Working as a Kinesiologist 
Starts Now

 

Spencer Raposo

Spencer Raposo

Registered Kinesiologist

Spencer is a Healthcare Entrepreneur and Registered Kinesiologist who graduated from the University of Western Ontario with an Honours Degree in Kinesiology and a Certificate in Entrepreneurship. Spencer has experience working for numerous companies by helping them build profitable programs and successful systems. But at the individual level, Spencer has experience with all types of clients. He is passionate about helping individuals develop healthy lifestyle behaviour changes to prevent/manage chronic diseases as well as move better, decrease pain and increase overall function and strength to do the things they want to do. Spencer currently runs Kinformation, an online exam preparation platform for students looking to write the COKO R.Kin Exam in Ontario and is the host of a podcast called Making Kinnections, where he interviews other Registered Kinesiologists and discusses the profession of Kinesiology.

Working as a Kinesiologist

Now is the time to educate yourself, the time to network, to hustle and earn your spot in the conversation. As a new kinesiologist, the work starts now.  

  • Stay educated and informed, up to date with the latest science
  • Stay Connected to your network and be prepared to work hard
  • Learn ‘human behaviour’
  • Observe the many before you can serve the few

How to Educate Yourself as a Kinesiologist?


As you know, kinesiology is the scientific study of human or non-human body movement. Your practice should be based on the latest research and up-to-date studies. At least that’s what we learn about in school. But, we all know that once the routine starts, it can be a little different. As you start to move into the real world, finding the time and resources to help you stay informed becomes challenging because simply put, “Life gets in the way”.

Kinesiologists, like many other health professionals, can easily stay informed on the latest information by enrolling themselves into different commitments. How to do it? Let’s find out together.

Attend Kin’s conferences

One of the best ways is to attend conferences. Whether it’s online or offline, conferences are a good place to network with like-minded individuals and learn the latest in research and studies being done around the world. The Canadian Kinesiology Alliance (CKA) offers an annual conference for Kinesiologists around Canada. In Ontario, the Ontario Kinesiology Association (OKA) holds an annual conference as well. These and other conferences are a great place to start. 

Attend Webinars and Listen to Podcasts from related subjects

If the time commitment for a conference is unattainable, then signing up for a webinar is the next best thing. Webinars are solely focused on one area that you would be interested in and usually are able to give continuing education credits, it’s a win-win. Most webinars will allow you to re-watch the recording if you miss any of the important points. A few webinars that you should check out on eXpand, Symptom Limitation in COPD During Exercise or on WillKin’s resource page on Pulmonary Rehabilitation Techniques.

For podcasts, there are a plethora of podcasts debating health, fitness and wellness. Finding relevant ones are hard to find. Many people I know download the content the morning of and listen to the episodes during their commute to work. This is a very productive way to spend your time in the car that you have to spend anyway. My podcast, Making Kinnections Podcast is a great podcast to stay up to date on related Kinesiology topics in Ontario.

Kin’ Continuing Education

If webinars aren’t your style and you rather be more interactive, then doing in-person/online continuing education courses are for you. These courses are generally targeted toward a specific profession but can be informational for many health care professions.

In today’s day and age, online courses are becoming more popular and available since most can be done on your own time and completed from home. A few learning platforms are, eXpand and kinformation.

Read Books about kinesiology

Lastly, if all those other choices aren’t available or they don’t seem to make you interested, then finding a book on your topic of choice is the best option. Many researchers today and publishers are turning their “boring, text-heavy” textbooks into easier to read short stories and books that contain very similar information but tell a story instead.

These books are becoming very common in the research world to gain an audience outside of the research and scientific community. Grab a book at your local library or on Amazon and get reading!

Some great books that I can recommend are:

  • The Brain that Changes Itself by Norman Doidge, M.D. 
  • The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg
  • Anatomy Trains by Thomas W. Myers

How To Network as a Kinesiologist?

 

Networking is scary. I will be the first to admit.

You never know how the person you are talking to is going to respond to your greeting. One thing I have learned is that everyone doesn’t like it, but everyone knows it’s something we all have to do to get anywhere in life. In today’s day and age, it has become even easier to network.

With platforms like Facebook groups and LinkedIn, it becomes easier to make connections and contact people with pre-determined messages to begin the conversation.

How to Network at Kin’ conferences?

Networking at conferences is the best way for an individual to remember you and potentially collaborate with you. Here you know the individual is looking or seeking the same information as yourself. Introducing yourself and explaining why you came here is a good place to start the conversation and see if your interests match.

Just like in the real world you are not going to get along with everyone, but you never know how one introduction can lead to another and then come to fruition.

How to find groups related to kinesiology on social media?

Finding groups on Facebook or LinkedIn is a great place to easily find and connect with hundreds and potentially thousands of others who are looking for the same information as you. You can create an introductory message to the group and explain what you are interested in.

It’s crazy how interactive some of these groups become and you’ll see tens of comments asking to DM you or connect with you privately to talk about different opportunities. The options are endless for networking.

How to create your own media related to your profession?

Or if you are a self-starter, you can create your own group and invite others, create blog posts to see who is looking for the same information as you or you can start a podcast to network and meet individuals. Some will say that they did not study to be marketers, but rather to be kinesiologists. But these are the little things that make all the difference in a career.

That’s what I did when I first started out as an R.Kin, I created a group for other Kinesiology students or Registered Kinesiologists to talk about the challenges we face. I created blog posts answering the very questions I had to look and search for in hopes that it helps other Kinesiology students or R.Kins find that information.

On top of that, to continue the conversation, I created a podcast interviewing other Kinesiologists to get the conversation going about Kinesiology as a profession and any advice we have for students who are just getting started.

How to Hustle in kinesiology?

The term hustle is thrown around loosely and for some it means no work-life balance, late nights with no sleep and burning out toward a goal. But, what is that really about? Hustle in my eyes is: “Working toward an end goal that accumulated from daily, small actions that may make no difference in the short term, but are critical in achieving your long term goal.” Quite simple, no? But, how to do it?

This is how one should see hustle, it starts now and may not end for a long time but it’s the daily discipline to do the things you may not want to do but know it is the right thing to do. Here’s few examples:

  • It’s volunteering at a clinic/gym/centre when you are already working a full-time job.
  • It’s cold emailing another professional to see if you are able to shadow their job and see what they do on the day-to-day.
  • It’s working for less than you think you are worth so you can gain valuable experience to leverage later on.

It is those, small, annoying, and sometimes belittling experiences that define hustle, and helps kinesiologists find their place in their professions. In other words, to be more unique. It’s doing what other people don’t want to do, to do the things you want to do. Plain and simple. This is how you earn your spot in the conversation

The work starts now and will continue until you can attend that long-term goal. But even after that, it starts again. So my advice is to start now, become educated, get networking and start hustling. 

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COVID-19: In response to the pandemic, WillKin has adapted the delivery of its services by now offering all of its programs remotely.

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