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Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors Occupation Detailed Description

Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors career

General Job Description and Education/Training Levels for Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors

The main tasks and work activities of Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors are to explain regulations, policies, or procedures, enforce rules or regulations, teach exercise or fitness techniques, develop educational or training programs. In general, for the Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors, instructing, service Orientation, social Perceptiveness, speaking and other 7 skills are required.
Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors Job Description
EducationMost occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.
Related ExperiencePrevious work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.
Job TrainingEmployees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers. A recognized apprenticeship program may be associated with these occupations.
ExampleThese occupations usually involve using communication and organizational skills to coordinate, supervise, manage, or train others to accomplish goals. Examples include hydroelectric production managers, travel guides, electricians, agricultural technicians, barbers, court reporters, and medical assistants.
The following chart shows the education/training levels for Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors jobs. 4.00% of Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors have High School Diploma (or the equivalent) and 36.00% of Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors have Post-Secondary Certificate.
Less than a High School Diploma
0.00%
High School Diploma (or the equivalent)
4.00%
Post-Secondary Certificate
36.00%
Some College Courses
12.00%
Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree)
20.00%
Bachelor's Degree and Above
28.00%

Tasks and Work Activities of Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors

  • Explain and enforce safety rules and regulations governing sports, recreational activities, and the use of exercise equipment.
  • Offer alternatives during classes to accommodate different levels of fitness.
  • Plan routines, choose appropriate music, and choose different movements for each set of muscles, depending on participants' capabilities and limitations.
  • Observe participants and inform them of corrective measures necessary for skill improvement.
  • Teach proper breathing techniques used during physical exertion.
  • Instruct participants in maintaining exertion levels to maximize benefits from exercise routines.
  • Teach and demonstrate use of gymnastic and training equipment, such as trampolines and weights.
  • Maintain fitness equipment.
  • Conduct therapeutic, recreational, or athletic activities.
  • Monitor participants' progress and adapt programs as needed.
  • Evaluate individuals' abilities, needs, and physical conditions, and develop suitable training programs to meet any special requirements.
  • Plan physical education programs to promote development of participants' physical attributes and social skills.
  • Provide students with information and resources regarding nutrition, weight control, and lifestyle issues.
  • Administer emergency first aid, wrap injuries, treat minor chronic disabilities, or refer injured persons to physicians.
  • Advise clients about proper clothing and shoes.
  • Teach individual and team sports to participants through instruction and demonstration, using knowledge of sports techniques and of participants' physical capabilities.
  • Promote health clubs through membership sales, and record member information.
  • Organize, lead, and referee indoor and outdoor games, such as volleyball, baseball, and basketball.
  • Maintain equipment inventories, and select, store, or issue equipment as needed.
  • Organize and conduct competitions and tournaments.
  • Performing General Physical ActivitiesPerforming physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
  • Updating and Using Relevant KnowledgeKeeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
  • Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal RelationshipsDeveloping constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
  • Performing for or Working Directly with the PublicPerforming for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
  • Handling and Moving ObjectsUsing hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
  • Thinking CreativelyDeveloping, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
  • Assisting and Caring for OthersProviding personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
  • Training and Teaching OthersIdentifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
  • Getting InformationObserving, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Coaching and Developing OthersIdentifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
  • Explain regulations, policies, or procedures.
  • Enforce rules or regulations.
  • Teach exercise or fitness techniques.
  • Develop educational or training programs.
  • Evaluate capabilities or training needs.
  • Demonstrate activity techniques or equipment use.
  • Perform basic equipment maintenance.
  • Organize recreational activities or events.
  • Teach health or hygiene practices.
  • Administer first aid.
  • Promote products, services, or programs.
  • Sell products or services.
  • Maintain client information or service records.
  • Distribute resources to patrons or employees.
  • Maintain supply or equipment inventories.
  • Provide medical or cosmetic advice for clients.
  • Administer therapeutic massages.

Skills and Abilities for Exercise Trainers and Group Fitness Instructors

  • InstructingTeaching others how to do something.
  • Service OrientationActively looking for ways to help people.
  • Social PerceptivenessBeing aware of others' reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
  • SpeakingTalking to others to convey information effectively.
  • MonitoringMonitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
  • Active ListeningGiving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
  • CoordinationAdjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
  • Judgment and Decision MakingConsidering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
  • Critical ThinkingUsing logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
  • Time ManagementManaging one's own time and the time of others.
  • Gross Body CoordinationThe ability to coordinate the movement of your arms, legs, and torso together when the whole body is in motion.
  • StaminaThe ability to exert yourself physically over long periods of time without getting winded or out of breath.
  • Trunk StrengthThe ability to use your abdominal and lower back muscles to support part of the body repeatedly or continuously over time without 'giving out' or fatiguing.
  • Extent FlexibilityThe ability to bend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms, and/or legs.
  • Oral ExpressionThe ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
  • Speech ClarityThe ability to speak clearly so others can understand you.
  • Dynamic StrengthThe ability to exert muscle force repeatedly or continuously over time. This involves muscular endurance and resistance to muscle fatigue.
  • Oral ComprehensionThe ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
  • Static StrengthThe ability to exert maximum muscle force to lift, push, pull, or carry objects.
  • Multilimb CoordinationThe ability to coordinate two or more limbs (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while sitting, standing, or lying down. It does not involve performing the activities while the whole body is in motion.
  • Far VisionThe ability to see details at a distance.
  • Problem SensitivityThe ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
  • Speech RecognitionThe ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
  • Manual DexterityThe ability to quickly move your hand, your hand together with your arm, or your two hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble objects.
  • Near VisionThe ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
  • Selective AttentionThe ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.
  • Gross Body EquilibriumThe ability to keep or regain your body balance or stay upright when in an unstable position.
  • Information OrderingThe ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
  • Inductive ReasoningThe ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
  • Dynamic FlexibilityThe ability to quickly and repeatedly bend, stretch, twist, or reach out with your body, arms, and/or legs.
  • Automated external defibrillators AED or hard paddlese.g. Automated external defibrillators AED
  • Balance beams or boards or bolsters or rockers for rehabilitation or therapye.g. Balance boards
  • Balance beams or boards or bolsters or rockers for rehabilitation or therapye.g. Balance disks
  • Skinfold caliperse.g. Body fat measurement calipers
  • Cross trainerse.g. Elliptical trainers
  • Emergency medical services first aid kitse.g. Emergency first aid equipment
  • Resistance bandse.g. Exercise bands
  • Step aerobic equipmente.g. Exercise steps
  • Resistance tubese.g. Exercise tubing
  • Fitness weightse.g. Fitness jog belts
  • Exercise trampolinese.g. Fitness trampolines
  • Fitness weightse.g. Free weights
  • Jump ropese.g. Jump ropes
  • Notebook computerse.g. Laptop computers
  • Lower body resistance machinese.g. Lower body weight machines
  • Mercury blood pressure unitse.g. Manual blood pressure cuffs
  • Medical tape measurese.g. Medical tape measures
  • Exercise ballse.g. Medicine balls
  • Microphonese.g. Microphones
  • MP3 players or recorderse.g. MP3 players
  • Customer and Personal ServiceKnowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
  • Education and TrainingKnowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
  • PsychologyKnowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
  • English LanguageKnowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.