Health knowledge made personal
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I haven't discussed this in its entirety on the blog, but I have returned to teaching fitness classes (in conjunction with my big girl job)! Recently, I became an instructor for H.I.I.T. (High Intensity Interval Training), Ab Blast, and Spinning classes at a private gym .  There are several organizations that you can earn your fitness/health certifications such as ACE , NASM , AFAA and NFPT in addition to the NSCA. Each differs in certification requirements, cost, education, and CEU's (continuing education units). I was encouraged to pursue the CSCS credential because I was coaching at the collegiate level , and it has a more versatile application if I chose to stay in collegiate athletics. However, I am primarily working in the general population, and it still serves me well! *****HIIT class is 30 minutes of intense cardio and strength training designed to burn calories in a short period of time. When you perform intense activity, your metabolism burns more calories in the next 24 hour period. Typically, I choose full body exercises (more muscles working = more calories burned) in a tabata format. Tabatas involve 8 sets of 20 seconds of high intensity work followed by 10 seconds of rest. That's only 4 minutes, but it's more than effective. So, a 30 minute class might only involve 6 full body exercises, but the work output is HIGH. Tabata training was found to, build endurance and muscle strength and produce better results when compared to athletes training with traditional workouts . I simply set my Gymboss Interval Timer to tabata intervals...which means no more counting reps. Now, I can focus on proper form and work output of class participants rather than counting reps. ***** Ab Blast focuses on 30 minutes of core work. This is an area I severely neglected during my marathon training, so I am slowly building my core strength back. I like to take the class through tabata ab and back work too. Come on six-pack, I know you are under there somewhere!  Remember how I fell in love with Spinning class this summer? I decided to go a bit further with it. A month ago, I participated in a Spinning certification workshop . Although, I am not officially certified till I complete the assessment, I can begin teaching classes. I even got some necessary cycling shoes!  So, there is a glimpse into my extracurricular activities readers! I feel invigorated again as I know my passion lies in reaching others through physical activity AND mental well being, not sedentary desk work. 1. Have you tried a Spinning class? If 'no', why not? 2. What's your favorite in-home exercise? |
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