Group Exercise Instructor

We are seeking a group fitness instructor to support the work of the Y, a leading nonprofit focused on youth development, healthy living and social responsibility. The instructor leads group classes in a safe, enjoyable, and positive environment that welcomes people of all skill and fitness levels, builds community within the class, and modifies the class as needed to meet varied health, ability, and cultural needs.

The instructor follows YMCA policies and procedures to promote member wellness and engagement.

OUR CULTURE: Our mission and core values are brought to life by our culture. In the Y, we strive to live our cause of strengthening communities with purpose and intentionality every day. We are welcoming, genuine, hopeful, nurturing, and determined to make our community stronger starting with you.

• Enthusiastically lead an energizing, fun, safe, and educational group fitness class, as directed by the supervisor, to accomplish the YMCA mission and goals.
• Answer questions from members to nurture goal achievement related to healthy living. Maintain working knowledge of current wellness trends from respected industry leaders to inform and support members.
• Build effective, genuine, and professional relationships with members; encourage building a community by fostering connections with other members and YMCA staff.
• Observe and adjust approach to support all participants’ capabilities, physical conditions, health, and culture.
• Celebrate achievement of program participants related to program or personal goals, mastering of specific skills or overall health and well-being.
• Document accurate class attendance records on a timely basis.
• Begin each class with a Higher Thought, story or inspirational word.
• Attend all required staff meetings; departmental, branch and association level.
• Follow YMCA policies and procedures; respond appropriately to emergency situations.
• Maintain required certification(s) by meeting/exceeding continuing education requirements and keep current with legitimate trends in individual proficiency and the industry.
• Refrain from diagnosing injuries, offering medical advice and dispensing or endorsing any commercial health products especially nutritional supplements, vitamins, performance‑enhancing substances and pain relievers/treatments/therapies.
• Refrain from the promotion of any merchandise or services from outside the YMCA.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

• Communication & Influence
• Engaging Community
• Inclusion

• At least one year of experience instructing group wellness classes is preferred.
• General knowledge of group exercise equipment, sound systems, cardiovascular and strength training, and health and wellness techniques.
• Effective interpersonal skills and ability to facilitate group interaction/socialization and exhibit teamwork with members, co-workers, and management staff.
• National certification (ACE, ACSM, AFAA, Fit Tour, ISSA, NETA, and others) in group fitness instruction or YMCA Foundations of Group Exercise certification required, or may be obtained within six months of employment. Additional certifications in other proficiencies (e.g., Group Cycling, Les Mills Programming, Pilates, Yoga, ZUMBA, etc.) are required.
• Certifications required within the first week of hire:
  Redwoods Bloodborne Pathogens and Hazardous Communications.
• Certifications required within the first 60 days of hire: YMCA Healthy Lifestyles, YMCA approved basic life saving skills such as CPR, First Aid, AED, and Emergency Oxygen.
• The following instructor certifications are exempted from the National Group Exercise requirement but are encouraged as foundational for movement:
  Pilates - National Commission for Certifying Agencies NCCA accredited Pilates school certification.

Work is generally performed indoors in a health and wellness facility with fitness equipment; on occasion, outdoors with supervisor approval. Physical ability to conduct classes and activities; ability to perform all physical aspects of the position, including leading class, walking, standing, bending, reaching, and lifting. Visual acuity required for reading computer screens and other documents as well as teaching a safe group exercise class.

The instructor must be able to correct unsafe movement in a nurturing, encouraging manner, and consistently deliver professional instruction to a wide variety of learning styles and skill levels.

Experience teaching group exercise is required or preferred as indicated in the qualifications. Group Fitness Certification is required (or equivalent). Equal Opportunity Employer. This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.