Mono Basin Exercise Instruction Internship
with Rehabilitative Movement Specialist/Anatomy in Motion Instructor Margy Verba
This opportunity is available for free
for all Mono Basin Residents 15 and older!
Overarching Goals:
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Interns will learn how to teach a well-structured safe exercise class targeting strength, mobility, power, and agility.
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Provide exercise class opportunities to Mono Basin residents. Classes will address the needs of all spectrums of our local population with a special emphasis on classes for seniors.
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Expose Mono Basin locals to career paths in the exercise realm — e.g. physical therapist, coach, personal trainer, yoga teacher, etc.
Discussion:
In our small rural community there is a lack of group exercise classes, and in particular a lack of services for our aging population. There is also a lack of exposure to diverse career paths for our youth, which includes exercise/movement oriented career paths such as (but not limited to) physical therapist, athletic trainer, strength coach, yoga instructor, etc.
The guiding principle of the internship is: Movement Optimization. Optimal movement addresses the needs of everyone in the community; it is necessary for alleviation from pain, injury/frailty prevention, and athletic performance. Everyone in our community is somewhere on this spectrum. While the principles that will be taught in the internship are general and can be applied to any population, we will specifically address the needs of an aging population to prevent: frailty, falls/fractures (NOTE: all cause mortality increases 3-fold post hip fracture in those 65 and up), loss of basic function (e.g. getting up and down off the floor, reaching overhead, lifting a heavy object, etc.).
The Interns will learn some basic science about movement:
- Biomechanics/anatomy
- Injury prevention
- Pain science
The Interns will learn exercise teaching skills:
- Structuring a safe comprehensive class
- Verbal cueing
- Exercise demoing
- Exercise modification
- Requirements for basic function (pushing, pulling, squatting, lifting, reaching overhead, etc.)
In short, they will learn how to critically reason about movement: how to observe, how to modify, how to instruct via verbal cuing and demoing.
Structure and time commitment:
Meet once a month for a full day of anatomy/biomechanics and exercise instruction training. Homework in between meetings: reading a chapter, watching a few videos, practice teaching. I will try to get guest speakers to zoom or appear live: PT, personal trainer, athletic coach, yoga instructor, etc. NOTE: I have already lined up Physical Therapist Sheri Pueblo, Lee Vining High School graduate!!
Line dancing will be included. There is ample peer-reviewed research indicating dance is beneficial for: cognition, balance, cardio, and social connection.
Typical Day of Instruction 9-5 (7 hours of instruction):
2 hours biomechanics
2 hours exercises and practice teaching includes an actual class
1 hour line dancing
2 flexible hours to be used as needed
Month 1: Introduction
Month 2: Lower Extremity
Month 3: Upper Extremity
Month 4: Trunk/spine/core
Month 5: Full body, wrap up
Very Tentative Dates — we will solidify the dates once we have enrollees:
11/1/2025
12/6/2025
1/10/2026
2/7/2026
3/14/2026
In addition to class time, students will need practice teaching and reading hours.
What is included:
The internship includes all materials needed and the interns will incur zero out of pocket expenses. All interns will receive: an Anatomy of Movement book as well as exercise props and an exercise mat.
Upon successful completion of the internship (yes, there will be a final test), the interns will receive a stipend of $100, and will be eligible to apply for grant funding from the DeChambeau Creek Foundation to complete a National Academy of Sports Medicine Personal Trainer certification program.
To apply or for more information:
Please contact me at margyverba@hotmail.com or call at 760-920-2284.
Applications due 10/25/25!
Funded by the DeChambeau Creek Foundation