Tom Hanks: Personal Trainer Extraordinaire

You’re probably wondering how a guy like Hanks, who isn’t exactly known for starring in action roles, would make a good personal trainer. It’s simple, really; the man disappears into his roles in a way that few other working actors can. When he assumes the role, we believe it. But we’re not really talking about Hanks being a personal trainer, but how some of his lines from movies uncover a lot about how personal trainers work.

The role of a personal trainer is to inspire you to believe in yourself. Like actors, they work hard to provide inspiration to normal people through language they can relate to. Most people don’t respond to commands like “Move faster!” or “Is that all you got?” They need support, context, emotional appeal and sometimes a little humor. And who’s got more humor and emotional appeal than Tom Hanks? Answer: No one.

Even though Tom Hanks isn’t (one assumes) a certified personal trainer, we can imagine that he would make a good one, simply based on lines he’s delivered in movies throughout his career that were believable. Like a good personal trainer, he uses everything at his disposal. He’s got that everyman look, he’s got moxie, he’s got humor and delivery, he’s got it all! So let’s take some of his famous lines and put it in the perspective of a personal trainer’s job …

"Houston, we have a problem." – Jim Lovell, Apollo 13
Personal trainers learn that the first step in helping a client is identifying the problem. Are they overweight? Are they training for an event? Do they feel too weak? A good education will help you create the perfect workout plan for your client.

"I wish I were big." – Josh Baskin, Big
The job of every personal trainer is to get to know their clients’ goals and develop a proper course of action. Not everyone will want to be bigger, but nearly everyone wants to be fitter.

"There's no crying in baseball." – Jimmy Dugan, A League of Their Own
There’s no way to put this nicely. You will have criers for clients. Being a personal trainer to people who think they’re at their physical limit can be difficult and emotional. It’s important for a personal trainer to be positive and supportive, but you also have to learn when to crack the whip. They’ll thank you for it later.

"My mama always said life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get." – Forrest Gump, Forrest Gump
Clients come in a lot of flavors. Some will need motivation, some will need information, and some just need good old perspiration. Good personal trainers love to be around people and understand what inspires them.

"James, earn this ... Earn it." Captain John H. Miller, Saving Private Ryan
Life means more to us when we feel like we’ve accomplished something. For many, it all starts with a degree program and a dream. With training from Bryan College, you can earn your degree, gain the expertise, and become a personal trainer. If you want it, you can earn it.

Find out more about the Personal Training or Exercise Specialist programs at Bryan College, or request more information now.