RAF MILDENHALL, England -- Anyone who wants to teach fitness classes can now get certified in a day for less than $200. 

Interested active duty, family members and civilians must register by May 1 to gain instructor certification on group exercise, indoor cycling, Yoga or Pilates through the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America, said Tech. Sgt. Ricardo Alexander, noncommissioned officer in charge of fitness and sports here. 

Each course lasts one day at the Northside Fitness Center, he said. The group exercise certification class is scheduled for May 15 and costs $349, which includes study materials. 

The indoor cycling, Pilates and Yoga instruction courses, scheduled on May 16, 17 and 18 respectively, each cost $129. 

Certification lasts two years. Each person who takes a course must be certified on CPR. The Northside Fitness Center also offers free CPR certification, Sergeant Alexander said. 

Priority for the AFAA courses will be given to fitness center staff and unit fitness monitors, he said. 

"We try to push (physical training leaders) so we can try to enhance the base PT program," Sergeant Alexander said. "It'd be nice if you have a PTL who knows indoor cycling instead of running, if they can say, 'OK, let's go do some spinning!'" 

According to the technical sergeant, the certification courses will also bring variety for fitness center patrons. 

"We currently have two people certified to teach spinning and Yoga," he said. "That puts a lot of pressure on those two people. 

"This way we can have a more versatile staff," he added. "And we will offer more." 

AFAA is the world's largest fitness educator, according to the organization's Web site. Since 1983, AFAA has issued more than 200,000 certifications to fitness professionals from more than 73 countries around the world. 

Certification also includes subscription to the AFAA publication and a job locator service.
RAF Mildenhall no longer contracts fitness instructors, but AFAA-certified instructors can seek jobs at other bases and fitness centers, Sergeant Alexander said. 

But he said the overriding purpose of the courses is to enhance the base fitness program and better prepare warriors for the future. 

Editor's note: Those who want to register can stop by the Sports Store, Building 442, or call Beth Cooper at DSN 238-7170. To register for a free CPR certification course, call the Northside Fitness Center at DSN 238-2349.