EuropeActive's Essentials for Fitness Instructors

About EuropeActive The European Register of Exercise Professionals (EREPS) uses the EuropeActive standards to ensure that exercise professionals are qualified to offer safe and effective fitness programmes to their clients all across Europe. EREPS provides consumers, employers and partners in medical professions with confidence so that registered trainers are competent and work to support its Code of Ethical Practice, which defines the rights and principles of exercise professionals. Referencing the EuropeActive standards to each trainer and being registered mean that they have met the minimum standards of good practice and that they are committed to raising the standards of their skills and professional status through a process of lifelong learning. EREPS is regulated by the EuropeActive Standards Council using the official European Qualifications Framework, which describes the knowledge, skills and competencies exercise professionals need to achieve for registration. About the Editors Rita Santos-Rocha, PhD is an associate professor at the Sport Sciences School of Rio Maior (ESDRM) Polytechnic Institute of Santarem, Portugal. Since 1998, she has been teaching courses in physical activity and public health, exercise testing and prescription and exercise biomechanics. Dr. Santos-Rocha is also a researcher at CIPER (Neuromechanics of Human Movement Group) of the Faculty of Human Kinetics, University of Lisbon. Her research projects are funded by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology and the European Union National Strategic Reference Framework in the fields of active pregnancy, active school, active ageing and biomechanics. She is a member of the scientific committee of the Gymnastics Federation of Portugal and vice chair of the standards council of EuropeActive. Dr. Santos-Rocha has a BSc in sport sciences, MSc in exercise and health and PhD in human movement and health and fitness. In the past, she was a fitness instructor, group gymnastics coach, and physical education teacher. Thomas Rieger is the chairman of the standards council of EuropeActive. He holds a doctoral degree in social sciences with a specialization in sport science (German PhD equivalent) from the University of Tuebingen and a master's degree in public health. In 2007, he was appointed as a professor of sport management at the Business and Information Technology School (BiTS) in Iserlohn, Germany. At BiTS, he is the vice dean of the bachelor's programme of sport and event management and the MSc programme of international sport and event management. Previously, Dr. Rieger served as the visiting professor at the Real Madrid Graduate School and the European University Cyprus in Nicosia. Before entering academia in 2006, he gained more than six years of experience in the fitness industry, especially in the fields of fitness marketing and quality management. Alfonso Jimenez is a professor of exercise and health and the faculty dean of the health, exercise and sport sciences department at European University of Madrid (Spain) and a member of the scientific advisory board of UKActive Research Institute. Dr. Jimenez holds a visiting professorial appointment at Victoria University in Melbourne, Australia, as the international research associate. He is the chair of the Fitness Australia/ISEAL research programme and scienntific advisory committee at the University of Greenwich in London. During the time that he was head of school and deputy dean at Victoria University, Dr. Jimenez served as a professor and head of the Centre for Sports Sciences and Human Performance at the University of Greenwich. From 2009 to 2012, Professor Jimenez was the chairman of the standards council of EuropeActive, which at the time was called the European Health & Fitness Association. He was awarded honorary membership in recognition of his outstanding service. Dr. Jimenez's background before entering academia centred on the fitness industry in management, research and sales.

Chapter 1. Customer Service Thomas Rieger Principles of Customer Service Communicating About the Characteristics of Fitness Services Successful Customers Are Loyal Customers Managing Conflicts and Unsatisfied Customers Conclusion Chapter 2. Communication: Giving and Gaining Feedback Vera Simoes and Rita Santos-Rocha Role of Communication in Teaching Importance of Communication in Teaching and Retaining Clients Giving and Gaining Feedback During Fitness Sessions Characteristics of Feedback During Fitness Sessions Conclusion Chapter 3. Cardiorespiratory Exercise Paolo Benvenuti and Silvano Zanuso, Cardiovascular Response to Exercise Warm-Up and Cool-Down Modifications to Allow for Individual Differences Cardiorespiratory Training Methods Dose-Response Relationship Based on Evidence Conclusion Chapter 4. Resistance Exercise Fernando Naclerio and Jeremy Moody Basic Movement Analysis for Exercise Performance and Technique Safety and Risk of Injury in Resistance Training: Posture, Body Alignment and Range of Motion Safe and Effective Spotting Techniques Warming Up for Resistance Training Training Status and Individual Differences in Resistance Training Practitioners Dose-Response Relationship for Different Resistance Training Goals Conclusion Chapter 5. Safe Progressive Exercise Planning Oscar Carballo Iglesias and Eliseo Iglesias-Soler Assessing Clients and Modifying Exercise Programmes Providing Proper Dose-Response Relationship for Individual Participants Communicating Effectively During Training Observing Physiological Changes Applying the Principles of Training Conclusion Chapter 6. Preparing Fitness Programmes Sonia Garcia Merino and Susana Moral Gonzalez Gathering Information Prior to the Start of Class Programme Exercise Goals and Benefits Programme Suitability Required Level of Fitness and Intensity and Impact Options Conclusion Chapter 7. Delivering a Group Fitness Class Simona Pajaujiene Helping Clients Choose Group Fitness Classes Core Concepts in Class Design Modifications to Planned Exercises Incorporating Functional Exercise Progression Intensity and Impact Options in Group Fitness Exercise Responding to a Medical Emergency Responsibilities of a Group Fitness Instructor Conclusion Chapter 8. Teaching Group Fitness to Music Rita Santos-Rocha and Nuno Pimenta Characteristics of Music Used in Fitness Classes Moving to the Beat Using Music to Motivate Participants Structuring a Group Fitness to Music Class Basic Moves for a Self-Designed Group Fitness to Music Class Leading Movement and the Leading Leg Verbally and Visually Cueing an Exercise Routine Conclusion Chapter 9. Music and Choreography Lenka Velinska Musical Structure Musical Tempo Use of Musical Structure Choreography Conclusion Chapter 10. Ending a Session Jana Havrdova and Nuno Pimenta The Instructor's Role The Club's Role Conclusion Chapter 11. Safety Guidelines for Group Fitness to Music Susana Moral Gonzalez and Sonia Garcia Merino Legal and Insurance Responsibilities Planning Class Activity Conclusion Chapter 12. Stress Management Techniques Joao Moutao and Susana Franco Stress and Distress Implications of Distress for Health and Well-Being Symptoms of Anxiety and Depression That May Require Professional Attention Relaxation Techniques Conclusion