Wellness 252021 - Group Exercise Instructor (Certified)

About the Role

The Group Exercise Instructor is responsible for designing and instructing safe, high-quality, effective, challenging, and fun group exercise classes according to the class format and description.

Responsibilities

• Design and teach effective, safe, and enjoyable exercise classes using proper exercise progressions and cueing techniques, following established guidelines.
• Select appropriate music and tempo suitable for the class format and population served.
• Oversee the proper use, maintenance, and cleaning of equipment and supplies.
• Attend all mandatory staff meetings.
• Design classes that adhere to the designated format and are appropriate for participants’ abilities.
• Teach classes with energy and enthusiasm, accurately demonstrating skills and explaining them clearly.
• Emphasize members’ workouts, not personal performance, and provide multiple movement modifications.
• Encourage participants to modify movements and work at their own pace.
• Monitor participants’ intensity, technique, proper form, and hydration throughout the class.
• Use clear and easy-to-follow verbal and physical cues in advance of movement changes.
• Plan class composition and choreography in advance, consistently changing music and routines.
• Ensure accurate recording of member attendance.
• Begin and end classes on time, with setup completed at least 5 minutes before class starts.
• Leave the program area in a safe, clean, and orderly condition after class.
• Maintain positive rapport with participants and encourage member involvement in YMCA programs and events.
• Learn participants’ names, engage them in conversation, and foster interaction among members.
• Arrange for a certified and competent substitute instructor if unable to teach an assigned class.
• Notify supervisor of substitute coverage.
• Travel to multiple branches or offsite locations to lead classes, if required.
• Lead classes in a live or recorded virtual environment, if required.
• Follow the child abuse and neglect reporting process, including completing required forms, contacting child protective services, and notifying relevant departments. All employees are mandated reporters.

Requirements

• High school diploma or GED required; Associate degree preferred.
• Certification in CPR (Basic Life Support or Professional Rescuer), Basic First Aid, and Emergency Oxygen Administration required within 30 days of hire.
• Current national NCCA-accredited Group Exercise Instructor certification or YMCA Group Exercise Instructor certification. If not currently certified, must obtain within 90 days of hire.
• If applicable, current certification or proof of training in the specialty class format to be taught (e.g., Zumba, yoga, Tai Chi, SilverSneakers, LiveSTRONG at the YMCA, Real You, aquatic, etc.). If not currently certified, must obtain within 90 days of hire and be actively supervised until fulfilled.
• Must maintain all required certifications.

Skills

• Demonstrate commitment to the mission and values of the YMCA.
• Ability to work effectively with people of diverse backgrounds, abilities, opinions, and perceptions.
• Willingness and ability to act as a mandated reporter for signs or suspicion of child abuse and neglect.

Physical Demands

• Frequent sitting, standing, walking, reaching, stooping, kneeling, and bending for the duration of the shift.
• Ability to lift or move up to 50 lbs.
• Close visual acuity for tasks such as preparing and analyzing data, transcribing, viewing a computer terminal, and extensive reading.
• Ability to perceive sounds at normal speaking levels and make discriminations in sound.
• Ability to convey detailed or important spoken instructions accurately, loudly, or quickly.

Work Environment

• Moderate to noisy work environment.
• May be required to work outside and encounter inclement weather.
• Maintain a clean and orderly work environment.
• Work in an office setting with moderate noise levels, sitting for long periods, repetitive motion, and exposure to fluorescent lighting.