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Continuing Education Workshops and Certifications
The workshops welcome certified instructors. They provide information on the latest developments and training techniques, and enable instructors to enhance their skill set and professionalism all at once.
The workshops welcome certified instructors. They provide information on the latest developments and training techniques, and enable instructors to enhance their skill set and professionalism all at once.
Our virtual program allows you to complete your training from the comfort of your home with a live instructor, other students and educational materials on a digital platform.
If you would like to be informed about upcoming sessions, please fill out the interest form below.
Fall 2026 Continuing Education workshops
Program overview
Enhance your knowledge through workshops led by industry experts. Click on a course to jump directly to its description and registration information.
- Neo-primal Fitness (October 4)
- Whole Health Trends: What's New in Food, Fitness and Recovery (October 10)
- The Do's and Don'ts in Group Fitness (October 17)
- Integrating Corrective Conditioning Into Traditional Program Design (November 8)
- The Secret of Fitness Pros: Enhancing the Experience Through the "Why" (November 13)
- Anti-Inflammatory Nutrition: Optimizing Health, Energy, and Recovery (November 21)
- Preventing Running Injuries (and What to Do If You Get Injured) (December 5)
Workshops - FALL 2026
Neo-primal Fitness
In English
A return to the basics of movement. This ground-based workout system is designed to improve strength, power, flexibility, mobility, and coordination. The practice engages multiple muscle groups simultaneously while promoting body awareness and mindfulness.
Key components:
- Rolling patterns
- Crawling
- Deep squats
- Lunging patterns
Sunday, October 4, 2026 | 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. (English)*
- Instructor: Farrell Kaufman
- In-person class (YMCA Westmount)
- Registration begins: August 3, 2026
- Registration ends: October 2, 2026
*Eastern Standard Time Zone (EST)
Whole health trends: what’s new in food, fitness and recovery
In English
An up-to-date, science-backed workshop for trainers and wellness professionals exploring the latest nutrition trends, research, and misinformation shaping the health world today. From protein and gut health to supplements, longevity, and social media myths, this workshop helps participants confidently translate evolving nutrition science into realistic, evidence-based guidance for their clients.
Saturday, October 10, 2026 | 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. (English)*
- Instructor: Evan Beloff
- Virtual class
- Registration begins: August 3, 2026
- Registration ends: October 8, 2026
*Eastern Standard Time Zone (EST)
The Do’s and Don’ts in Group Fitness
In English
Have you ever seen an exercise in another class or online (YouTube, fitness apps or social media) and thought, “Wow, that’s a cool exercise!” and then decided to integrate it into your group fitness class? Did you stop to analyze if the exercise is safe? Do the benefits of performing that exercise outweigh the potential risks of injury to your participants?
In this workshop, we will review some general “do’s and don’ts” as group fitness instructors as well as look at specific “do’s and don’t” for classes like HIIT, toning, cycling and aquafit. We will look at how to analyze an exercise or movement before deciding to integrate it into a class and explore alternatives for contraindicated exercises. This workshop will be mostly theory however dress comfortably so that you are prepared to get up or get down on a mat to go through the movement analysis.
Saturday, October 17, 2026 | 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. (English)*
Instructor: Helen Neves
- In-person class (YMCA du Parc)
- Registration begins: August 3, 2026
- Registration ends: October 15, 2026
*Eastern Standard Time Zone (EST)
Integrating Corrective Conditioning Into Traditional Program Design
In English
This workshop bridges the gap between corrective exercise and traditional strength and conditioning by demonstrating how to integrate movement quality directly into performance programming. Rather than treating corrective work as a separate phase or isolated warm-up, participants will learn how to embed mobility, stability, activation, and motor control strategies into every stage of program design.
- Sunday, November 8, 2026 | 3:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. (English)*
- Instructor: Louise Malone
- In-person class (YMCA Notre-Dame-de-Grâce)
- Registration begins: August 3, 2026
- Registration ends: November 6, 2026
*Eastern Standard Time Zone (EST)
The Secret of Fitness Pros: Enhancing the Experience Through the “Why”
In French
Want to stand out and offer much more than just a class? Differentiate yourself by revealing the "why" behind every movement. Instantly increase your credibility, professionalism, and impact by offering your participants a meaningful experience that engages, motivates, and keeps them coming back. Don't limit yourself to the simple "how": master the art of the "why" and become the go-to instructor who inspires people to move—and transform their lives.
- Friday, November 13, 2026 | 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. (French)*
- Instructor: Marie-Ève Ricard
- Virtual class
- Registration begins: August 3, 2026
- Registration ends: November 11, 2026
*Eastern Standard Time Zone (EST)
Anti-Inflammatory Nutrition: Optimizing Health, Energy, and Recovery
In French
This workshop, designed for YMCA personal trainers, explores the fundamentals of anti-inflammatory eating and its impact on energy, recovery, metabolic health, and overall well-being. Participants will learn to identify eating habits that may either promote or reduce inflammation, while discovering concrete, realistic, and sustainable strategies to apply with their clients. This nuanced, science-based approach is free from diet culture.
- Saturday, November 21, 2026 | 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. (French)*
- Instructor: Zeina Khawam
- Virtual class
- Registration begins: August 3, 2026
- Registration ends: November 19, 2026
*Eastern Standard Time Zone (EST)
Preventing Running Injuries (and What to Do If You Get Injured)
In French
Running is now integrated into many training programs, both for general fitness and athletic conditioning. However, injuries remain common and represent a major challenge for professionals working with runners of all levels.
This workshop covers the main causes of running-related injuries, including key elements of training load planning, technical considerations, and practical prevention strategies that can be applied in real-world training settings. Participants will also learn best practices for responding when a runner develops pain or an injury: what to modify, what to monitor, when to refer, and how to support a safe return to running.
A practical, evidence-based workshop grounded in current knowledge of training and injury prevention.
- Saturday, December 5, 2026 | 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. (French)*
- Instructor: Martin Lussier
- Virtual class
- Registration begins: August 3, 2026
- Registration ends: December 3, 2026
*Eastern Standard Time Zone (EST)