Group Exercise Instructor - West Shore YMCA

YMCA of Greater Cleveland•Westlake, OH

About The Position

The Group Exercise Instructor designs and leads safe, high-quality, effective, challenging, and enjoyable group exercise classes that follow the designated class format and are appropriate for participants’ abilities. The instructor demonstrates and explains skills, uses effective cueing and movement modifications, monitors participants’ technique, intensity, and hydration, and encourages members to work at their own pace. The role also involves preparing and maintaining class equipment and materials, tracking attendance, building rapport among participants, and supporting YMCA programs and initiatives. Instructors may teach at multiple branches or offsite locations and may lead classes in live or recorded virtual environments. All YMCA employees are mandated reporters and must follow the organization’s child abuse and neglect reporting process. The position requires a high school diploma or GED and current group exercise certification, along with CPR, first aid, emergency oxygen, and related safety training. Specialty-format certification or training is required when applicable. Required certifications must be maintained; certain certifications or training may be obtained within 30 or 90 days of hire as specified in the posting. The work may involve frequent sitting, standing, swimming, walking, reaching, stooping, kneeling, bending, and instructing for the duration of a shift, as well as lifting or moving up to 50 pounds. The environment may be moderately noisy to noisy, and work may take place outdoors in inclement weather, in an office setting, or in program areas. Office work may involve prolonged sitting, repetitive computer and phone use, and fluorescent lighting.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Current national NCCA-accredited Group Exercise Instructor certification or YMCA Group Exercise Instructor certification; if not already certified, obtain certification within 90 days of hire.
CPR certification at the Basic Life Support or Professional Rescuer level, Basic First Aid, Emergency Oxygen Administration, and associated-determined safety training; if not already held, obtain within 30 days of hire.
Maintain all required certifications.
When applicable, current certification or proof of training in the specialty class format to be taught; if not already certified or trained, obtain certification or training within 90 days of hire. The instructor must be actively supervised in class until this requirement is fulfilled.
Demonstrate commitment to the YMCA’s mission and cause and uphold its values and ethics.
Ability to work effectively with people of different backgrounds, abilities, opinions, and perceptions.
Willingness and ability to serve as a mandated reporter of signs or suspicion of child abuse or neglect and to follow the required reporting process.
Ability to perform frequent sitting, standing, swimming, walking, reaching, stooping, kneeling, bending, and instructing for the duration of the shift.
Ability to lift or move up to 50 pounds.
Close visual acuity for tasks such as preparing and analyzing data, transcribing, viewing a computer terminal, and extensive reading.
Ability to perceive sounds at normal speaking levels, receive detailed information through oral communication, distinguish sounds, and accurately, loudly, or quickly convey detailed spoken instructions.

Nice To Haves

Associate degree.
Current certification or proof of training in the specialty class format to be taught, when applicable.

Responsibilities

Design and teach safe, effective, enjoyable exercise classes using appropriate progressions and cueing techniques.
Select music and tempo suited to the class format and population served.
Ensure classes adhere to the designated format and are appropriate for participants’ abilities.
Demonstrate and explain skills clearly, using energy and enthusiasm and working at a level appropriate to the class.
Emphasize participants’ workouts rather than the instructor’s own workout; demonstrate and encourage movement modifications and self-paced participation.
Monitor participants’ intensity, technique, form, and hydration throughout class.
Use clear, easy-to-follow verbal and physical cues before movement changes.
Plan class composition and choreography in advance, and regularly change music and routines.
Oversee appropriate use, maintenance, and cleaning of equipment and supplies.
Record class attendance accurately using the designated method.
Begin and end classes on time; be ready in the classroom with music and equipment at least five minutes before class begins.
Clean and return equipment and materials to their proper places, leaving the program area safely closed down.
Maintain positive rapport with participants and, when applicable, their parents; learn participants’ names and encourage interaction among members.
Encourage member involvement in YMCA programs, events, and the Annual Campaign, and read announcements when requested.
Find a certified, competent substitute when unable to teach an assigned class and notify the supervisor of substitute coverage.
Travel to multiple branches and offsite locations when required and lead classes in live or recorded virtual environments when required.
Attend all mandatory staff meetings.
Follow the child abuse and neglect reporting process, including completing the reporting form, contacting children protective services (696-Kids), and notifying the immediate supervisor, Branch Executive, Risk Management, and Human Resources.