Tell us a little bit about you
Hi! My name is Joel Chong, and I’m an ACE certified PT, Head Coach of REVL Training at Raffles Place, and a competitive powerlifter under Powerlifting Singapore. I’m also a coach at F45 Tanjong Pagar and run a strength and conditioning course for dancers in collaboration with dance studio Nasty Drills. My fitness coaching practice involves helping clients of all demographics and backgrounds achieve their fitness goals in a healthy, sustainable way, especially through resistance training.
How I got started
Having been active for most of my life, I always enjoyed fitness but never considered it as a career option. All this changed when Covid struck. Unable to find a job upon graduating from university in 2021, I was offered a place to work at F45 Tanjong Pagar upon the condition that I get certified within 3 months. I took the plunge and studied for my American Council of Exercise PT certification while learning on the job with F45 TP. Many opportunities presented themselves and I felt a calling to stay in the fitness industry till today.
Do you recommend getting a fitness qualification/certification over gaining actual experience first, and why?
No certification can replace gaining experience coaching real clients. However, opportunities to gather real, valuable experience can be few and far between without a certification, and certifications are becoming more and more accessible! If you have the chance to gain experience before, or while you are being certified, such as by assisting another PT, or an internship, I say go for it! If not, there’s nothing wrong with getting a certification first and gaining experience later. The most important thing is to gain experience with a team that values you and wishes for you to grow.
What does your typical day look like for you? Is it as fun and smooth as it often looks?
It’s definitely variable and sometimes unpredictable! My days usually start around 5am. I’ll have a quick breakfast, then cab to the CBD to teach the morning classes at REVL Training Raffles Place. I use the time between morning and lunch classes to catch up with friends and clients, and squeeze in my own powerlifting training. After lunch it’s the same until evening, where after a quick dinner, I’ll coach, program for, and respond to clients if I need to. I usually do my best to leave a couple of evening hours open for my loved ones, and for relaxation. The same goes for the weekends!
Learning to draw a balance between work and life is harder in the fitness industry, and it’s something I’m still trying to get a grip on, but as with anything, practice will eventually pay off!
How did recent advances in tech & innovation helped you elevate your career, what are some examples? Is it always positive?
Technology and it’s ability to elevate the craft of the fitness industry professional always amazes me. From the screen displays at F45 to new innovations on the gym floor and lessening cost of gym equipment through innovative manufacturing methods, my view of technology and innovation in the fitness market is largely positive, and I always look forward to seeing how it changes every year and becomes more and more accessible to willing adopters. I believe technology makes fitness more accessible to more individuals, and it allows me to better leverage my skills as a coach to benefit more people as well! There will always be hiccups, but I believe that these are resolved with time in any new technology, and the benefits usually outweigh the hassle. I’m all for tech, and I hope to see it continue to grow!
How do you define success, and what are some of the challenges you had to overcome?
Success tends to be a bit more rigidly defined here in Singapore where I’m based. Earning a certain salary, having certain possessions and a following of a certain size all come to mind. However, success to me is being able to positively influence the lives of my colleagues and clients, and a successful future for me would be one where I can make a sustainable living doing what I love, and create opportunities for other coaches to do the same.
In terms of obstacles, a lack of opportunities, connections, and resources come to mind, and new obstacles do come up every day, but they can all be dealt with somehow, one at a time. The greatest obstacle I’m facing right now is having to gain experience in several roles quickly and on the fly with less guidance than I’d like, but I’m doing my best to rise to the challenge!
What is your mission, and what are your values and aspirations?
I have several missions, goals, and aspirations that relate to my position as a fitness professional and athlete. My personal mission is to elevate my craft of coaching and fitness instruction to the highest possible level, and assist anyone who shares this goal to do the same.
Who do you look up to in terms of learning from and who’s your ‘idol’?
I think it’s important to not idolize people too much regardless of their status. Everyone is human after all. That being said, there are many people I look up to within the industry. From a learning perspective, I do look up to my powerlifting coach and current vice-president of Powerlifting Singapore, JJ Ng (@lift.ng on instagram), quite a lot. In terms of integrating knowledge from diverse sources and marrying both the art and science of coaching into a unified practice with his athletes, he’s managed to create several world class lifters and also ignited a great drive to constantly learn and apply more about both coaching and training in several individuals, myself included. JJ, if you’re reading this, thank you for all you do!
What are your biggest challenges to overcome with your clients?
Many clients want instant results, and have a lack of understanding that changing the body is a process that takes time. Instilling a sort of “training maturity” in my clients is something that has been difficult to overcome, but once done creates a lasting, healthy relationship with exercise and healthy behaviors.
What is your preferred style of encouragement towards clients?
Clients, no matter where they come from, are humans at the end of the day. Sometimes they join a session after a long, difficult day of work. Some might be coming to train to escape from mental burdens that are unknown to us. This perspective makes me prefer a warm, empathetic style of encouragement where a client is reminded that what they’re doing is good for them, and that they are capable of achieving the goals they set out to do. Although from time to time, loud music, an energetic atmosphere, and more firm encouragement may certainly be in order, haha!
What do you enjoy most about your career?
Seeing my clients and colleagues smile during sessions, when they learn something new or do something they didn’t believe they could!
How relevant are fitness qualifications/certifications today?
As it stands, the industry still has a relatively low barrier to entry. Getting certified definitely helps to get a foot in the door but certification alone will never be able to replace true understanding of the fitness concepts that the professional must apply with each and every client. I believe qualifications and certifications set a good baseline for the professional, but they should remain as that, a base to build on. A good professional will STAY relevant by constantly seeking out new knowledge and perspectives on fitness that they can use to benefit their clients.
What are some of your top tips to pass to current and/or emerging Exercise Professionals?
This isn’t the easiest industry to make a living in. Days are long, and effort is high. In order to ensure that working in it remains fulfilling and sustainable, remember to surround yourself with colleagues, professionals, and clients, who support and encourage your well-being and know your worth. Create an environment for yourself that makes it easy to keep going, and ensure that you protect that environment from bad influence. Lastly, even if it’s hard, try your best and keep going. Effort and being genuine cannot be faked, and if you show up and show those two things, people will take notice and rally around you!