A comprehensive, convenient resource is available for fitness professionals seeking continuing education credits (CECs), equipment training workshops, networking vehicles and various other professional opportunities: the Life Fitness Academy.

Created in 1993, the Life Fitness Academy is dedicated to assisting fitness professionals by bridging the gap between the science and application of exercise. Through CEC courses, equipment seminars, a training network and research grants, the Life Fitness Academy supports the advancement of research and education in exercise science and fitness.

Continuing Education Sessions

The Life Fitness Academy offers continuing education courses that are comprehensive examinations of training special select population clients. Conducted by Life Fitness Academy, these three-hour workshops are offered by appointment to fitness professionals at exercise facilities, academic institutions or national conferences. Each session includes an extensive, original manual written by a well-known researcher and an exercise physiologist.

"These continuing education programs are outstanding—they are the most in-depth analyses that I've seen," said Dale Huff, RD, CSCS, and co-president of Nutriformance in St. Louis, Mo. "What is so beneficial is that they review the latest research and then translate it to practical applications for trainers."

Current Sessions

• Exercise as Therapy: Osteoporosis and Exercise—written by Walter Frontera, MD, PhD, Harvard Medical School; James Skinner, PhD, Indiana University; and Barbara J. Usmial, MS, YMCA of metropolitan Chicago. This is an in-depth look at everything from the epidemiology and clinical characteristics of osteoporosis to screening and exercise prescription recommendations. The program also includes a pre-printed exercise prescription pad that reminds fitness professionals of key information when developing programs for clients with osteoporosis.
• Exercise as Therapy: Diabetes and Exercise—written by Arthur S. Leon, MD, University of Minnesota in Minneapolis and Minnesota University School of Medicine and Barbara J. Usmial, MS. This course provides detailed information about understanding diabetes, its complications and the therapeutic aspects of managing the disease. Like the Osteoporosis and Exercise program, it also includes a detailed exercise prescription pad, a suggested reading list and a glossary.
• Safe and Effective Strength Training Basics for Mature Adults—written by Barbara J. Usmial, MS. This course debunks common myths about aging, reviews psychological and physiological benefits of strength training for seniors, demonstrates common exercises on equipment and provides guidance for exercise prescriptions.
• Heart Rate Zone Training Skills for Mature Adults—written by Barbara J. Usmial, MS. This class discusses misconceptions seniors may have about cardiovascular exercise, reviews measurements of exercise intensity and explains how to develop cardiovascular zone training for older adults.

The American Council on Exercise (ACE) offers CECs for each course. Additional courses will be introduced within the next year, including Exercise as Therapy: Coronary Artery Disease and Exercise as Therapy: Hypertension and Exercise. Continuing education sessions are available by appointment to any size group of fitness professionals. To enhance value, staffs of several nearby facilities can attend simultaneously.

Product Training Workshops

The Life Fitness Academy also offers Product Training Workshops that detail its product capabilities and applications. These workshops can be customized for fitness facility staff and/or members. An educated staff can enhance member satisfaction by thoroughly demonstrating proper equipment use, reviewing program options that add variety and helping design goal-oriented workouts that achieve results.

Each one-day session includes the following topics:

• Physiology behind Life Fitness equipment design
• Heart rate zone training programs for exercise adherence
• Advanced strength training techniques
• Interval training for program progression
• Life Fitness equipment features and benefits
• Equipment diagnostics evaluation
• Safe and effective workout environment guidelines.

"Exercise equipment manufacturers rarely offer specific, in-depth product training to fitness professionals, so the workshops we offer are really important," said Kerri O'Brien, fitness and retention manager for DMB Sports Clubs in Phoenix and a member of the Life Fitness Academy Training Network. "Personal trainers are hungry for this type of real-life, practical application information that directly enhances their work with clients."

Training Network

Conducting the product training workshops are members of the Life Fitness Academy Training Network, a selective group of fitness professionals across the United States and Canada. Training Network members also participate in special events on behalf of Life Fitness. All Training Network members must be employed in a fitness facility, have an educational degree in exercise science, be a certified personal trainer and complete an annual Life Fitness Academy certification program.

"By being part of the Network, we have a unique opportunity to provide suggestions to Life Fitness' research department on developing or redesigning equipment," comments O'Brien. "We also can give recommendations for continuing education session topics."

"The Training Network is a fabulous networking opportunity," states Huff, who has been a member for several years. "My participation in Life Fitness Academy has allowed me to attend more trade shows and meet more colleagues than I could have done on my own - this ultimately has helped to enhance my business."

Scientific Medical Advisory Board

To ensure quality, all product training and continuing education workshops offered by Life Fitness Academy are overseen by the Scientific and Medical Advisory Board (SMAB), which is comprised of approximately 30 of the country's most renowned PhDs and physicians in exercise science and medicine. The SMAB also provides input in equipment redesign and development and serves on a speakers bureau to present programs at professional conferences and symposia.

Research Grants

Each year, the Life Fitness Academy awards $20,000 in grants to six graduate students and post-doctorate faculty members to support applied human studies on the effects of physical activity on various health states. Since 1993, the Life Fitness Academy has awarded $120,000 to 34 grant winners. Applications for year 2000 grants will be available this fall.

Additional Client Resources

The Life Fitness Academy also offers the Smart Exercise Guide. Developed in conjunction with SMAB members James Skinner, PhD, Indiana University, and Steven N. Blair, PED, the Cooper Institute for Aerobic Research, the Smart Exercise Guide provides a layman's overview of all components of fitness and tips for exercise adherence. Ideal for distributing to clients, complimentary copies of these booklets are available upon request.

"Education is key to what we do," said O'Brien. "The Life Fitness Academy is helping to take the industry to the next level."