Essential Information
Aerobics instructor courses are typically available through bachelor's degree programs in physical education and certificate programs in aerobics instruction. Through these courses, students learn aerobics movements, develop methods for teaching steps, create lesson plans and teach aerobics workouts. Many classes give students a chance to practice, teach and design their own aerobics routines. Here are some common concepts taught in aerobic instructor courses:
- Fitness plans
- Entrepreneurship introduction
- Physical therapy
- How to develop a healthy lifestyle
- Optimizing physical performance
List of Aerobics Instructor Classes
Beginning Aerobics Course
In beginning aerobics classes, students learn the benefits of aerobics and do the exercises to music. Instructors make sure students have the correct form and are incorporating movements correctly, to prevent injury and to lead to weight loss and muscle toning. Some courses include step aerobics, kick-boxing, dance steps and other steps.
Beginning Instructor Course
Teaching aerobics requires that you can do aerobics, so part of many introductory aerobic instructor courses involves attending aerobics classes. Students observe how instructors lead the class and learn by doing, even people who have previous experience in aerobics. In the lecture portion of the course, students learn the types of aerobics movements and what each one does for the body. Students begin creating lesson plans complete with warm-ups, cool-downs, stretches and steps.
Kinesiology Course
Kinesiology is the science and study of human movement. Students in this combination lab and lecture course analyze movement, studying which muscles move the different body parts. They learn how people move and study human skeletons. In the lab portion of class, students conduct experiments to see how different activities affect movement, both negatively and positively.
Intermediate Instructor Course
Students in intermediate instructor classes usually work with professional instructors to fine-tune their lessons. At the same time, they practice their own movements, to make sure they're correct so they don't hurt themselves or others through teaching a move poorly. Often, at this level, students work with instructors to help with some part of the teaching method, such as the warm-up or cool-down.
Water Aerobics Course
In order to become familiar with a wide number of fitness routines, students who hope to become aerobics instructors take aerobics classes. In water aerobics, students use aerobic movements in water. They analyze the techniques used and the results. Often, they develop personal fitness programs that will help them meet their weight loss or toning goals.
Advanced Instructor Course
Advanced courses like this give students the opportunity to lead entire workouts or teach a class at a fitness center. Students create lesson plans and correct their students' movements, steps and forms when they do the workouts for maximum benefit. Often, students modify lesson plans to meet a specific need of students in the course, such as weight loss or toning. The class must include all aspects of a fitness routine.
