RE: I'm not Cathe but . . .
I am an ACE-certified group fitness instructor since 1997, and I thought I'd poke a few ideas your way; Cathe may not be able to answer your question quickly 'cause she's busy producing OUR MUCH-ANTICIPATED "INTENSITY SERIES"!!!
1. You do need to become certified through a reputable entity such as ACE (the American Council On Exercise;
www.acefitness.org; has certs for group fitness instruction, personal training and lifestyle management), AFAA (I don't know what that stands for), NASM (National Academy of Sports Medicine - personal training), NSCA (National Sports Conditioning Association), etc. I would avoid dot-com certs like Reebok. To become certified you normally have to study a pretty turgid textbook that covers a range of topics from exercise physiology, anatomy, kinesiology, biomechanics, nutrition, special populations, exercise and program design, etc. And then take an even more turgid test that IS passable if you study hard. You also need to be CPR-certified.
2. It would be a good idea, if you wish to become a group fitness instructor, to think about the modes of exercise you wish to lead (i.e. step, hi/lo, kickbox, AQUA
, small-group training, what-have-you), and contact clubs in your area to take some studio classes, and hopefully hook up with a veteran instructor who would be willing to mentor you. Some clubs also have training programs for budding instructors; make that part of your inquiry.
3. There are several threads on this very topic here on Cathe's forums, from other Cathe-ites who have made the leap or who are contemplating it; do a scan of topics here and on the Open Discussion Forum.
4. Our own Honeybunch recently aced the ACE Personal Trainer Exam, and lived to tell the tale; she is now building her business as a personal trainer AND group fitness instructor. Hopefully she'll chime in here.
5. Check out IDEA, a membership (not a certifying agency) organization for fitness professionals:
www.ideafit.com. Also check out the Turnstep website bulletin boards (
www.turnstep.com), and post this question there - Turnstep is a great resource for instructors and trainers.
Hope this helps - I love group fitness instruction, and I know trainers love their work too! Well worth the effort!
Annette Q. Aquajock
