Fitness instructor courses provide training to individuals seeking employment in the fitness industry, including personal trainers, group fitness instructors, aerobic instructors, yoga instructors, and Pilates instructors.http://www.acefitness.org/university/educational-partners-search-results.aspx?program=5 The courses are offered at universities, colleges, trade schools, and fitness organizations.http://www.acefitness.org/university/educational-partners-search-results.aspx?program=5
University fitness instructor courses cover subjects like human nutrition, structural kinesiology, current concepts in physical fitness, methods of group exercise instruction, biomechanics, fitness management, and fitness testing and interpretation.http://www.indiana.edu/~kines/undergraduate/fitness.shtml Trade school programs feature similar courses that are occupational.http://explore.antonellicollege.edu/programs.php?leadsource=ppc
An American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) survey predicts the number one fitness trend of 2011 will be a need for properly trained, experienced fitness workers.http://clubindustry.com/studies/2011-fitness-trends-20101109/index.html
Basic Fitness Instructor Courses
Preparation for a fitness career combines courses in science and physical education.http://www.afpafitness.com/store/index.php?cPath=1_22&main_page=index Some of the basic science courses found in a fitness program are anatomy and physiology, kinesiology, and sometimes, nutrition.http://www.hper.indiana.edu/degrees/pdf/2010/fitnessBS.pdf
In an anatomy and physiology course, the student learns about the human body and its various systems and how they work together. The systems include muscular, circulatory, nervous, urinary, digestive, skeletal, lymphatic, reproductive, vascular. endocrine, integumentary, and respiratory.http://academicearth.org/courses/general-human-anatomy
Students learn how the human body moves during tasks in a kinesiolgy course. https://www.k-state.edu/kines/what/ A basic nutrition course covers nutrients, their effect on the body, and the daily nutritional requirements. Students also learn how to design healthy meal plans.http://www.marywood.edu/academics/ugcatalog/hhs/nutrition-dietetics-courses.html
Fitness instructors need to be proficient in the method of physical activity they instruct. There are myriad physical education courses from which they can learn, including aerobics, yoga, Pilates, weight training, spinning, cardio kickboxing, chi gong, and aquatic exercises.http://pe.cornell.edu/physed/courses-s11.html
An Example Fitness Instructor Certificate Program
College of DuPage created a new fitness instructor certificate program for 2010. Gail Tait, assistant professor of physical education, describes the courses contained in the program. She states that the program prepares students to become fitness instructors, group fitness instructors, or personal trainers. The courses include anatomy, kinesiology, exercise physiology, health classes, activity classes, and body sculpting.
