Is Your Group Fitness Instructor or Personal Trainer Even Certified? Part 2

You may be looking for a new group fitness class to add to your weekly physical activity, or you may already have a regular class that you enjoy. You may know your instructors name, enjoy their music and energy, however do you know who they are certified with, if they are certified at all? Does your group fitness instructor inform you of new events they may have attended and continuing education opportunities they have taken part in in the last few months?

It is my intention to present Group Fitness certifications, through nationally recognized organizations and present what prerequisites are required to participate in certifications, and what each certification details. Two of the more "popular" group fitness certification courses in Canada are as follows:

Group Fitness

Can Fit Pro (www.canfitpro.com)
This 22 hour course is open to all who have an interest in leading group fitness classes, and are physically able to do so. This course details various types of music, healthy living, proper nutrition, and skeletal, muscular, neurological, cardiovascular and pulmonary systems. Components of fitness, including warm up, cardiovascular, muscular endurance and strength, and flexibility and cool-downs are emphasized through confident phrasing, cueing, motivation and leadership. Candidates must complete a theory and practical examination upon course completion in order to become certified.
Recertification is every year. Individuals must be a current CanFit Pro member and have at least 4 Continuing Education Credits and have a current CPR certification.

YMCA (www.ymcaywca.ca)

Candidates must first complete a 20 hour Basic Theory course, along with a theory component. This is an "open" course for all individuals who would like to continue with group fitness, personal training, and Water Fitness training.
Individuals then complete a Group Fitness Fundamentals Course (8 hours in length) that includes moving to music and group leadership. Once completed individuals pick an area of specialty (or complete all!) such as Choreography (8 hours), or Strength and Stretch, and Indoor Cycling. Individuals then complete 4-12 hours of Apprenticeship training (practice teaching) and 4 hours of mentoring outside of the YMCA. This is all followed by completion of a practical evaluation.
Recertification is every two years. Individuals must show proof of at least 50 hours of instruction in the area of specialty that they are recertifying within the last two years. Recertification also requires 16 continuing education credits, 8 of which must be from the YMCA. YMCA leaders are re-evaluated through a practical examination and evaluated by a YMCA Evaluator and Trainer every two years. CPR must also be current.

Please remember that if you are participating in a Specialty Class that you should also make sure your trainer/instructor is certified and has participated in continuing education opportunities for that specialty. For example: Spinning/Group Cycle, Fusion classes (yoga, pilates, tai-chi).

Spinning / Cycling Certifications
The YMCA (www.ymcaywca.ca), MadDogg Spinning (www.spinning.com) and Schwinn Cycling (www.schwinn.com)

Pilates Certifications
There are several certifications that are offered to individuals interested in becoming certified in pilates. However, please take note that these courses range from 1 day in length to 14-30 days in length for full certifications. Look at what your goals and objectives are for your mind, body and spirit when deciding what class is best for you. Ask your instructor who they are certified with and how long they have been practicing / teaching. From my personal experience and interest I enjoy and usually only attend classes with educated instructors who have taken certifications with a company such as Stott Pilates. Remember there are several certification companies available, but none are regulated by a governing provincial or federal body in Ontario. What are your instructors pilates qualifications, how long have they been practicing, do they teach other disciplines, do they participate in continuing education opportunities regularly? Ask them! Your safety comes first!


Yoga Certifications
Just like every other health and fitness specialty class and discipline their are several different certification options. It also seems that yoga has started to become "watered down" as yoga has become popular in our society and everyone wants to jump on the yoga crave! However, are you willing to trade quality for quantity of classes available? I am a strong advocate of attending a class that has a certified teacher with the Yoga Alliance. Yoga Alliance is a governing body that requires at least 200 hours of yoga training, with many practicums and theory components involved. If your yoga teacher has dedicated their time towards a 200 or 500 hour teacher training you know they are for real! They are teaching you real yoga, with a strong understanding of yoga philosophy, how the body works and moves and will be able to meet your specific needs, injuries and desires.

Stay tuned for Part 3, our last and final discussion on Fitness Certifications. I will look at Personal Training, certifications available and continuing education opportunities!

Keep Fit, Keep Moving, Keep it Fun!
~A