Youth fitness, senior fitness and group exercise leadership are just some of the niches now highlighted in the American Council of Exercise’s broader range of educational offerings.  

The American Council of Exercise (ACE) has broadened its educational offerings this year to include a number of new specialty certifications, the San Diego-based organization has announced.

“As the fitness industry has evolved over the last three decades, the wealth of knowledge, modes of exercise, and scientific insight has opened the door to career specialization,” the organization noted. “Depending on where you live and the market you serve, it’s possible for fitness professionals to specialize by client demographic, such as age or ability, or by your personal passion.

According to Jonathan Ross, a Senior Fitness Consultant for Personal Training for ACE, it’s important to specialize the right way. “You want to be narrow enough to provide clarity for you and potential clients, but broad enough to draw the number of clients you need to support your business,” Ross says.

To help fitness professionals who have made the decision to specialize and want to hone their expertise in the niche they want to pursue, ACE now offers specialty certifications in these disciplines:

·         Youth Fitness

·         Senior Fitness

·         Weight Management

·         Group Exercise Leadership

·         Sports Conditioning

·         Orthopedic Exercise

·         Therapeutic Exercise

·         Functional Training

·         Mind/Body

·         Fitness Nutrition

“The movement toward greater specialization in the fitness industry is good news for individuals who find themselves at different places along their fitness journey,” the organization says. “It’s now possible to find fitness pros who are better able to meet their particular needs, be it someone looking to lose weight, a baby boomer with osteoarthritis trying to stay active, or a young athlete working to improve her performance.

More information about specialty certifications offered by ACE, , and a database of ACE-certified professionals that can be searched by specialization, can be found at www.ACEfitness.org.