Introduction to Health and Fitness: Fitness Leadership is a specialized online training course that develops a sound understanding and knowledge of the fitness industry (gymnasiums, holiday resorts, hotels, leisure centers, sporting environments, swimming pools, schools and more) and skills in order to explain exercise in general and different routines, and the significance of exercise to human health.

This course is also ideal for anyone who working in or wishing to work in health food shops as as a Naturopath. And it is advisable and may be a condition of employment in some health and fitness industries, to gain an up to date first aid certificate in addition to the one gained in this course.

You will Learn:

• • To explain the nature of the health and fitness industries.
  • To explain the relationship between the body and health, fitness & exercise, with reference to physiological processes.
  • To explain the relationship between the body and health, fitness & exercise, with respect to risk involved in exercise.
  • To evaluate body movements during different exercises.
  • To design fitness programs, which are both safe and effective, to fulfil specified requirements of an individual.
  • To deliver a fitness program to a small group of clients.
  • To manage the wellbeing of participants in a fitness program, including safety and injury.
  • To design fitness programs, which are both safe and effective, catering to needs of special populations (including weight control programs and programs for handicapped/disabled persons).

Detailed Course Outline

This course is made up a number of lessons or units. Each of these has self assessment questions, a set task (practical homework) and an assignment which you can upload online.

There are 8 lessons in this course:

1. Introduction to Health & Fitness

• • Scope and Nature of the Health and Fitness Industry
  • Exploring the Definition of Fitness
  • Components of Physical Fitness (Strength, Muscular Endurance, Flexibility, Motor Skill Performance, Cardiorespiratory Endurance)
  • Health and Fitness Resources
  • Health and Fitness Organizations

2. Exercise Physiology

• • Muscle, and Muscle Contraction
  • Fast and Slow Muscle
  • Exercise and Muscle
  • Cardiorespiratory System
  • Pulse Rate
  • Energy
  • Enzymes
  • Food as an Energy Source
  • Recommended Daily Intake of Nutrients
  • Respiration
  • Exercise Recovery

3. Exercise Principles & Cardiorespiratory Programming

• • Relationship between heart rate and workload
  • Biology of the Circulatory System
  • Blood Composition
  • Blood Functions; clotting, immunity
  • Blood Vessels
  • The Heart
  • Pulse Rate, Cardiac Output
  • Heart Disease, Cardiovascular Disease
  • Spleen, Lymphatic System

4. Biomechanics & Risk

• • The Skeleton
  • The Muscular System -Tendons, Ligaments, Bursas
  • Training and Risk
  • Common Musculoskeletal Injuries
  • Back Injuries, Spinal Injuries
  • Tips for Preventing Injury

5. Fitness Program Design

• • Typical Fitness Program Design Process
  • Kinds of Exercise
  • Developing the Physique
  • A Balanced Program
  • Indoor and Outdoor Locations -facilities and equipment in each
  • Music

6. Delivering a Fitness Program

• • Fitness Leader Functions; teaching, planning, counselling, motivation, evaluation, creating opportunity, etc
  • Leadership Communication, and Communication Barriers
  • Communicating with Children and Young People
  • Communication Techniques eg. Whistle, Raising arm, etc
  • Motivation
  • Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation
  • Factors Affecting Motivation
  • Self Belief and Self Talk
  • Relationship with Participants
  • Motivation for Fitness and Weight Control
  • Nutrition and Sport
  • Weight Control
  • Sports Psychologists and Fitness Programs
  • Program Delivery
  • Elements of a Session or Class; Introduction, Warm Up, Stretch, Body of Exercise Session, Recovery, etc
  • Concluding a Session
  • Writing an Exercise Program
  • Supporting Participants Needs
  • Communication Strategies, Active Listening, Giving Instructions, Reinforcement, etc
  • Dealing with Problems and Conflict

7. Safety, Injury and General Well-being

• • Safety Considerations
  • Incorrect Exercises
  • Safety in Aerobic Activities
  • Dealing with Injury; First Aid
  • Occupational Health and Safety Regulations
  • Identifying Hazards
  • Fitness Legalities
  • Pre Screening Clients
  • Suitable Surfaces
  • Clothing and Footwear
  • Pre Screening
  • Anthropometric Measurements
  • Cancer and General Wellbeing

8. Fitness Programs for Special Groups

• • Inclusive Program Management
  • Exercise Variables (frequency, duration, intensity)
  • Special Considerations
  • Training Zones
  • Older Adults
  • Mental Disabilities
  • Physical Disabilities
  • Ethnic Groups
  • Programs for Weight Control
  • Evaluating Cardio Respiratory Endurance
  • Evaluating Muscular Strength and Endurance
  • Principle of Weight Control

When you have completed the lessons of your Certificate course, you will be given the option of taking the optional exam. It’s okay if you don’t want the exam, we still issue your Careerline Certificate. For Advanced Certificates however, the exam is compulsory (per module) and are included in the course fee.