First Timers in Classes

Last week I was teaching a class at a new club and the participants in class were brand new. They didn't work out regularly, and they came to a class that is known for its high intensity. I could see that the participants were working hard and I kept reassuring them that it would be worth it in the end. The class has lower intensity modifications for all of the higher impact moves and by the last portion of class I could see that we would need to stay with the lower options through the end of class. When it was all said and done, I was glad that the participants worked as hard as they could for the hour. It was rewarding for me to see them finish and they assured me that they would be back this week. As instructors it can be hard for us to work at a lower level as we want to show that we are fit and can go all out with the high impact moves for an entire class. We need to remember that it's not always about us and that is rewarding to know that working with our participants will keep them coming back and allow them to add in the higher options over time which will help them to get fitter and reach their fitness goals.

How I Got Into Teaching Group Fitness

I'll keep it short:

Back in the late 90's I was overweight and looking to slim down so I joined a gym in the Raleigh, NC area where I lived at the time. I started going to the gym on a pretty regular basis and would mainly use the elliptical, treadmill, and weight machines. After losing some weight, I became bored with the machines so I decided to try a step class with a friend of mine at the time who was also a member of the gym I belonged to. After trying a few classes with a few different instructors we found that we both liked step classes with 2 instructors (Anne and Wendy). They taught the "step challenge" classes which had more advanced choreography. These classes were usually on Monday evenings and Saturday mornings (if I'm not mistaken...it has been over 15 years).

After attending these classes regularly, Anne made a comment to me one evening. She said you should think about teaching classes, you'd be good I can tell that you can hear the music. I honestly had never thought about teaching classes and didn't think much about it until she said it again. I knew I enjoyed going to classes so I started to work on some combinations on the step and met with Anne and Wendy to go over them. I knew it wasn't perfect, but they gave me some feedback and I continued to work on it. During this time I moved to Pittsburgh, PA where I joined a new gym and knew I wanted to start teaching group fitness classes.

The Group Fitness Manager at the club in Pittsburgh was willing to give me a shot so I got my AFAA Primary Group Exercise certification and started subbing step classes. The members were responding well to my classes so I continued working on choreography and was given my own class. To keep it short, the rest is history as they say. In addition to step classes I started teaching kickboxing, general muscle conditioning classes as well as cardio combo classes (step & weights, etc...). In 2004 I was introduced to Les Mills Bodypump. After Bodypump I got certified to teach cycling classes. Bodypump was a success so the club added Les Mills Bodyjam (late 2005). After Bodyjam, I got certified to teach Les Mills Bodyflow (early 2008), Bodyattack (early 2010), and SH'BAM (early 2012).

Teaching Group Fitness is Not a "Real Job"

If there is one thing that really gets my blood boiling about group fitness instructors it would be that some of them don't take the job seriously. This can be because they have a "full time job" and teaching fitness classes is something that they do for fun and to make some extra cash or for a variety of other reasons. I've been in GFM (Group Fitness Manager) positions and managed teams of over 40 instructors at facilities that are running 100+ classes per week in multiple studios so I've dealt with the whole spectrum of "divas" as hey are referred to. These "divas" can be both male and female. If you've been teaching classes for a while, you know what I am referring to.

Before you get all worked up, I said that some instructors don't take the job seriously, not all instructors. I have met some very dedicated instructors, and I appreciate them and wish there were more of them in the world. I would like to point out that teaching group fitness is a job and that every job should be treated with respect. Instructors need to realize that teaching classes is not about the instructor, it's about the members. Instructors that don't take their classes seriously are disrespecting the members that are keeping them employed. Getting subs all of the time, teaching half-assed workouts, and throwing routines together on the ride to the gym are just a few examples of not taking your job as an instructor seriously.

If you don't really care about your classes, you don't really care about your members. Strive to give 100% in every class and you will see that the members, your managers, and facilities will appreciate you.

Pros & Cons of Teaching Group Fitness

With most things in life there are pros and cons. Below are some that I can think of. If you have more please leave your comments.

PROS:

• You get paid to workout
• Depending on where you work, you may even get a free membership to the club(s) where you are teaching for you and your family members.

• You are helping people in many ways
• They may never tell you.

• Helps to keep you motivated to exercise
• If you have a class to teach, people are depending on you, so you can't just skip the workout.

• Allows you to vary your workouts
• Example: Yoga one day, spinning another, Bodypump, etc...
• Something we should be telling our members anyway.

CONS:

• Getting Burned Out
• You get paid to workout, so why not workout 20 times per week?
• Sounds like a great idea until you realize that you are human and cannot put that much stress on your body.
• Teaching classes should be fun. When it's not fun, you may be burned out.
• We are role models, would we ever tell our participants that it's a good idea to workout 20 times per week? Of course not. If you are telling your members this...we need to talk. 

• The Show Must Go On
• People depend on you to be there for class
• You got wasted the night before a class
• We are human, it happens. It's still not fun.
• You are sick and can't find a sub
• Sometimes you can push through.
• If you are really ill I say stay home, it's not worth it. 
• The mic isn't working 
• You have to scream for an hour
• You may have no mic for a few days or weeks
• The stereo quits working (no music)
• I hope you memorized your choreography and like to sing :-)
• The show must go on

Be Yourself

I cannot stress this enough. If you are going to teach fitness classes you need to be yourself. I will say it again, you need to be yourself.

No one likes a fake. People see right through it. Just because you teach a program you learn from a dvd doesn't mean that you need to copy the people on the dvd. You may not believe it, but your members come to your classes for the workout and they also come for you. People develop connections with us, and we develop connections with them. These connections go beyond knowing someone's name. Over time we learn about who they are outside of the gym and we may even become a bigger part of their lives than we ever thought we would. When you are genuine, these connections are real and meaningful not just something you "have" to do to have classes on the schedule.

Class Etiquette

General Etiquette Tips For Participants: (A list that will grow)

• Please arrive on time for class
• If it is a class with equipment, please arrive early to allow time to set up

• If you are late to class please find an empty space 
• It may not be possible to get a spot in the vicinity that you normally like to stand 

• It is rude and distracting to the instructor and participants to do your own choreography during a class
• The instructor should offer modifications
• Please use the modifications that are offered when needed.
• They are higher and lower impact versions of the exercises being performed
• Ex: Jumping jacks can be a side tap or flick not a grapevine
• Ex: Repeater on the step can be done on the floor or by adding propulsion rather than you going across the top while everyone else does repeaters
• If you don't like the choreography, it is OK to leave quietly. We can't please everyone

• Please do not wear your ipod/headphones during class. If you didn't come to do the workout to the music as it is being delivered, please do your own workout outside of class
• When you are wearing your ipod/headphones, you cannot hear the instructor
• You are missing all of the safety cues, and we can't be held responsible if you get hurt
• It's also rude and you look like an a$$. Just sayin'

• Please do not hoard equipment
• I know that classes can get crowded but we all need to share
• Please only take extra equipment if it is available
• The equipment is for everyone not just you
• If the instructor is hoarding equipment, please contact me and I'll talk to them

• Cell Phones
• Please do not talk on your phone during class
• If you get a call, please take it outside of the studio
• Yes I have actually had people talking on their phone during class and yes I have stopped the music and asked them to take it outside. Something that should have been common sense.

• Talking During Class
• Please do not talk loudly to your friends/neighbor(s) during class
• It is highly distracting to the instructor and participants

That's my "Spot"

If there is one thing that has been consistent for as long as I have been teaching, it would be that people like to have their certain "spot" in class. As an instructor you get to know where your regulars like to be in class. There are going to be times when someone may come to class and take the "spot" of one of your regulars. When this happens you will think the world is ending for one of your members as the comments start: That's MY "spot" or I know she didn't just take MY "spot".

I really do appreciate all of my regulars and any new members that come to any of my classes. My position has always been that unless you own the facility you don't have a "spot". I know that sounds blunt, but it's true. As the instructor what do people really think we can do? I'm not going to tell a person that they can't stand there because that is someone's "spot". The only time I would go against this would be if someone has come to class early to set up a step etc... and then someone moves that equipment to put theirs on that spot or in spin class if someone has put their towel and water bottle on a bike. That's just rude and I would say something. I can almost guarantee that if you stand in a different spot will still get a good workout.