How to Become a Group Fitness Instructor II – Get Group Fitness Certified
Step II: Get Group Fitness Certified
As we now know, the first thing to do if you want to become a group fitness instructor is get CPR/AED certified. I was able to complete the course in a 5-hour class with a Red Cross-approved training company for $65.
The next step in becoming a group fitness instructor is to become group fitness certified. There are two major organizations that certify group fitness instructors and personal trainers – ACE (American Council on Exercise) and AFAA (Aerobics and Fitness Association of America).
If you have a particular gym or studio you’d like to work at or a favorite group fitness instructor, ask which certification the gym, studio, or instructor recommends. Some gyms require all group fitness instructors to also be certified personal trainers.
My Zumba instructor recommended getting both AFAA and ACE certified. ACE is more widely recognized and more difficult to get so I chose to get ACE certified first.
ACE’s Group Fitness Instructor Certification process involves studying the ACE Group Fitness Instructor Manual and Master the Manual Study Guide to pass the ACE Group Fitness Instructor Certification Exam. I ordered the Basic Group Fitness Instructor Home Study Program for $139.95 + $18 s&h. You can also order these materials individually through ACE or Amazon.
The ACE Group Fitness Certification Exam can be computer-based or pencil-and-paper, although the CBT is offered much more often than the traditional method test. There is a $259 charge to take the CBT exam.
AFAA offers a Group Exercise certification. The AFAA certification process involves a full-day workshop including written and practical exams. The cost of the study guides, workshop, and exam is $299.
Don’t be shy! Let your gym, studio, and instructors know you’re pursing the instructor certification – they could give you advice and it could get you a job when you complete your certification.
More to come on this topic! See also, How to Become a Group Fitness Instructor I – Get CPR/AED Certified.
Filed under exercise, group fitness, interests | Tags: ACE, aerobic, aerobics instructor, AFAA, america, american, association, certification, council, exam, exercise, Fitness, group, group fitness instructor, instructor, Zumba, zumba instructor | Comments (3)The Masala Bhangra Workout
I recently attended a Masala Bhangra Workout Master Class. The event was organized by my Zumba instructor and the class was full of mostly other Zumba instructors. I had never tried the Masala Bhangra Workout, but decided it must be good if so many Zumba enthusiasts we planning to attend.
Actually, it was fantastic! The Masala Bhangra Workout was created by Sarina Jain. Sarina Jane personally lead the workshop I attended in traditional Indian clothing. She is somewhat of a celebrity in the fitness world and has her own program on FitTV and ExerciseTV.tv. She has even been called the Jane Fonda of India.
Sarina Jain herself is one of only a few certified Masala Bhangra Workout instructors in the world. She personally trains and certifies all Masala Bhangra instructors to maintain the culture and integrity of her program. Masala Bhangra instructor training is held in major cities across the U.S. The Masala Bhangra Workout is currently recognized by AFAA and is soon-to-be recognized by ACE.
Masala means “spicy mixture” and Bhangra is a folk dance of northern India, specifically the Punjab region of India and Pakistan. The Bhangra folk dance is combined with Bollywood film-style Indian dancing.
In the Masala Bhangra Workout Master Class, we learned specific Indian dance moves and techniques and built a fun, sexy routine. We ended the hour-long workshop by forming a circle and crossing the room and dancing as a group. Sarina Jain said we would each burn about 500 calories, depending on the intensity we put into the workout. I was completely drenched with sweat after the workout and I can feel the workout today in my legs – especially in my calves and hamstrings.
You can not help but dance to the Bhangra Bollywood-style Hindi pop music. It features singing over music driven by a certain kind of drum called the Dhol. It is very recognizable and stays with you long after Masala Bhangra class. It is the type of music you might hear at an Indian Wedding Reception.
I am sure to purchase the Masala Bhangra Workout DVDs as there are no certified instructors in my area. Yet.
Buy Masala Bhangra Workout products on Amazon.com.
