Lee Haney, 8 time Mr. Olympia and past Chairman to the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports

Founder of The International Association Of Fitness Science

Introduces:
"Minister of Fitness Certification"

The Minister of Fitness certification is the first of its kind to focus on creating certified training programs for churches and various community ministries.

The Minister of Fitness training curriculum falls under the Functional Training certification offered by the International Association Of Fitness Science.

What is Functional Training?

Functional Training imitates the natural everyday physical function of our daily activities. For example, we push (close doors), we pull (open doors), we bend (reach down to pick up items), we jog (when in a hurry). A functional training exercise program will consist of light weight bearing and or resistance movement that strengthens the natural function of the body while also increasing stamina and flexibility.

Functional Training provides the tools for overall physical health. It combines strength exercises, core exercises, cardio-vascular exercises, and stretching exercises within the course of each set of movements.

The beauty of Functional Training is that it can be offered onsite.  The fact that it can be done anywhere creates an opportunity to reach people everywhere.  A Functional Training workout generally takes 30-45 minutes.

By having Ministers of Fitness churches will be able to educate their congregations and surrounding community with health and fitness knowledge to help  fight heart disease, diabetes, strokes, childhood and adult obesity.

This can be done through offering bi-weekly exercise classes, nutritional guidance, and community screening through local health departments.

The health and fitness ministry will also pay for its self by having a drop-in fee (optional) to help cover operating expenses, purchasing exercise equipment, and hand-out materials.

What Type of equipment is needed?

The equipment needed to start a Functional Training program is very inexpensive. All that's needed is  a set of dumbbells (5, 8,or 10lb) per individual and a 4-5lb weighted medicine ball (optional).

How to get started?

Moving forward, the church Pastoral team must designate 2 people (male and female) within their congregation best equipped to serve as their Minister of Fitness.

They will then undergo the Functional Training program offered by The International Association of Fitness Science.

The I.A.F.S. is recognized by the International Federation of BodyBuilding (IFBB), The National Physique Committee (NPC), International Chiropractors Association (ICA), American College of Longevity Medicine, and Judson University (Sports Science Department).