SMART SKILLS
Fat chance in fitness field
Usha Albuquerque

BEND..two..three..four! Stretch your arms out wide …". Health and fitness exercises on TV are now so commonplace that you don’t have to ask for Jane Fonda! Getting into shape at the gym! Doing workouts, sweating it out on the tennis court or the golf course. This is the mantra of the modern generation. And now seeing pictures in business magazines of Anil Ambani jogging down Rajpath, exercising has a high profile too.

With the stresses and strains of our fast moving everyday life, most people are realising how important it is to maintain a balanced diet, and do regular exercises not only to stay fit but to look good too. No wonder, health and beauty are important career options today.

Healthcare is hot

Healthcare in itself is a huge Rs 70,000 crore industry today, with great scope for growth in the private sector in particular. Moreover, fitness training is a very essential aspect of healthcare with growing opportunities for counsellors and fitness specialists, nutritionists and dietitians, and physiotherapists.

And with larger numbers of women entering the workplace, the need to appear well groomed and attractive has assumed greater importance, not just for women, but also for men. And as the complexities of modern living leave little time for personal grooming, more and more people are turning increasingly to professionals for treatments that enhance and maintain their looks. This has resulted in a burgeoning of beauty products and beauty treatments, turning beauty care or cosmetology into a Rs. 100 crore industry.

So, if you are a fitness freak, love the outdoors, want to look good and make others look good too, then health and beauty could be just the careers for you.

Trained physiotherapists or occupational therapists can opt to become fitness specialists or counsellors. So can sports and physical education teachers. Such professionals are today employed in a big way, not just with gymnasiums and fitness centres, but also with schools, colleges, sports authorities and other such institutions. Yoga instructors and naturopaths are also included in this category.

If you are more sporty and an outdoor-type, you can become a coach or physical training instructor. There are growing opportunities in this area.

Fitness specialists are also in great demand. Sportspersons, film stars and celebrities today require their own personal instructors. Many fitness specialists have established their own gymnasiums too or find jobs in gymnasiums, fitness and health care centres.

Yoga too is very popular today, because in yoga the emphasis is not just on exercises but on balanced diet as well. It has been a major healer in ancient India. Be it a physical ailment or mental—- the cure for all these can be found in yoga. It is a complete disciplining routine, involving all kinds of physical and meditative exercises.

Kinesthetics is another aspect of health and fitness. It is a science that involves the study of body motion and movement in diverse situations. Exercise physiologists are mainly employed here. So, whether it is aerobics, yoga, naturopathy, ayurveda, or even holistic health, people are now becoming more health conscious, and making efforts to stay fit and trim.

There are several degree and diploma level programmes available today for each of these options. You can do a Bachelors in Physical Education (B.PEd) as a three-year course after plus two or one year after graduation. You can even opt for going abroad and doing a degree in Kinesiology. There are also short courses run by private gyms and health clubs to train fitness experts. Companies like Reebok and Nike have started such training classes, and students can then go on to opening their own gyms too.

Some of the institutions offering courses in physical education/ fitness training/ yoga/ naturopathy include:

nUniversity of Delhi, Guru Nanak Dev University, Panjab University Chandigarh, and Punjabi University, Patiala, offer B. PEd.

nLakshmibai National College of Physical Education at Thiruvanthapuram also offers a PG diploma in Health & Fitness Management

nIndira Gandhi Institute of Physical Education & Sports Sciences, New Delhi, offers a B.Sc in Health & Physical Education

nTalwalkar’s health & Fitness Academy in Mumbai & several other cities.

nInstitute of Yoga and Naturopathy, near Iskcon Temple, New Delhi.

It covers the overall condition of looking good, and therefore includes everything from beauty therapy to health clubs. Often, two or more services are offered under one roof, and the quality of services and facilities can range from the luxurious salons at five-star hotels to functional commercial establishments and intimate owner-run parlours. Some beauticians also work at clients’ homes, but most beauticians work in beauty salons. Some of these are exclusive women’s or men’s parlours a growing number cater to both men and women. Many beauticians also prepare and sometimes sell their own beauty care products.

Work in the field of beauty and hair care encompasses several areas:

Beauty therapy covers treatments of face, skin, nails and body, and extends from make-up and facials to massage and diet. It also includes advising clients on grooming and make-up, or dealing with skin complaints that do not require medical treatment. Most beauty parlours also offer hairdressing, the treatment of hair and scalp, as well as styling and cutting. Hairdressers use a range of techniques to make hair look healthy and attractive, and advise clients on the right choice of hairstyle and care and maintenance of their hair.

Beauty consultancy is usually provided by large cosmetic firms and involves the sales and promotion of beauty products produced and developed by them. Beauty consultants have to be knowledgeable about skin care, of the use of different products and the benefits of various treatments advocated.

Although it is not necessary, some training is advisable. A Diploma in Beauty & Hair Care/ Cosmetology is an advantage if you want to work as a beautician or cosmetologist.

There is no specific eligibility criteria required for entering the beauty field. But being a specialist skill, it does require not only professional expertise but also a great deal of practical training to gain proficiency. There are several training schools for beauty and hair care courses. Most require no particular academic qualification. However, a plus two or at least a class X level qualification is preferred.

The duration of the courses varies from institution to institution, and also depends on the area of specialisation.

Some of the prominent institutions imparting training in beauty and cosmetology are listed as follows:

nVLCC, New Delhi, Chandigarh and Jaipur

nShahnaz Hussain’s Women’s World International, B-40, Greater Kailash-1, New Delhi, and at Noida

nHabib’s Hair Academy, M-3, South Extension, Part-2, New Delhi.

nRVTI for Women ( National Council for Vocational Training) at Allahabad, Jaipur and Indore

nGuru Nank Dev University, Amritsar

nPolytechnic for women, A-3, South Extension, Part-1, New Delhi.

nYWCA of Delhi, New Delhi

Avenues abroad

Moreover, if you are keen on studying abroad, there are several universities in Ireland, Australia and New Zealand in particular where you can go in for further studies. They generally accept Indian academic standards, but may just require proof of English proficiency.

With Indian women winning accolades at international beauty competitions, beauty and glamour is no longer confined to the catwalk. Today, even small towns boast of beauty parlours, and traditional middle-aged men and women are fighting the flab in neighbourhood gyms. Moreover market research studies indicate that intensive face care, the use of creams and lotions and the visits to the beauty parlours has evolved into a regular routine for most young men and women, turning beauty care into one of the faster growing industries.

So, if you are seriously considering beauty and fitness as career options, then you are really lucky… you can not only stay in shape, but also help keep others fit and fine!