Yoga and other instructors, including those who lead Pilates and group fitness classes, are certified workers. Each instructor must undergo a training program that covers a variety of topics, including the particulars of the specific fitness as well as anatomy and injury prevention. Yoga and other fitness instructors help people lead healthier lives.
Yoga Instructors
A basic yoga instructor has completed a 200-hour basic training course or an advanced course consisting of 300 additional hours of training. Specialty yoga instructors who teach yoga for children and pregnant women have completed additional hours of course work to earn their specialty certificate. A qualified yoga instructor should have a certificate from her school as well as a certificate from the Yoga Alliance, if she is nationally certified. A yoga instructor commonly teaches classes from her studio, at a client’s home or at a third party location such as a health club.
Group Fitness Instructor
A group fitness instructor has completed a training course either in person or via correspondence. A group fitness instructor certificate qualifies an individual to teach classes including aerobics, indoor cycling and strength training. To teach group specialty classes such as tae bo and fight do requires an additional certificate acquired by completing additional training with a qualified organization. No national certification is available for group fitness instructors. A group fitness instructor commonly works at a health club or community center, but he can also open his own exercise studio and have private clients.
Pilates Instructor
A Pilates instructor is certified to teach mat Pilates, Reformer Pilates or both. She receives a certificate from the school where she completed her program. National certification is available from the Pilates Method Alliance. PMA certified teachers must complete a minimum of 450 coursework hours that include the skills to teach both mat and Reformer Pilates classes, as well as pass a standardized exam. Pilates instructors commonly work at a Pilates studio, at a health club and with private clients in hourly sessions.
Swimming Instructor
A swimming instructor is certified to teach group and individual swimming classes. A nationally certified swimming instructor has completed his coursework with the American Red Cross and is qualified to teach beginners or advanced students of all ages. She commonly works at public and private swimming pools and teaches hourly lessons. Water fitness instructors have received additional training and receive national certification from the United States Water Fitness Association.
References
- Yoga Alliance: Registered Yoga Teachers
- American Council on Exercise: Group Fitness Instructor Certification
- United States Water Fitness Association: Water Fitness Instructor Course Information
- Pilates Method Alliance: Get PMA Certified!; 2010.
- Jewish Community Center of Baltimore: ARC Water Safety Instructor
- Yoga Alliance: Becoming a Teacher
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