The defining moment for Narween Otto, the instant she realized she was ready to trade her frenetic life as a film producer for a new life as a yoga instructor, came during a yoga class.
Already a part-time instructor, she was at that moment adjusting students into proper alignment. "I was connecting with people," she recalls. "I was being giving and kind and sharing and good to people. Someone asked me how it felt, and I welled up with tears. I liked who I was."
That type of epiphany is shared by many people who opt out of their current careers -- often of the long hours, mega-stressed variety -- and switch to professions in the health and fitness arena, such as yoga teacher, Pilates instructor, dietitian or personal trainer. For them, this is not just jumping from "Job A" to "Job B" simply because of burnout or boredom. They form a deep connection to these careers brought about by a firsthand, life-changing experience: the transformative power of Pilates, the serenity and spirituality of yoga, the renewed vitality and well-being prompted by a healthy diet.
Sheila King, program director of UCLA Extension's certification program in fitness instruction, says students often enroll in the program as part of a mid-career switch. "There's the dissatisfaction with what they're currently doing and the simultaneous draw of getting deep satisfaction out of helping people feel better about themselves," she says. "They've experienced it themselves -- typically most of the people in the curriculum are fit, and they come from the personal experience of transformation, and they want to pursue their passion."
The health club and fitness industry raked in $13.1 billion in 2002, according to the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Assn., even as the population continues to get fatter. It's a scenario that's opened up job possibilities, many tailored for entrepreneurial-minded men and women seeking their niche in a field.
Finding that niche can be a daunting task. After all, making a leap into these occupations isn't without its risks, pitfalls and sacrifices. Changing careers is often accompanied by a dramatically lowered income, radical change of lifestyle and a tough time finding jobs.
Some yoga teachers who have recently graduated from teacher-training programs are finding a glut of instructors in the L.A. area. Several gyms and yoga studios report getting five or more calls a day from instructors looking for work, and top gyms have their pick of the best.
