Instructors
Successful Subbing for Fitness Classes
What are your best tips for subbing? Instructors share their pro tips for finding class subs and subbing for others.
Group Exercise Cues for Success
Best practices for efficient group exercise cues
How to Be a Better Adult Learner
Overcoming the discomfort of something new as an adult learner will make you a more competent instructor and advance your career.
Evolution in Pandemic Teaching
Fit pros share how pandemic teaching changed their approach through embracing virtual classes and learning new skills.
Billy Blanks: A Celebration of Creativity and Character
Billy Blanks was born with an anomaly in his hip joints that left him clumsy and subject to taunts. He found strength—both physically and of character—in karate, and he went on to a successful career as a martial arts champion, bodyguard and movie star. That in itself is a pretty amazing story. But in Blanks’ case, that’s just the preface . . .
Creating a Fitness Class Family
As group exercise instructors, we can get wrapped up in creating
choreography, choosing music, cuing effectively and teaching proper
technique. While all these aspects are important, we sometimes lose
sight of the overall picture and miss the opportunity to connect with
participants.
Fitness Classes for Everyone
Fitness classes abound and it has never been easier for movement-hungry people to find a workout experience that appeals to them.
Hiring Checklist: Find the Best Talent
There’s a checklist for every task, it seems, even if it’s purely mental. However, when it comes to hiring the best group fitness talent, it’s important to formalize a checklist…
Group Fitness Instructor Tips
Group fitness instructors: If fitness is your career and not just a hobby, you should treat the hiring process the same way you would if you were applying for a full-time job
How To Create a Workout Community
As we return to the group exercise studio, it’s good to remember how a workout community not only brings us together, but helps us thrive.
In a Teaching Rut? Be a Participant!
What are the benefits of attending someone else’s class, and how do you make the most of your experience as a participant?
Adding a Class to Your Schedule
Whether you’re an instructor wanting to add a class to your schedule or a manager feeling pressured to find the right personality and the best fit for an opening, knowing how others handle this decision may guide you to that “perfect match.” Fortunately, experienced program directors from around the world are willing to share their strategies and suggestions.
Group Exercise Instructors Make an Impact
Group exercise instructors, take heart: Your leadership skills significantly influence participants’ attendance and effort. Australian researchers conducted a study to examine how an instructor’s ability to create a sense of community and group identity among class members affected both effort and attendance. The study examined 249 participants and instructors across a variety of group formats.
Prevent Injuries for Longevity and Fun
Like many instructors, you may feel as though you’re expected to do it all and be all things to all people. However, you also need to ensure that you are sustaining your own physical and mental health. How do you keep your standards high and your teaching schedule full while also remaining healthy and injury-free? Read on to find out how three avid veteran instructors achieve balance. Their experiences and advice model best self-care practices for a long and successful career.
Virtual Group Fitness Classes
Exercising in front of a television, computer screen or mobile device is nothing new. Since the advent of VHS tapes, fitness programs have offered users an opportunity to get their sweat on whenever they choose in the comfort of their home. Over the past several years, however, fitness facilities have leveraged new technology to offer virtual classes on-site in hopes of luring exercisers out of their living rooms and into the group exercise room.
How to Become a Group Exercise Instructor
When I began my quest to become a group exercise instructor 30 years ago, I couldn’t have imagined the industry would be where it is today—an evolving, dynamic profession with boundless potential. Group exercise is diverse and offers unlimited options. However, finding the right job or deciding which direction to take can be overwhelming. This article takes you step by step through how to navigate a career in group exercise.