Instructor Handbook Copyright Mommy and Me Fitness, Inc. 2012

Transcription

1 Instructor Handbook Copyright Mommy and Me Fitness, Inc. 2012

2 Table of Contents Welcome... 2 Resources... 3 Growing Your Group... 7 Promotional Materials Bulletins... 8 Building Your Strong Mom Team Leadership Positions Recruiting New Leaders Leading Your Strong Mom Team Location Assessment Varying Classes Maintaining Personal Fitness Creating a Sense of Community Information for Moms and Community Keeping your Media Current Member Information Renewal Copyright Mommy and Me Fitness, Inc

3 Welcome You have an amazing calling, but you are not alone! You can do this! You don t have to be the wisest, fastest, strongest, or most organized mommy. You just have to be open to letting God work in and through you. Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. You can! God will be working through you, and we at Mommy and Me Fitness will be right beside you every step of the way. Together we can Grow Strong Moms by offering fitness for the body, refreshment for the mind, and encouragement for the soul. Copyright Mommy and Me Fitness, Inc

4 Resources Mommy and Me Fitness desires to equip you with everything you need to successfully bring this program to your community in a way that honors the Lord. We want you to be confident in your ability to offer not only fitness to your community but also Spiritual growth. Below are some of the resources we provide. Website YouTube Blog Podcasts Social Media Fitness Manual Handbook Instructor Newsletters The Curriculum Copyright Mommy and Me Fitness, Inc

5 Website The Mommy and Me Fitness website is located here. The website is the place for you to post your class and contact information so that moms in your town will be able to easily join your class. On the website you will find our Purpose, Statement of Faith, a biography about each of the instructors, class schedules for each group, a member donation page for new members, and our blog. YouTube Please visit our Mommy and Me Fitness YouTube channel here for promotional videos. Share videos with friends, at church, or at women's groups you attend. Also, post them to your personal social media pages and ask others to share to promote your group. Blog Our blog is designed to help all instructors nationally. Weekly devotional posts will be from the curriculum book. Our hope is that you will pull the coinciding class and plan your strong class to be this same one, making it easy for you to share the devotional with your group by directing them to read the post on the blog. This will help you run your group by eliminating the task of another or the expense of printing it out for the group. Our blog will also have the coinciding challenge from the same class. Our goal is for all MMF groups to join in a national discussion of the challenge, creating a way for our groups to connect, support one another, and grow strong across the nation. By participating in the weekly challenge and encouraging your group to as well, you will create both national fellowship and friendships in your own group. We want your voice to be heard in MMF; please share praise, events, and personal success stories on the blog. Copyright Mommy and Me Fitness, Inc

6 Podcasts Mommy and Me Fitness provides its participants with an audio download of cadence, classes and tips. This download will serve as a guide and help you learn the proper means for teaching pre and post natal fitness to classes, no matter what their fitness level. Social Media Any social medium can be used by all Mommy and Me Fitness instructors and members for class updates, news, etc. It is our desire to keep our busy moms connected and up to date on MMF activities. We have provided you with several social media outlets to help you stay informed on MMF happenings. Feel free to comment there and on the blog, and let us know how God is working in your community of moms! Fitness Manual As a certified instructor, you will be able to access the Fitness Manual you have downloaded at any time. It is packed with information that we believe will help you be the best instructor you can be. You can revisit it as often as you like to view videos, photo galleries, and podcasts, too. Handbook We also hope that you will take full advantage of this entire handbook! Instructor Newsletter This newsletter is for instructors only. As MMF instructors, you can access private instructional videos and class samples that will be shared via the newsletter. This newsletter will not only provide you with technical support but with inspiration as well. Copyright Mommy and Me Fitness, Inc

7 The Strong Curriculum This is intended to make teaching the class easier for you. Mommy and Me Fitness recommends you offer a weekly class that is free to the community we call them Strong classes. We hope that the Strong class can be used as a way to welcome new moms into your program. With the benefit to mom and child both, we feel that this class can be an effective outreach tool. We ask that the free class that you offer is a Strong class using the curriculum simply because we want the new moms to sense a fellowship with you that goes beyond the children that you have in common. Providing a class that challenges their souls as well as their bodies is a perfect way to get a new mom to leave wanting more. We know that as a mom, you are busy. The curriculum written for this class is designed to make the interaction portion of your class easier. You will still need to read and review it a few days before you teach it, but there are many ideas already written for you so that you can focus on planning your workout and be blessed right along with the rest of the moms. Copyright Mommy and Me Fitness, Inc

8 Growing Your Group Mommy & Me Fitness wants you to be successful in your classes. In this next section, we will discuss marketing approaches, business strategies, and instructor team support. Advertising is critical to the success of your program, especially if you want a group with a large number of participants. You will need to advertise and market your new Mommy & Me Fitness class. To advertise the launch of a new Mommy and Me Fitness Program, we recommend the following steps: 1. Make an appointment to speak to various local and national Mom Groups, like MOMS Club or MOPS, to announce your new Mommy & Me Fitness Program. Other women s interest groups in your community include women s business, hobby groups (such as scrapbooking), clubs (such as running or hiking), and church groups. 2. Ask local businesses to place program brochures in their stores. Examples of businesses we recommend you network with include bike shops, sporting good stores, realty offices, health food stores, and coffee shops. Use templates from Mommy & Me Fitness to create brochures. 3. Ask fitness centers, health clubs, gyms, salons, day spas, personal training studios, Pilates studios, weight loss centers, pediatricians, OB-GYNs, chiropractors, and physical therapists to place program fliers in their facilities. Look through your phone book for more business ideas. 4. Hold class in family centered places, and distribute brochures. Examples include zoos, parks, sporting games, and local pools. 5. Talk to moms at your children s schools. 6. Post fliers on community bulletin boards. 7. Ask friends to pass fliers out to their friends. 8. Ask local media to do a public interest story on your Mommy and Me Fitness group, and have them post your contact number and the Mommy & Me Fitness web address ( 9. Advertise in your local paper or radio. This may get costly, so use this form of advertisement only if you feel you need to, or, better yet, in exchange for sponsorship. 10.Be creative with your advertisement. It doesn t have to cost much! Copyright Mommy and Me Fitness, Inc

9 Promotional Materials Mommy and Me Fitness can assist you with a variety of promotional materials including: Customizable fliers to place around your church and community (please view at ) Customizable posters in various sizes Press releases Bulletin blurbs (examples below). Promotional videos (located in the YouTube section of this handbook) Church Bulletin Ideas 1. Mommy & Me Fitness is HERE! Leave the babysitter behind, & join a Mommy & Me Fitness class! Contact: [name] at [phone] for class schedule. Go to mommyandmefitnessfun.com for more information on classes offered. 2. Babies are fun! Babies are cute! But, sometimes we moms need some attention, too! Mommy & Me Fitness will help you get & stay in shape while bonding with your little one. Moms of all shapes, sizes, & ages are welcome to join! Contact: [name] at [phone] for a class schedule. Go to mommyandmefitnessfun.com for more information on classes offered. 3. Being a mom is hard! Do other moms do that? Do other KIDS do THAT?!? It s nice to have other moms to talk to. Wouldn t you like to reduce your stress? Join Mommy & Me Fitness classes to get in shape and meet other moms & kids! Contact: [name] at [phone] for class schedule. Go to mommyandmefitnessfun.com for more information on classes offered. 4. Join moms who have been there & done that! Strollering Strong doesn t require a stroller all moms interested in working out, reducing stress, & getting in shape are welcome to join. Strollering Strong is an opportunity for faith, fellowship, & fitness. Contact: [name] at [phone] for class schedule. Go to mommyandmefitnessfun.com for more information on classes offered. Copyright Mommy and Me Fitness, Inc

10 Building Your Strong Mom Team As your group grows, we suggest you build a Strong Mom team to accommodate your group s needs. Mommy and Me Fitness recommends that you get a new instructor trained once you have exceeded 15 moms in class. She can request instructor certification on the website at Once this mom is certified, she will be able to help teach classes, and you can begin to offer more class options to the group. You will be able to delegate some responsibility to her and may choose to structure the leadership duties as we suggest next in the Leadership section. Leadership Positions We recommend that each instructor develop a STRONG MOM TEAM to run her group. Positions included are: Additional instructor(s) Class volunteer summer program volunteer Why do we recommend this? This will help to facilitate the programs and delegate responsibility your team can help you keep families informed, organize summer programs for older kids, schedule moms nights out, and instruct class. Copyright Mommy and Me Fitness, Inc

11 Recruiting New Leaders Always be on the lookout for moms around you who have potential as leaders. If there is a mom who seems to have a passion for moms, fitness, and faith, why not ask her if she would consider becoming an instructor or helping with the class? Sometimes, it takes you initiating the conversation for a mom to realize that she might have potential. She might not feel comfortable teaching about God, or maybe she is not convinced she is the fittest mom out there, but once you show her that you believe in her, she may respond. Ask those who you feel are well suited to be a part of MMF to begin praying about if God would use them in this ministry. Try to get a replacement Instructor before you step down from teaching. Copyright Mommy and Me Fitness, Inc

12 Leading Your Strong Mom Team Once you have established a Strong Mom team to help run your group, these tips will help you mentor them: Each one has his own gift from God, one in this manner and another in that. 1 Corinthians 7:7 What a blessing it is for you to serve with other moms who also appreciate being fit and helping women see the value of taking time to care for their own bodies and spirits. It is important for you to lead your leaders. You want to be the most effective Strong Mom team you can be so that God can do His work. As you delegate roles to your leaders, remember how God has blessed each of us with gifts and talents. If you give your Strong mom team the opportunity to own certain tasks, you are encouraging them in their talents. Sometimes it is hard to delegate, so the better you define the tasks and offer guidance, the better the job will get done. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:17 Keep your Strong Mom team rooted and grounded in Christ. There should be a spiritual focus to nearly everything you do. Moms can have fun together, but there is nothing that bonds us like coming before our Heavenly Father together. Pray with and for your Strong Mom teams. Keep a prayer journal, and let them lift up your prayer requests as well. Whatever you do, work at with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Colossians 3:23,24 Copyright Mommy and Me Fitness, Inc

13 A sign of a good leader is her level of commitment. As you set an example of hard work and true dedication to the purpose of Mommy and Me Fitness to further God s Kingdom, your Strong Mom team will catch that fire. Be prompt; after all, class does not start without you! Show a sense of dignity and delight in your program. Meet with your Strong Mom team to discuss goals and review progress once a month or more often. You can even workout as a team. Pray as you run together. Take time to share ideas about new exercises, and plan your outreach events together. Always challenge each other to be the Strong Mom that God has called you to be. A good bond among the Strong Mom team is vital. As a leadership team, you may want to take some group fitness classes in your area to get some fresh ideas and spend time bonding. You can have a retreat once or twice per year where you have some extra time together without kids. While you are together, offer your friends something you have been learning from the Bible, provide time for worship and prayer, and have a fun time bonding. This time should be rejuvenating, both spiritually and physically. You can also have power bonding sessions before or after class. Spend 30 minutes running together while you take turns praying out loud. You can pray for one another, the moms in your group, new people you wish to invite, and any prayer concerns in your community. Set goals and watch them become a reality! Set goals for your own spiritual and physical growth and for the growth of the group as well. Hold one another accountable. Never stop training yourself. Mix up your workout, and, when it gets too easy, increase the intensity. Let God shine through you, mind, body and soul! Copyright Mommy and Me Fitness, Inc

14 Location We recommend that you host as many classes outside as possible. If your weather is such that you need to plan for colder climates and need an indoor location, first check with your church for an indoor facility. We suggest you also check shopping malls, community rec centers, the YMCA, or other large buildings in your area as alternate indoor facility options. Be sure to ask these centers if they will allow you to advertise your group in their newsletter or on their website. Have fliers available to pass out after class and on hand to be posted on the mall or rec center bulletin boards. We recommend that you set a weather policy for your group, and inform all class members of it. For example, you might say that class will be canceled or held in another location if it s raining or snowing. Assessment It is important to try to meet your moms where they are. The best way for you to understand how you can better serve them is to ask! You are welcome to create an evaluation form that surveys your group with questions about how they enjoy particular aspects of your MMF program. We suggest including questions that ask the ladies how you are doing on meeting their physical, spiritual, and emotional needs as well as how they are enjoying the ministry opportunities, outreaches, and classes in general. We at MMF would love to get feedback from you as well! Please let us know how we are doing. There is an evaluation form attached to the end of your Strong Curriculum, so you can let us know what topics worked well for you and what you would like to see in the upcoming year. We also hope that you will talk to your mentor any time you have questions or concerns. We want to partner with you to better serve your community for the glory of the Lord! Copyright Mommy and Me Fitness, Inc

15 Varying Classes As the members of your group grow to love your classes as well as the other mothers in the group, they will be attending class more and more often. It is important to offer them a challenging workout and something for everyone mothers and children alike to look forward to each day. We suggest offering a variety of classes to reach both the mom who is advanced in her fitness and needs to be pushed, and the mom who is new to exercise. In the Programs section of the Fitness Manual we have listed all of the classes Mommy and Me Fitness offers. You will find a wide variety of options. We encourage you to change up circuits, even within each class, to work different muscle groups and keep the atmosphere fresh and exciting! Often the need arises during school breaks or in home-schooling communities for our instructors to offer programs for non-stroller riders. Please consider organizing a sitter team or volunteer mom rotation for those occasions. Maintain Personal Fitness During your instructor training, you were asked to complete a 3 mile continuous run or a 5k race. We hope that you were able to enjoy the process of training for a goal! We know that being a mom gives us the chance to take care of those we love. But Mommy and Me Fitness also believes that staying healthy will give you the stamina that it takes to be the best mom you can be. That is why we want to be sure to encourage you to allow yourself time and energy to take care of yourself. You need spiritual strength from the Lord just as much as you need physical health. This means that you need to give yourself permission to take time to do what it takes to grow in your relationship with Jesus as well as in your fitness. We hope that you will continue to set personal goals for yourself, showing the moms in your group how to be a healthy example for our children. Copyright Mommy and Me Fitness, Inc

16 Creating a Sense of Community Among Mothers Setting an example of good fellowship will go a long way in creating community in your group. Take time to get to know all of your moms and the families they love. Plan nights out with your group and be sure to include every mother. As you plan an outreach or a ministry opportunity, get your moms involved. If they own a task it will help them connect with the event and show a better commitment to your program. Support Your Group Here are some examples of ways you can support your group: Baby showers Birthday parties Sponsoring a family for Christmas Giving away free classes or running shoes Starting a Bible study Hosting healthy eating meal planning parties Giving a shopping for natural foods walk through at a grocery store Participating in parades, fairs, or prayer gatherings together Signing up for a running race together Meals for new moms Babysitting co-op Copyright Mommy and Me Fitness, Inc

17 Info for Moms and Community Keeping Your Media Current Our goal is to build resources that help instructors stay in contact with the moms in your classes as well as potential new members. We have several resources available, and instructors must be sure to keep their media up to date. Most important is your class calendar and contact information on the website. Your group will grow by word of mouth as ladies are blessed by your commitment to their fitness. If class is canceled because of weather, be sure your moms know in advance how they can obtain this information. You might choose to use Facebook or text, but always keep the moms aware of how they can verify the class schedule. Communicate with the ladies in your group, even those who have not attended recently, so they are aware of moms night out and other activities that will help them get connected. Member Information Please direct moms and community members desiring to learn more about involvement with MMF to the information below: 1. Donate 2. T-shirt 3. Submit Prayer Requests 4. Sponsorship Copyright Mommy and Me Fitness, Inc

18 Charter Renewal The instructor will have until the anniversary date of her initial certification to complete and submit the Continuing Education Units (CEU). This will ensure her recertification for another year. The renewal fee is $150 and can be paid on the website at After the anniversary date the fee goes up to $180 for renewal. Upon renewal, the instructor will receive a new year of Strong Curriculum, continued website support, instructor news, and access to the blog where updated information will be posted including new class samples and ideas for your group. Without renewal of CEUs, the instructor will not be able to teach MMF classes, and the instructor web page and class calendar will be removed. Thank YOU We are so thrilled to have you as part of the Mommy and Me Fitness team. Thank you for joining us. We re certain you ll find this journey to be an exciting one. God bless you and your classes! Copyright Mommy and Me Fitness, Inc