A newly released survey says more than 4 million Americans used trainers in 1998, and boomers comprised the biggest segment. The survey, by the San Diego-based International Dance Exercise Association, found those ages 35 to 54 accounted for 37 percent of all Americans with personal trainers.
Clients tend to be middle- to upper-income; 42 percent make more than $75,000 a year, and 20 percent make $50,000 to $75,000. They fork over $35 to $100 a session for the personalized routine, most often at health clubs but sometimes in homes or at a trainer's studio.
The American Council on Exercise (ACE) says the market for personal trainers continues to grow as more boomers turn to the customized workout programs. Perhaps inevitably, personal trainers also have moved into cyberspace, offering customized workouts online.
But Web training is best left to experienced exercisers or those with specific goals such as training for a marathon, says Ken Germano, ACE's executive director. "The critical eye of a personal trainer is missing online," he says. "It's a great innovation, but a cyber coach isn't the best choice for everyone, and certainly no substitute for a hands-on trainer."
