Continuing Education Workshops and Certifications

When the time comes to train pregnant women in the conditioning room or in a group fitness course, there are many questions to ask yourself. 

• What impact will certain exercises have on the health of the mother and baby? 
• How can you get them moving without increasing the risk for diastasis? 
• Are there movements that could be harmful to the baby? 
• What movements should be avoided? And what about the pelvic floor?

The workshop will address the myths and physical activity behaviours of pregnant women. You will also learn about the risks and benefits of working out for healthy pregnant women, women with pathological conditions, and post-partum women. Last, you will explore the different exercise prescriptions for these clienteles.

• Sunday, September 13, 2026 | 2 p.m. - 5 p.m.* (french)

• Instructor: Luce Boulianne
• Virtual class
• Registration begins: August 3, 2026
• Registration ends: September 11, 2026

*Eastern Standard Time Zone (EST)

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Motivation is the key to helping seniors stay active, healthy, and engaged. In this 3-hour workshop, you’ll explore what drives seniors, common barriers to activity, and strategies to keep them moving.

What You’ll Learn:

• How to understand and inspire senior motivation
• Setting long-term fitness goals: Posture, Balance & Coordination, Strength, and CardioChoosing exercises and progressions to support each goal
• Using effective verbal cues and modifications for chronic conditions

Hands-On Practice:

• Work in groups to design goal-focused programs
• Share and demonstrate plans with peers
• Leave with practical tools, exercise ideas, and motivational techniques to keep your clients engaged, inspired, and coming back for more.

• Saturday, September 19, 2026 | 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. (English)*

• Instructor: Lisa McLellan
• In-Person Class (Cartierville YMCA)
• Registration begins: August 3, 2026
• Registration ends: September 17, 2026

*Eastern Standard Time Zone (EST)

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The fitness industry can be demanding, but it is possible to strike a balance between our professional and personal needs. Learn simple but effective techniques to achieve a lasting work-life balance. Adopt healthy habits, set boundaries, manage your time and priorities effectively, and cultivate a mindset that promotes success in all areas of your life.

• Saturday, September 26, 2026 | 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.* (french)

• Instructor: Nathalie Lacombe
• Virtual class
• Registration begins: August 3, 2026
• Registration ends: September 24, 2026

*Eastern Standard Time Zone (EST)

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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)

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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)

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Have you ever seen an exercise in another class or online (YouTube, fitness apps, or social media) and thought, "Wow, that's a great exercise!" and then decided to incorporate it into your group fitness class? Did you stop to analyze whether the exercise is safe? Do the benefits of performing it outweigh the potential risks of injury for your participants?

• 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)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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)

Register