? For You Instructors Out There

[willowe]

Hi All,

I would dearly love to do my Instructor Training and am looking for some advice from those of you who have already done it. I have had a baby fairly recently (he is now 10 months old) and would dearly love to do my training, but would also like to have another baby relatively soon. I am nearly 33, and always wanted to have my babies close together. However, I am concerned that, by the time I have another baby, I will be close to 35. Now, I am not suggesting that this is old, but am worried that it may be too old in terms of me wanting to become an Instructor. Has anybody out there done their training after having their family?

Also, I am debating whether to train to become a Personal Trainer, or whether to become an Instructor (ie, teaching Step, Aerobics, Body Conditioning, etc). I would like to be able to make some kind of part-time living from whichever one I choose, so do you have any recommendations for one over the other?

For those of you who run your own classes - do you "borrow" and include moves and choreography in your workouts from other instructors (ie Cathe) or do you create all your own moves and choreography?

I would really appreciate any advice or information that anyone is willing to share. In case it has any bearing on things, I live in the UK, so some of the governing training bodies may be different over here than operate in the UK (one of the main ones over here is the YMCA).

Many thanks in advance!

Kaz

 

[DebbieH]

Hi Kaz! I have taught Hi/Lo aerobics for 22 years and love it! I am trained thru "experience" as being certified was not a big deal waaay back then. I feel very qualified, but I know now depending on where you teach, some progarms REQUIRE you to be certified. I (& my instructors) teach in small country communities and we just rent space in church fellowship halls. I create all my routines. (with a lil' help from my friend Cathe, Turnstep.com and just anything that pops into my head.) I did not start teaching until after I had both of my kids. I was 28 at the time. I don't think age has ANY baring on when you decide to start. I have students from 16-71 that attend my classes and I feel very comfortable around all of them. (including a male every now & then.) Also, I want to add that I also teach light weight work incorporating dumbbells, dynabands, ankle weights, bodybars (up to 18#) and small balls within the same class. I have gotten some great ideas from Cathe in how to incorporate all these. I don't make a lot of $'s doing what I do, but the "health" benefits, feel good endorphines, making wonderful friends and just having plain FUN just to name a few, makes it the BEST job in the world to me! Go for it. You will love it.
Your-Friend-In-Fitness, DebbieH http://www.handykult.de/plaudersmilies.de/wavey.gif[/img] If You Get The Choice To Sit It Out Or Dance...I Hope You DANCE!!!

 

[Soosan]

Hi Kaz! I am neither an instructor nor a personal trainer but there's a woman at the YMCA here who got certified to teach aerobics at age 60! She is now 82, still teaches classes and is also a personal trainer. You should see this woman! She looks 60 now and has gads of energy. I guess it's never too late.