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EnhanceFitness FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

Fitness certification information for EnhanceFitness instructors

1. Why do we require EnhanceFitness instructors to be certified?

We are providing a safe, effective, and evidence-based physical activity program to your organization’s older population. This is a population that requires specialized knowledge and practical training. For many older adults, chronic medical conditions and prescriptions will influence their response to exercise. In addition, physical abilities and motivations differ from the younger population.

To ensure that EnhanceFitness instructors have the proper educational background, we require them to hold a nationally recognized fitness instructor certification.

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2. A sampling of nationally recognized fitness instructor certifications

Following is a sampling of nationally recognized fitness instructor certifications that we are commonly asked about:

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3.  My EnhanceFitness instructor candidate has a certification that is not listed in the sampling; is it acceptable?

With literally hundreds of fitness certifications being offered today, it is difficult to determine what is good and what is not. The health and fitness industry is unregulated, but there are a few well-recognized and highly acclaimed organizations that provide certifications and continuing education. It would be impossible for us to compare all the certifying organizations.

You are responsible for ensuring that your EnhanceFitness instructor has the proper background, education, and experience. We suggest that you take a look at the following topics and resources as you make your decision:

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4. How are fitness certifications accredited?

The American Council on Exercise (ACE) states the following about accreditation:

     Accreditation of certification organizations is a topic of much discussion in the fitness industry which has its roots in the recommendation from the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) Board of Directors to its membership on qualifications for personal trainers.

     The IHRSA Board’s Resolution:
     “Whereas, given the increasing importance personal training plays in health, fitness and sports clubs, IHRSA recommends that, as of January 1, 2006, member clubs hire personal trainers who hold at least one current certification from a certifying organization/agency that has obtained third-party accreditation of its certification procedures and protocols from an independent, experienced, and nationally recognized accrediting body.

     Furthermore, given the twenty-six year history of the National Organization for Competency Assurance (NOCA) in establishing quality standards for certifying agencies, IHRSA has identified the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA), the accreditation body of NOCA, as being an acceptable accrediting organization. Other equivalent accrediting organizations may be recognized as well, as they come to IHRSA’s attention.”

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5. What is the difference between a degree, a certification, and a certificate-of-completion?

The terms “degree,” “certification,” “certificate-of-completion,” and “continuing education” are often used interchangeably. Most courses provide either foundational education or continuing education content.

The American Council on Exercise (ACE) defines these terms as follows:

Degree (education)

Certificate-of-completion (continuing education)

Note: Upon successful completion of the EnhanceFitness New Instructor Training, the instructor will receive a certificate-of-completion.

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6. What is the difference between CECs, CEUs, and credits?

To ensure continuing competency and to maintain a high standard for certified professionals beyond the initial certification exam, many certifying organizations require their professionals to continue educating themselves and stay abreast of health and fitness trends.

To do this, instructors will attend workshops and conferences. The hours are documented as continuing education credits (CECs), continuing education units (CEUs), or credits. Each certifying organization uses a different term and has different requirements for maintaining their certification.

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7. YMCA certification track

An EnhanceFitness Master Trainer who is also a qualified YMCA Trainer can provide their instructor candidates with a nationally recognized fitness instructor certification. For more information, refer to the YMCA certification track flowchart and contact Project Enhance.

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8. Job description: EnhanceFitness instructor

Click here for the EnhanceFitness instructor job description, which includes education requirements.

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9. EnhanceFitness instructor contract templates

While many EnhanceFitness instructors are employees of the organization where they teach the class, many other instructors are contracted to teach the class three times per week. Here are examples of contracts for independent contractors:

• EnhanceFitness Instructor Contract Template (long and very detailed version)
  
  
• EnhanceFitness Instructor Contract Template (short and minimally detailed version) -- Based upon a sample contract provided by Lifelong / The Tompkins County Senior Citizens' Council where EnhanceFitness has been offered since 2004.

Please note the following about using these contract templates:

• These documents are templates only. Use them only as guidelines to determine what is appropriate for your organization.
  
  
• Be sure to customize the template for your organization’s purposes by completing the fill-in lines as appropriate.
  
  
• It is your responsibility to have the template reviewed by your organization's legal department to ensure the contract meets your organization's requirements.
  
  
• Senior Services and Lifelong / The Tompkins County Senior Citizens' Council shall not be held responsible for any direct, indirect, or consequential damages or contract issues with respect to the use of these templates.

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EnhanceFitness Master Trainer requirements

1. Does our organization need an EnhanceFitness Master Trainer?

Not all organizations require an EnhanceFitness Master Trainer. You should consider an EnhanceFitness Master Trainer if any of the following situations apply to you:

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2. What are the qualifications required of a Master Trainer?

We are providing a safe, effective, and evidence-based physical activity program to your organization’s older population. This is a population that requires specialized knowledge and practical training. For many older adults, chronic medical conditions and prescriptions will influence their response to exercise. In addition, physical abilities and motivations differ from the younger population.

To ensure that EnhanceFitness Master Trainers have the proper educational background, experience, and personality, we require them to have the following qualifications:

Any waivers to these qualifications must be submitted in writing for approval to Project Enhance.

Click here to see the full job description.

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3. What is the role of the EnhanceFitness Master Trainer?

The EnhanceFitness Master Trainer ensures that the EnhanceFitness protocols are adhered to by conducting the EnhanceFitness New Instructor Training, providing support to the new instructor, and reviewing the class and instructor.

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4. Is the EnhanceFitness Master Trainer an employee of my organization?

The Master Trainer must be associated with an EnhanceFitness affiliate but may or may not be an employee of the affiliate.

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5. What are the responsibilities of the EnhanceFitness Master Trainer?

The responsibilities of the EnhanceFitness Master Trainer are as follows:

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6. What is the role and what are the responsibilities of my organization to the EnhanceFitness Master Trainer?

As the EnhanceFitness Master Trainer’s EnhanceFitness affiliate, you oversee the administration of EnhanceFitness for your organization, including determining EnhanceFitness site locations, purchasing and maintaining a license that includes each EnhanceFitness site, and ensuring that all EnhanceFitness instructors attend and successfully complete the EnhanceFitness New Instructor Training.

With respect to your EnhanceFitness Master Trainer, your responsibilities as their affiliate are as follows:

— EnhanceFitness New Instructor Trainings
— Post-training instructor support (at least one instructor review)
— EnhanceFitness meetings attendance
— EnhanceFitness annual instructor workshop
— EnhanceFitness Master Trainer quarterly conference calls and annual workshop

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7. What is the process to train an EnhanceFitness Master Trainer?

Your organization may decide it needs an internal EnhanceFitness Master Trainer who will provide the EnhanceFitness New Instructor Training to your EnhanceFitness instructor candidates as well as monitor and review your instructors post-training. If so, your candidate must meet the qualifications and successfully complete the EnhanceFitness Master Trainer Training. Following are the steps for ensuring the integrity and fidelity of EnhanceFitness; click here for a flowchart of these steps.

Note: Project Enhance staff evaluates the qualifications of candidates and their performance during training. Project Enhance is responsible for determining the candidate’s suitability as an EnhanceFitness Master Trainer. In rare instances, staff may decide that a candidate has failed to meet the necessary requirements.

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8. Job description: EnhanceFitness Master Trainer

Click here for a pdf of the EnhanceFitness Master Trainer job description.

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Weights: Information about weights

1. What a typical class needs for strength training exercises 

For the strengthening exercises, each EnhanceFitness participant will need a pair of adjustable ankle and wrist weight cuffs.

If an EnhanceFitness class is generally active, a typical set of weights for a class of 25 participants might look like this:

If an EnhanceFitness class is just starting and is generally inactive, a typical set of weights for a class of 25 participants might look like this:

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2. Where to purchase weights 

You can purchase weights from us or any sporting goods store.

Purchasing weights through Senior Services 

Senior Services, Project Enhance (Seattle, WA) can assist your site coordinator with the ordering and delivery of the recommended weights.

We order weights from All Pro Exercise Products (www.allproweights.com). The weights are adjustable in 0.5- or 1-pound increments to meet the individual needs of class participants. They are also easy to wear, to put on, and to take off. (See “More information about All Pro Exercise Products.”)

All Pro Exercise Products offers wholesale rates when ordered through Senior Services. Each small pair costs $22.80, but you have to order them in multiples of three (because that is how they are automatically packed -- 3 pairs per carton), so the minimum order would be 3 pairs at a cost of $68.40 plus shipping and handling. As of August 2008, the typical weights order was around $935.00 with shipping and handling (i.e., shipping from the East Coast to Seattle, WA).

The big unknown in giving you an estimate is the shipping and handling. We won’t know what this cost is until we receive All Pro’s invoice.

We recommend that you order 21 to 27 pairs of the small weights for a class that is just starting out.

To order your weights, send an email to brendab@seniorservices.org or call (206) 727-6259. We will need the following information:

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Purchasing weights elsewhere 

When you purchase weights on your own, please keep in mind the following characteristics and information:

Besides your local sporting goods store, you may also consider using the following online vendors:

Search for “adjustable therapeutic ankle weights.”

Note! Although we have listed the above vendors, we do not endorse them. We have not used them nor do we know anyone who has (as of October 2007). If you do use one of them, let us know how the experience went.

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More information about All Pro Exercise Products 

If you are comparing All Pro Exercise Products weights to another source, you may find the following table useful.

* Cost does not include shipping and handling.

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3. More frequently asked questions 

Q: Can the participants use hand-held weights?
A:  For the lower body strength training exercises, your participants will definitely need cuff weights that can wrap around the ankle.

For the upper body strength training exercises, participants can use either hand-held weights or the cuff weights wrapped around the wrist. Some people are more comfortable holding the hand-held weights; others prefer the cuff weights.

Most new sites that are starting up will buy one set of cuff weights and use them for both the lower and upper body strength training exercises. Storage and budget are often the issues that preclude most sites from buying both kinds of weights.

Q: What is the recommended resistance?
A: If your site is just starting an EnhanceFitness class and you expect the participants to be generally inactive, we recommend that your participants start with cuff weights that are adjustable in 0.5-pound increments. Their starting resistance would be 0 to 0.5 pounds.

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Equipment for fitness checks

1. What you will need for the fitness checks

Your EnhanceFitness instructor will need the following items to successfully complete the fitness checks:

You can purchase these items at your local sports shop.

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