REAL WORLD PT
CHRIS DOUNIS SELF-EMPLOYED PT NSW
A SNAPSHOT OF HOW TODAY ’ S PERSONAL TRAINERS ARE WORKING , LIVING AND SHAPING THEIR CAREERS
Business name :
Chris Dounis Exercise Physiology , cdexercisephysiology . com
How long have you been a PT ? I ’ ve been a PT for 5 years and an exercise physiologist for 7 years .
Are you full time or part time ?
Full time
Why did you become a trainer ? I fell in love with training at a young age , so I probably decided to become a trainer when I was about 10 years old ! I ’ ve only ever worked in the health and fitness industry . I studied nutrition when I left high school and proceeded to study exercise science at university . Still wanting to learn more about the effects of exercise on the body , I then did a Masters in Clinical Exercise Physiology , while also doing volunteer work . After graduating , I started my business . I ’ m absolutely fascinated by the human body and always have been . The ability to positively impact so many people ’ s lives drives me to always become a better practitioner .
Do you specialise ?
Given my clinical background , I specialise in special conditions more than many PTs do . I worked in various hospitals and rehabilitation settings prior to starting my own business , so I like to think that I ’ m able to help anyone that reaches out for help . I ’ ve also trained in powerlifting and bodybuilding for many years , so I believe I ’ m quite versatile .
Do you have a signature style of training ?
Not particularly – it ’ s just based on an understanding of my client ’ s needs and desires . In my clients ’ initial consultations I ask about their exercise history and whether there ’ s something in their training past that they enjoyed , and will attempt to incorporate it into our training . I firmly believe that training should be fun , and if clients enjoy our time together they ’ ll keep coming back – and ultimately achieve better results , which makes them happy , and so the cycle continues . Exercise should never be seen as a chore .
How many hours do you train clients for each week ?
Between 60 and 70 hours .
How many hours do you spend working on your business ?
I try to put in at least 5 hours per week , but this is not as many as I would like , because on top of the 80-90 sessions that I complete
16 | NETWORK AUTUMN 2017