Perinatal Fitness Specialist Certification

Program Overview

This is a unique and comprehensive program designed to prepare instructors to teach holistic prenatal and postnatal fitness classes. The course includes the latest perinatal fitness research, guidelines and exercise techniques. It also covers aspects of the mind/body connection, such as how stress, trauma, illness, injury and a culture in which bodies are viewed as commodities or machines leave many of us at a painful distance from the wisdom and resources alive within our own skins.

There currently nothing like this offered anywhere with the depth of what is covered and the expertise of the instructors. Examples of topics covered:

• Relevant Anatomy & Physiology
• Exercise Physiology
• ACOG and Midwifery Guidelines
• Wellness Education for expecting and new mothers
• Post Cesarean and Special Needs
• Body Awareness & Acceptance
• Preparation for Labor
• Marketing your classes and services

Both prenatal and postnatal techniques included for:

• Aerobics
• Water Aerobics
• Dance
• Pilates
• Yoga
• Martial Arts
• Strength and Conditioning
• Walking
  
  

This course also offers some ways to include women of all shapes, sizes and fitness levels into wellness during and after pregnancy through exercise.

Program is an eight week course taken online using the same standards of excellence of all Aviva Institute programs.

A practicum component is included requiring participation in a fitness course in your local community.

Instructors

Kelly B. Brown, D.C., CSCS is a licensed Chiropractor, a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, a Certified Acupuncturist, a Certified Mixed Martial Arts/Self Defense Instructor and is currently completing her Childbirth Educator Certification.

Dr. Brown has had three homebirths and credits the support and guidance of her midwife as the inspiration in her work. Her focus is in perinatal fitness, nutrition and alternative healthcare. Her passion is prenatal fitness and she is currently working on a book for pregnant and new mothers on fitness.

Aradia Willow, LMT is a Licensed Massage Therapist and a Certified Yoga Instructor, Watsu Practitioner, Waterdance Practitioner, a Reiki Master and a Thai Massage Practitioner.

She has lived, taught and worked at some of the foremost healing retreat centers in the world, including Pura Vida in Costa Rica, Brietenbush Hot Springs in Oregon, and Harbin Hot Springs in California. She studied Thai Massage in Thailand and she completed her certificate in Yoga Education at the Yoga Vidya Gurkul in Nasik, India. She has taught at the Oregon School of Midwifery and at various workshops and retreat centers across the US and the world.

She currently teaches classes combining Hatha Yoga and Body Centered Psychotherapy. Her classes emphasize ways to identify unwanted habits held in neural patterns and muscle memory, release body blocks and self-limiting beliefs, and reclaim natural ease, balance and radiance. Participants leave with simple practices for honoring, nourishing and enjoying the themselves freely. The emphasis is on the internal experience, and freeing yourself from judgments of your body.

Required Textbooks

Exercising Through Your Pregnancy by James Clapp visit Bookstore to order

Perinatal Fitness Specialist Instruction Manual by Kelly Brown, DC, CSCS, and Aradia Willow, LMT
(Free eBook will be provided during course)

Prerequisites:

1. Previous experience taking or teaching fitness classes (any type). Personal trainer experience is also accepted.  
2. Non-native English speakers must have a TOEFL iBT score of 79 or higher.
3. Must be able to be online five out of every seven days. Able to devote time to study, estimated study time required 10-15 hours a week.
4. Knowledge of pregnancy, birth and breastfeeding not required but is highly encouraged.

• Tuition: $450.00

Dates: 6/16/2008-8/10/2008