Smart Skills
Groom yourself for a career in personal care
Usha Albuquerque

THE popularity of Guru Ramdev’s yoga programme is an indication of the growing demand for health and fitness activities. Doing workouts. Sweating it out on the tennis court or the golf course. This is the mantra of the modern generation. But as more and more people start looking at the mirror a little closely, getting into shape is not only good for the body, but good business too.

With the stresses and strains of our fast moving everyday life, and greater awareness, most people are realising the importance not only of looking good, but looking and feeling fit too. No wonder health and beauty has spawned a whole new industry of careers.

The health care industry in itself is a huge at Rs 70,000 crore, with great scope for growth in the private sector in particular. Moreover, fitness training is a very essential aspect of health care with growing opportunities for fitness specialists, beauticians and personal care specialists.

And with larger numbers of women entering the workplace, the need to appear well groomed and attractive has assumed greater importance, not just for women, but also for men. And as the complexities of modern living leave little time for personal grooming, more and more people are turning increasingly to professionals for treatments that enhance and maintain their looks. This has resulted in a burgeoning of beauty products and beauty treatments, turning beauty care or cosmetology into a Rs.100 crore industry.

So, if you are a fitness freak, love the outdoors, want to look good and make others look good too, then personal care could provide just the career for you.

Fitness specialists

Trained physiotherapists and sportspeople can opt to become fitness specialists or counselors. Such professionals are today employed in a big way, not just with gymnasiums and fitness centers, but also with schools, colleges, sports authorities and other such institutions. Yoga instructors and naturopaths are also included in this category.

If you are more sporty and an outdoor-type, you can become a coach or physical training instructor. There are growing opportunities in this area.

Fitness specialists are also in great demand. Sportspersons, film stars and celebrities today require their own personal instructors. Many fitness specialists have established their own gymnasiums too or find jobs in gymnasiums, fitness and health care centers.

Yoga too is very popular today, because in yoga the emphasis is not just on exercises but on balanced diet as well. It has been a major healer in ancient India. Be it a physical ailment or mental — the cure for all these can be found in yoga. It is a complete disciplining routine, involving all kinds of physical and meditative exercises.

Kinesthetics is another aspect of health and fitness, which is a science that involves the study of body motion and movement in diverse situations. Exercise physiologists are mainly employed here. So, whether it is aerobics, yoga, naturopathy, ayurveda, or even holistic health, tune in to young people’s needs and fit yourself into a powerful career.

It covers the overall condition of looking good, and therefore includes everything from beauty therapy to health clubs. Often, two or more services are offered under one roof, and the quality of services and facilities can range from the luxurious salons at five-star hotels to functional commercial establishments and intimate owner-run parlours. Some beauticians also work at clients’ homes, but most beauticians work in beauty salons. Some of these are exclusive women’s or men’s parlours, a growing number cater to both men and women. Many beauticians also prepare and sometimes sell their own beauty care products.

While work in this area covers a range of beauty treatments of face, skin, nails and body, and extends from make-up and facials to massage and diet, it also includes advising clients on grooming and make-up, or dealing with skin complaints that do not require medical treatment. Hair specialists use a range of techniques to make hair look healthy and attractive, and advise clients on the right choice of hairstyle and care and maintenance of their hair.

Beauty Consultancy is another aspect of this career which is usually provided by large cosmetic firms and involves the sales and promotion of beauty products produced and developed by them. Beauty consultants have to be knowledgeable about skin care, of the use of different products and the benefits of various treatments advocated.

There are several degree and diploma level programmes available today for each of these options. If fitness is your forte, you can do a Bachelor’s in Physical Education (B.PEd.) as a three-year course after plus two, or one year after graduation. You can even opt for going abroad and doing a degree in Kinesiology. There are also short courses run by private Gyms and health clubs to train fitness experts. Companies like Reebok and Nike have started such training classes, and students can then go on to opening their own gyms too.

Some of the institutions offering courses in physical education/ fitness training/ yoga/ naturopathy include:

• University of Delhi, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Panjab University Chandigarh, and Punjabi University, Patiala, offer B. PEd.

• Lakshmibai National College of Physical Education at Thiruvanthapuram also offers a PG diploma in Health & Fitness Management.

• Indira Gandhi Institute of Physical Education & Sports Sciences, New Delhi, offers a B. Sc in Health & Physical Education

• Institute of Yoga and Naturopathy, Near Iskcon Temple, New Delhi.

• nNike and Reebok centres for fitness training

A Diploma in Beauty & Hair Care/ Cosmetology is an advantage if you want to work in the field of personal care. There is no specific eligibility criteria required for entering the beauty field. But being a specialist skill, it does require not only professional expertise but also a great deal of practical training to gain proficiency. There are several training schools for beauty and hair care courses. Most require no particular academic qualification. However, a plus two or at least a Class X level qualification is preferred.

The duration of the courses varies from institution to institution, and also depends on the area of specialisation.

Some of the prominent institutions imparting training in beauty and cosmetology are listed as follows:

• VLCC, New Delhi, and at Chandigarh and Jaipur

• Shahnaz Hussain’s Women’s World International, New Delhi, and at Noida.

• Habib’s Hair Academy, New Delhi.

• RVTI for Women (National Council for Vocational Training) at Allahabad, Jaipur and Indore.

• Guru Nank Dev University, Amritsar.

• South Delhi Polytechnic for Women, South Extension, New Delhi.

• YWCA, New Delhi

Moreover, if you are keen on studying abroad, there are several institutes offering courses in Exercise Physiology, Fitness Management, Health & Fitness, Cosmetology, Beauty Therapy, Beauty Sciences, Aromatherapy and so on.. Most are certificate and diploma courses that will give you all the training and exposure necessary to start you off.

Several cosmetologists and beauticians have ventured into the area of personal care, combining beauty treatments along with advice and guidance on grooming, clothes and general posture. Catering to Page 3 aspirants and the many hopefuls queuing up for modelling assignments and beauty pageants, these experts cater not to the enormous need in the beauty care arena, but also help a potential goose transform into a swan!

With Indian women winning accolades at international beauty competitions, beauty and glamour is no longer confined to the catwalk. Today, even small towns boast of beauty parlours, and traditional middle-aged men and women are fighting the flab in neighbourhood gyms. Moreover, market research studies indicate that intensive face care, the use of creams and lotions and the visits to the beauty parlours has evolved into a regular routine for most young men and women, turning beauty care into one of the faster growing industries.

So, if you are seriously considering personal care as a career option, then you are really lucky`85 you can not only stay in shape, but also help keep others fit and fine!

The writer is a noted career expert