African American Aerobic Instructors

[neenzmj]

I was talking to a lady at my job who has a degree in exercise physiology. She told me she thought I’d be a good aerobics instructor (I’m not sure how she came to that conclusion, but she said she thought I’d be a good motivator.) Anyway, I expressed to her that in my community, it seemed like there is a great need for African American aerobics instructors. She agreed whole-heartedly based on her research work at a previous employer.

What do you ladies think? Does there seem to be a lower ratio of African American instructors in your area? Anyone thought of becoming an instructor? I’m interested in forming some sort of group with the ladies at my church. Has anyone done something like this?

[Mocha5]

I have definitely thought about it again and again. But more on the lines of personal trainer. I really just need to do it! I, too, would like to get something going at my church.

[LJBFly]

That's how the guy that teaches the classes I attend got started. One of the members of his church asked him to help her lose weight and then he started to teach a small group at church that grew to a large group. He
then decided to go get certified and do it professionally.


Good luck with whatever you decide.

[Supergirl]

I was a certified aerobics instructor as a college student. I found that it wasn't for me. I enjoyed taking classes much more than leading classes. But if it interests you, then of course go for it. :up:

[Mariaat40]

That's how the guy that teaches the classes I attend got started. One of the members of his church asked him to help her lose weight and then he started to teach a small group at church that grew to a large group. He
then decided to go get certified and do it professionally.


Good luck with whatever you decide.

This is how I started, as well. I still teach at my church but as a result of the class there I got certified and now teach at a community center. Our local Y has a program to pay for certification for people of color because there are so few of us.

[neenzmj]

I was a certified aerobics instructor as a college student. I found that it wasn't for me. I enjoyed taking classes much more than leading classes. But if it interests you, then of course go for it. :up:

Yeah, that's why I thought I'd start by trying it out with the ladies at my church. That way, I can see how I feel about being in front of a group as opposed to taking a class.

[Leslie_C]

I had a nice response typed for you last night and I accidently lost it! I used to teach aerobics a few years ago and plan to get back into it when I finish losing this weight. Id love to start a class at my apartment complex (there is a large indoor basketball court that would be perfect) in exchange for a discount off my rent. I loved it because I got paid to stay in shape and motivate others. I taught at a YMCA and a community center. The best way to get started is to find an instructor you like and tell them you are interested in teaching. They will usually take you under their wing and teach you how to teach. You can get your foot in by substituting for them and eventually get your own classes. The certification classes mainly test your ability and dont really TEACH you how to teach a class, so its preferred you get some experience on your own. AFAA is a national certification and they have this thing called APEX once or twice a year in major cities where u get certified for $99 (normally around $300). I dont suggest the YMCA (I had that one too) because only the Y recognizes it. Try to get your hands on some aerobics music cut to the 32 count. Think of it as four 8 counts. At the beginning of the song you count from the first beat and u hear it start over at each 8 count and at the end of the 32 you hear a big change and it starts all over for a new 32 count. Thats what you base your choreography on. It looks easy, but its not! It takes practice to learn how to build up and break down choreography to the 32 count AND cue 2 to 4 beats before the next move. I started by just marching to the music and counting on the downbeat (1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,2,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,3,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,4 ,2,3,4,5,6,7,8) then it starts all over again. You will hear the 8 count easy but it takes some practice and really listening to hear each time a new 32 count starts. Im posting a link below that isnt the best music but its a good example of the 32 bc its easy to recognize. Once you get the 32, u can get choreography off websites for instructors and all u have to do is figure out how to break it down.(www.turnstep.com (http://www.turnstep.com) and www.vitasvibe.com (http://www.vitasvibe.com) are sites I used to use for ideas.
here is a link to a sample on ebay
http://cgi.ebay.com/Aerobic-Fitness-CD-CARDIO-HITS-V5-radio-club-hits_W0QQitemZ180129553623QQihZ008QQcategoryZ307QQ rdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

HTH! Good luck! Its a great side hustle and way to stay active. I miss teaching a lot....I just gained a lot of weight when I went to LPN school back in 04 and am just now getting around to losing it.

I know of a great underground DJ who mixes alllll types of music for aerobics(to 32 count). Oldies, Top 40, Pop, R&B/Hip Hop, u name it. And his prices are great and he runs specials all the time. u can email him at camelot@gte.net to ask for his catalog to be emailed to u and he will send alerts when he has specials. He doesnt have a website bc he is underground...the up and running producers were getting sued and shut down for copywright infringements(sp?). Anyway, good stuff. This was once my passion! I cant wait to get back in shape and get recertified and start teaching again.

[Mocha5]

Wow! :eek: Thanks, LeslieC. That is GREAT information.

Check this out: http://www.acefitness.org/getcertified/pdfs/ace_salary_results.pdf

[Leslie_C]

Wow! :eek: Thanks, LeslieC. That is GREAT information.

Check this out: http://www.acefitness.org/getcertified/pdfs/ace_salary_results.pdf

Your welcome!:) I honestly think we need more AA instructors out there so we can get past the "black women dont work out bc they dont want to mess up their hair" myth. If more black women were setting an example as a role model, I think more of us would exercise. Yep that looks about right fot the salary....ACE is another national certification but I think its more expensive and also more difficult as far as they go more in depth into physiology,etc. Keep in mind u would have to be a fitness fanatic to teach classes full time (that would be 8 one hour classes a day! lol)....the most I ever taught was 2 back to back a few days a week and even that was hard. Its a great side income though! Be careful with teaching too much bc you will overtrain and also mess up your metabolism because your body will adapt to such a high level of activity to simply maintain weight that if u suddenly stop you will gain...thats what happened to me.

This thread is actually motivating me to work extra hard to get back in shape because I have lots of ideas of how to market myself. I dont want to work for the big commercial gyms...Id rather hold my own classes.....think community centers, community college (community education courses), colleges campuses, apartment complexes, etc. If I did teach at a gym, it would be a small gym that wasnt a chain so they wouldnt expect a cookie cutter barbie type, which is so not me even at my smallest. I was fit/toned but never really thin. I may have not been a perfect 10, but I taught a kick arse class! ;) Unfortunately, a lot of big name gyms would prefer the model type who cant cue or stay on beat to teach a class over an average looking woman who can teach a really good class.

[dynamic1]

It depends on where you live, I guess. In Atlanta there were plenty of black instructors. I was a group instructor when I lived in Atlanta.
It was fun and no one was a cookie cutter Barbie type. (Well, maybe we did have a few ethnic Barbies :lol:). The director was black as well. We all assembled our own music based on the type of class we taught. As long as their was no profanity it was good. You weren't forced to use boring music. Heck, I had a line outside waiting for my class to start that represented the rainbow. Music is motivational. Classes can be really boring with bad music selection.

I found that students could be really judgemental and cruel. Don't bloat or they will be sure to let you know about it. They made one of the instructors cry when she gained weight (but she was white) They didn't seem to insult instructors that started out in larger package.

[Leslie_C]

It depends on where you live, I guess. In Atlanta there were plenty of black instructors. I was a group instructor when I lived in Atlanta.
It was fun and no one was a cookie cutter Barbie type. (Well, maybe we did have a few ethnic Barbies :lol:). The director was black as well. We all assembled our own music based on the type of class we taught. As long as their was no profanity it was good. You weren't forced to use boring music. Heck, I had a line outside waiting for my class to start that represented the rainbow. Music is motivational. Classes can be really boring with bad music selection.

I found that students could be really judgemental and cruel. Don't bloat or they will be sure to let you know about it. They made one of the instructors cry when she gained weight (but she was white) They didn't seem to insult instructors that started out in larger package.

um, can u give a sister some tips on how to get a body like that!?;) Im sure NOBODY ever insulted you about your appearance lol.

[dynamic1]

um, can u give a sister some tips on how to get a body like that!?;) Im sure NOBODY ever insulted you about your appearance lol.

Thanks a bunch:Blush2: :)
Exercise opens the door but nutrition is the key.
I know the content of everything that goes into my body when I am not cheating. That took about 60-90 days of practice. I know how to play with the distribution of my calorie intake between carbs, protein and fat to determine what is best for my activity level, current condition and goal. My carbs are primarily low glycemic when I am being good.