Q&A: Working Abroad as a Fitness Instructor – Things to Consider

So you’ve been killing it with your fitness business on your home turf. Maybe you’ve even moved once or twice — or had to rebuild your client list from scratch. But now, you find yourself craving more.

You’ve entertained the thought of working internationally, but the thought of starting over abroad both excites and overwhelms you. Is this just a crazy idea, or actually a feasible option?

We sat down with Carla Mae, a local fitness instructor who has done just that, so you can learn from her experiences and see if working abroad as a personal trainer could be the right move for you.

Hi Carla! Can you tell us a little about yourself and what inspired you to become a personal trainer?

Carla Mae O’Connor (CM): I’ve studied dance since I was three years old and went on to get my BFA in dance at Western Michigan University. Right after, I took a job teaching dance abroad. Originally, I was interested in going the performance route, but I found myself discouraged by that pretty quickly. Then I found group fitness. I took my first SoulCycle class in 2017 and cried my eyes out. I had this awakening within me and I just thought I wanted to do that. I want to make someone feel the way that I felt in that room. Now, I am a personal trainer, a group fitness instructor, and I also do program design and teacher training internationally.

What made you decide to take your personal training career abroad?

CM: I studied abroad in Istanbul, Turkey, and I went there because I didn’t know much about it. When I told people I was going, they would say things like “that seems crazy,” or “pick anywhere else in the world,” but once I got there, I just fell in love with it. I had so much curiosity for things I knew nothing about. After that, I wanted to live abroad again, ideally somewhere else that people told me I shouldn’t go.

After graduation, I went to Panama with a nonprofit organization called Movement Exchange. We would teach dance classes, take dance classes, and I met a lot of people that were into movement and travel. I met someone from that organization who was teaching in China. They had a connection that was looking for an American instructor in China, specifically for dance, and I just answered the call. Three weeks later, I was on a plane and I was moving my entire life, with no expectations. It wasn’t necessarily that I wanted to go directly to China or that I knew that I wanted to get into fitness (that actually came later once I was there), but it was the curiosity for being in a new environment that really got me to that place.

What is a common fear or misconception you’ve heard about working internationally?

CM: One that I hear a lot, specifically with China, is about the government system, the legalities behind it and how free you’re going to feel in comparison to living in the US. We’re fed a lot of information about other countries through a lens that maybe our government or the media wants us to see, but it’s not reality. Going to China, I was scared that I was going to feel limited or have to be careful about what I say, who I talked to, where I go, but I didn’t feel that to be the case at all. I think there are assumptions we have about being in other places that hold us back from giving them a full opportunity to show us what it’s actually like to be there, so it’s important to have an open mind.

What are the biggest challenges of working in another country?

CM: I think the biggest challenges are finding your clients and having a language barrier. I’m lucky that my native language is English and that gets me far, but it still holds me back from speaking to a lot of people. It’s important to make the effort to learn the language so you can explain basic movement concepts to potential clients and understand how to market yourself. I needed to learn how to use completely different apps and have the ability to do so all in Chinese because they’re not available in English. I don’t speak or read Chinese, so I had to find and hire talent that was able to support me. Additionally, you have to find somewhere to live, you have to get a Visa, and that, at least in China, is a lengthy process.

How were you able to find opportunities in a foreign country?

CM: After I moved to China I approached one of the local studios and asked if they were hiring. They told me they had consultants from LA there doing a two month training, and asked if I wanted to join? That’s how I kind of fell into it. None of it was planned, there was no roadmap, there was no goal setting, just taking actionable steps. From there, it all kind of all fell into place.

How did you learn about local fitness trends?

CM:  I traveled around China a lot and anytime you walk into a park, there are people practicing Tai Chi in groups, people dancing, whether it’s with a partner or just to the music playing. Taking a walk through any public areas gives you a feel of what people’s daily life looks like. You see the different ages and different demographics. You see where people are living, where the restaurants that your target clientele would be hanging out at. What other businesses are around? Are there any fitness studios in the area? Then that probably means there’s a little bit of education already done in this market.

For anyone thinking about starting a fitness business abroad, what steps do you recommend they take to get started?

CM: Definitely visit and spend a significant amount of time in the market that you want to enter. Get to know the market and your potential clientele, what their pain points are and how you can speak to that. It’s also important to understand what it takes as a foreigner to own and operate a business in that country. Having a network where you can find who is going to help you get your goal off the ground is really important. I think assuming that it’s going to be easy would be one of the biggest mistakes that you can make. I wouldn’t say that as trying to discourage anyone, just be ready to put your head down and do a lot of research.

Any last words of advice you’d like to share with our readers?

CM: If working and traveling abroad interests you, go after it. Even if it’s temporary, there’s a lot more opportunity than we’re aware of. Because the US is one of the most advanced markets in fitness, we have this idea that we want to stick around because there’s not as much development elsewhere in the fitness space, but there’s actually a lot of interest in what we know and what we can share. Put yourself out there, even if it means going for a trip and taking classes and introducing yourself. So much can happen with a wide network, but you have to put yourself out there and start creating it.

Ah, so many amazing takeaways! Where can our readers find and follow you?

CM: 
Instagram: @carlamaeoconnor
Website: www.carlamaeoconnor.com

Be on the lookout for Part II of this interview series in next month’s issue, where we’ll learn about one trainer’s story of making a career change into the fitness industry after moving to America and landing big name clients.