Participatory exercise programs should include education on benefits of regular exercise and risks of a sedentary lifestyle, its impact on cardiovascular health and diseases, its relationship with weight control and stress management, and aerobic exercise options. Discussion and practice of safe principles of exercise - warm up, cool down, frequency, intensity, duration, flexibility and strength components. The program follows guidelines by the American College Of Sports Medicine.

Safety precautions should include the following:

• Informed consent prior to starting exercise with clear and complete written and verbal instructions of possible risk, purpose of exercise, exercise format to be followed, opportunity for questions, and a signed informed consent with date.



• A screening/evaluation of participants to determine if medical evaluation is necessary for exercise such as the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q, see forms).



• Measurements of blood pressure and resting heart rate are useful screening information to determine exercise readiness.



• Participants who fail screening are medically referred and should obtain a written clearance from their physician to exercise.



• The basic content of an aerobic exercise program should include:

Exercise instructors should have education and training in exercise physiology, physical education, physical therapy or comparable discipline, or possess a current certification by a nationally recognized sports medicine or exercise association, and be CPR certified.