Fitness Certifications in New York City
Where NYC’s Best Trainers Come to Learn
If you’ve worked with a great personal trainer in NYC, there’s a good chance they earned their credentials here. Momentum Fitness hosts some of the most respected certification programs in the fitness industry, from kettlebell instruction to mobility assessment to corrective exercise. Our facility has become the go-to venue for professional development because we understand what serious education requires: the right equipment, the right space, and the right environment to learn.
Pre & Postnatal Fitness Specialty Certification
📅 November 15, 2025 | 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM EST
👤 Instructor: Annette Lang
Gain the confidence and expertise to safely train one of the most high-demand client populations in fitness. This comprehensive specialty certification equips you with evidence-based protocols from ACOG, hands-on assessment skills, and trimester-specific program design strategies that let you guide pregnant and postpartum clients with authority. You’ll walk away knowing how to adapt exercises throughout all 40 weeks, manage diastasis recti, design safe postpartum return-to-training protocols, and communicate modifications that build trust with clients. This certification opens doors to working with a loyal, high-value clientele while earning .6 CEUs from ACE and NASM.
About the Instructor
Annette Lang has been a prominent figure in the fitness industry since 1983, teaching this specialty certification for over 14 years. Her programs are recognized by ACE, NASM, and NCSF for continuing education credits. Annette’s expertise in prenatal and postnatal training has made her certification one of the most respected in the industry, with trainers across the country seeking out her workshops for practical, evidence-based education they can apply immediately with clients.
Indian Clubs and Mace Swinging Workshop
📅 December 6, 2025 | 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
👤 Instructor: Kelly Manzone
Discover the history, applications, and benefits of two powerful circular training tools that build mobility, grip strength, coordination, and rotational power. This hands-on workshop creates a safe and solid foundation for working with Indian clubs and mace through proper grips, stance work, and foundational swings and transitions. Both tools utilize mid-line crossing patterns and complement various training modalities—from kettlebells and calisthenics to sports-specific work. Whether you’re a beginner curious about unconventional training or an experienced coach looking to refine your technique and add new dimensions to your programming, this workshop gives you practical skills you can apply immediately. Equipment is available on-site, or bring your own.
About the Instructor
Kelly Manzone is a personal trainer and educator with over 20 years in the fitness industry, specializing in unconventional training tools. She’s certified in kettlebells, Indian clubs, mace training, and serves as a Stick Mobility Assistant Coach. Kelly is the creator of Pillars of Female Strength and has been a guest on over 25 podcasts discussing movement and strength training. Her deep fascination with Physical Culture and historical training methods drives her passion for teaching tools like Indian clubs and mace, blending skill-based strength work with modern training principles. Kelly co-created custom equipment including the Iron Gada steel mace and custom teardrop Indian clubs, reflecting her commitment to quality instruction and authentic practice.
Mace Fit Level 1 Coach Certification
📅January 25, 2026 | 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
👤 Instructor: Matthew Flaherty
Master the Mace Fit training system through six hours of intensive hands-on education in steel mace and club training. This Level 1 certification teaches you the fundamentals of an effective unconventional training system that builds full-body strength, improves grip, enhances balance and coordination, and develops rotational power without requiring traditional cardio. You’ll learn proper technique for foundational mace and club movements, safe progressions for clients of all levels, and how to program Mace Fit workouts that deliver results. The offset weight and swinging motions challenge balance and coordination in ways conventional weightlifting cannot, training movement patterns across all three planes of motion. Perfect for trainers looking to add a proven, time-tested approach to their programming or anyone wanting to expand their unconventional training toolkit.
About the Instructor
Matthew Flaherty is a Mace Fit Level 2 Coach, Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, and owner of Stafford Strength in New York City. He holds a Master’s Degree in Exercise Science and Health Promotion and brings 15 years of experience as a strength coach along with over 30 years studying various martial arts. Matthew specializes in working with kettlebells, mace, Indian clubs, and Bulgarian bags, with a particular passion for helping former athletes reclaim their competitive edge and love of sport. His deep expertise in unconventional training tools and his comprehensive background in strength and conditioning make him one of the top Mace Fit coaches in the United States.
HKC Kettlebell Certification
📅March 1, 2026 | 7:45 AM – 6:00 PM
👤 Instructor: Senior RKC Marco Guanilo
Master the fundamentals of kettlebell training in just one day with Dragon Door’s entry-level kettlebell instructor certification. The HKC (Hardstyle Kettlebell Certification) gives you a solid foundation in the three essential kettlebell exercises—the swing, Turkish get-up, and goblet squat—along with the teaching progressions and corrective drills to confidently coach clients of all levels. You’ll learn HardStyle principles, proper biomechanics, safety protocols, and a proven template for designing unlimited effective kettlebell workouts. Walk away ready to teach kettlebells the right way, and earn .8 ACE CECs and .8 NASM CEUs. As a bonus, HKC graduates receive a $200 discount toward the full RKC certification if taken within one year, making this the perfect stepping stone for trainers serious about kettlebell instruction.
About the Instructor
Marco Guanilo is a Senior RKC Instructor and the owner of Momentum Fitness. With several years of experience using and teaching kettlebells, Marco has traveled the world certifying personal trainers on proper kettlebell technique and programming. As a Senior RKC, Marco brings elite-level instruction and hands-on coaching to every workshop he leads. His expertise in strength and conditioning, combined with his deep knowledge of kettlebell training, makes this certification an invaluable experience for any fitness professional looking to master this versatile tool.
RKC Kettlebell Instructor Certification
📅March 21-22, 2026
Saturday, 21st: 7:45 AM – 6:00 PM
Sunday, 22nd: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
👤 Instructor: Senior RKC Marco Guanilo
Become a certified kettlebell instructor through the world’s premier kettlebell certification program. The RKC (Russian Kettlebell Challenge) is the gold standard for learning to teach safe, effective kettlebell training—whether you work with athletes, general fitness clients, or people recovering from injury. This intensive two-day workshop will transform your technique, deepen your understanding of strength and conditioning principles, and give you a complete system for programming kettlebell training that gets results. You’ll master the fundamental lifts (swing, clean, press, snatch, Turkish get-up), learn how to coach beginners through advanced clients, and walk away with proven progressions, corrective drills, and business-building strategies that set RKC instructors apart. Earn 2.5 ACE CECs and 1.9 NASM CEUs while training under Senior RKC Marco Guanilo at his home facility.
About the Instructor
Marco Guanilo is a Senior RKC Instructor and the owner of Momentum Fitness. With several years of experience using and teaching kettlebells, Marco has traveled the world certifying personal trainers on proper kettlebell technique and programming. As a Senior RKC, Marco brings elite-level instruction and hands-on coaching to every workshop he leads. His expertise in strength and conditioning, combined with his deep knowledge of kettlebell training, makes this certification an invaluable experience for any fitness professional looking to master this versatile tool.
RKC II Kettlebell Instructor Certification
📅June 27-28, 2026
Saturday, 27th: 7:45 AM – 6:00 PM
Sunday, 28th: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
👤 Instructor: Senior RKC Marco Guanilo
Take your kettlebell instruction to the elite level with Dragon Door’s advanced RKC II certification. This intensive two-day workshop builds on your RKC foundation by teaching advanced movements including the weighted pull-up, weighted pistol, double jerk, windmill, and bent press—along with the progressions and correctives to help even average clients achieve exceptional results. You’ll refine your RKC I skills, deepen your understanding of intelligent programming and safe progressions, and develop the competency to deliver highly effective kettlebell training to a wider spectrum of clients. The RKC II emphasizes the ability to move well, model well, and teach well as equal to your own strength and endurance capacities. This certification establishes you as a leader in the kettlebell world, connects you with an elite network of high-level instructors, and gives you the advanced toolkit to program for long-term health and strength development. Prerequisites: RKC Level I certification and at least one year of consistent kettlebell training recommended.
About the Instructor
Marco Guanilo is a Senior RKC Instructor and the owner of Momentum Fitness. With several years of experience using and teaching kettlebells, Marco has traveled the world certifying personal trainers on proper kettlebell technique and programming. As a Senior RKC, Marco brings elite-level instruction and hands-on coaching to every workshop he leads. His expertise in strength and conditioning, combined with his deep knowledge of kettlebell training, makes this certification an invaluable experience for any fitness professional looking to master this versatile tool.