Personal Trainer

Allison Knox-Westmeyer works for the Nishna Valley YMCA in Atlantic as a personal trainer. She teaches both aquatic classes and chair classes and assists people one-on-one to plan out exercises specifically for them or the class. She also helps people learn different lifts and knows how much weight they should be lifting. Knox-Westmeyer works part-time at the Heritage House in Atlantic as well, where she will soon take over the role as the Wellness Coordinator.

Because “every single hour of the day is different,” Knox-Westmeyer enjoys her job. She also likes the fact that she is able to exercise while working.

A personal trainer makes about 85 percent of what they charge per hour and doesn’t need a four-year degree. Knox-Westmeyer said, “The seniors and baby boomers are the biggest clientele,” because the majority of them are retired and don’t work during the day, so they come to work out.

Sophomore Haley Rasmussen attended Knox-Westmeyer’s session and said, “I thought it was fascinating to hear about all of the different people and age groups you can work with, which made me really interested in the career.” According to Knox-Westmeyer, a personal trainer is constantly moving and on their feet. “Being a personal trainer is definitely not boring.”