Health & Fitness Certifications

Inspire others to lead active, healthier lives by becoming certified through our YMCA Fitness Instructor Program.  Whether you want to lead group fitness classes or support people individually, we offer the training and resources you need to take the next step.

All instructors are required to have first aid/CPR training.  They are also required to have 16 hours of continuing education credits every two years through ongoing training.  Our YMCA provides our instructors with these opportunities to keep their certification current.  All instructors receive an evaluation once a year from a trainer educator using the behaviour grids evaluation tool.  To find out how you can become a YMCA volunteer and Group Fitness Instructor, please visit our Volunteer page.

Choose from a variety of specializations to find the path that best fits your interests and goals.

Level 1 training from the Zumba Corporation is required.   The schedule for these trainings can be found directly through Zumba.  Once completed the YMCA requires the instructor to take our choreography-based course which has an on-line and practical training component. There is a teaching apprenticeship which is a minimum of 6 hours. Once the instructor is ready to teach a whole class, he/she is evaluated by a YMCA trainer educator using our behaviour grids.

(Group Fight, Group Active, Group Blast, Group Centergy, Group Power) – 2 or 3 day training depending on the type of class. Once completed instructors work on their own, with another certified instructor, or with other potential instructors to practise.  To become certified they need to teach a whole class to a minimum of 5 participants while being videotaped.  This recording is sent to MOSSA for evaluation.  Once the instructor has passed their video, they can begin teaching.

Potential instructors are required to take the YMCA Cyclefit course of which some is on-line and some is practical.  An apprenticeship of 6 – 8 hours is required before teaching.  Once the instructor is ready to teach a whole class, he/she is evaluated by a trainer educator using our behaviour grids.

Potential instructors are required to take the YMCA choreography course which is both on-line and practical working with a trainer.  An apprenticeship is required once the theory work is completed.  Once the instructor is ready to teach a class, he/she is evaluated by a trainer educator using the YMCA behaviour grids.

Currently potential instructors can take training from an outside source.  The YMCA has just rolled out a YMCA Yoga training course which we may implement within the next year.

Potential instructors are required to take the YMCA strength course which is both on-line and practical.  As with other disciplines,  they instructor required  6 – 8 hours of in class teaching practicum before being evaluated.

Participate in a certified First Aid/CPR course through the National Lifesaving Society! 

Pre-registration is required. For more information, please contact Joey Doucet at 857-0606 Ext. 2248.