Nova Scotia Fitness Association upcoming events

AEL: Aqua Exercise Leader Course (Zz W23) (13 Nov 2026)

Fri, 13 Nov 2026 21:00:00 GMT

Learn to teach exercise in the pool!

Aqua Exercise Leader Course

The program focuses on the components of your fitness class - use of music, cueing, teaching methods, choreography and leadership skills - as well as specialized training for teaching exercise in a swimming pool. Use of portable resistance equipment is included!

Location/Date/Time:

In-person @ Yarmouth	Friday, November 13, 2026	5:00 pm to 9:00 pm
In-person @ Yarmouth	Saturday, November 14 , 2026	9:00 am to 5:00 pm
In-person @ Yarmouth	Sunday, November 15, 2026	9:00 am to 5:00 pm

Fee:

All Registrants: $349 members/$399 non members

Fee includes manual, materials, & exams.

Course Conductor: Judi Harvey

Location: 275 Main St, Yarmouth NS B5A 1E3

Clothing: Please have pool wear, a towel, and pool deck shoes as well as dry clothing for each day.

Testimonial from a previous AEL student:

"I used to teach aqua with only fitness leader training. When the module became available, I took it, because it was nice to have that knowledge and I actually learned a bit in the theory that I didn't otherwise know. The knowledge of how the water works with and against the body helped me plan my classes better and throw new and more challenging moves at my participants. And of course, it also taught me "GET ON DECK" and teach out of the water, which is better for your participants. To this day I tell people to try the water as it is a "liquid weight room" and not just for seniors but all ages and levels of fitness! Great workout, and fun to teach." - Trina, (Bedford, NS)

Exams: A written and practical exam are required to complete this course. Full certification also requires completion of Exercise Theory and a 1st Aid & CPR certificate. No certifications will be issued without ET and 1st Aid/CPR completed.

Need Exercise Theory (ET)? The ET course is available to take online at: Exercise Theory | Nova Scotia Fitness Association Certifications and

Questions???? Contact us at info@nsfitness.ca

9th Annual NSFA Fall Brunch Continuing Education Event (14 Nov 2026)

Sat, 14 Nov 2026 13:00:00 GMT

9th Annual NSFA Fall Brunch Continuing Education Event

NSFA Members Receive 2 CECs

Date: Saturday November 14th, 2026

Time: 9:00 am to 12:00 pm

Enjoy a delicious buffet brunch, mix and mingle with your fellow fitness professionals, add to your fitness knowledge and receive a continuing education credit for attending!

This Event Includes a Breakfast Buffet: Eggs, bacon, seasoned home fries, fresh fruit basket, tea biscuit, ice-cold fruit juices, tea and coffee (Dietary restrictions can be accommodated, please indicate in registration)

Topic:

SHIFTING GEARS- How to Help Regulate our Nervous System Before and After a Workout.

We all know that feeling; you’re tense or anxious from the day’s activities, show up for a class or a PT session and have a hard time settling down or focusing on your body. We’re still in “flight or fight” mode and possibly don’t know how to shift gears into “rest & digest” mode. This session will explore the physiology of our autonomic nervous system and the important, but simple things, fitness professionals can do to help clients (and ourselves) shift more quickly and easily.

Learn to recognize chronic dysregulation of the autonomic nervous system and understand how not addressing the issue has a negative effect on all systems of the body.

Presenter: Melissa Millar

About Melissa: Fitness and wellbeing for life….this is Melissa’s philosophy, and career path.

Starting with Group Fitness she now has almost 30 years experience in the industry working as a Personal Trainer, Group Fitness Instructor, Yoga Instructor, Program Facilitator and Trainer Educator. She has presented at conferences in Auckland, Halifax and St John’s as well as online webinars, and is a currently a Course Conductor/Evaluator for the NSFA.

In 2009 she was awarded the Fitness Instructor of the Year-Freestyle, presented by Fitness Life magazine in NZ. Melissa ran her own Halifax fitness business from 2010-2017 and then spent 9 years as the Fitness Coordinator at MSVU.

She is currently Health & Fitness Coordinator at the Zatzman Sportsplex. She is thrilled to be able to work in her community to help make wellbeing accessible for all and share her passions for mindfulness, functional training, whole health, and dance!

Location: Brunch will take place at the beautiful Ashburn Golf Course, 3250 Joseph Howe Drive, Halifax NS, B3L 4G1

Lots of free parking is available!

Registration Fee for Early Birds registering by November 3rd, 2025.

NSFA Members: $40

Non Members: $50

After November 3rd, 2025

NSFA Members: $50

Non Members: $60

NSFA member who attend will receive 2 Continuing Education Credits. These will be added to your NSFA account after the event.

Non members can request a Certificate of Attendance for proof of continuing education.

SEL-Seated Exercise Leadership Course (21 Nov 2026)

Sat, 21 Nov 2026 13:30:00 GMT

Seated Exercise Leadership Course

Learn to adapt most types of exercise for seated participants.

This course is done via online Zoom

Seated Exercise Leader Certification Overview

This certification equips fitness professionals with the skills to safely and effectively coach seated participants through all aspects of a fitness class using modified exercises designed for chair-based movement.

Upon completion, Seated Exercise Leaders will have a strong understanding of:

The diverse needs, abilities, and conditions of participants requiring seated exercise
Techniques to adapt foundational exercises for a seated format, targeting all major muscle groups
Strategies for motivating and coaching participants to encourage full engagement and confidence
Awareness of physical challenges and disorders associated with prolonged sitting
Approaches for interacting with participants in ways that reject and counter ableist assumptions
Critical safety considerations when planning and leading seated fitness sessions

Pre-requisites:
NSFA members must hold one of the following certifications to enroll:

Group Exercise Leader (GEL)
Weight Training/Resistance Training (WT/RT)
Personal Trainer (PT)
Active Older Adult/Adapting for Diversity in Exercise (ADE/OAL)

You can email us at info@nsfitness.ca if you have questions on your eligibility for this certification.

Location/Date/Time:

Please note: this course will be delivered via a blend of live video stream & in-person sessions.

Zoom	Saturday November 21, 2026	9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Zoom	Sunday November 22, 2026	9:00 am to 1:00 pm
Zoom	SEL written exam will be online via booked appointment

This certification is taught fully online.

Instructor(s): Andréa Morrison

Exams: A written and practical exam are required to complete this course. The written exam is a proctored online exam that can be booked after the weekend course.

NSFA members: $299

Non-members: $350

Registration ends November 16, 2026

Note: We require a minimum of 5 registrants to run the course. Registrants will be notified in the event we do not have enough people registered to run the course, and your money will be refunded.

Seated Exercise Leaders will be able to safely and effectively coach seated participants through all aspects of a fitness class, using exercises modified to incorporate use of the chair.

Once certified, they will have a clear understanding of:

● The wide variety of participant needs and abilities they will encounter

● How to modify basic exercises to target all parts of the body from a seated position

● How to motivate and coach/direct seated participants

● What physical challenges/disorders might be associated with remaining seated for long periods

● How to interact with participants in ways that mitigate and nullify ableist mindsets

● Safety considerations surrounding seated exercise

Pre-requisite: For NSFA members, this certification requires all participants to have one of the following underlying certifications - GEL, WT/RT, PT or ADE/OAL.