--- title: Group Fitness Blog | AFAA | Dana Bender description: Dana Bender, MS, NBC-HWC, ACSM, E-RYT. Dana works as a Wellness Strategy Manager with Vitality and has 15+ years experience in onsite fitness and wellness management. Dana is also a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach, an Adjunct Professor with Rowan University, an E-RYT 200 hour Registered Yoga Teacher, AFAA Group Exercise Instructor, ACSM Exercise Physiologist, and ACE Personal Trainer. Learn more about Dana at www.danabenderwellness.com. --- [![afaablog_logo_new](https://blog.afaa.com/hs-fs/hubfs/afaablog_logo_new.png?width=301&height=77&name=afaablog_logo_new.png "afaablog_logo_new")](https://www.afaa.com/blog) - - - - -   [AFAA.COM](https://www.afaa.com/) - [Teaching Group Fitness](https://blog.afaa.com/tag/Teaching-Group-Fitness) - [Exercise Science](https://blog.afaa.com/tag/Exercise-Science) - [Being a Fitness Professional](https://blog.afaa.com/tag/Being-a-Fitness-Professional) - [Training Formats & Techniques](https://blog.afaa.com/tag/Training-Formats-and-Techniques) - [Motivation and Communication](https://blog.afaa.com/tag/Motivation-and-Communication) - [Tips From Angie](https://blog.afaa.com/tag/Tips-From-Angie) [![How To Design Group Fitness Programs](https://blog.afaa.com/hubfs/how-to-design-group-fitness-program.jpg)](https://blog.afaa.com/how-to-design-group-fitness-programs)   ## [How To Design Group Fitness Programs](https://blog.afaa.com/how-to-design-group-fitness-programs) So you are a group fitness instructor who wants to create your own group fitness programming? Great! It sounds like you are already headed in the right direction. You have a vision for the type of class you ... [READ MORE](https://blog.afaa.com/how-to-design-group-fitness-programs) [![](#)](https://blog.afaa.com/diversity-in-fitness) ## [The Importance of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Fitness](https://blog.afaa.com/diversity-in-fitness) [![](#)](https://blog.afaa.com/a-breakdown-of-cardio-kickboxing) ## [A Breakdown of Cardio Kickboxing](https://blog.afaa.com/a-breakdown-of-cardio-kickboxing) [![](#)](https://blog.nasm.org/certified-personal-trainer/attract-capture-nurture-right-clients-grow-business-month-month) ## [How to Attract, Capture, and Nurture Clients to Grow Your Business](https://blog.nasm.org/certified-personal-trainer/attract-capture-nurture-right-clients-grow-business-month-month) ## Dana Bender ![Dana Bender](https://blog.afaa.com/hubfs/Dana-Bender_avatar_1564156866-110x110.jpg) Dana Bender, MS, NBC-HWC, ACSM, E-RYT. Dana works as a Wellness Strategy Manager with Vitality and has 15+ years experience in onsite fitness and wellness management. Dana is also a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach, an Adjunct Professor with Rowan University, an E-RYT 200 hour Registered Yoga Teacher, AFAA Group Exercise Instructor, ACSM Exercise Physiologist, and ACE Personal Trainer. Learn more about Dana at www.danabenderwellness.com. ### Recent Posts ![yoga teacher doing pranayama](https://blog.afaa.com/hubfs/pranayama-yoga.jpg) ### [How Practicing Yoga Pranayama Can Help With Stress](https://blog.afaa.com/yoga-pranayama) There are various reasons why individual stress levels might be higher than usual in today’s climate. Not only are there unknowns surrounding the pandemic and its resolution, but many fitness ... [READ MORE](https://blog.afaa.com/yoga-pranayama) [share](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.afaa.com%2Fyoga-pranayama) [Tweet](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.afaa.com%2Fyoga-pranayama) [Pin](https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/button/) ![relaxed woman doing mindfulness meditation](https://blog.afaa.com/hubfs/mindfulness-fitness-center.jpg) ### [Navigating Fitness Re-Entry with Mindfulness](https://blog.afaa.com/navigating-fitness-re-entry-with-mindfulness) Many group fitness professionals are navigating the current unknowns of the COVID-19 virus and fitness center reopening. The following questions might sound familiar to those in the planning and ... [READ MORE](https://blog.afaa.com/navigating-fitness-re-entry-with-mindfulness) [share](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.afaa.com%2Fnavigating-fitness-re-entry-with-mindfulness) [Tweet](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.afaa.com%2Fnavigating-fitness-re-entry-with-mindfulness) [Pin](https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/button/) ![group fitness participants smiling](https://blog.afaa.com/hubfs/mindfulness-and-self-care.jpg) ### [7 Tips for Self-Care While Teaching Virtual Group Fitness Classes](https://blog.afaa.com/self-care-and-virtual-group-fitness) Teaching group fitness classes can be physically demanding on the body, especially if an instructor is teaching a high volume of classes weekly. Instructors need to keep their own physical self-care ... [READ MORE](https://blog.afaa.com/self-care-and-virtual-group-fitness) [share](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.afaa.com%2Fself-care-and-virtual-group-fitness) [Tweet](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.afaa.com%2Fself-care-and-virtual-group-fitness) [Pin](https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/button/) ![](https://blog.afaa.com/hubfs/iStock-1132452091.jpg) ### [How to Successfully Record Fitness Videos in 7 Steps](https://blog.afaa.com/how-to-successfully-record-fitness-videos) There are critical first steps to consider when creating and recording a fitness video smoothly and effectively. Though much more can be discussed on how to use editing software and tools to add ... [READ MORE](https://blog.afaa.com/how-to-successfully-record-fitness-videos) [share](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.afaa.com%2Fhow-to-successfully-record-fitness-videos) [Tweet](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.afaa.com%2Fhow-to-successfully-record-fitness-videos) [Pin](https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/button/) ![Teaching Yoga Online](https://blog.afaa.com/hubfs/iStock-1155359906.jpg) ### [Teaching Online Yoga for Beginners: Tips for the Transition](https://blog.afaa.com/teaching-online-yoga-for-beginners) Offering remote yoga classes has been an idea I have thought about for a while due to the value it could bring to my business. For instance, offering online courses could help me market and reach ... [READ MORE](https://blog.afaa.com/teaching-online-yoga-for-beginners) [share](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.afaa.com%2Fteaching-online-yoga-for-beginners) [Tweet](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.afaa.com%2Fteaching-online-yoga-for-beginners) [Pin](https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/button/) ![AFAA Yoga Instructor](https://blog.afaa.com/hubfs/Yoga%20Instructor.jpg) ### [Teaching a Candlelight Yoga Class in a Fitness Setting](https://blog.afaa.com/teaching-a-candlelight-yoga-class-in-a-fitness-setting) There are essential factors to consider before scheduling and teaching a gentle candlelight yoga class in a fitness setting. One reason for this is that not all corporate and commercial fitness ... [READ MORE](https://blog.afaa.com/teaching-a-candlelight-yoga-class-in-a-fitness-setting) [share](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.afaa.com%2Fteaching-a-candlelight-yoga-class-in-a-fitness-setting) [Tweet](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.afaa.com%2Fteaching-a-candlelight-yoga-class-in-a-fitness-setting) [Pin](https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/button/) ![Outdoor Yoga Class](https://www.afaa.com/images/default-source/blog/teachingoutdooryoga.jpg?sfvrsn=42d2a514_2) ### [Outdoor Yoga Class Planning: 7 Key Considerations](https://blog.afaa.com/outdoor-yoga-class-planning-7-key-considerations) Now that the weather is warmer, hosting outdoor yoga classes and events are in high swing for yoga instructors and studio business owners. Even corporate fitness professionals plan to incorporate ... [READ MORE](https://blog.afaa.com/outdoor-yoga-class-planning-7-key-considerations) [share](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.afaa.com%2Foutdoor-yoga-class-planning-7-key-considerations) [Tweet](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.afaa.com%2Foutdoor-yoga-class-planning-7-key-considerations) [Pin](https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/button/) ![yoga](https://www.afaa.com/images/default-source/blog/fitness-girl-hands-374694.jpg?sfvrsn=f248a514_2) ### [3 Truths to Help You Practice Yoga Consistently](https://blog.afaa.com/3-truths-to-help-you-practice-yoga-consistently) As a fitness professional and yoga instructor for more than a decade, I have received tons of feedback from yoga practitioners. More often than I can count, I have heard students and members express ... [READ MORE](https://blog.afaa.com/3-truths-to-help-you-practice-yoga-consistently) [share](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.afaa.com%2F3-truths-to-help-you-practice-yoga-consistently) [Tweet](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Fblog.afaa.com%2F3-truths-to-help-you-practice-yoga-consistently) [Pin](https://www.pinterest.com/pin/create/button/) [All posts](https://blog.afaa.com/all) [![af_web-installement-blog-ad_new](https://blog.afaa.com/hubfs/af_web-installement-blog-ad_new.jpg "af_web-installement-blog-ad_new")](https://www.afaa.com/courses/group-ex) Learn more about how to become a group fitness instructor. Speak with one our AFAA Program Advisors. 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