Health & Fitness Continuing Education Workshops and Certifications

In this workshop, participants will gain a basic understanding of the mechanics of our feet and how that relates to our movement regardless of age or choice of activity. We will look at how to assess the various muscles of the feet, their nerves and muscles, and footwear. Participants will have a working knowledge of how to design programs that create more stable, safer and stronger movement for themselves and their clients.

Using the childhood development sequence, this workshop explores the three pillars of restorative strength training:
• Breathing deeply from the diaphragm;
• Activating the vestibular system (balance and sensory integration);
• Doing contralateral exercises;
• The five core movements and their variations:
• Abdominal breathing
• Head control
• Rolling
• Rocking 
• Crawling

Emotional eating is a normal physiological response to our emotions in an effort to help us manage said emotions. However, when food is our only coping mechanism, this can lead to poor management of our emotions followed by guilt. In this workshop, we’ll learn more about the physiology of our emotions and how to listen and trust our bodies. Participants will leave with tips and tricks to have better control over what they eat in times of stress rather than letting what they eat control them.

In this interactive workshop, we will explore the evolution of Pilates, from its beginnings to today. 
We will examine how the original method evolved into more biomechanical approaches such as the STOTT PILATES® method. 
Through exploration of the STOTT PILATES® principles, you will learn to understand how the principles can be applied to any form of movement. When applied appropriately, these principles will enhance mind-body awareness, proper alignment, and efficient recruitment of our muscles. 
We will also explore the latest scientific research on fascia and developmental patterns. You will learn how to apply this information through the enhanced STOTT PILATES® principles to make movement as effective and functional as possible. 

Objectives: 
1. Learn about the origins of Pilates; 
2. Compare Pilates of yesterday and today; 
3. Learn the biomechanical principles of STOTT PILATES®; 
4. Learn the importance of each principle and how to use movement to reinforce and integrate it into a whole-body approach; 
5. Experience an original style class; 
6. Experience a class that considers the latest information on and evolution of the STOTT PILATES® principles; 
7. Learn about the basics of our fascial system.

During this workshop, you will learn:
• Easy-to-learn kettlebell exercises that achieve considerable results: deadlifts, swings, get ups, and goblet squats.
• The most functional exercise: the deadlift.
• How to build strong back muscles, get the butt of a sprinter, the fitness of a warrior, and the grip of a manual labourer with the swing.
• How to get shoulders as resilient as an android and how to transform your abs into an impenetrable shield with the get up. 
• How to create a combination of strength and flexibility with the goblet squat.
• The safety rules venerated by professionals but ignored by amateurs.
• The strategies for productive long-term training that will help you reach your goals.
• How to create unique kettlebell programs in the fitness world. 

As soon as you complete the workshop, you will be ready to start your progressions to reach your most ambitious goals.

Choosing the right workplace to kick off your career is critical and more difficult than ever before thanks to the countless opportunities for qualified fitness professionals. Build your confidence, reputation, and income by positioning yourself in an ever-changing market, following the right trends, and avoiding pitfalls. Nathalie will clearly lay out the steps that you need to take to secure your success in the fitness industry.

Weightlifting is often seen as an Olympic sport and therefore reserved for clients looking for ultimate performance. However, weightlifting can be extremely necessary in the physical preparation process for a variety of clients. Why should you integrate this type of training into your program and what movements in particular can help you reach your goals?

Jean-Philippe will suggest a series of key movements, putting you in a context where you can try a number of exercises such as the row, the clean and jerk, the snatch, and the push. The workshop will include the implementation of different weightlifting exercises, from the warm-up to in- and off-season training. Finally, there will be a presentation of support exercises that will help maximize performance for specific sports.

This six-hour gap course for trainers with existing YMCA Canada Individual Conditioning Certification to upgrade/update their certification to YMCA Canada Personal Trainer has been developed. This course can also be taken to obtain continuing education credits for all the FIT certifications.

This six-hour gap course for trainers with existing YMCA Canada Individual Conditioning Certification to upgrade/update their certification to YMCA Canada Personal Trainer has been developed. This course can also be taken to obtain continuing education credits for all the FIT certifications.