical role, but no one’s winning the health championship alone.
When it comes to prescribing physical activity, general practitioners shouldn’t just hand out advice like it’s a takeout menu. Who should they call for reinforcements? Us—the fitness pros! And while they’re at it, let’s make sure they guide patients on where to “fill” their prescription and how to stick with it.
Why? Because clients often come in with big dreams—sometimes a little too big (spoiler alert: you won’t get abs overnight, no matter how many crunches you do). Unrealistic expectations can lead to disappointment, and disappointment can lead to ditching the whole wellness journey faster than you can say, “New Year’s resolution.”
The truth is, it really does take a village—and we are the village. So, let’s join hands, collaborate, and turn every community into a healthier, happier place. After all, when we team up, it’s not just the clients who win—it’s the whole team. Game on!