A new training course designed to equip exercise professionals with the behaviour change skills needed to get inactive people moving is being delivered to Everyone Active’s exercise referral specialists.

Delivered by Lifetime Training, the Lifestyle Activity Coaching course was developed in consultation with the Academy for Health Coaching and led by physician Dr Tim Anstiss, who specialises in applying the science of positive psychology to health and care settings. The course addresses the increasing evidence that the success of physical activity interventions relies heavily on changing emotional and psychological attitudes towards exercise and active lifestyles.

Everyone Active has become the first leisure operator to invest in the new training course. Everyone Active Fitness Motivators – who look after exercise referrals – are currently undertaking the 12 week course, with plans to harness the skills across the business and potentially its fast-growing public health division Everyone Health.

“Research within physical activity promotion has identified that motivational interviewing is one of the strongest predictors of long term behaviours,” said Everyone Active national exercise referral manager Tiffeny Gould.

“With 50 exercise referral schemes delivered across the company, an opportunity to improve the quality of delivery and impact on our local communities could not be missed.”

Key elements of the training include applying the four processes of motivational interviewing based on health coaching: (Engaging, Focussing, Evoking, and Planning). A range of proven behaviour change techniques are taught, including motivational interviewing, decisional balance, scaling questions, empathic listening, shared decision making, goal setting and relapse prevention.

Mike Jones, commercial director at Lifetime Training, added: “Lifetime is delighted to be working in partnership with Everyone Active to help build a stronger bridge for the fitness industry to link ever closer with the public health agenda. Equipping Fitness Motivators with the skills to positively engage less active people is absolutely essential in creating a pathway in support of a more active nation.”

To read course developer Dr Tim Anstiss’ insights into behaviour change, as featured in Health Club Management magazine, click here.