Teacher Training is Evidence-Based.

The train­ing pro­gram has both aca­d­e­mic and prac­ti­cal com­po­nents. A study guide and writ­ten test pre­cede prac­ti­cal learn­ing. Accom­mo­da­tions are made for those wish­ing to develop their own pro­grams, as well as those wish­ing to teach under our auspices.

All teacher train­ing is under the direc­tion of Ann Cowlin, DTP’s founder with more than 30 years expe­ri­ence as a pre/postnatal fit­ness instruc­tor, trainer, researcher and inter­na­tional pre­sen­ter in the field. She is the author of “Women and Exer­cise” in Varney’s Mid­wifery, the major nurs­ing text­book for mid­wives, as well as her own text­book, Women’s Fit­ness Pro­gram Devel­op­ment. Cowlin is assisted by sev­eral DTP mas­ter teach­ers who have been with the pro­gram for ten or twenty years.

Instruc­tors learn why and how to incor­po­rate effec­tive mind/body skills such as breath­ing and relax­ation, along with strength and flex­i­bil­ity exer­cises into a total fit­ness pack­age. Aer­o­bics is def­i­nitely the biggest bang for the buck. Car­dio­vas­cu­lar fit­ness is the key to almost every ben­e­fit of pre/postnatal exer­cise that has been found through well-designed research. Instruc­tors develop their own indi­vid­ual style of aer­o­bic dance or fit­ness activ­i­ties as part of our train­ing pro­gram, but fol­low best prac­tice guide­lines. As the con­tem­po­rary world puts more and more demands on our time, get­ting the most from your pre/postnatal pro­gram is a smart approach.

Practicums focus on teach­ing these skills for nec­es­sary and essen­tial com­po­nents of exer­cise that have been shown to have a ben­e­fi­cial impact on preg­nancy, birth and recov­ery. In the photo above, for exam­ple, trainees are learn­ing how to teach inter­costal breath­ing in con­junc­tion with diaphra­matic breath­ing, an essen­tial skill in preg­nancy to increase oxy­gen con­sump­tion dur­ing exer­cise. Other skills taught include essen­tial strength train­ing exer­cises, lead­ing effec­tive relax­ation ses­sions, ana­lyz­ing music for aer­o­bic chore­og­ra­phy, and effort/shape analy­sis to pre­vent injury.

Prior to attend­ing a practicum, teach­ers must first pass the Basic study course exam. Poten­tial teach­ers are given 6 weeks to take the study course and exam. Those inter­ested in becom­ing pre/postnatal fit­ness teach­ers need to reg­is­ter for their course around 2 months prior to their pre­ferred practicum. Click on this link practicums for upcom­ing dates and locations.