A Foundations of Fitness programme saw eight students take their first steps towards a career in fitness instructing.
The eight-week placement was taught at Hope Park Sports and covered Anatomy and Physiology, gym-based exercise, principles of health and fitness, and designing and managing exercise programmes.
Designed for students who may wish to pursue a career as a fitness instructor, the course provided foundation-level learning, from which students could proceed to the full qualification.
The combination of theory work and gym-based practical workshops aimed to ensure students had a good understanding of the role of a fitness instructor and were competent in performing/instructing exercises in a gym environment.
Shauna Stevenson, who is studying Sport and Exercise Science, was one of the eight students to take part. She said: “The highlight of the placement was learning the proper techniques for different exercise, how to use the resistance machines properly without the risk of injury, and creating exercise programs to suit different individual client's needs.
“I will take away the confidence I gained and the main teaching points associated with fitness instructing. The placement was a great opportunity for students, as we’re often too busy to apply for a full placement while at university. Most of us had Wednesdays off class, so it was a perfect thing to do on a day off.”
Fellow student Cerys Schumejko added: “The placement was flexible, and packed with sufficient information and practical work. I might now start looking into part time jobs to get some more experience.”