Class Fitness I (Group Activities)

This CU falls within a set of Curricular Units that aim to provide students with tools for future professional practice as exercise physiologist. The CU is based on the recommendations of leading national and international bodies, looking for a sustained professional practice on scientific evidence.   Moreover, the organization of classes and contents aims to provide the conceptual and practical framework that allows in later years a gradual articulation and application of knowledge, aiming at a deeper content. For this, a period of observation in a real context (i.e., gyms) will also be held where the articulation of the contents worked with the reality of these spaces will be promoted.   It is expected that it will be reached as a final training product in the exercise and health/ fitness subject, professionals with the ability to adapt their practice to most emerging situations of practice.

Not applicable

1. Conceptual and historical background 1.1. Origin and evolution of group activities    2. Teaching group classes with the music 2.1. Musical structure and the concept of teaching a class according to the musical beat 2.2. Different beats per minute (bpm) and their suitability with the different group class types   3. Chorographical structure 3.1. The different components of the structure of a choreography and how they are organized 3.2. Leadership types and the principle of the ready leg 3.3. Introduction of diverse motor abilities   4. Structure and organization of the training session 4.1. The training session: structure, organization, and promotion 4.2. Construction variables and training control 4.3. Chorographical adjustments according to the structure of a training session   5. The different methods of choreography construction and motor ability teaching 5.1. Instruction, communication, and feedback techniques in group classes 5.2. The diverse methods of choreography construction

The teaching of this course will be used expository and experiential learning methods, supported by the analysis of existing evidence. It will be operational throughout the school year several times of application of knowledge in context near future intervention. The internal organization of the classes comprises moments that will encompass the various aforementioned methods.     There will be, throughout the year, in the continuous assessment regime, 11 evaluation moments, eight practical, two theoretical, and one report, which are structured by weight as follows: Two written tests: 30% (10% each, to be held at the end of each semester) Two final practical assessments: 25% (12,5% each) Six continuous practical assessments: 30% (5% each) One observation and practice report in the context: 15%

ACSM (2025). Guidelines for exercise testing and prescription (11th Edition). Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Teixeira, D.S, Cerca, L., Bastos, V. Rodrigues, F., Pereira, H.V. (2023). História do Fitness em Portugal: Uma Breve Revisão das Influências que Moldaram o Atual Panorama Nacional. Motricidade. Teixeira, D. S., Gaspar, C., Marques, P. (2017). Manual do Técnico de Exercício Físico. Porto Salvo: Edições Manz.