There we go. Somebody finally gets it!!
My post wasn't meant to discuss my hiring practices, it was simply a amusing tid bit about personal trainers needed w/ no exp necessary and if you're not in somewhat reasonable shape, you'll have to make a commitment to strive towards that. No, you don't need a phd and an olympia physique to be a trainer in my gym, but experience is invaluable. There are pro athletes that train with me and workout at my gym, so if a intern so to speak misguided them or caused an injury, it would be detrimental to my business. Because of trainers w/ out field experience and/or education, most trainers get a bum rap. My gym is the place you go when you know better than to get a corporate gym trainer. It's not snotty or uppidy. It's simply wanting to be the best at what you do. I see nothing wrong with holding yourself to the same standards that you'd hope someone else would if they were a potential trainer of yours.
I applaud your commitment to quality and wish more businesses were run that way. As you've no doubt observed however, a McDonald's makes a lot more money than most quality restaurants. Your clientele sound like connoisseurs, and I'm glad there's enough around for you to make a buck, but the McD's of the gym world will continue to thrive. I agree its absurd, but that's the way of the world.
Consider this thought experiment: If you opened a second gym and ran it the way chain "fitness centers" are run, would you make more money or less money than you currently make from your gym?
Not bustin' your chops man, just saying the reason these damn fitness centers are popping up everywhere is because they are consistently profitable in spite of their modus operandi.
