As awareness evolves around exercise for longevity, an emphasis has fallen on ‘movement for life’ training, which incorporates bodyweight, resistance training and mindfulness.
The purpose of this type of training varies depending on the participant. Some use it to build strength and functional mobility to support daily activities – particularly important for the ageing population. Others use it as corrective exercise for pain relief and improve biomechanics to address existing injuries and act as preventative fitness.
Physical activity and ‘life training’ help individuals to build long-term physical resilience and reduce pain, offering a range of options that can be delivered to clients with a focus on improving long-term wellness. With this in mind, we’ve featured five courses to support clients to help them move for life, forming a part of your continued professional development. These CPD opportunities comprise of in-person and online learning to help keep your development flexible. Plus, we’ve signposted further relevant resources to allow you to develop and apply your knowledge.
CPD
1. Functional Strength for Ageing Populations
Provided by FitPro
3 CIMSPA CPD points
This course delves into the role of strength training for developing and maintaining functional capacity specifically for adults from mid-life to older age. You’ll be provided with a solid overview of the latest research-based evidence along with a comprehensive library of exercises and exercise strategies.
Key topics covered in this introductory course include functional strength, functional mobility, strategies for balance and falls prevention, power and speed training, and exercise enrichment for physical and cognitive resilience.
What you’ll learn about:
- Functional strength in the context of ageing
- Current evidence for strength training in older populations
- Common barriers, safety and medical considerations
- Exercise prescription for key functional strength patterns, functional mobility, balance and falls prevention and functional power and speed
2. Foundations of Strength and Conditioning – Level 2
Provided by Envisage Training
10 CIMSPA CPD points
This strength and conditioning course is geared towards learners who specifically want to enhance performance and improve the efficiency of their clients’ movements. This course will provide you with a solid knowledge and skill foundation in strength and conditioning, focusing on understanding how the body moves and how exercise can be used to improve the performance of movement. This foundation can be applied to a whole range of clients.
What you’ll learn:
- Anatomy and physiology for exercise and fitness instructors
- Providing a positive customer experience in the exercise environment
- Lifestyle management and health awareness
- Planning and preparing strength and conditioning sessions
- Delivering strength and conditioning sessions
3. Level 3 Diploma in Instructing Pilates Matwork
Provided by Study Active
10 CIMSPA CPD points
This nationally recognised course teaches the art and science of Pilates matwork, combining anatomy and physiology with practical teaching techniques and class design.
Delivered through a blended learning model, the course includes a four-day residential workshop where you’ll receive hands-on instruction and real teaching experience. By the end of the course, you’ll be fully qualified to plan, instruct and evaluate safe and effective Pilates matwork sessions in gyms, studios or as a self-employed instructor.
What you’ll learn:
- Anatomy and physiology, Pilates principles and safe class planning
- How to assess clients and tailor Pilates matwork sessions
- Professional ethics, scope of practice and career progression options
4. The Fundamentals of Corrective Exercise
Provided by FitPro
8.5 CIMSPA CPD points
This course teaches fitness professionals about the various types of corrective exercises that are most effective for addressing underlying movement dysfunction and limitations caused by common musculoskeletal imbalances.
What you’ll learn:
- The types of exercises that can be used to improve common musculoskeletal imbalances
- What self-myofascial release techniques are and when to use them
- How stretching exercises can be used to increase mobility and range of movement
- How strengthening exercises should be introduced into corrective exercise programmes to help clients move correctly and without discomfort
- Strategies for regressing and progressing exercises as appropriate to a person’s abilities
5. Mobility Essentials Level 1
Provided by Fitness Education Online
10 CIMSPA CPD points
This course is designed to equip you with the skills and confidence to lead dynamic bootcamp sessions that energise participants and cultivate a loyal client base. From mastering effective marketing strategies to creating engaging workout plans, this course lays the foundation for helping clients develop and maintain mobility.
What you’ll learn:
- Mobility and movement – how the body works, tissues and major joints
- Myofascial mobility – practical mobility for superficial front and back line, lateral line and deep line
- Mobility sequences
- Stability, strength training and skeletal limitations
- Hypermobility
Discover more CPD
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