Women’s Fitness Certification
Hi. The majority (99%) of my clients are females. I am looking to get some kind of women’s fitness certification so that I can gear my teaching and recommendations towards female needs and situations. Is there a Women’s Fitness Certification out there? By any chance accredited? Or what courses do you recommend to help me learn more about programming for women? Thanks!
Hi Melanie,
Check out NASM’s specialty certification http://shop.nasm.org/p-8208-womens-fitness-specialization-wfs.aspx.
Karin Singleton
www.meltnc.com
I took a look at your profile, and it looks like you have a wide ranging experience in a lot of sports and fitness activities. Given that women are as varied in their interests and activities as is the general population that is probably really helpful, especially if you are working with that subset of women who have a higher level of fitness, and an interest in athletics.
To focus on women’s issues more broadly you might want to get a certification in pre and post natal exercise, as that would allow you to continue to work with clients you already have as they enter this group, and would expand opportunities ….
You might also want to look for some training in things like fit for life and silver sneakers, or other programs related to the needs of the aging woman.
I would also like to recommend that you consider taking a few classes in the mind/body arena. For a lot of women this is paramount in their relationship with their bodies (an often fraught relationship). There is a great movie called “Yogawoman” which looks at the history of women in yoga in the west. I really recommend watching it. Even if yoga itself doesn’t appeal to you at all, the movie really speaks to the predominance of women in leading the way in the world of mind/body modalities in the last couple of decades, and does a great job of exploring the varied needs of women at different times of their life.
You can find it online, but don’t look for ‘yoga woman’ two words (that is a you tube thing and is not the same thing)… look for ‘yogawoman’ one word… the movie.
Hi Melanie,
It is great that you’d like to specialize in women’s fitness.
Like you, the majority of my clients are female–and range in ages from their 30s-60s (many of them have goals of weightloss). I’ve found from training many female clients over the years that the following has been very helpful for me to study and understand:
–Understanding female hormones and metabolism at various stages of life with regard to training, weight loss (if applicable), and lifestyle
–The role of insulin
–The role of cortisol
–The role of stress on the body
–Changing digestion and nutritional needs
–Strength training and it’s role for women (with regard to osteoporosis, metabolism, creating confidence and a sense of empowerment)
–Mind/body connection as it impacts the hormones
–Pre/Post natal issues
Those are the major ones I can think of for good study. While I do not have a specialized certification in women’s fitness, I’ve always found that my general ACE personal training and health coaching certifications serve me very well –and then I like to fill in the gaps with specialized women’s information with my continuing education.
IDEA also has a host of wonderful articles and continuing education credits….
Best wishes to you.
Christine