Fitness refers to your state of well-being, which can usually be altered—for better or for worse—through exercise, nutrition, and rest. A person who is fit can perform everyday activities, go to work, and even participate in some extracurricular sports and physical activities without worrying about barriers and restrictions. If you're not fit, you can improve your nutrition and exercise and get more rest to increase your fitness level. When you work to increase your level of fitness, you generally become healthier overall. You may lower your blood pressure, reduce your risk for cancer and other diseases, improve your immune system, improve your mental health, and control your body weight.

How can Coursera’s online courses help me learn about fitness?

On Coursera, you'll find fitness and related courses designed to introduce the basics and help you expand on what you already know about exercise, nutrition, and the body, as well as how it all relates to good health. Courses can take you on a journey through the body and help you understand just how your actions impact your fitness. In a course about the science of exercise, for instance, you can learn how the body responds to exercise and how unique behaviors and environments impact fitness decisions. A food and health course can give you a look at the poor health choices that are changing the world and what we can do about them. Courses can help you build a career in fitness or improve your own health.

What are some careers that involve fitness?

Careers in fitness and health span across many fields, ranging from retail to medicine. Personal trainers, athletic trainers, exercise instructors, massage therapists, nutritionists, and wellness coordinators are some of the most common. If you have a background in fitness, you may decide to open or manage a spa, gym, health club, or sports and fitness equipment store. Many healthcare careers also center around physical fitness, including physical therapists, medical assistants, sports physicians, and sports psychologists. Educators who teach biology, health, and related classes can also benefit from learning as much as possible about fitness.

What are the benefits of taking an online Fitness course?

Online Fitness courses offer a convenient and flexible way to enhance your knowledge or learn new Fitness skills. Choose from a wide range of Fitness courses offered by top universities and industry leaders tailored to various skill levels.

What Fitness courses are best for training and upskilling employees or the workforce?

When looking to enhance your workforce's skills in Fitness, it's crucial to select a course that aligns with their current abilities and learning objectives. Our Skills Dashboard is an invaluable tool for identifying skill gaps and choosing the most appropriate course for effective upskilling. For a comprehensive understanding of how our courses can benefit your employees, explore the enterprise solutions we offer. Discover more about our tailored programs at Coursera for Business here .

Best Fitness Courses & Certificates [2025]

Explore the Fitness Course Catalog

Status: Free Trial
National Academy of Sports Medicine
NASM Personal Fitness Trainer
Skills you'll gain: Goal Setting, Exercise Science, Kinesiology, Nutrition and Diet, Nutrition Counseling, Smart Goals, Health Assessment, Sports Medicine, Human Musculoskeletal System, Preventative Care, Public Health and Disease Prevention, Nutritional Assessment, Respiration, Physiology, Neurology, Automated External Defibrillator, Rehabilitation, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), Coaching, Health And Wellness Coaching
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
242 reviews
Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months
Status: Preview
University of Colorado Boulder
Science of Exercise
Skills you'll gain: Exercise Science, Kinesiology, Physiology, Sports Medicine, Nutrition and Diet, Pharmacology, Public Health and Disease Prevention, Immunology, Preventative Care, Respiration, Athletic Training, Endocrinology, Chronic Diseases, Vital Signs, Biochemistry, Public Health, Mental Health
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
4.7K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: New
Status: Free Trial
Skillshare
Self-Care Essentials: Embrace & Nurture the Real You
Skills you'll gain: Growth Mindedness, Positivity, Self-Awareness, Personal Development, Goal Setting, Resilience, Mindfulness, Empowerment, Persistence, Self-Motivation, Action Oriented, Courage, Visionary, Creative Thinking, Creativity, Digital Design, Overcoming Obstacles, Graphical Tools, Color Theory, Storytelling
Beginner · Specialization · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
National Academy of Sports Medicine
Anatomy, Physiology, and Kinesiology for Fitness Professions
Skills you'll gain: Exercise Science, Kinesiology, Sports Medicine, Human Musculoskeletal System, Respiration, Physiology, Neurology, Mechanics, Injury Prevention, Anatomy, Medical Terminology, Nutrition and Diet
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
48 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
National Academy of Sports Medicine
Getting Started as a Personal Fitness Trainer
Skills you'll gain: Goal Setting, Smart Goals, Health Assessment, Exercise Science, Preventative Care, Health And Wellness Coaching, Overcoming Obstacles, Public Health, Health Promotion, Motivational Skills, Needs Assessment
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
148 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Preview
Stanford University
Stanford Introduction to Food and Health
Skills you'll gain: Cooking, Meal Planning And Preparation, Nutrition and Diet, Health Education, Food and Beverage, Behavioral Health, Chronic Diseases, Health Informatics
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
34K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

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Status: Free Trial
National Academy of Sports Medicine
Nutrition and Weight Management for Fitness Professionals
Skills you'll gain: Nutrition and Diet, Nutrition Counseling, Preventative Care, Public Health and Disease Prevention, Nutritional Assessment, Health And Wellness Coaching, Exercise Science, Physiology, Biology, Anatomy, Communication
4.7
Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
41 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Free Trial
National Academy of Sports Medicine
Understanding Fitness Programming
Skills you'll gain: Exercise Science, Coaching, Health And Wellness Coaching, Kinesiology, Injury Prevention, Physiology, Adaptability, Human Musculoskeletal System, Goal Setting, Communication, Anatomy
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
30 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Preview
Duke University
Introductory Human Physiology
Skills you'll gain: Physiology, Respiration, Endocrinology, Anatomy, Pulmonology, Cardiology, Nephrology, Urology, Kinesiology, Vital Signs, Neurology, Biology, Nutrition and Diet
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
5.3K reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: New
Status: Free Trial
National Academy of Sports Medicine
Nutrition Mastery for Fitness and Wellness
Skills you'll gain: Nutritional Assessment, Meal Planning And Preparation, Nutrition and Diet, Nutrition Education, Pharmacology, Exercise Science, Critical Thinking, Sports Medicine, Drug Interaction, Food Quality Assurance And Control, Physiology, Decision Making, Health Promotion, Health And Wellness Coaching, Regulatory Compliance, General Science and Research, Overcoming Obstacles
4.8
Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
6 reviews
Intermediate · Specialization · 1 - 4 Weeks
Status: Preview
Yale University
The Science of Well-Being
Skills you'll gain: Growth Mindedness, Health And Wellness Coaching, Behavioral Health, Positive Behavior Support, Goal Setting, Resilience, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Psychology, Social Skills, Mindfulness
4.9
Rating, 4.9 out of 5 stars
40K reviews
Mixed · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Status: Preview
McMaster University
Hacking Exercise For Health. The surprising new science of fitness.
Skills you'll gain: Exercise Science, Kinesiology, Productivity, Cardiology, Stress Management, Time Management, Adaptability, Human Musculoskeletal System, Nutrition and Diet, Physiology, Mental Health, Goal Setting
4.6
Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
814 reviews
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks