Fitness and Health Promotion Takes Holistic Approach to Training Students

Getting in shape on your own can be challenging for several reasons. You may not know techniques to get maximum results or perhaps you need a boost with motivation. That's where personal trainers, fitness instructors, fitness consultants and wellness/fitness program developers come in. These professionals are tasked with assisting individuals to make healthy lifestyle choices that will reduce or prevent the occurrence of acute and chronic diseases by providing professional fitness assessments, recommendations for health and fitness exercise regimes and strategies to meet their health and wellness goals.

At Centennial College's Fitness and Health Promotion program, students can train to enter the field in two years. This undertaking focuses on offering students practical training in both laboratory and placement settings so that they may gain a comprehensive academic grounding with the necessary skills to prepare for employment in community, corporate, municipal and retail settings in a wide array of positions.

For example, at Progress Campus, from which students study, is the newly constructed Athletic and Wellness Center. This location features a triple gym with cardio machines, fitness area, aerobics/wellness studios, an 80-metre indoor track, climbing wall, squash courts, spa, wellness treatment centre, locker rooms and outdoor soccer field. As such, students have ample opportunity for inter-professional student liaisons with other Centennial College programs (i.e Police Foundations, Pre-service Fire and Paramedic students). The purpose of these liaisons is to assist students in the attainment of their fitness assessment goals and apply the knowledge Fitness and Health Promotion students have learned in their courses.

Speaking of which, courses cover a range of topics such as anatomy and physiology, fitness assessment, leadership skills, injury management, nutrition, fitness marketing, health promotion, computer skills and cross cultural awareness. There is a strong focus on mental health as an essential part of a holistic approach to well being.

It is worth noting that students have the opportunity to gain the skills necessary to become certified personal trainers according to the CSEP-CPT requirements and learn course material related to the canfitpro Personal Training Specialist certification.

Once they complete this fitness training program, students will have a range of abilities, among which are:

• Using various tools and strategies to assess the fitness level, health issues and overall well-being of clients
• Designing, implementing and managing fitness and lifestyle programs and events
• Developing fitness, health and wellness programs to meet the needs and goals for diverse populations
• Communicating effectively with clients in scenarios involving fitness counseling, workshop presentations, group facilitation
• Analyzing current research trends and issues relevant to the fitness and wellness fields to make informed recommendations
• Providing comprehensive training and evaluation of fitness and wellness programs
• Assisting to come up with business plans for health and fitness programs, activities and facilities
• Developing and implementing risk management strategies for health and fitness programs, activities and facilities