Studio and fitness classes are as popular as ever and continue to be an excellent way of improving all-round physical fitness.

The fitness class circuit in York is supported by an excellent register of teaching professionals who are trained in a wide and varied range of disciplines.

An audit of fitness instructors is currently being undertaken by the Sport and Active Leisure team at the City of York Council.

COMET

• Working alongside this audit, the city's Physical Activity Co-ordinators have recently developed a support group and forum for community exercise teachers known as COMET. It monitors community exercise classes and encourages instructors to network and support each other in order to maintain and develop opportunities for exercise in the community. COMET also offers a first point of contact for all newly qualified instructors who need further support, guidance and information in order to develop their career as a fitness instructor. At COMET, instructors can network with facility providers, share industry news and receive the advice and guidance they need to set up their own classes in the community.

For more information about COMET, e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it   or give her a call on 01904 553405.

REPS - Register of Exercise Professionals

• The Register of Exercise Professionals has been set up to help safeguard and to promote the health and interests of people who are using the services of exercise and fitness instructors, teachers and trainers.
• The register uses a process of self regulation that recognises industry-based qualifications, practical competency and requires exercise professionals to work within a Code of Ethical Practice.
• Instructors, teachers and trainers can become a REPs member and are given a card and registration certificate that proves their qualification and membership.
• Also known as the Exercise Register, it operates in the UK and across the world to recognise personal achievement and competencies of qualified exercise professionals. For example, the more CPD REPs training an instructor attends, the higher their ranking becomes.
• Because the REPs register is a great way to monitor best practice among individuals, a number of facilities have become REPs centres and are now making it obligatory for all their instructors they employ to be in the REPs register.

Click here for further information about the Register of Exercise Professionals.

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