This is a living document. All entities posted are in alphabetical order. Please contact me with broken links, links that have moved or others you think should be posted here. Thanks!

Certifications

ACE

ACE is the original and probably best-known certifying body. Getting ACE certified includes 2 major steps: 1- preparation and 2- taking the test. Step 1 will cost you anywhere from $30 to $350 depending on which study materials you purchase. I did not see any certification workshops for group fitness available on their website, but you can correct me if I am wrong about this. Then, to actually earn the certificate, you have to pass the test. The testing fee for a first-time candidate for the group fitness cert is $249.

AFAA

AFAA is one of the most recognizable certifications in the industry. They have been around forever and teach solid skills and useful continuing education. Their primary cert if $299. If you can wait until September and live near an APEX city (check their site AFAA APEX to find out) they’ll be offering certification workshops for $99 one weekend only. This is by far the best deal out there.

FiTOUR

FiTOUR is really good deal for group fitness instructors. Their certifications are very inexpensive, and they do not require you to earn CEUs to stay certified. However, because it is so easy to be certified through FiTOUR, they are not as respected as a credential. I recommend FiTOUR as an inexpensive way to earn CEUs, because they are accepted by both ACE and AFAA. You can also use FiTour as a cheap way to get started in group fitness, although you will want to be AFAA or ACE certified to be taken seriously by most employers.

Johnny G Spinning/Mad Dogg Athletics

I don’t think you should teach indoor cycling without being Johnny G certified, but that is just my opinion. Johnny G invented the indoor cycling program and it is Spinning that is responsible for the indoor cycling craze. That’s not to say you can’t teach without this cert, you just can’t teach at licensed Spinning facilities without it.

NETA

NETA used to be NDEITA. They are not as well known, but they do put on a workshop for you to attend in order to be certified, which I find more comforting than online study and test courses. They are also soon-to-be NCCA accredited. According to NETA, you can “Get certified with the most thorough one-day certification in the industry. Beginning instructors with little or no experience gain insight into the basics of teaching group exercise. Classroom review of required textbooks and demonstrations in a relaxed atmosphere. “

Choreography

Fit Moves

This is a smaller website, but they have a choregraphy seciton where you can post and read member’s moves. The best part, though, is free streaming video demonstrations of some really great choreography. It doesn’t seem to be frequently updated, but you’ll find some neat stuff here.

GoAnimal

Their motto is “Play like your life depended on it.” I find fun games and functional exercises I can incorporate to lighten class up a little or give students a change. This is also a great resource for kids and family games, as well as for your sports conditioning classes and team building exercises.

JumpyBumpy

This site based in the UK has a variety of information, including music, videos, choreography, professional tips and more. They charge a monthly membership fee to access streaming videos of choreography, but most of the site is free. Their website is useful, once you figure out how to navigate through the clutter.

Sissel Online

This is the online catalog for Sissel products, but the genius part is their catalog of exercises using their products, which are common to most gyms. You can search through by type of equipment you want to use, and find fun new moves to use in your core and sculpting classes. Not too sure what to do with you club’s new ankle tubes? Sissel’s got a list for you.

Turnstep

The second place I turn when I need a little help putting my classes together (the first is my own notebook!). They are the best collection of shared choreography that I’ve found. You’ll find step, sculpting, cycling, aqua, kickbox and more! You can post your own to share as well, and they have a job board. Frequently updated.

Goodies

Perform Better

I use Perform Better quite frequently for purchasing foam rollers, which I give as gifts. They are also a great place to load up on equipment for your Fitness Room and pick up items for yourself. Besides the incredible selection of stuff (I can spend hours at a time looking through the catalog dreaming up new moves) they have great prices and excellent customer service.

Music

Get Fit Mixes

I am very excited about this option for music. They have a great selection and the quality of the mix is great. I plan to place my next music order with these guys. They are affordable ($14 for an hour of music), and have a bigger variety of selections than John Sines, in my opinion. All songs are original artists.

John Sines

No doubt about it — this is one of the hottest places to get music on the net right now. Every time I trade off with the instructor ahead of or after me, we are swapping John Sines CDs in the player. He has excellent mixes of very current music sung by the original artists with fun classics thrown in here and there. I have many CDs from John and he does a great job. CDs cost $15 for an hour and some sets of two CDs are available for $30. Clearance items are $10 and $20 respectively.

iTunes

Who hasn’t heard of iTunes? I admit that I was slow to check them out, because my mp3 player is not an iPod. However, they’re usable by any brand and their interface is similar to Napsters. They have TONS to offer, including movies and audiobooks and podcasts of lectures.

Mixed Meta4s

I first learned of mixed meta4s from Jon Giswold, who was presenting at the TSI Summit in NYC. I have never ordered from them, but the mix he played for us was killer! Little-known source for music, but they have great dance-club-type mixes for about $20 per 60-min CD.

Multitrax

Multitrax has a great selection of music and it comes at a fair price. I have only purchased two albums from them, which have a great beat and don’t distract in class. They have plenty of energy, but nothing that makes you want to sing. At least not on what I purchased. I find their website a little difficult to use, but they do offer DVDs, equipment, and other stuff I just haven’t checked out yet! They’re priced at about $30 for a 2-hour disc set) and the artists sound like the originals for most songs I’ve sampled.

Napster

Napster used to be the target of lawsuits because of it’s peer-sharing abilities which let everyone have free copies of music. In the last few years, they’ve changed their structure, and it is no longer a means to obtain pirated music. It is one-hundred percent legal and affordable! Napster has millions of songs. Try it FREE for 7 days, then register and pay a monthly fee to download an unlimited number of songs to your mp3 player. I find this a much cheaper alternative to purchasing new CDs every month, and I can play the most current music in my classes. You won’t get 32 mixes here, but it is the best for Spinning and for Radio Play classes.

Power Music

Power Music is the first company I ordered from and I find that they have the broadest assortment of music available. I also find them to be a little expensive ($20 - $26 for a 60-min CD). Plus, their mixes are NOT by the original artists. However, for groups who are not interested in hearing Akon or Ciara’s radio play, this is your best shot for satisfaction. For example, my seniors class LOVES the “Rockin Oldies” mix from Power Music, and their Tribal beat music is great for high-intensity classes. All of their mixes are ‘G-rated’ to my knowledge, which is also a benefit. Plus, they have a new section where you can download choreography.

Professional Organizations

IDEA Health and Fitness Association

(From their website): “IDEA is the world’s leading membership organization of health and fitness professionals, with more than 19,000 members in over 80 countries. Since 1982, IDEA has provided health and fitness professionals with unbiased data, pertinent information, educational resources, career development and industry leadership. IDEA’s membership includes personal
trainers, program and fitness directors, business owners and managers, and group fitness instructors.” This is a for-fee association that you can put on your resume. Membership in IDEA shows employers that you are serious about staying current with trends and safety issues and that you are in touch with the industry. They have excellent resources and publications on their website for fitness instructors, directors, managers, trainers, and owners.

Research and References

Be Fit With Biray - Biray’s Blog

“The purpose of this blog is simple: to discover, discuss, and document how technology influences health & fitness industry. Everything related to blogging, podcasting, cell phones, YouTube, Facebook, video games, electronics, social media, Google - you name it - if people are using it, then I want to know how it can be used (or is already being used) to enhance the impact of our health professionals, exercise enthusiasts, personal trainers, group fitness instructors, and wellness educators.”

FitClasses.com

“The place to get information, FREE choreography, continuing education workshops, and fitness instructor apparel.” A great place to find tidbits, ideas and choreography, plus access to CEU’s and fun gear.

FITTmaxx Institute

If you are wondering how to bring your message to the web, FITTmaxx Institute has workshops, articles and other resources to help fitness professionals adopt social media and new technologies such as podcasts, online personal training, exergaming, and web-based exercise programs.

Fitness Management Magazine

This link leads to a list of articles relating to group fitness at Fitness Management Magazine’s website. Some of it is a little dated, but I can still find useful answers to questions here on occasion. Click on the title of the article to view its full text.

Pedal-On.com

“The Independent Voice of the Indoor Cycling Community” Pedal-On is a forum for indoor cyclists to share information, resources, inspirations and ideas. A wealth of great stuff from really amazing and successful indoor cyclists.

Personal Training on the Net

“Personal Training on the Net – The ultimate one-stop fitness education resource for today’s personal trainer and fitness professional. Dive in for functional training fitness articles, personal trainer CECs, live and online fitness workshops and personal training career tools.” They are a for-fee site, but they have excellent information. You’ll find exciting movements and exercises that meet a specific need, research and articles to answer a myriad of health and fitness questions, plus a place to earn rewards for purchasing CEUs.