STRONG IDEA: Fitness Instructors ... Who needs 'em?
By Emily Stapleton on July 08, 2013 from Strong Ideas via Connect-Bridgeport.com
Exercise is pretty basic, right? If you read anything I write or hear anything I say, you know that I believe fitness results can be achieved through simple movement. Exercise doesn’t have to be complicated; so at first glance this post may seem out of character, but stay with me.
Who needs a fitness instructor? The short answer is…probably you!
Let me start by defining a fitness instructor, which is no easy task. The industry of fitness is loosely regulated, if at all. There’s nothing prohibiting people with little training or knowledge from calling themselves instructors or trainers. There are various organizations providing certifications and education for fitness professionals, some of which are much more reputable than others. For the sake of this post, I’ll define a fitness instructor as follows:
An effective fitness instructor must maintain education and knowledge in the field of wellness. She/he provides motivation, instruction, education, and above all inspiration.
So, let’s break this down.
…must maintain education and knowledge in the field of fitness.
The specifics of the certifications and continuing education available to instructors is beyond the scope of this post; however, you should ask your instructor what type of education she has. You should also notice your instructor mentioning up to date research. Here are a few titles you may hear and what they typically mean.
- Personal Trainer.Typically used when providing one on one instruction or instruction in a very small group. Should only be used by those with a certification from a reputable organization.
- Group Fitness Instructor. You’ll usually find her in the front of the class providing ongoing demonstration during a class. The most driven instructors hold a basic certification from a national organization and seek ongoing continuing education.
- Small Group Instructor. Some combination of the first two. Usually this instructor limits class sizes to be able to provide more individualized attention, but still in a group setting. You may find her moving rapidly from demonstrating to providing one on one instruction.
- Fitness Trainer. Not actually a recognized title within the certifying organizations and may be used by an instructor who is self-educated and chooses not to be certified.
…provides motivation…
We all know we should exercise on a regular basis and go pretty hard when we do. Many of us just don’t follow through. A good instructor motivates you to show up for a workout and to get the most out of it while you’re there. If she does that one simple task, she’s well on her way to earning her pay!
…provides instruction, education…
A good instructor instructs. Hmm… seems pretty simple. Beyond demonstrating, she should be able to recognize and make corrections to form, intensity, and function. In addition, ongoing education about health and wellness can be provided. For example, while taking a group through a series of squats, an instructor might say, “keep your weight back over your heels and squeeze your glutes. The squat works all the muscles of the upper legs as well as the core. Lean muscles burn more calories than fat, so this exercise leads to a more efficient metabolism.” At the same time, she may move to a specific participant and correct posture.
…provides inspiration.
This is where it all comes together. Inspiration should spread beyond the workout into other aspects of life. While experience can help, no amount of education can develop this type of instructor. You know her when you see her and she keeps you coming back for more!
I still maintain that exercise is simple and can be done on your own at little or no cost …but sometimes we all need a little motivation, education, and inspiration!
Until Next Week,
Emily Stapleton
