Certified Pilates, yoga and aerobics instructors are qualified to teach. Pilates uses slow precise movements to build your core muscles and flexibility with exercises performed on the mat or on special machines. Yoga is performed on a mat and focuses on balance, strength, controlling your breath and massaging internal organs for optimal health. Aerobics classes involve much more movement than Pilates and yoga. They are designed to elevate your heart rate to improve your cardiovascular fitness and burn calories.
Pilates
A mat and Reformer Pilates instructor receives certification from the school where she completes her coursework. Some of the more highly regarded Pilates programs include Basi, Stott's and Winsor Pilates. The Pilates Method Alliance offers national certification to instructors who pass an exam and have completed 450 hours of a comprehensive Pilates teacher training course -- mat and Reformer -- but it is not required to teach. Teachers instead can provide documentation of 720 hours of Pilates employment over the previous 12 months in lieu of coursework.
Yoga
Yoga teachers obtain a certificate of completion from the school attended and a national certification with the Yoga Alliance. A Yoga Alliance certification is not required to teach. The Yoga Alliance offers a 200-hour and 500-hour certifications as well as children's and prenatal certificates. YA-certified schools have in-person components and automatically qualify you for your initial national certification. Certifications from non-certified yoga schools must be accompanied by documentation proving the course you completed met the YA's standards.
Aerobics
A group fitness instructor certification qualifies you to teach aerobics. The certification comes from the school with which you complete your course. You may choose to specialize in certain types of aerobics after completing your course and exam. Step, low-impact and aqua aerobics are just some of the specialized aerobic certifications available to group fitness instructors. As of 2011, there was no official industry standardized national certification for aerobics instructors.
Pre-Requisites
Pilates schools prefer aspiring instructors to be regular practioners and have a background in anatomy, exercise or teaching, but candidates are generally considered on an individual basis. Yoga prerequisites vary; one yoga teacher training course requires a minimum two years of personal yoga practice, along with reading and essay assignments. Aerobics instructors generally must hold a group fitness instructor certification, be at least 18 years old and hold a CPR certificate.
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