It seems like just last month I was busy completing the last few of the 20 credit hours (2.0 CECs) I needed for my ACE group fitness Instructor renewal. Actually it was two years ago and at the time, I took advantage of the free CEC's offered by Team ICG.
While I was scrambling again this year to complete all my credits, I figured I should share my bookmarked sources for relevant online courses with our ICI/PRO members. All of these educational offerings carry ACE CECs and credits with other certification providers.
$29.00 for these 0.4 CECs is a great deal!
Team ICG
While ICG's CECs are no longer free, they are still a real bargain at $7.25 to $10.00 per credit hour. That's about half what I'm used to paying. There's a bunch of interesting study topics available like; periodization, music & motion, heart rate training and overtraining. Click over to www.teamicg.com/en/team-icg/education to learn more and you'll need to scroll down to find the CEC courses.
Cycling Fusion
I've been a fan of Cycling Fusion for years (that's me in the white do-rag) and they offer multiple, comprehensive online certifications. Existing instructors who want to learn to teach with Power will benefit from their excellent Power Training certification. Â
Parkinson's Cycling Coach
Coach Kathy Helmuth's online certification prepares instructors to successfully lead a Parkinson's Cycling class.
The research is clear — physical activity has been shown to reduce the symptoms associated with Parkinson’s Disease, (PD for short).
Multiple studies point to the benefits of exercise in improving muscular strength, flexibility and balance with subsequent functional improvement in individuals with PD. However, the information in the literature suggests that physical activities require some specific characteristics for this population. Exercises focusing on strength training, balance, aerobic conditioning as well as the use of external cues during gait can result in overall improvement in motor performance and quality of life related to PD patients’ health.
Me with Master Parkinson's Cycling Coach Kathy Helmuth
This is without a doubt the most worthwhile project I've ever had the privilege to be involved in.
Over one million people in the USA suffer from the debilitating effects of Parkinson’s Disease. As of today, there is no known cure for Parkinson’s Disease, however, regular exercise has shown to help with the reduction of the symptoms associated with Parkinson’s Disease in many of those afflicted.
We feel Indoor Cycling is the safest and most effective form of exercise available.
The National Parkinson Foundation’s most recent study identified that 61 percent of people with Parkinson’s suffer from depression, with symptoms that ranged from mild to severe.
Exercise has been proven as an effective treatment for major depressive disorder (MDD), and now there is sufficient research to help doctors prescribe the proper dose of exercise for depressed patients… again, we feel Indoor Cycling is the best form of exercise.
But there are very few clubs or studios offering Indoor Cycling classes specifically for people with Parkinson’s Disease. And for good reason; there are only a handful of fitness professionals trained to properly conduct these classes — we plan to change that!
We're looking for committed fitness professionals to join our army of Parkinson’s Cycling Coaches, who will provide these hugely beneficial classes!
Earn 0.5 ACE CEC's
Meet Master Parkinson's Cycling Coach Kathy Helmuth and learn how you can train to become an ACE accredited Parkinson's Cycling Coach by listening to our announcement podcast below.
Interested in becoming a Parkinson's Cycling Coach?
Coaching a room full of Parkinson’s people is very different from teaching a traditional Indoor Cycling class… so different that we describe your future role as that of a coach, not an Instructor. Classes are coached off the bike, with you working the room, addressing individual needs and motivating your class.
To qualify for this training you'll need to possess a verifiable combination of the following prerequisites:
#1. Current Certification in CPR and AED
AND
#2 Current National Group Fitness Certification — ACE, AFAA, NETA or similar
OR
Current Personal Training Certification — ACSM, NASM, NETA or similar
OR
BS in Exercise Science or related Medical field
OR
Athletic / Endurance Coaching Certification — USA Cycling, ITCA, USAT or similar
2 or more years experience in conducting indoor cycling classes is helpful, but not mandatory for this program.
We feel these qualifications will provide a strong foundation to the training we provide, resulting in quality Parkinson’s Cycle Coaches.
This is an online training program that will take ~ 5 hours to complete. It's a combination of written articles, audio interviews and video demonstrations.
Join our army by clicking here to start your training as a Parkinson’s Cycling Coach.
Questions?
You can email Coach Kathy: kathy@parkinsonscyclingcoach.com or feel free to call her (941)-313-0004
Click here to learn more about the initial research that discovered how Indoor Cycling can help reduce the symptoms of Parkinson's Disease.
