Class Gym activities

The course unit Fitness Activities is part of the 1st cycle in Physical Education and Sports. Its objective is to provide basic and up-to-date knowledge regarding the key aspects of fitness classes and strength training, as well as cardio fitness. The aim is for students enrolled in this course to acquire fundamental skills for leading group exercise classes, specifically the ability to plan and conduct aerobic training sessions, strength training, and functional training sessions, using various exercises synchronized to appropriate music, enhancing participants' cardiorespiratory capacity, endurance, strength, agility, balance, and flexibility. Understanding the methodological progressions of teaching, as well as the students' technical quality, is crucial for success.

Not applicable

1: Fitness Classes (Aerobics, Step, Strength Training Classes and Functional Training) - Know and apply the specific concepts and specific terminology of fitness classes; - Correctly execute specific motor skills; - Know and detect the most frequent errors of basic motor skills; - Identify and characterize the structure of group classes; - Identify the determining factors of intensity; - Identify the musical structure and know how to use it correctly during the performance of choreographies; - Identify and make the necessary adaptations in choreography and apply choreographic editing methods; - Apply instructional and communication techniques. 2: Strenght training and Cardiofitness - Knowledge of the general training principles; - Knowledge of the theoretical concepts of aerobic training and strength training; - Knowledge of the fitness teacher's principles of action; - Equipment - Type of exercises.

Different teaching methodologies (TMs) will be used: Demonstration, experimentation, and practical exercises (TM1), Pedagogical practices in simulated situations of planning, organization, and intervention in the context of teaching/learning (TM2), Resolution of practical cases (TM3), Viewing and discussion of documentaries/videos (TM4), Small group activities (TM5), Feedback provided by the professor on the work performed (TM6).

- American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) (2021). ACSM's Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription (11th ed.). Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. - Bayles, M. P. (2023). ACSM's exercise testing and prescription. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. - Cerca, L. (2003). Metodologia da ginástica de grupo (3a ed.). Portugal: Manz Produções.  - Delavier, F. (2003). Strength Training Anatomy. Champaign, Ill: Human Kinetics. - Farrel, P.; Joyner M.; Caiozzo, V. (2012). ACSM's advanced exercise physiology, 2nd edition. Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer. - NSCA (2008). Essentials of Strength Training and conditioning (3rd Ed). Champaign, Human Kinetics. - Powers, S.K.; Howley, E.T. (2018). Exercise Physiology. Theory and Application to Fitness and Performance, 10th Ed. New York: Mc Grae Hill Education.