I need a little "Baby Steps" help.

You haven't said if money is also an issue. If it is, try to find your place in your area. What isn't being taught? What is the new craze coming? Where will your steady income come from? You see it isn't enough to be good at what you love in fitness, you will also have to be a good business woman, especially if you are going to have promote yourself.
The number of seniors will double in the next 9 years- I'm just saying...

Congratulations on your accomplishments and your resolve to turn your trials and tribulations into a positive thing for others.

One thing that worked for me was to volunteer. In Raleigh, where I live, there are wellness centers associated with a hospital. I became part of their volunteer program and spent some hours every week helping on the exercise floor. Even though I was already certified then, as a volunteer, I could not act in that capacity. However, it gave me a chance to observe the other trainers, interact with the members and get a feel for the environment from dfferent perspective than that of being a member.

It ultimately resulted in employment, and I teach classes there to this day. The Wellness Centers enjoy a very high reputation in this area, and it is a very good association to put on a resume if that is ever required.

Good luck!

If you belong to a club and are well-known there the best thing is to talk with the manager about working there as a sub instructor. What do they require you to have? (Usually a CPR training card is mandatory.)

I belonged to the club where I started teaching. I had friends there and I got them together and practiced teaching classes to these friends and got feedback. I also talked with other instructors about structure and such. Focus on what you do best first. You will find that as a group ex instructor you don't have to do every form of class. For example, I do spinning, aqua and strength well. I do not teach yoga, pilates, step aerobics or dance aerobics even though I have done them for many years and could in a pinch throw a class together.

You're first goal is to get your foot in the door. Sub classes then hopefully when a class needs a set instructor you may get it.

The next thing you want to do is get really knowledgeable. I would suggest getting a certification that goes beyond your immediate interests. I got a certification through NASM cause it was really specific about training people from extreme beginning to advanced.

If you don't belong to a club and intend to work in one... join one. It will be clear to you soon if you want to work in a club environment or on your own. If you want to teach at a club but aren't known there, it will be hard to walk in and teach without experience at other clubs.

Congrats on this jouney! I know you will LOVE it. I agree with all of the above advice and I will add my top three things for a new instructor:

1. Teaching is the best teacher:
Get a mock class together and teach! You will learn so much from simply doing it!
2. You don't know what you don't know:
Be open to feed back. As said above -get a mentor; the kind that will say to make the class more intense use longer levers and larger range of motion. NOT the type who says "it was good" in an effort to spare your feelings. ;o)
3. I echo the advice to start with ONE format:
Basic cueing, coaching and connecting are transferable skills. Branch to other formats after you've mastered your favorite format.

Keep in touch...

Looks like you took a big step in deciding a career path AND going for your certification! I took the very same path several years ago. Although I've been training in the martial arts for almost 20 years, I decided to change from my sedentary office position to working within the fitness industry. Fortunately for me, I was already teaching kickboxing classes with my martial art training so after becoming certified to teach group exercise, I was comfortable with being in front of people and cueing technique.
Personally, I believe one of the most important attributes of a fitness professional is having the ability to motivate ... and it looks like you will have no problem in that area. So continue to study, read and research. Also view DVD's and online tutorial's of group instruction which will help you immensely. Also as mentioned, if you have a chance to observe other trainers you will get a sense of how to conduct your classes once you become certified to teach on your own.
You can also set up a video camera and teach a mock class.

Sara, you're already off to a great start! You have personal experience to relate to, you have enthusiasm, and you are motivated to help others. These are all great qualities to have as a certified fitness professional. I agree that somehow getting as much exposure to the field as you can would be immensely helpful. Volunteer, shadow other professionals, or interning are all possible ways to get some of this exposure and experience. All the while of course, reading as much as you can (from reputable, industry-respected sources of course), and continue to study for your certification(s). Good luck with your journey and please know this, we all had to start somewhere, so keep plugging away! :-)

LaRue Cook
www.lecfitness.com
lecfitness@yahoo.com

One of my most valuable lessons as far as becoming a group fitness instructor is concerned is taking the YMCA Group Exercise Teacher Course. This occurred in London, England.

What made it very valuable to me was that we met once a week for 8 hours over six months. There was a theoretical portion and a practical portion.

At the end of the exam, I had to pass a written test and a practical test. For the written exam, I had to design a 10-week plan of a group fitness class (with stick people and all) demonstrating how I would progress high-lo aerobics class in addition to multiple choice. For the practical exam, I had to present a choreographed routine in front of 15 people who I had to organize and bring to my exam. The practical examination was before the London Central YMCA Board of Examiners as well as the examiners from the Royal Society of the Arts.

I am very grateful for that experience, as I left the course prepared to lead a group fitness class.

Here is my one piece of advice to you. Find a course that includes an practical that is longer than one day. If you take the time to learn the theory of leading a group fitness class as well as putting into practice you will be successful.

I wish you all the best!