Size Inclusive Training Academy

BECOME A

Size Inclusive Fitness Specialist

Body Equality is Essential in Fitness Spaces

FITNESS IS NOT A ONE SIZE FITS ALL

Millions of larger-bodied individuals are too intimidated or traumatized to go to the gym. There is a specific set of skills and an approach when engaging with larger-bodied individuals because of their lived experience, fitness trauma and the weight bias many people face. A Size Inclusive Fitness Specialist has all the knowledge to start being a part of the inclusive solution.

GET CERTIFIED

Self-Paced

Start any time, learn at your own pace

Earn your certification at your own pace. You'll receive all the curriculum content and modules to explore at your own pace.

ACE - 1.5 CECs

NASM - 1 CEC

One Time Payment:

$379 USD

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Payment Plan:

Two Payments of $190 USD each

ACE [American Council on Exercise] is proud to partner with the Size Inclusive Training Academy to better serve individuals who have larger bodies...ensuring that exercise professionals apply a weight neutral mentality in working with this population creates a more welcoming environment for the client and a more inclusive space in the fitness industry. This provides equal access to a healthier lifestyle and more opportunities to incorporate movement into people’s daily lives regardless of individual differences.

- Cedric X. Bryant

ACE President and Chief Science Officer

Course Objectives

Awareness & Understanding

Gain a deep understanding of the significant challenges and lived experiences of larger-bodied clients, and explore the role that weight bias and stigma play in creating barriers for larger individuals. Understand how larger-bodied individuals can come with different psychology and physiology

Physical Differences & Access

Understand how different bodies move while considering spatial differences, weight loading joints, how variances in body geometry affect movements, balance, exercise form, ability to access certain machines and variances in execution.

Impactful Strategies for Inclusivity

Learn how to create a size-inclusive fitness practice including size-inclusive gym audits, client intakes, and appropriate language for individual and group training programming. Learn how the overall presentation of the fitness facilities, protocols, programming, language and marketing affects adherence and client longevity.

Read Full Course Breakdown

"This course should be essential for gyms, trainers and other professionals within the health & wellness space to keep their offerings current - as the industry shifts from exclusive and limiting to a broader audience of accepting all bodies. The insight and community connection was invaluable for not only my personal growth but also my business!"

Kris W, Movement Coach, USA

"This was an outstanding and comprehensive course. It covered, with great sensitivity, the pscho-social issues associated with stigma and prejudice of large-bodied people within the fitness industry and more broadly. It also provided excellent and practical tools to program, coach, and support large-bodied clients to achieve their fitness goals and experience personal empowerment as athletes. By far the best course I've taken to date."

Emet D, Trainer & Physio Assistant, Canada

Many plus-size individuals have a long history of facing one or more of these:

Broken relationship with exercise
All or nothing relationship with fitness
Body rejection both internally and societal

Generational messages of body hate
Feelings of not belonging in wellness spaces
Fear of failure, judgement, or injury
Fitness Trauma

Weight Stigma

Inability to perform like other gym-goers creating an element of shame
Negative experiences in fitness and wellness spaces

THERE IS A PROVEN STRATGEGY TO COMBAT THESE BARRIERS

Learn the do's and don'ts so we can all be part of the inclusive solution. Get certified today.

Become a Size Inclusive Fitness Specialist

"I wish this course had been around when I first certified as a personal trainer – I have been looking for something like this for years! Louise created a supportive learning environment and shared an incredible amount of experience and knowledge. I feel much more aligned with my anti-diet philosophy and better able to serve ALL my clients."

Stevie R, Strength Coach, USA

"I highly recommend this course for anyone who seeks to help people in larger bodies get fit, especially newer fitpros and those who have traditionally specialized in weight loss. The material considers everything a person may encounter in their fitness experience, including marketing, gym atmosphere, building rapport, and programming for people in diverse bodies. This course should be a prerequisite for becoming a personal trainer, group fitness instructor, or strength coach."

Sarah P, HAES Nutrition & Fitness Coach, USA

Size Inclusive Fitness Specialist

Course Breakdown

Module One: The Truth About Body Image & Exercise

A review of body image in western society
Explore the fitness industry’s role in improving body image
An overview of eating disorder behaviour
An overview of disordered exercise behaviour
Representation Matters: fostering sound body image and inclusion
Learn the power of Larger Bodied Leadership in the Fitness Industry

Module Two: Exploring Weight Bias & Lived Experience

Understanding weight bias and the client's lived experience as a larger-bodied person approaching health and fitness
Exploring your own bias blind spots and how to improve them
Take the Weight Bias Quiz and learn your score (quiz to be taken at the beginning of the course and again at the end)
Fitness Idealism, what is it? Exploring how the way we present fitness can be a deterrent to this population
Impact of diet culture and weight-loss adherence, strategies to avoid triggering unhealthy behaviours
Fitness Trauma: examine the deep impacts bias, diet culture, and idealistic messaging have on this population and how we can influence this group more positively.
Understanding the Body Positive, Fat Acceptance, and Health at Every Size Movements

Module Three: Training Methodology for Larger Bodies

How to design a size-inclusive client intake so your client is excited before they've even started
Modifications and training strategies for bodies with spatial differences
Common vulnerabilities and injuries: explore common areas of concern and movement patterns to avoid
Size-inclusive mindful programming, exploring frequency, intensity, and appropriate exercises
Learn the appropriate language and ways to avoid singling people out in exercise settings
Learn the power of small psychological shifts in verbal cues for a more positive experience
Training do's and don'ts: avoid awkward or inappropriate moments by learning this important protocol
Goal setting under your client's health vision: a deep look into various ways to set goals that meet the needs of the larger-bodied individual
Group fitness strategies: verbal and non-verbal cueing with inclusivity on top of mind
Recovery and mobility: how to roll and stretch with a larger body, learn the tools and props to assist
How to manage clients with little or no standing mobility

Module Four: Form and Physiology Considerations

Understanding potential physiological differences for larger bodied clients
Exploring the role that mass and energy and their relation to exertion and adherence
Explore cardiovascular exercise and the rate of perceived exertion for higher weight individuals
Understanding form and the potential challenges for larger-bodied individuals
Review potential postural challenges that play into form and exercise
How to cue form for body size diversity
Understanding potential balance challenges
Full library review of exercises performed by larger bodied clients

Module Five: Equipment & Gym Setting Considerations for Larger Bodies

Examining equipment - weight restriction, safety, and considerations for larger-bodied clients
Learning the common mental blocks and apprehensions of certain equipment
Exploring the safe and comfortable use of machines: setting your clients up, getting your clients in / out, machines to avoid, etc.
Examine placement consideration of equipment and gym set up for larger-bodied clients
Props, tools, and equipment for modifications to assist bigger bodies

Module Six: Case Studies & Programming for Larger Bodied Clients

Case study scenarios of real clients assigned to groups for consideration
Opportunity to devise the best intake and plan for the client
Multiple choice scenarios to test your knowledge in size inclusive training

Module Seven: Marketing for Size Inclusion

The lucrative business of size-inclusion: why appropriate marketing is vital to capture this audience
How to represent size diversity in your marketing in a tasteful manner
Syntax and language to use to attract larger-bodied clients into your business
Respectful use of images: the do's and don'ts of client images
Do's and don'ts of stock photography: how to source and use empowering images to attract plus-size clients
Defining your size-inclusive message to attract this population: group discussion and feedback on the overall culture you want to create in your wellness space
Apparel considerations, becoming inclusive in everything you sell.
How to source the best plus-size apparel and pitfalls to avoid

Final

Exam
Weight Bias Quiz Comparative
Resources

FAQ

Here are a few answers to our most common questions. If you have a question that isn't answered below, feel free to contact us.

Will this course help my clients lose weight?

This is not a course about how to help clients lose weight. We do cover the challenges of weight loss and why we deter from weight being a focus. This course is designed to give the larger-bodied client the best fitness experience possible, which we know creates a long-term, healthier, client.

For the LIVE or HYBRID course, what time zone will the course be offered in?

This course is held in PST. The self paced version is an option for those who don't live in this time zone or who would prefer to go at it on their own.

Can I take this course if I am not a fitness professional?

This course is ideal for certified fitness professionals; however, it is also valuable for:

yoga practitioners
gym managers
brand leaders selling plus-size apparel, products, or programming
team sport coaches
physical education teachers
individuals interested in becoming fitness professionals in the future
wellness professionals (therapists, nutritionists, HAES coaches, or any professional who may wish to brush on the subject of movement in their practice)
individuals interested in size inclusivity

It is important to note that this course alone does not allow individuals to teach fitness without a recognized certificate such as group fitness or personal training.

What technology do I need?

For the LIVE course, you will need to access Zoom Conferencing, (link will be sent) and a stable internet connection. For the self paced course, you will require a computer and internet connection.

What is the refund policy?

Course registration fees are non-refundable; should SITA need to cancel the course for whatever reason, registrants will receive a complete refund or credit towards another course.
Requests to change registration from one course to another must be made to our offices via email at education@bigfitgirl.com at least 7 days before the course date.

What happens if I don’t pass my final exam?

An 80% passing rate is required for completion and we are confident that each person will reach this benchmark. If you do not on the first go you will have the opportunity to retake the exam.

Will this help my business?

By offering size inclusivity in your business, you'll expand your client base and grow your revenue. When people in all bodies feel welcome in your business, they'll keep coming back.

We know that plus-size fitness apparel is a 20 billion dollar industry, you will have the opportunity to tap into that buying power. Of course we believe in people over profits, but becoming size inclusive is lucrative for businesses as well.

Also, through the course, you will gain a unique understanding of how to properly market and attract a massive new audience of larger-bodied people.