college course on how to teach group fitness

ACSM Group Exercise Instructor Certification ACSM (the American College of Sports Medicine) will not only teach you the essentials of group fitness, but also offers a chance to learn and work in a clinical setting. If you’re itching to work outside of the gym or fitness studio, an ACSM certification is the way to go.

Full Answer

What will I learn in a group fitness class?

You will learn the latest instructional techniques, coaching skills, and leadership strategies for teaching safe, effective, and enjoyable group fitness classes no matter what the format is.

What is the best certification for group fitness instructors?

ACE (American Council on Exercise) As a long-time leader in the fitness credentialing industry, all of ACE’s core certifications are accredited by the NCCA – including Group Fitness Instructor. It is considered by many to be the “gold standard” in group fitness certifications.

What type of certification do I need for group training classes?

A good rule-of-thumb is that some formats are more general, such as strength, core, or stretching; these classes normally do not require a special group-training certification (it will depend on your facility).

What are the expectations of a group fitness instructor?

As with any career, there are legal, ethical, and professional expectations for certified Group Fitness Instructors. Included in these expectations is the need for continued educational and experiential development, as well as methods for self-care to help you sustain and thrive.

What is a good resource for a group fitness instructor?

What is integrated fitness?

What is AFAA group fitness?

What is AFAA GFI?

What are the expectations of a certified fitness instructor?

How do instructors help participants?

What is participant centered instruction?

See more

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How do you teach an effective group fitness class?

BEFORE CLASSMap It Out. Prepare everything about the class. ... Practice, Practice, Practice. One of the best ways to combat nerves is to practice what you'll be teaching. ... Picture a Positive Experience. ... Start Strong. ... Put Aside Perfectionism. ... Reflect for Next Time.

What qualifications do you need to be a fitness instructor?

You can do a recognised qualification like: Level 2 Certificate in Fitness Instructing. Level 2 Diploma in Instructing Exercise and Fitness. Level 3 Diploma in Fitness Instructing and Personal Training.

How do you structure a group fitness class?

#1 – Plan a Proper Warm-Up and Cool-Down. ... #2 – Choose the Right Equipment. ... #3 – Pick Appropriate Exercises. ... #4 – Be Ready With Modifications and Amplifications. ... #5 – Prepare Cues That Are Complete and Easy to Understand. ... #6 – Remind Participants to Listen to Their Bodies. ... #7 – Remember That You Are a Coach, Not a Participant.More items...•

Can you teach group fitness without a certification UK?

To teach group exercise, you will need to complete an exercise to music course and hold either the entry level Certificate in Fitness Instructing (Exercise to Music) or the Diploma in Exercise to Music.

How do I start a fitness instructor career?

Becoming a fitness instructor: 10 tipsDo your research. The first step toward a career as a fitness instructor is deciding what type of instructor you'd like to be. ... Consider a degree. ... Develop your people skills. ... Get your CPR and AED certification. ... Choose a specialization. ... Get certified. ... Start part-time. ... Get social.More items...•

How long does it take to become a gym instructor?

Again, the average time it takes to become a certified personal trainer with our online course is 16 weeks. But, even more so than with the part-time course, this time frame can be shortened or lengthened all depending on things that only you can control.

How do you choreograph a fitness class?

0:010:57Creating Your Class Choreography | Group Exercise Routines - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIf you decide to come up with your own choreography. And class design you'll always be better offMoreIf you decide to come up with your own choreography. And class design you'll always be better off starting with the end in mind for example name your class after you've come up with your objectives.

Can I run a fitness class with no qualifications?

Do fitness instructors need a first aid qualification? It's not mandatory for fitness instructors to be first aid-qualified in order to work in a gym or leisure centre. However, gyms and fitness clubs are required, by law, to always have at least one first aid qualified professional on-site.

Is being a group fitness instructor worth it?

Increased confidence - Getting up and teaching to a group of strangers for an hour can be nerve-wracking. It's also super rewarding! Being an instructor has increased my confidence, which has spilled over into my day job as an engineer.

6 Best Group Fitness Certifications [2022 Prices & Reviews]

After reading this entire article, there’s no doubt that you’ll be able to choose a group fitness certification with utmost confidence. However, if you’re still undecided, even after reading, then I’d highly recommend that you take the quiz to get an estimate on which group training certification is the best fit for you overall.. Let’s take a peek at each of my best group fitness ...

Best Group Fitness Certification: Top 4 GFIs for 2022

Best Group Fitness Certification: Top 5 GFIs for 2022 Top Group Fitness Certifications we analyzed:ISSA: Certified Group Exercise InstructorACE: Certified Group Fitness InstructorFitness Mentors: Virtual Group Fitness InstructorAFAA: Certified AFAA Group Fitness InstructorNASM: Group Personal

Group Fitness Certification | Become a Fitness Instructor | ACE

Class participant safety and legal considerations. Learn how to appropriately respond to incidents and emergency situations that may arise during a class and gain an understanding of the professional responsibilities and legal guidelines to guide your actions as group fitness instructor.

What is the responsibility of a group exercise instructor?

As a group exercise instructor, it is your responsibility to not only keep up on current research, information and trends pertaining to the fitness industry, but continually reinforce your knowledge as well.

How to be a good choreographer?

You will feel more confident and at ease if you take plenty of time to perfect your cueing, combination breakdowns and choreography. Spend time practic ing on your own, and then gather friends and family into small groups and practice instructing. If you have the opportunity, find a seasoned instructor willing to be your mentor and provide guidance. Team teach the warm up of one of your mentor’s classes, and gradually increase the amount of class time you teach. Breaking yourself in slowly will reduce your nervousness and boost your confidence.

What is AFAA GFI?

AFAA (Athletics and Fitness Association of America) Out of all the organizations listed here, AFAA is the most centered on group fitness. It’s also one of the longest standing organizations. Highly recognized as a leader in group fitness, AFAA’s GFI certification is now accredited by the NCCA. Website: AFAA Group Ex Instructor certification.

How much does an ACE GFI make?

The American Council on Exercise reports that health and fitness professionals holding the ACE GFI cert make, on average, nearly $53,000 per year or $26.00 per hour. Website: ACE Group Fitness Instructor certification.

Do you need a certification to teach pilates?

And though you may have decided you are only going to teach pilates or specialized interval training, for example, you will still need to have a general group exercise certification that covers the basics of class design, cueing, anatomy, exercise physiology and kinesiology. Furthermore, many specialty certifications (like those for pilates ...

Is ACSM a certified exercise instructor?

ACSM ( American College of Sports Medicine) Even though ACSM’s Group Exercise Instructor certification is not accredited, it’s included based on the high reputation of the organization. ACSM just doesn’t churn out certifications to profit as much as they can, like some organizations do.

Can I become a fitness instructor?

Passing an exam and becoming certified doesn’t automatically make you a good fitness instructor – if not already experienced, you also have to make a concerted effort to practice and rehearse skills such as cueing and choreography which can’t be instilled in you passively by studying from a book, manual or video.

What is group fitness?

Any form of fitness, which is done in a group setting and lead by an instructor or a trainer, can fall under the group fitness category. Class formats can be based on cardio, strength, core, or any combination of the three. The leader of your class will point you in the right direction, but choosing which class to attend is completely up to you. ...

Why is group fitness important?

Group fitness training is beneficial to participants for a variety of reasons. They can be coached, build friendships, and be part of a motivating environment. As an instructor, you play a key role in providing the most benefit possible .

Why do people return to fitness classes?

People return to classes because of the instructor as much as the workout. If you are looking for a way to make a positive impact on many people at the same time, group fitness training is your answer. From Zumba to strength training, there is something in this realm for everyone.

How much does it cost to become an ACE instructor?

The ACE group fitness instructor certification has three different options, ranging from $299-$599.

What is personal training certification?

A personal training certification certainly shows you have knowledge of the human body and how to give a good workout, but it may be missing elements. Group fitness or group exercise certifications provide instructors with many tools to use when working with a crowd of participants.

Why do people like group fitness?

People enjoy group fitness because of the energy, effort, and time given by their fellow classmates. These same traits are expected from the instructor to give the most enjoyable class experience. Exercise, by itself, does not keep people coming back to a class; you do.

How can a good instructor gain a bad reputation?

A good instructor can gain a bad reputation simply by over-complicating his or her class. There is nothing wrong with using exercises and formats that have been around for a while. They are normally more simple to cue, easy to understand, and safe for the participants.

Why do people come to group fitness classes?

People come to group fitness classes to feel the social element and push themselves harder in a sanctioned environment with others. They aren’t there because they love to workout alone, so give them the reinforcement they came for.

How to teach a class?

Introduce yourself. Never start teaching a class before telling the members your name and reminding them the name of the program they are attending that day. Before you start, ask people if they are ready and make a point of saying the class is going to begin. Don’t just push play and start barking orders.

How to teach a class to be more positive?

Make eye contact with your members and give them both verbal and visual cues so that they know what to do during class. Make eye contact with your members and give them tips about how they should be moving. If they aren’t doing it properly, let them know in a constructive and positive way.

So, you want to become a group fitness instructor?

Since I started sharing my passion for fitness online, I’ve gotten countless direct messages, calls, and texts from friends and strangers alike asking “How did you become a group fitness instructor?”, “What group fitness certification exam did you take?”, “How do I start teaching group fitness classes?” and a million other variations of these questions! So many questions that I thought the topic deserved its own blog post..

1. Decide What You Want to Teach

Rarely does an instructor teach every type of class. What kind of workouts do you love? What types of classes do you find yourself taking most often? What type of training are you good at, most comfortable with? Think long and hard about what kind of class you’d like to teach because you’ll need to plan accordingly.

2. Decide Where You Want to Teach

Not only can the class format impact the kind of certification and training to pursue, but so can the studio. Some studios, normally larger chains, will have their own company-wide standard of certification that you must complete in order to teach there ( SoulCycle is well-known for their intense instructor training). It’s not always free.

3. Decide What Kind of Certification to Pursue

Once you’ve considered the above, decide what type of certification to pursue. For many, an industry-accredited program will do. The most popular programs are run by ACE or NASM.

4. Take A Lot of Classes, From A Lot of Studios, With as Many Different Instructors

While you study for your certification, I highly recommend taking as many group fitness classes as you can. Take them at different studios and with different instructors. Literally, as many different types of classes, places, and people as you possibly can.

5. Take Your Time Studying

I know from personal experience that the textbook for these certifications is dense. And truthfully, you can get away (albeit, not for long) teaching group fitness classes with no more than basic knowledge of different exercises.

6. Practice, Practice, Practice

Even before you’ve finished studying or have an audition at a studio, practice. It’s the simplest thing you can do to automatically make yourself a better instructor and feel ready when the time comes to clip in the microphone.

What does a group fitness certification teach you?

A certification will ensure that you know what to say when you’re inevitably asked about personal fitness routines, healthy eating, injury prevention, etc.

What is ACE certification?

ACE Group Fitness Certification. ACE (the American Council on Exercise) offers three different self-paced study programs to prepare you for their group fitness certification exam. ACE’s program will teach you everything from human anatomy to providing an inclusive class. The program includes video instructions, webinars, ...

Is a fitness certification worth it?

The short answer is, a group fitness certification is worth it. Having the certification will help you find a job in fitness more easily and will prepare you to teach with confidence, leading to more opportunities and maybe even a higher pay rate.

Can you teach fitness without a certification?

Can you teach group fitness without being certified? There is no law that requires fitness instructors to have a group fitness certification prior to teaching a class. However, most gyms will require some type of certification. The short answer is, a group fitness certification is worth it. Having the certification will help you find ...

Do gyms hire certified instructors?

Most gyms and fitness centers only hire certified instructors. Beyond the value that you, personally, will gain from getting a group fitness certification, you’ll also bring a great deal of value to your employer. A group fitness certification will cover zumba, pilates, cardio, barre, kickboxing, spinning, HIIT and more.

Why do people come to group exercise classes?

There are commonly three reasons that people come to a group exercise class and understanding these a little better may help you build on what you’re already doing. Social.

What is the first category of people?

The first category is people who want to switch off from thinking, mainly due to stress. These people simply want to be pointed in the right direction and told what to do. The less thought involved, the better. The second category of people want the peace of mind that comes from having completed a helpful behavior.

1. Zumba classes

The first thing is first – what is Zumba? Chances are you’ve been walking by a Zumba class going on in the past and you were wondering – how can I do that? What are the moves you need to learn? What are the benefits?

2. HIIT group class

The next type of fitness class that you can learn during your group certification course is the HIIT class – also known as the high intensity interval training class. This type of class is the best way that clients can burn fat, tone their muscles, and burn lots of calories in one single season.

3. Body pump classes

Similar to high-intensity interval training, body pump is a specific type of high intensity weight workout that uses a bar, step box, and your own bodyweight to get a heart-pounding workout, even though you will be mainly using weights, such as dumbbells or your barbell that you set up in front of you, the high-rep and high-intensity class is a good way to tone your muscles and get you fitter in no time..

4. Cycling

The last type of group fitness class that is very popular in gyms across the world is indoor cycling. Consider learning how to become a cycling instructor so you can earn your group fitness certification and become more desirable to potential employers.

What is a good resource for a group fitness instructor?

One precious resource for an aspiring Group Fitness Instructor is a vast inventory of exercises that might be useful across multiple formats. Additionally, instructors should be familiar with the appropriate technique for each exercise they offer, as well as be prepared to offer modifications to accommodate participants' needs.

What is integrated fitness?

Integrated fitness is the foundation for the successful development of any fitness program, combining multiple types of exercise to help participants achieve their goals. Through the application of the various components of integrated fitness, you can design safer, more effective fitness classes.

What is AFAA group fitness?

When you enroll in an AFAA ® Group Fitness Program, you're gaining the benefit of decades of experience in preparing the best instructors in the industry. For generations, we've provided those in our programs with practical skills and hands-on experience needed to inspire and motivate class participants to strive to create happier and healthier lives. As times have changed so have we, adopting a world-class online learning platform that allows you to study and get certified. From the comfort of your own home. With each AFAA program, you'll learn: 1 How to design, choreograph and lead a group fitness class. 2 Training on modalities, including: strength and resistance, hiit and interval, boot camp, yoga, cycle and more. 3 Essentials of exercise and physiology.

What is AFAA GFI?

The AFAA-GFI certification is the foundation of a group fitness instructor. You will learn the latest instructional techniques, coaching skills, and leadership strategies for teaching safe, effective, and enjoyable group fitness classes no matter what the format is.

What are the expectations of a certified fitness instructor?

Included in these expectations is the need for continued educational and experiential development, as well as methods for self-care to help you sustain and thrive.

How do instructors help participants?

Effective instructors do more than offer safe movement experiences. They connect with their participants, which engages and motivates them to continue returning time and time again. By motivating every participant in a way that empowers them to meet their goals, you'll build value for your participants.

What is participant centered instruction?

Participant-centered instruction requires an understanding of the various levels of conditioning that may affect an individual’s performance in a group workout. By understanding the various considerations and modifications available, you can provide support for every participant without singling them out or sacrificing the quality of a workout.

Top 5 Group Fitness Certifications

Comparison of Group Fitness Certifications

After You Get Certified…

Continuing Education

• As a group exercise instructor, it is your responsibility to not only keep up on current research, information and trends pertaining to the fitness industry, but continually reinforce your knowledge as well. Join fitness-related organizations, subscribe to magazines and online newsletters, and attend aerobic conventions and courses. Your certificat...

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