She Wants Work Out of Workouts

Five years ago, Venise Vinegar’s physician suggested she spend more time at the gym. The 48-year-old Van Nuys resident was suffering from degenerative disc disease: Exercise might improve her condition.

Months later--after countless squats, lunges, yoga poses and resistance exercises--Vinegar was pain-free. But what had started as rehabilitation had evolved into a passion. Vinegar was hooked on fitness. She began to dream about teaching people its benefits. She even found herself watching flawless hard bodies pump iron on ESPN, and fantasized about having an exercise show of her own.

But how could the Paramount Pictures administrative assistant get a toned leg into this very competitive field? And what fitness specialty could she make her own? For help with her career dilemma, Vinegar consulted renowned Los Angeles-based fitness expert Karen Voight.

Vinegar told Voight that, recently, she’s been wanting to launch a corporate fitness business. She would like to educate employees about proper posture, nutrition, movement and breathing. She’s convinced this would help them become more energetic, creative and productive.

She’d also like to learn about workplace ergonomics--the science of “fitting jobs to workers.” This might enable her to offer additional services to companies, such as designing, setting up and evaluating office furniture and exercise equipment.

“I think I see this on the horizon--combining fitness and ergonomics,” Vinegar said. “But I’m not sure whether it’s tangible. And I know I’ll need to get some education and experience first.”

Voight praised Vinegar for her passion, determination and prescience. The corporate fitness niche Vinegar has targeted is quite lucrative, Voight said. Vinegar’s innovative combination of “body reeducation” and ergonomic consulting might get a warm reception at corporations, too.

According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, work-related musculoskeletal disorders “remain the most prevalent, most expensive and most preventable occupational injuries in the U.S. today”--costing corporations an estimated $20 billion in workers’ compensation each year.

But Voight cautioned Vinegar about the rocky road ahead. Success in the fitness industry translates into long hours, intense competition, savvy “brand” building and an around-the-clock positive attitude. Financial security usually takes years to achieve.

“It’s a tricky business to be in,” Voight said. “The illusion of it is more inviting than the reality. People expect you to be full of energy no matter how hard your day is. They’re paying you to get their bodies in shape, not to be tired. You have to absolutely love what you’re doing, or the hours and effort can be killers.”

Vinegar said she was up for the challenge.

Voight and other fitness professionals offered Vinegar these tips:

* Take exercise science courses. Although Vinegar says she was able to successfully remedy her back pain through an exercise program she developed via trial and error, Voight recommended she nonetheless take basic exercise science courses, including anatomy, exercise physiology, biomechanics and kinesiology. She’ll also need to get CPR certification.

With these courses, she’ll gain a deeper understanding of the human musculoskeletal system and its abilities. She’ll also be able to better assess her clients and more safely coach them.

By obtaining an advanced degree in a fitness- or ergonomics-related field, Vinegar could further expand her employment opportunities.

A kinesiology (exercise science) degree would give her the education necessary to do corporate consulting, either independently or with a large fitness consulting organization such as New Jersey-based MediFit, said Mari Bianchi, who manages a fitness center for Cigna in Philadelphia.

It also would enable her to set up corporate health promotion programs, said Nellie Orr, assistant professor of kinesiology at the University of Maine.

A few colleges, such as Ball State University in Muncie, Ind., offer “wellness management” graduate degrees that give students training in both health-fitness and business affairs.

This prepares them for corporate careers, said Neil Schmottlach, director of Ball State University’s Fisher Institute for Wellness and Gerontology.

Should Vinegar wish to seriously study ergonomics, she can obtain an advanced degree in the field, with either an engineering or psychology emphasis, said Rani Lauder, a Reseda-based ergonomist.

She could also study biomechanics or enroll in an undergraduate-level industrial design program if she’s interested in developing workplace products or exercise equipment.

* Get credentialed. “People will ask about your background, and if you don’t have the formal education and training, there’ll be a lot of question marks,” Voight said.

Vinegar can consider working toward certification by a nationally recognized organization such as the American College of Sports Medicine (https://www.acsm.org) or the American Council on Exercise (https://www.acefitness.org).

To meet others in the field and learn more about the corporate fitness industry, she can join the Assn. for Worksite Health Promotion (https://www.awhp.org).

But if Vinegar wants to rehabilitate employees who have been injured or disabled, she should consider working under a medical professional’s supervision or getting training as a physical therapist, said Deborah Saint-Phard, a physiatrist (medical doctor specializing in physical medicine and rehabilitation) at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City.

* Explore a wide range of fitness modalities. Voight encouraged Vinegar to investigate a variety of therapeutic fitness modalities that might benefit office workers. If Vinegar enjoys one or more of these disciplines, she can integrate their teachings into her budding fitness business. Examples of such modalities include the Alexander Technique, Feldenkrais Method, Rolfing, Pilates, Trager Bodywork, Touch for Health, massage and yoga.

Vinegar--and other fitness industry newcomers--should remain pragmatic about the field’s salary range, which tends to be lower than that of many other professions, said Jason Conviser, vice president for clinical services at Bally Total Fitness in Chicago.

“In our industry, very few jobs pay a $60,000 salary,” Conviser said. “You’re far more likely to get $20,000 to $25,000 as a personal trainer, or as someone who’s setting up equipment.” Conviser suggested that fitness aspirants develop several areas of expertise to boost their marketplace value.

* Market yourself. “A big part of [becoming successful] in this industry is name recognition,” Voight said. “People will ask, ‘Who is she? What has she done? What celebrities or well-known businesses has she helped?’ ”

Once Vinegar has become an experienced fitness professional, she can consider writing a book or producing a videotape to further establish herself as a field authority, Voight said.

Peter McLaughlin, vice president of FitnessAge in La Jolla and author of “CatchFire” (Ballantine Publishing, 1998), a “total fitness” book for businesspeople, made a name for himself this way.

Possessing only an English literature degree, McLaughlin partnered with a sports psychologist, did independent research and parlayed his years of business experience into a health/performance consultingpractice.

Today, his clients include AT&T;, Hewlett-Packard, IBM and PepsiCo. He says his fees from just one client alone total $150,000 annually.

McLaughlin encouraged Vinegar to develop her teaching skills, study exercise science and acquire testimonials from satisfied clients--even if, at first, she must offer her services for free.

“Most of all, you have to be good and you have to be fun,” McLaughlin said.

Armed with all this new information, Vinegar told Voight she’s going to take things slowly. She’ll remain at her present job, and enroll in fitness-related classes as she further hones her business plan.

Once Vinegar has made headway, Voight said she’ll consult with her again. Perhaps, Voight said, she may even be able to help Vinegar produce a video about her unique program.

“If you have a deep desire for this, then don’t get discouraged by the competition,” Voight said. “Keep following your passion. It’s the people who have passion in their lives who are happier and healthier.”

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Time for a Change

* Name: Venise Vinegar

* Occupation: Executive administrative assistant

* Desired occupation: Corporate fitness consultant

* Quote: “Happiness for me would come from helping and motivating people, and being immersed in exercise.”

Counselor’s Recommendations

Take basic exercise science courses. Get professional fitness credentials. Build expertise and reputation.

Meet the Coach

Karen Voight has been a fitness professional for 20 years. Named “Fitness Instructor of the Year” and “Business Person of the Year” by the International Dance and Exercise Assn., Voight has reached thousands of people with her exercise programs, videotapes and books.