Fit for the boom

NEW gyms are getting as common as restaurant openings in York these days. But one side effect of the booming fitness industry is that gyms and sports centres can't find enough qualified staff to run exercise classes.

That's why for the past 18 months the York Training Centre (YTC) - supported by the city council - began teaching people how to be keep-fit instructors.

Pat Issitt, fitness expert and Evening Press columnist, works for the YTC and will be teaching the latest course - the nationally-recognised NVQ in Exercise to Music - from the end of this month.

Pat, who has been teaching fitness for ten years, said: "There is a big demand for instructors and it is the boom in the fitness industry that has been pushing it forward."

The motivation for enrolling in the courses, which include teaching step and aquafit, are varied. Some people take part so they can teach as a hobby; others want to make a career of it.

One such person is Natalie Garrington, whose dream is to be a personal trainer.

Natalie, 17, of York, was already working at Courtney's gym at Monks Cross and had completed an NVQ in Sport and Recreation when she signed up to learn how to teach aerobics.

She says the 12-week course, which featured one day's tuition a week plus lots of homework, was hard work, but has opened doors for her in her career.

"I work on the main reception at Courtney's but at the end of the month I'm going to be selling membership and working as an instructor," she said.

Natalie plans to take some more training courses, with the aim of becoming a full-time instructor.

And a bonus of having her new qualification is that she can go where the work is - providing flexibility and financial security in the future.

Natalie said: "With the Exercise to Music qualification you can go mobile and teach at different gyms. It's nice to see how other gyms work."

Natalie is naturally sporty - "At school I was in every team and I'm in the gym every day" - which meant she quickly adapted to the physical side of the course. The theoretical side, which teaches the basics of anatomy and physiology, was harder.

"But we got lots of handouts and books and working in the gym meant I could get a lot of help from the other instructors. It was difficult, but worth it. And it's great now that I can understand the articles I read about health and fitness."

Sarah Brooksbank had an easier time with the theoretical aspects of the course, because she is a newly-qualified nurse.

The 29-year-old, who works on ward 12 of York District Hospital, said it was a "lifetime's ambition" to learn how to teach aerobics. She is now on a follow-up course on how to teach step.

Fitness teaching, however, remains firmly a hobby. Sarah teaches three classes every Thursday night at Oaklands sports centre, in Acomb, which she says is a brilliant "stress-buster".

"It's something to look forward to if I've had a really bad day as it releases a lot of stress. And it's refreshing to be doing something for someone else. I've not been teaching that long, but I've been getting really positive feedback, which makes me feel great."

There are still a few places left on the next course, which begins on January 26 at York Barbican Centre and runs for six consecutive weekends.

Tutor Pat Issitt said people did not need any formal qualifications to take part, just a good level of fitness and a love of aerobics. Men, she added, were as welcome as women and age was no barrier either.

"We have taught people with degrees and people with no further or higher education qualifications - both have been equally successful. It's best if people are over 18, as you have got to deal with people, but we have taught people in their 40s too. So far, we've taught about four or five men."

The course costs £350 and further ones are planned for May.

For more information, contact YTC on 01904 553302.

Updated: 09:12 Tuesday, January 15, 2002