In a room somewhere in the south of the island last week, the air carried a palpable feeling of history in the making. A call was issued some weeks ago, and six of the respondents took time out of their busy schedules to answer it with their esteemed presence.

At a round table they sat, with the purpose of discussing issues fundamental to the future of our industry. The good news is now being spread, and many more will be invited to form part of an exciting new project, the brainchild of this select group of pioneers, an initiative that will do nothing short of revolutionise fitness forever in the Maltese islands.

Paul Sansome, Jim Harvey, Gil­lian Grech, Celine Fenech Ada­mi, Sarah Agius, Manuel Mangion and myself were present, with others in the loop who couldn’t make it on the day, but are keen to invest their time and efforts in the subsequent phases of the operation.

The subject of the meeting affects everyone in the fitness industry – providers , trainers, participants and gym members. The long overdue clean-up job of the local industry is now finally set to begin. It will lead to better services, more safety, more competent profes­sionals and ultimately, better results for you, the consumer.

The first step is being made – the creation of a national register of exercise professionals. All other nations where quality fitness services are available have one, and now so too will we.

Never again will you have to wonder if your trainer is really qualified, if it’s really safe to train with them, if the club you train at observes basic fundamental mea­sures to ensure the protection of your health, safety, and well-being, and most importantly of all, if the fitness product you purchase and buy into with your time, com­mitment and enthu­siasm, is actually going to work at all.

If customers are not being trick­ed or sold a bunch of addi­tional products they don’t really need we can expect them to adhere better to their exercise regimes and they stand better chances of achie­ving their fitness goals. We can expect to see a reduction in easily avoidable injuries resulting from poor exercise prescription and super­vision. We can also ex­pect to see a reduction in un­de­sirable in­cidents resulting from unpro­fes­sional or in­appro­priate beha­viours from instructors and trainers.

No longer will we have to settle for second best, because we deserve nothing but the best

The register means that trainers and clubs who buy in, whoever they are, will enjoy a seal of quality that sets them apart. It doesn’t matter how big or small the club is either; if it’s on the register, you know you’re safe when you go there, it really is as simple as that.

If you hire a trainer, you know they can operate true to industry standards, that they have the knowledge and competence to help you succeed, and that they are operating legally and hold suitable liability insurance to practise.

Every local fitness professional will be given all the support and assistance they need to reach this standard and show their commit­ment to a code of ethics that keeps you safe and values your interests above all else.

Nobody will be left behind, and by the time the register project is complete, we can expect some truly remarkable improvements in quality across the board.

The register is to be run by the industry, for the industry, and every professional will play their part; indeed, board elections are the next step thereby ensuring everyone has their fair say. The spirit of the register is one of assistance, support and positive re-enforcement, not penalties and exclusions. Fitness providers setting up with the best of intentions will no longer be penalised and run out of business for playing by the rules; instead they will be celebrated.

The Malta register will enjoy partnerships with several other registers around the world, ensuring local professionals are qualified to the same standards as theirs, promoting international mobility of fitness instructors and personal trainers.

Local trainers will have oppor­tunities to work in some of the most thriving industries in the world and bring back a wealth of knowledge and experience with them. Foreign professionals of quality will be coming to Malta too, and their background and experience will be known, with­out having to take their word for it, because the essence of con­fe­derated registers is trans­parency.

The standards adopted by the register will be in line with those practised in the US, UK and Australia, all considered driving forces in the international fitness industry. No longer will we have to settle for second best, because we deserve nothing but the best.

There are some extremely talented trainers in the Maltese islands, and now customers will be able to find out who they are, gaining access to them at costs no higher than what they pay now. The only difference is, they’ll now know exactly what they’re paying for, and they’ll have all the tools they need to make an informed decision by diffentiating between the multitude of services of offer. All they’ll need to do to do is log on to the register’s website to find out all they need to know about the local industry and the professionals that constitute it.

How wonderful it is to be the bearer of such good news, and it certainly seems there will be plenty more of it to come. Start spreading the word, because things are looking up for the fitness industry in Malta. Watch this space!

matthew.muscat.inglott@mcast.edu.mt