Working with preschoolers to increase activity and exercise is what Zach Trevor does part of the time. The other half is spent kicking adults into gear. Read on to learn more. – Sarah

What attracted you to the field of fitness and exercise? I have been a lifelong athlete and have participated in some form of organized sport since I could walk. I initially got into fitness as a means to better myself an athlete particularly baseball. I played club baseball in college at UC Santa Cruz and participated in several intramural sports including football, basketball and volleyball. As a result of playing sports my whole life, I have always been active and it was almost inevitable that I would be attracted to the fitness industry being that sports and fitness go hand in hand. It wasn’t until my first year out of college that I saw the benefits of fitness and exercise on the community through being introduced to a new wave/style of working out called Crossfit by a close friend of mine. After about a year of participating in community based, small local Crossfit gyms, I saw how fitness had the power to bring people together in a positive, fun and challenging way. From there I got my certification as a Crossfit trainer. This was when I knew I wanted to become active in the fitness industry.

Your Job Title? Group Fitness Instructor at Burn SF & Head Coach at LionHeart Fitness Kids

Company you are with now? Burnsf & LionHeart Fitness Kids

Website: www.burnsf.com & www.lionheartfitness.com

A typical (or not so typical) day-in-the-work-life for you? My first part time job is with Burn SF. A typical work day for me here would be arriving at the studio 15 minutes before my class starts which means 5:15pm every Thursday nights and 7:45am every Saturday mornings. I arrive, put my music on, make sure my notes are in place and essentially meet and greet everyone before my class begins. Then for the next 55 minutes I am leading a group of roughly 15 people through a structured full body workout which includes cardio, Pilates and weight training. I do not work out with them but rather demonstrate the moves and offer modifications and corrections where I see fit.

My other part time job is with a company called LionHeart Fitness Kids. I coach fitness/ sports classes for preschoolers around the bay area through a structured non-competitive sport specific camp. A typical day would be doing 4 classes in a row each class roughly 40 minutes in which I am playing, joking and having fun with the kids in whatever sport we are playing. Then I would have a few hour break and come back for a few more classes at whatever preschool I am at.

How did you get your current job in fitness and exercise? I applied online through Craigslist, sent in my resume and the director at Burn Sf emailed me back for an interview. It took several emails back and forth and a lot of persistence on my part to follow up with the director on a time to come in and chat. I meet up at one of the studios, talked for 15 minutes or so and lead a short workout routine with the director. After a month of on the job training, I was hired as a full time instructor. My other job as a coach I applied online through craigslist and came in for an interview. I was hired a few days after.

What skills were you born with and what skills have you learned along the way? I have always been very outgoing with a type A personality. I think my greatest asset as a trainer/ coach is great communication skills and confidence in myself which I try to instill in my clients. I have had to learn how to modify my workouts and really focus on breaking down each movement as most people’s fitness levels vary greatly.

What advice do you have for others wanting to be just as successful and fulfilled as you? The fitness industry is not your typical 8-5 job. Be prepared to work random hours, including weekends and holidays. Most fitness jobs pay hourly/compensation which means higher pay but you will not be doing 40 hours a week. It is great because you can have several gigs at once and always do other fun things on the side. My only advice I can give is to be as social as you can. Especially in this industry, it is about who you know and the connections you make. Be yourself and make the most of every encounter you have because you never know if that is a potential client down the line.

If you could be paid for your job with something other than a paycheck, what would it be? I would be paid in Mexican food or SF Giants baseball tickets.

Sarah Koszyk, MA, RDN, is a Registered Dietitian and Sports Nutritionist specializing in Weight Management and Sports Nutrition for youth and adults. She writes articles for multiple publications, provides customized nutrition coaching, and is a brand spokesperson. She is founder of Family. Food. Fiesta.Connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, or LinkedIn.