PEAK Health and Fitness Kinesiology Internship
Turn your passion for health and fitness into real-world experience with the PEAK Health and Fitness Kinesiology Internship. This opportunity is designed for students who want to build practical skills, gain confidence working with clients, and strengthen their resume for careers in kinesiology, exercise science, wellness, physical therapy, medicine, or fitness leadership.
Throughout the internship, students will work directly with fitness professionals and clients while developing valuable leadership, communication, and assessment skills in a professional wellness environment.
As a PEAK intern, you will gain experience in:
- Teaching and leading group fitness classes
- Personal training and client interaction
- Fitness leadership and motivational coaching
- Health and fitness assessment techniques
- Customer service and professional communication
- Program coordination and scheduling
- Fitness instructor evaluation and feedback
- Wellness program marketing and administration
- Working with patients in clinical wellness settings
Interns receive practical experience using advanced health and fitness testing equipment and procedures, including:
- Bod Pod body composition analysis
- Aerobic, strength, and flexibility testing
- Biometric screenings
- Resting metabolic rate assessments
Interns will also have the opportunity to work with patients through the Exercise is Medicine® program at the Skaggs Patient Wellness Center. This experience allows students to apply exercise science principles in a clinical wellness environment while working alongside wellness and healthcare professionals.
Through the Exercise is Medicine® program, interns will:
- Support patients as they begin or maintain physical activity programs
- Learn how exercise supports chronic disease prevention and overall wellness
- Gain experience communicating with individuals from diverse health and fitness backgrounds
- Practice motivational coaching and behavior-change strategies
- Observe how fitness professionals collaborate with healthcare providers to improve patient outcomes
A major component of the internship is teaching group fitness classes for University employees through PEAK Health and Fitness. Interns will teach approximately 5–8 hours of fitness classes each week, gaining valuable experience in:
- Leading safe and engaging fitness classes
- Building confidence speaking in front of groups
- Adapting workouts for varying fitness levels and abilities
- Motivating and connecting with participants
- Developing professional teaching and leadership skills
- Managing class flow, music, and exercise instruction
This hands-on teaching experience helps interns strengthen communication and leadership abilities while preparing for careers in fitness, wellness, healthcare, and community health promotion.
By the end of the internship, students will feel more confident applying classroom knowledge in real-world settings while building professional skills that employers and graduate programs value.
Pay: $12/hour
Commitment: 200 total hours
Schedule: Approximately 12–18 hours per week
Flexible scheduling designed around class schedules and availability
Interns will teach approximately 5–8 hours of fitness classes each week
We are looking for students who:
- Have an interest in health, fitness, and wellness careers
- Are excited to work directly with clients and participants
- Are willing to learn health and fitness testing procedures
- Feel comfortable leading or teaching fitness classes
- Work well independently and as part of a team
Please email the following to Traci Thompson (traci.thompson@hsc.utah.edu):
- Resume
- Letter of Interest
- Hours available to work at PEAK
- Dates unavailable due to travel or other commitments
- Fitness classes you are qualified to teach
