Health & Fitness Continuing Education Workshops and Certifications

Group cycling classes were initially taught with the same “demonstrate/duplicate” model that traditional group classes use. The same variables used in group choreography made their way into cycles classes, providing familiarity and consistency. Over the years, group cycling began to take on a new role as a viable option in the training of outdoor cyclists. Given the developing popularity of outdoor cycling in North America, the demand for sport-specific programming grew. 
Using a sport-specific, coaching approach does not mean the original model is “bad” or outdated; there is room in the fitness world for different styles of group cycling (Peloton, Soul Cycle, Compu-training). The coaching approach can increase your strengths as a teacher, and add new skills/drills to your toolbox.

This active workshop will focus on:
• Identification of fundamental “sport-specific” cycle elements;
• Examples of how to integrate these via practical application;
• Discussion of how interval training is the cornerstone of sport-specific cycling;
• The skills to design “intelligent intervals” for all types of group cycling classes; 
• Identification/discussion of coaching versus demonstrate/duplicate models.

About 45% of pregnant women suffer from pelvic and back pain during pregnancy and 50% will continue to have pain after child birth. The first question Sarah will attempt to answer in this workshop is “why?” She will then explain how your medical history can trigger pain and the many causes of back pain. She will propose solutions and exercises that can prevent and reduce pain as well as daily tips and tricks.

This workshop will be divided into a theoretical and practical part. In the first part, the participants will learn the science supporting this modality of popular training — functional training.

The following questions will be handled: 
• What are the advantages?
• How do you develop a program of functional training?
• What are the precautions to take for functional training?
Then, they will have a chance to experience the most popular exercises and to learn the regressions, the progress and the corrections for each of these exercises.

Biomechanics is the study of human movement including how muscles, bones, tendons, and ligaments work together. The greater the understanding of how the body moves, the easier it is to improve the execution of an exercise and avoid injury. As group fitness instructors, we want to make sure our exercises are safe and effective. The only way to do this is to always apply biomechanical principles.

In this workshop we will review different biomechanical principles and apply them to common exercises seen in group fitness classes. We will also analyze how improper form places joint structures at risk.

After this workshop, you will be able to use this knowledge to design, implement and lead exercises that will help your participants achieve their goals safely, effectively and efficiently.

Learn how to effectively implement kickboxing combinations into your fitness routine. Fun, easy, effective tips will be shared on how to create kickboxing combos and incorporate them into your group fitness classes, individual training sessions with clients, or just to spice up your personal fitness routine.

Improving posture can have many benefits including decreased strain and pain on the joints and surrounding musculature, enhanced muscle coordination and activation, improved performance and more. Help your clients improve their overall health and function with corrective exercises. Strengthen the scapular stabilizers, thoracic extensors, deep core and hips. Improve mobility in the thoracic spine, chest and shoulders. Most importantly, work on techniques to improve posture.

Various topics on weight loss and exercise will be broached during this workshop: 
• Comparing the effects of exercise and diet on weight loss.
• How different types of exercises affect weight loss (e.g., strength training, running, cycling, etc.).
• How training methods affect weight loss (e.g., interval, continuous, circuit, etc.).
• How exercise duration and intensity affect weight loss.
• How physical fitness affects weight loss.
• How resting metabolic rate (e.g., the effect of muscle mass) and the afterburn effect impact  weight loss; and
• Can you target weight loss?

In this workshop, participants will gain a basic understanding of the mechanics of our feet and how that relates to our movement regardless of age or choice of activity. We will look at how to assess the various muscles of the feet, their nerves and muscles, and footwear. Participants will have a working knowledge of how to design programs that create more stable, safer and stronger movement for themselves and their clients.

Using the childhood development sequence, this workshop explores the three pillars of restorative strength training:
• Breathing deeply from the diaphragm;
• Activating the vestibular system (balance and sensory integration);
• Doing contralateral exercises;
• The five core movements and their variations:
• Abdominal breathing
• Head control
• Rolling
• Rocking 
• Crawling

Emotional eating is a normal physiological response to our emotions in an effort to help us manage said emotions. However, when food is our only coping mechanism, this can lead to poor management of our emotions followed by guilt. In this workshop, we’ll learn more about the physiology of our emotions and how to listen and trust our bodies. Participants will leave with tips and tricks to have better control over what they eat in times of stress rather than letting what they eat control them.

In this interactive workshop, we will explore the evolution of Pilates, from its beginnings to today. 
We will examine how the original method evolved into more biomechanical approaches such as the STOTT PILATES® method. 
Through exploration of the STOTT PILATES® principles, you will learn to understand how the principles can be applied to any form of movement. When applied appropriately, these principles will enhance mind-body awareness, proper alignment, and efficient recruitment of our muscles. 
We will also explore the latest scientific research on fascia and developmental patterns. You will learn how to apply this information through the enhanced STOTT PILATES® principles to make movement as effective and functional as possible. 

Objectives: 
1. Learn about the origins of Pilates; 
2. Compare Pilates of yesterday and today; 
3. Learn the biomechanical principles of STOTT PILATES®; 
4. Learn the importance of each principle and how to use movement to reinforce and integrate it into a whole-body approach; 
5. Experience an original style class; 
6. Experience a class that considers the latest information on and evolution of the STOTT PILATES® principles; 
7. Learn about the basics of our fascial system.

During this workshop, you will learn:
• Easy-to-learn kettlebell exercises that achieve considerable results: deadlifts, swings, get ups, and goblet squats.
• The most functional exercise: the deadlift.
• How to build strong back muscles, get the butt of a sprinter, the fitness of a warrior, and the grip of a manual labourer with the swing.
• How to get shoulders as resilient as an android and how to transform your abs into an impenetrable shield with the get up. 
• How to create a combination of strength and flexibility with the goblet squat.
• The safety rules venerated by professionals but ignored by amateurs.
• The strategies for productive long-term training that will help you reach your goals.
• How to create unique kettlebell programs in the fitness world. 

As soon as you complete the workshop, you will be ready to start your progressions to reach your most ambitious goals.

This six-hour gap course for trainers with existing YMCA Canada Individual Conditioning Certification to upgrade/update their certification to YMCA Canada Personal Trainer has been developed. This course can also be taken to obtain continuing education credits for all the FIT certifications.

This six-hour gap course for trainers with existing YMCA Canada Individual Conditioning Certification to upgrade/update their certification to YMCA Canada Personal Trainer has been developed. This course can also be taken to obtain continuing education credits for all the FIT certifications.

This six-hour gap course for trainers with existing YMCA Canada Individual Conditioning Certification to upgrade/update their certification to YMCA Canada Personal Trainer has been developed. This course can also be taken to obtain continuing education credits for all the FIT certifications.