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MARQUETTE -- Anyone can get on an exercise bike in front of a room full of people, turn on some music, and start to pedal.  However, it takes technique and training to teach a fitness spinning class.

The National Exercise Trainers Association trains and certifies instructors on a national level, as well as provides continuing education on new trends in the health and fitness industry.
  
NETA representative Christine Simpson recently taught a weekend workshop at the Marquette YMCA and says it's important for fitness instructors to know all of the basics.

“Being that instructor in the class, that instructor that fuels, that motivates physically, mentally, emotionally and you know, really feeds the participants on all three of those levels to get them to their goals, whatever those goals may be,” says Simpson.

Simpson also says many people don't realize that teaching a fitness class like spinning comes down to details, like the type of music playing and the instructions given.

Exercise bikes are clearly different than your everyday outdoor cycling bikes.  So one of the first things NETA teaches fitness instructors and personal trainers is how to demonstrate the proper use of the bike and learn the biomechanics in order to prevent the person exercising from getting injured.

“Our members are our number one priority, and any instructor really has to know all the safety aspects when you are instructing a class,” says YMCA Group Exercise Coordinator Heidi Simon.

Thirty people were certified during the three-day workshop period and are now ready to coach and train anyone who wants to exercise.