Health conscious Australians could soon find themselves squatting, stretching and sprinting for their favourite AFL stars, as players across the country sign up for the Australian Institute of Fitness’ Master Trainer personal training course.

With 13 campuses nationwide, the Australian Institute of Fitness has recently attracted past and present AFL players from Richmond Tigers, Hawthorn Hawks, Port Adelaide Power, Adelaide Crows, North Melbourne Kangaroos, and more than half of the Fremantle Dockers team - all looking to formalise their knowledge and experience of the fitness industry.

While recovering from a full knee reconstruction after injury at the end of the 2006 season, Kangaroos forward Leigh Harding took the time out to study the Masters Trainer course at the Institute; ‘A personal training course is something I’ve always wanted to do. The course run at the Australian Institute of Fitness really fit into my lifestyle as I was able to do the course part time’ Harding said. Now recovered, he is a vital member of the 2007 Kangaroos team, but plans to start personal training sessions as soon as the football season is over.

Darren Mead, former Port Adelaide centre half-back enrolled at the Institute as a natural career progression after retiring from football. Mead played for Port Adelaide from 1997 until 2002. When he lost out on the assistant coaching position, he found himself at a career and life crossroads. ‘I had a short time to decide on my next phase of life and friends mentioned the Australian Institute of Fitness. As I have a football background I had an edge in fitness and knowledge of weights, running programs and healthy eating habits, so studying to be a master trainer was a natural progression,’ he said.

The Institute offers an intensive eight-week integrated training system that sees students engage in practical evaluations and interactive workshops in an in-house gym providing essential hands-on experience.

‘The Australian Institute of Fitness attracts people from all walks of life, so it is fitting that professional athletes are looking to the Institute to strengthen their knowledge and broaden their extensive fitness experiences,’ said Greg Hurst, Executive Director, Australian Institute of Fitness (NSW).