So, you decided to become a Group Fitness Instructor? Well, I’d first like to write, “welcome to the team!” The Instructor side of Group Fitness is a world in which the average person knows very little, but extremely benefits. If you’re like me, you started taking classes to feel the camaraderie of collective exercise combustion. That’s my very obnoxious way of saying, you enjoy the pain of exercise in a group. Who can blame you? Everything is better with a buddy!
I’ve taken all types of group fitness classes: dance, strength training, mobility and even aquatics. Ultimately, I found my home doing a format called Body Pump. I’ll spare you the sales pitch, but let’s say it’s a strength training course that never gets easier. I love it and I made a really great connection with my instructor. Three years in, he recruited me and now I get to lead my own class of “Body Pumpers” every Wednesday! I’m only 2 months in, but I’ve already learned so much. If you are a new instructor or are thinking about becoming one, here are 5 things to keep in mind:
Preparation is Everything
As I’m sure you have noticed attending group fitness classes on your own, nothing is more frustrating than an instructor who is not prepared. They may not know which exercises they wanted to do, didn’t have their music chosen ahead of time or can’t remember their choreography. To put it kindly, you trusted the instructor to put in the work, so you could come in, listen and execute. Then, the instructor let you down. NOT a good feeling!
With a format like Body Pump, which is run by an International organization called Les Mills, the entire class is pre-choreographed. The pro of this structure is that I dont have to spend my time crafting each exercise for my hour-long class. The con, however, is I do have to spend my time learning all the choreography for my classes. It takes time, but here are some practices that have helped as well.
- Choose days out of the week to plan your class. Instructing for most folks is a part time gig, so you most likely have other responsibilities. In other words, time is precious. Pick a few days in the week with the intent to prepare for your class. Preparation in smaller doses feels more manageable and you won’t feel overwhelmed as class day approaches
- Script out any necessary cues ahead of time. It might feel strange, but scripting our educational or motivation cues ahead of time can make a huge difference! Being a good instructor isnt only about having fun, its about keeping people safe. Planning ahead what you want to say and when you want to say it will make a better experience for the participant.
- Practice your workout from beginning to end prior to class day! We’ve all heard the expression, “it looked better in my head.” Meaning, we brainstormed an idea, but never tested to see if it would work in real life. Then, when we went to do it, nothing transpired as we hoped. You DO NOT want this to be the story of your group fitness class. Whatever exercises or choreography you have for the week, always test it out prior to your class. This way, you know what equipment you feel comfortable using and if all the exercises you chose work well together. It’s important to remember every class you teach could have both a beginner and an expert in the audience. The class should be adaptable to both of them.
The takeaway is this: you want to feel confident walking into class and ready to have fun with your participants. You can’t do that if you don’t know your choreo, so learn it!
Numbers Only Tell One Story
As any GFI will tell you, being an instructor is much more than just exercise. People come into the gym for all types of reasons. A person’s motivation could be to lose 30 pounds or it could be to release the stress of a long day. Either way, they show up and we become the conduit that helps them reach their goal.
On the other end, Fitness is an industry and numbers matter when it comes to profitability. Having high class counts insinuates job security and confirms people resonate with your style of teaching. However, there are tons of reasons why class counts can be low. Like anything that requires consistency and sacrifice, commitment to exercise tends to decline as the year continues and people get busy.
As a new instructor, I inherited my class from a seasoned instructor. He had built a reservoir of loyal people, but it was the middle of October. Although some of the regulars stayed around to give me a chance, some chose not to return. In addition, the Holidays kicked in and my class count was all over the place. My first class had about 5 people but a couple weeks later, I had 18! For context, the class has a max of 25 spots. I had an opportunity to get discouraged or think my style of teaching wasn’t good enough. According to the numbers, I wasn’t performing well, but when we looked at the larger picture, my numbers were stellar.
As a new instructor, it can be tempting to focus heavily on the numbers. In addition to class count, I encourage you consider on these factors:
- time of year
- retention (who is coming back to your class)
- the feedback from your participants
These three factors can tell a helpful story as well. Sometimes it’s you, but if you’re putting in the work, odds are, it’s not.
Your Personality is Your Superpower!
When I first started teaching, my manager made the comment that I was a “mini version” of the instructor who mentored me. In one way, that was a compliment because he is a great teacher. In another way, the comment made me insecure about my individuality. Ultimately, I think my mentor and I genuinely have similar teaching styles. After all, there are only so many directions you can take a pre-choreographed format.
In light of the comment, I chose to use the opinion to carve out my own instructor personality. Yes, there are fundamental parts of group fitness that will lead to success. Structure, planning and excitement should always be part of what you bring to the studio. However, your personal expression of all those elements is entirely up to you! Here are some ways to bring your unique style into every class:
- Music choice: I like pop music and the repetitive nature makes it easier to learn choreography. Not all participants are going to like your music choice, but some folks will. Of course, you want to keep your playlist diverse and fresh, but let your music be a reflection of who you are as a person.
- Jokes/humor: Strength training can be very difficult and humor is a great way to provide some levity. When lunges are getting hard, it can always be fun to remind your audience they only have two legs. Imagine if they were octopus or something!
- Specialty gifts: Its always good to let your participants know you appreciate them. Whether its a holiday, like Valentine’s Day or a random Tuesday, you can give a personal touch through gifts. If your facility allows, feel free to give out notes, snacks or trinkets to celebrate the day! These small gestures are great strategies to make a connection with your folks!
Learn Names and Steal Hearts
Now, I will admit this is something I am struggling with as a new instructor. Although I am pretty extroverted, being bold enough to approach each person in class intimidates me. It can be scary to walk up to a new person and ask their name, but its important to remember we set the tone. Instructors are the leaders of the class. If we create an environment of openness, participants are more likely to return. Here a few other tips and tricks:
- Hear the name and repeat it: Once you learn someone’s name repeat to yourself and a few times during the workout. The participant will appreciate the individual acknowledgement and you will most likely remember them when they return.
- Use your attendance list: Most facilities will have a list of names for those attending each class. Use this list to learn new names or jog your memory for regulars.
Be Kind to Yourself!
Remember, you are new at this. Becoming good or, even great, at a skill doesn’t happen overnight. In my own journey of teaching, I am still learning to perfect certain exercises or draft a great intro speech. If I lose balance during lunges or mess up a cue, I remind myself to be kind. The only person who has your class memorized is you.
No one knows you messed up unless you address it. The goal of group fitness isn’t to be perfect, it’s to grow! Although you are leading the class, you and your participants are all one team. As you grow in coaching, the other skills will follow, so make sure to have fun along the way!
One is A Whole Number 
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