| WORK IN JAPAN A Fit Life
Instant ramen washed down with
liters of beer, 80-hour workweeks, and two packs a day - Japan is hardly known for its
healthy lifestyles. Things are changing, though, as Tokyoites, foreign and Japanese, are
beginning to realize the advantages of staying fit. Daneeta Saft talked
to Mark McDonald about the business of changing lifestyles.
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Lifestyle
consultant Mark McDonald
Photo by Daneeta Aft |
What is a
"lifestyle consultant," and how does that differ from a personal trainer?
I take a sort of integrative approach. I look at the lifestyles of my clients and design
exercise programs and food strategies that fit in. It' no use insisting that they make
big changes in their lifestyles to accommodate a generic program. They may stick to that
program for a while, but then they'll drift away from it. So I look at how they exercise
and how they eat now, and we work from there. Each program is customized for the client
and fits into their particular lifestyle.
What has helped you to succeed in Japan?
I've been a personal trainer since 1986. I have a certification from the National
Federation of Professional Trainers (www.nfpt.com). If you are interested in a career in
fitness, this is a minimum requirement. The more certification you have, the better.
Japanese language skills are key. You can make a living through the foreign community, but
you could do that at home as well. While you're in Japan, experience Japan. Keeping
abreast of new health and fitness information is imperative. Also important is living a
similar lifestyle to my clients. My clients have jobs, families, they travel, they can't
spend eight hours in the gym every day. If I live, breathe and eat the gym, my clients
will think "Well, that's nice for him, but I don't have time for that." It's all
about integrating fitness into your life, not giving up your life to it.
How did you get started in Japan?
I was working as a personal trainer back in Canada. There was a Japanese student staying
with a family I knew, and I got interested in Japanese culture. I came over on a working
holiday and was teaching English. One day I was jogging in the Nogizaka area, and saw a
gym that looked like it might be a good place to work out. So I went in. I was a lot
bigger then and wearing a tank top. The guy at the desk looked at me and said, "Do
you want to work here?" It was one of those right place at the right time stories.
How do you build a client base?
Word of mouth. Or, someone might see me training one of my clients and ask what I do. I
work a bit different from other trainers in that I work on a retainer basis. I block off
times for certain clients, and, depending on what their schedule is, we'll do anything
from cycling stints around the palace, to weight training, to martial arts, to assisted
stretching, to food strategies. This leverages my time so that I can give the best
possible service to a small group of clients. I also like to give a bit back to the
community, and if I'm working all the time, I can't do that.
Mark McDonald may be contacted on 090-4914-8728. |
