About this Event
Bring your curiosity, your teaching experience, and your questions. Join Michelle at Edge for a supportive study group designed to help you prepare for the American Council on Exercise (ACE) Group Fitness Instructor certification exam.
This workshop series combines in-person learning with complementary on-demand lessons in Teachable. Study between gatherings, revisit concepts at your own pace, and bring what you are learning into practical discussions with fellow aspiring and experienced instructors.
Whether your background is Pilates, Yoga, strength training, dance, or another group movement format, this series offers an opportunity to broaden your knowledge and work toward a credential that supports teaching across group fitness settings.
Learn Together. Apply What You Study.
Preparing for an exam can feel more approachable when you have a place to ask questions and connect the material to real teaching situations. Our workshops bring the study process to life through guided review, collaborative discussion, movement examples, and practice scenarios.
Together, we will explore how to plan purposeful classes, communicate clearly, offer appropriate movement options, and create a welcoming learning environment. Along the way, you will build study habits that support your preparation and identify topics that deserve additional attention.
Our Workshop Themes
1. Getting Started: Your Study Plan
Explore the certification pathway, review exam eligibility, and establish a manageable study routine. Learn how to use the on-demand lessons alongside your reading and workshop participation.
2. Anatomy and Movement Foundations
Connect anatomy and exercise principles to the movements you teach. Explore how the body responds to exercise and how foundational knowledge informs class decisions.
3. Designing a Group Fitness Class
Practice organizing warm-ups, conditioning, and cool-downs into a cohesive experience. Discuss exercise selection, sequencing, intensity, and options for different experience levels.
4. Teaching, Cueing, and Connection
Explore verbal and visual cues, demonstrations, observation, and feedback. Consider how your teaching approach can help participants feel supported, engaged, and capable.
5. Safety and Professional Practice
Work through scenarios involving participant needs, exercise modifications, professional boundaries, and appropriate referrals. Review the role of emergency preparedness and ethical conduct in group instruction.
6. Review and Exam Preparation
Bring your remaining questions for collaborative review. Practice reasoning through sample questions, discuss test-taking strategies, and refine your personal study plan.
Who Should Attend?
This series welcomes aspiring group fitness instructors, Pilates and Yoga teachers seeking a broader fitness credential, and experienced movement educators who appreciate structured study and community support.
At Edge, we encourage instructors to continue developing their knowledge beyond any single movement method. Preparing for the ACE Group Fitness Instructor exam can complement your specialty training while deepening your understanding of group exercise instruction.
Between Workshops
Continue learning through Michelle’s on-demand course in Teachable. Use the lessons to prepare for discussions, revisit challenging concepts, and maintain momentum between in-person gatherings.
Bring your study materials, a notebook, and your questions. Wear comfortable clothing for practical movement examples.
Join Michelle at Edge and take a thoughtful step toward your next professional credential.
Edge provides independent exam preparation. ACE exam registration and fees are separate. Participation does not guarantee passing, certification, or employment. Exam candidates must meet ACE eligibility requirements, including being at least 18, having completed high school or its equivalent, and holding current adult CPR/AED certification with a hands-on skills check.
Agenda
Tea
Info: Take some time to decompress over tea before we roll up our sleeves to begin.
Topic Overview
Info: Continue enjoying your tea over a lecture with Michelle Rae Sobi on key topics of the industry.
Required Reading
Info: We will refer to the most recent edition of the American Council on Exercise Group Fitness book for learnings.
Community
Info: Each session will cover common scenarios experienced by Group Fitness Instructors and how we would apply understanding in the real world.
Continue Learning
Info: Plan your required reading time in your calendar before you leave and lean on the community for accountability.
Event venue & nearby stays
SOBIS EDGE, 130 West Liberty Drive, Wheaton, United States
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