Fame
Fitness instructors can achieve a certain level of celebrity status. They're usually the kinds of people perfectly suited for the task: personable, motivational, in great shape, and accustomed to being the center of attention for hours on end. Couple that with the country's centuries-old obsession with the latest and greatest fitness fads, and you've got the makings for some serious fame potential.
The most famous celebrity instructors are typically the face of their specific workout program. From Richard Simmons' Sweating to the Oldies to Billy Blanks and Team Tae Bo, the popular workouts push their representative instructor as much as they do the routines themselves. It isn't just relegated to home workout videos either: Jillian Michaels was able to transition her successful gym training into a fitness empire that includes books, magazines, and features her face all over television.
Now, what are the odds of this happening to you? Pretty slim, actually. Just like any kind of fame, there's a great deal of "right place, right time" involved. The vast majority of fitness instructors ply their trade in local gyms, studios, and health centers, and are more than happy at those levels. It's a very specific instructor who's looking to propel themselves into the hearts and minds of out-of-shape individuals everywhere—and you'll typically find them in New York and L.A.