ACE Group Fitness Instructor Practice Exam 2026 - Free Fitness Instructor Practice Questions and Study Guide

In the context of learning new skills, the cognitive stage is characterized by the learner being in the early stages of understanding the fundamental aspects of the skill. At this point, individuals are focused on getting a feel for the movement and learning the basic mechanics. Since they are still developing their coordination and motor skills, they often encounter difficulties with elements that require attention to detail, such as proper breathing techniques during exercise.

During the cognitive stage, individuals tend to make novice errors, which can include improper breathing patterns. This occurs because they are concentrating on other aspects of their performance, like movement mechanics or timing, and may neglect components that seem automatic to more experienced individuals, such as how and when to breathe correctly. Therefore, the prevalence of common breathing issues emerges in this initial learning phase as participants work to refine their skills and enhance their performance through practice and feedback.

As participants progress to the associative stage, they become more proficient in the skill and start to integrate additional elements, including breathing, more naturally into their performance, leading to fewer novice errors in this area.