If you want to take your personal training business to the next level, offering group fitness classes could be the thing! Whether you got your personal training certification recently or a while ago, you might find that offering group sessions means you can help more people while potentially generating more income.
Group fitness classes are appealing for many reasons! Firstly, clients love them, and anything good for the client is good for business.
But why do clients enjoy group fitness classes?
- People find it motivating to workout with others
- They are more budget-friendly than one-on-one sessions
At the same time, group fitness classes make sense from a profit potential for personal trainers. If you charge $30 for a group fitness class lasting one hour with 10 participants, you will make $300. If you're charging $120 for a one-on-one PT session, you're making more from one person, but you're not making more in total!
Considering this, it is easy to see why group fitness classes appeal to clients and trainers. However, you will need to receive some training to provide this service.
Below, we will take you through the ten best group fitness courses for personal trainers so you can get a better understanding of the options available to you:
1. ISSA - Group Exercise Instructor
ISSA courses are well-known in the personal training industry, and for a good reason. This Group Exercise Instructor course will help you to master 12 popular exercise formats, including boot camps, kickboxing, and HIIT.
The aim is to give you all the skills and knowledge you need to create energizing group classes that will leave your clients wanting more.
You will also learn the science behind group exercise, how it works, how to design and instruct a group fitness class at all levels, and safety and injury prevention.
The aim is to give you all the skills and knowledge you need to create energizing group classes that will leave your clients wanting more.
You will also learn the science behind group exercise, how it works, how to design and instruct a group fitness class at all levels, and safety and injury prevention.
2. ACE - Group Fitness Instructor
Next, we have the ACE Group Fitness Instructor Certification, which provides you with the skills and versatility required to teach a wide range of fitness classes. This includes all of the following:
When you select an ACE fitness course, you have three different packages: Basic, Plus, and Advantage. The more comprehensive (and expensive) the course, the more study materials and extras you get, so bear this in mind when selecting the right one.
- Qigong
- Aquatic exercise
- Barre
- Tai chi
- Boot camp
- Martial arts
- Pilates
- Sports performance
- Kickboxing
- HIIT
- Aerobics
- Spinning
- Yoga
- Cardio training
- Strength training
- Dance Fitness
- and much, much more!
When you select an ACE fitness course, you have three different packages: Basic, Plus, and Advantage. The more comprehensive (and expensive) the course, the more study materials and extras you get, so bear this in mind when selecting the right one.
3. ORIGYM - Group Exercise Instructor
The ORIGYM Group Exercise Instructor course is a good option for UK personal trainers because it is accredited by both CIMSPA and REPS.
Throughout the course, you will learn the following:
This course is assessed via an observed assessment in person. You must show your competence and skills before an assessor and qualified teacher who will lead your training.
You must hold a minimum Level 2 Gym Instructor Qualification to take this course, so keep this in mind!
Throughout the course, you will learn the following:
- What are the advantages of group training?
- Phases of training and periodization
- The '16 session periodized plan.'
- Fitness tests and combinations
- Observational assessments
This course is assessed via an observed assessment in person. You must show your competence and skills before an assessor and qualified teacher who will lead your training.
You must hold a minimum Level 2 Gym Instructor Qualification to take this course, so keep this in mind!
4. AFAA - Group Fitness Instructor
The AFAA Group Fitness Program lets you capitalize on years of experience from some of the industry's best group fitness instructors.
You will learn all of the following during this course:
Once you have studied online and are ready, take the Proctored, NCCA-Accredited exam online to get certified.
You will learn all of the following during this course:
- How to design, lead, and choreograph a group workout class
- Professional responsibilities and business skills
- How to adapt for special populations, for instance, senior participants or pregnant women
- Foundations of healthy eating and nutrition
- Essentials of physiology and exercise
- Training on modalities, for example, cycling, yoga, boot camps, HIIT and interval, and strength and resistance
Once you have studied online and are ready, take the Proctored, NCCA-Accredited exam online to get certified.
5. ISSA - Group Personal Trainer
The Group Personal Trainer course is another option worth considering at ISSA. You will discover how to create practical and fun classes for both small and large groups.
This course is an extensive one, which covers everything you need to know about group fitness. Some of the different areas covered include:
This course is an extensive one, which covers everything you need to know about group fitness. Some of the different areas covered include:
- Identifying conditioning, cardiovascular training, muscular endurance, strength, and training modalities for each
- Applying training cycles, program periodization, and exercise adaptations
- Recognizing Newton's Laws of Motion
- Reviewing the physiology of muscle contraction, mechanisms of fatigue, energy production pathways, and muscle fiber types
- How to describe joints and their common injuries
- How to identify the body's major structures
- Recognizing the essential elements of marketing and managing your group exercise business
- Selecting, scaling, modifying, and blending exercises
- and much, much more!
6. NASM - Group Personal Training Specialist
https://www.nasm.org/continuing-education/fitness-specializations/group-personal-training-specialist
This course from NASM teaches you how to design, develop and provide successful group personal training programs.
You will learn the communication and coaching skills required to teach a group and discover how to motivate, train, and teach participants in this setting.
The course is split into three different learning sections:
Once you have completed the curriculum, you can take the final exam to achieve certification.
You will learn the communication and coaching skills required to teach a group and discover how to motivate, train, and teach participants in this setting.
The course is split into three different learning sections:
- The basics of group personal training
- Program design and coaching
- Building your group training business
Once you have completed the curriculum, you can take the final exam to achieve certification.
7. Fitness Mentors - Virtual Group Fitness Instructor
This course is excellent for personal trainers who want to learn how to build, grow, and scale their businesses by offering virtual group fitness classes.
The course is entirely online, and you will discover the physiology, anatomy, and study of human movement, virtual class setup and implementation, marketing, program design, technology, and much more.
You will get access to an instructor and personal fitness mentor, ensuring help is on hand should you need it. Experienced group fitness instructors also create awesome premade templates for you to make the most of.
The course is entirely online, and you will discover the physiology, anatomy, and study of human movement, virtual class setup and implementation, marketing, program design, technology, and much more.
You will get access to an instructor and personal fitness mentor, ensuring help is on hand should you need it. Experienced group fitness instructors also create awesome premade templates for you to make the most of.
8. AIF - Group Training CPD by Network
Lastly, we have the Group Training CPD Course offered at AIF. This comprehensive course gives you everything you need to teach group classes.
The course is split into six different parts. Taking these as standalone modules is possible, rather than doing all six.
Some of these modules are longer than others and priced accordingly.
The course is split into six different parts. Taking these as standalone modules is possible, rather than doing all six.
- What's your style? - Group fitness motivation
- Lesson plans that never fail - Planning the perfect group workout
- Cueing your next move - The performance
- Group training dynamics - Triumphant team training
- Teaching group exercise
- Pilates for your shoulders and hips
Some of these modules are longer than others and priced accordingly.
9. ISSA - Indoor Cycling Instructor
We have seen spin classes soar in popularity as of late, and this is something you can capitalize on by becoming a certified Indoor Cycling Instructor. Learn how to take the lead and provide fun, successful, and results-driven indoor cycling classes.
You will learn how to design classes, riding techniques, and equipment. You will also grow your skills as an instructor and learn about cycling-specific nutrition demands, energy systems and performance, and the foundations of human anatomy and movement.
One of the great things about taking ISSA courses is that you can learn at your own pace. You can set up your study schedule based on your lifestyle. Furthermore, the final exam is untimed, open-book, and can be taken from anywhere.
You will learn how to design classes, riding techniques, and equipment. You will also grow your skills as an instructor and learn about cycling-specific nutrition demands, energy systems and performance, and the foundations of human anatomy and movement.
One of the great things about taking ISSA courses is that you can learn at your own pace. You can set up your study schedule based on your lifestyle. Furthermore, the final exam is untimed, open-book, and can be taken from anywhere.
10. ISSA - Kickboxing Instructor
Another type of exercise that is very popular in a group format. ISSA's excellent course will teach you everything you need to know to become a certified Kickboxing Instructor.
You will start by learning what sets kickboxing apart from other exercise techniques. What will it do for you and your clients?
The course also covers technique and terminology, giving you the information you need so you can safely and confidently instruct a kickboxing group.
Plus, you will discover different combinations, ranging from the fundamentals to the complex. The course explains how to translate techniques into combinations challenging the body and mind.
You will get an online course textbook with the ISSA Kickboxing Instructor program and a dedicated Success Coach to provide you with study assistance.
You will start by learning what sets kickboxing apart from other exercise techniques. What will it do for you and your clients?
The course also covers technique and terminology, giving you the information you need so you can safely and confidently instruct a kickboxing group.
Plus, you will discover different combinations, ranging from the fundamentals to the complex. The course explains how to translate techniques into combinations challenging the body and mind.
You will get an online course textbook with the ISSA Kickboxing Instructor program and a dedicated Success Coach to provide you with study assistance.
Grow your personal training business by offering group fitness classes.
So there you have it: 10 of the best group fitness training courses for personal trainers! We hope this has given you a better understanding of the options available. Getting certified can enable you to offer group sessions while boosting trust amongst your clients. This is an excellent way of taking your personal training business to the next level.
