Does anyone here teach fitness classes?
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100 Posts
I've been teaching cycling (or "spinning"<img alt="wink.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/wink.gif"> since 2002.<br>
Everyone will have their own style that they bring to their classes.... I think as an athlete you will be GREAT! For me, I always enjoyed the classes taught by competitive athletes as opposed to aerobic queens. That was simply a style preference, not that the aerobic queens didn't teach good classes.<br><br>
I teach my classes as we ride outside. Again, this is a style preference. I do not do aerobics on the bike, as I typically am not interested in those classes. I use vocabulary and mental/verbal cues that are used outside when riding, and simulate my classes so people can actually translate their work to the outdoors. I also push people and I am mean! <img alt="smile.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/smile.gif"> It's funny... people like abuse in fitness classes. It's crazy to me.<br>
I tried to incorporate recovery classes 1x per week and no one came, but my other classes where I kick their butts - packed. Crazy! Says a lot about our species. <img alt="smile.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/smile.gif"><br><br>
As for advice - continue attending classes of instructors you like. You'll bring your own sense of style to your own classes, but modeling yourself after what you like is a great start.<br><br>
Good luck! You will be awesome!
Everyone will have their own style that they bring to their classes.... I think as an athlete you will be GREAT! For me, I always enjoyed the classes taught by competitive athletes as opposed to aerobic queens. That was simply a style preference, not that the aerobic queens didn't teach good classes.<br><br>
I teach my classes as we ride outside. Again, this is a style preference. I do not do aerobics on the bike, as I typically am not interested in those classes. I use vocabulary and mental/verbal cues that are used outside when riding, and simulate my classes so people can actually translate their work to the outdoors. I also push people and I am mean! <img alt="smile.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/smile.gif"> It's funny... people like abuse in fitness classes. It's crazy to me.<br>
I tried to incorporate recovery classes 1x per week and no one came, but my other classes where I kick their butts - packed. Crazy! Says a lot about our species. <img alt="smile.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/smile.gif"><br><br>
As for advice - continue attending classes of instructors you like. You'll bring your own sense of style to your own classes, but modeling yourself after what you like is a great start.<br><br>
Good luck! You will be awesome!
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8,915 Posts
Absolutely. Everybody has a favorite instructor. The key, I believe, is knowing in general terms what works (by viewing other instructors), seeking feedback when you start, but also having an identity much like CC does and sticking to it, because for the reasons you are you, you will be everybody's favorite instructor. Also do not be afraid to teach people and even get off the bike and show somebody how to do something a little differently. Walk around the room and touch every single person in some way. Get to know their names and call to them when they're pushing and you know a certain one needs a bit more energy to finish. But also be sensitive to those not waiting attention.
Joined
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1,661 Posts
sorry, I should have been more helpful last night I was just to tired and downtrodden after watching my Buckeyes have there butts served.<br><br>
I wish you would have asked before you paid for the study stuff. Did you buy the package that comes with the test or do you have to pay for that still? is Spinning all you are interested in teaching.<br><br>
Some of the classes are specialized, meaning even if you have a sort of group-ex qualification, you still cannot just teach the class. you dig?<br>
Spinning is one one those. Here is where I would start if I were you:<br>
Look at the gyms nearest you, or the one's you'd like to work at. About 5 years ago. Spin spun out of control (w/ fee's etc.) Most gyms switched to their own program that looks and feels like spin but is technically not and can not use certain phrases............<br>
I can never remember the name of the spin guy. I call it my Jimmy Choo certification. This is a big one. It will cost $600 for the initial and about $200 every 2 years to keep updated. Advantage: you may teach at any gym w/ this cert.<br>
As I said most chain gyms have gone to their own thing. They have to call it something else but it's the bike class. As an 'outsider' you can go to the cert. weekend (be prepared to spend 3-5 x 12 hr days on that damn bike no matter which you pick) for a small fee. Normally like $100. and the credits are cheaper to, but only available rarely so sometimes you'll find out the weekend before and have to drop everything. And sometimes they cancel these w/ no warning (just saying)<br>
The advantage to these is the price. If you say have your ACE and are teaching a class of another sort at a gym. That gym will wave your fee when the 'spin' cert rolls through the district. Disadvantage you may wait 6 months for it.<br>
Whew!<br>
o.k. you can get certified to teach a variety of classes through AFAA. This is standard and excepted everywhere I have ever worked. Most are weekend classes. $200-$400 bucks depending. You just wait till they have one near you or drive to where they are having one. (preenroll) and they teach you everything you are required to know, notice I did not say everything you need to know.<br>
The basics include cardio classes basically step, boot camps, cardio boxing. Maybe something else but either way it's your foundation certification. From there you can look at what else you want to teach. Then each individual thing you want to specialize in, you seek that out. Which makes it very cool. I took a Baptise-Baron Yoga teachers class. A special forces military guy taught me my upper level kickboxing skills. I took a Paul Check, planning workouts course. (can afford more of those) I took a basic Pilate's class where the standard was low. I took an excelled Pilate's class where the standard was through the roof. I sat on the sidelines for one of Rodney's yoga certs. You had to be able to do a full back-bend, which I can't, to get into the class, but you could still get the teachings from the side if you couldn't. I took basic boxing, basic pump, powerflex, rebounding, through the various gyms I worked at. I took bosu, swiss ball, med ball, seniors, kids, obese speciality, athletes, periodization....... through my CPT cert. as CEU's<br>
...<br>
If you just want to teach spin. I'd go get that Jimmy Choo<br>
If you want to become a trainer or teach other group ex classes. Beware. There are some certifications that lead nowhere and won't be accepted at some gyms.<br><br>
afaa for group ex... <a href="http://www.afaa.com/302.afa" target="_blank">http://www.afaa.com/302.afa</a>
I wish you would have asked before you paid for the study stuff. Did you buy the package that comes with the test or do you have to pay for that still? is Spinning all you are interested in teaching.<br><br>
Some of the classes are specialized, meaning even if you have a sort of group-ex qualification, you still cannot just teach the class. you dig?<br>
Spinning is one one those. Here is where I would start if I were you:<br>
Look at the gyms nearest you, or the one's you'd like to work at. About 5 years ago. Spin spun out of control (w/ fee's etc.) Most gyms switched to their own program that looks and feels like spin but is technically not and can not use certain phrases............<br>
I can never remember the name of the spin guy. I call it my Jimmy Choo certification. This is a big one. It will cost $600 for the initial and about $200 every 2 years to keep updated. Advantage: you may teach at any gym w/ this cert.<br>
As I said most chain gyms have gone to their own thing. They have to call it something else but it's the bike class. As an 'outsider' you can go to the cert. weekend (be prepared to spend 3-5 x 12 hr days on that damn bike no matter which you pick) for a small fee. Normally like $100. and the credits are cheaper to, but only available rarely so sometimes you'll find out the weekend before and have to drop everything. And sometimes they cancel these w/ no warning (just saying)<br>
The advantage to these is the price. If you say have your ACE and are teaching a class of another sort at a gym. That gym will wave your fee when the 'spin' cert rolls through the district. Disadvantage you may wait 6 months for it.<br>
Whew!<br>
o.k. you can get certified to teach a variety of classes through AFAA. This is standard and excepted everywhere I have ever worked. Most are weekend classes. $200-$400 bucks depending. You just wait till they have one near you or drive to where they are having one. (preenroll) and they teach you everything you are required to know, notice I did not say everything you need to know.<br>
The basics include cardio classes basically step, boot camps, cardio boxing. Maybe something else but either way it's your foundation certification. From there you can look at what else you want to teach. Then each individual thing you want to specialize in, you seek that out. Which makes it very cool. I took a Baptise-Baron Yoga teachers class. A special forces military guy taught me my upper level kickboxing skills. I took a Paul Check, planning workouts course. (can afford more of those) I took a basic Pilate's class where the standard was low. I took an excelled Pilate's class where the standard was through the roof. I sat on the sidelines for one of Rodney's yoga certs. You had to be able to do a full back-bend, which I can't, to get into the class, but you could still get the teachings from the side if you couldn't. I took basic boxing, basic pump, powerflex, rebounding, through the various gyms I worked at. I took bosu, swiss ball, med ball, seniors, kids, obese speciality, athletes, periodization....... through my CPT cert. as CEU's<br>
...<br>
If you just want to teach spin. I'd go get that Jimmy Choo<br>
If you want to become a trainer or teach other group ex classes. Beware. There are some certifications that lead nowhere and won't be accepted at some gyms.<br><br>
afaa for group ex... <a href="http://www.afaa.com/302.afa" target="_blank">http://www.afaa.com/302.afa</a>
Joined
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1,661 Posts
CC,<br>
I'd bet because of who you are you don't get the typical riders.<br>
I make a point of asking at the beginning of every class. "Who rides outside?" The only time I ever get a "yes" is when the college girls are home for the summer. Every summer I get 1!<br>
I've offered to push the bikes ouside, so we'd atleast get fresh air. You'd think I was trying to kill them. I gave up on that idea.
I'd bet because of who you are you don't get the typical riders.<br>
I make a point of asking at the beginning of every class. "Who rides outside?" The only time I ever get a "yes" is when the college girls are home for the summer. Every summer I get 1!<br>
I've offered to push the bikes ouside, so we'd atleast get fresh air. You'd think I was trying to kill them. I gave up on that idea.
Joined
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8,330 Posts
It's true that an ACE group fitness certification won't qualify you to teach Spinning, as that's a trademarked program, but it certainly will qualify you top teach other group fitness classes -- step, toning, hi/lo, etc. <img alt="confused.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/confused.gif"><br><br>
Which certification you get depends on what exactly you want to teach. As Melistic explained in her second post, Spinning is a trademarked program through Johnny G and Madd Dog Athletics. You have to take <i>their</i> certification to teach on <i>their</i> bikes and call it Spinning.<br><br>
My certifications are:<br>
AFAA - primary group fitness<br>
Madd Dog - Spinning<br>
Balletone - Balletone (duh)<br>
PhysicalMind Institute - Pilates<br><br>
Just having the AFAA group fitness certification would not have allowed my gyms to hire me for Spinning classes. I also have some specialty YMCA certifications for specific formats like funk aerobics and a YMCA of the USA personal training certification, which is based on ACE's but not as prestigious of course.<br><br>
Every two-three years, depending on the certification, you have to submit proof of continuing education credits in order to renew your certification. Check with your gym to see if they reimburse you at least in part for the CECs and conferences, as it gets e.x.p.e.n.s.i.v.e!<br><br>
Not sure if that was helpful. Let me know if you need more info!
Which certification you get depends on what exactly you want to teach. As Melistic explained in her second post, Spinning is a trademarked program through Johnny G and Madd Dog Athletics. You have to take <i>their</i> certification to teach on <i>their</i> bikes and call it Spinning.<br><br>
My certifications are:<br>
AFAA - primary group fitness<br>
Madd Dog - Spinning<br>
Balletone - Balletone (duh)<br>
PhysicalMind Institute - Pilates<br><br>
Just having the AFAA group fitness certification would not have allowed my gyms to hire me for Spinning classes. I also have some specialty YMCA certifications for specific formats like funk aerobics and a YMCA of the USA personal training certification, which is based on ACE's but not as prestigious of course.<br><br>
Every two-three years, depending on the certification, you have to submit proof of continuing education credits in order to renew your certification. Check with your gym to see if they reimburse you at least in part for the CECs and conferences, as it gets e.x.p.e.n.s.i.v.e!<br><br>
Not sure if that was helpful. Let me know if you need more info!
Joined
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15,800 Posts
So... thanks for the input!!<br><br>
I am trying to get Spin certified, since my local rec center and my gym both do this, and I'd love to teach at one of them. The other local places do "group cycling" but presumably I could teach there with a Spin cert. The only one I'm aware of that has its own required Cert is RPM (thru Les Mills). However, there are no trainings coming up in my area... But my local Y is doing a group cycling one in May that I may take. They are doing some other group fitness cert classes that I may take as well, and ideally I could teach there...<br><br>
I bought the study guides for ACE, and I am hoping to work thru it in a couple months. I am also currently finishing up my masters, so it may wait until that is done (April). My friend is the fitness coordinator here at our Rec center and she recommeded ACE to me, since she said it was the most accepted here in Colorado.<br><br>
I would ultimately like to teach Spin (or any group cycling), kick boxing, and maybe Body Pump one day. I'm up for other stuff, except Step. I loathe it. <img alt="biggrin.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/biggrin.gif"> I'd also be interested in Yoga, more fitness-y than Ohm-y, if that makes sense. Our rec program uses Yogafit.<br><br>
I can see myself also going after a personal trainer cert one day as well, but that's a ways off in the future.
I am trying to get Spin certified, since my local rec center and my gym both do this, and I'd love to teach at one of them. The other local places do "group cycling" but presumably I could teach there with a Spin cert. The only one I'm aware of that has its own required Cert is RPM (thru Les Mills). However, there are no trainings coming up in my area... But my local Y is doing a group cycling one in May that I may take. They are doing some other group fitness cert classes that I may take as well, and ideally I could teach there...<br><br>
I bought the study guides for ACE, and I am hoping to work thru it in a couple months. I am also currently finishing up my masters, so it may wait until that is done (April). My friend is the fitness coordinator here at our Rec center and she recommeded ACE to me, since she said it was the most accepted here in Colorado.<br><br>
I would ultimately like to teach Spin (or any group cycling), kick boxing, and maybe Body Pump one day. I'm up for other stuff, except Step. I loathe it. <img alt="biggrin.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/biggrin.gif"> I'd also be interested in Yoga, more fitness-y than Ohm-y, if that makes sense. Our rec program uses Yogafit.<br><br>
I can see myself also going after a personal trainer cert one day as well, but that's a ways off in the future.
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