As a group fitness instructor, you have the opportunity to lead a class exactly how a rockstar leads a concert.
Because your classes are a performance!
Yes, your classes are a performance! From the minute you get out of your car with your 4 year old who just spilled their breakfast to the second you get back into your car after your ROCK STAR performance! You are ON STAGE, and all eyes are on you! And if you teach currently or have ever taught group fitness you know, it is SOOOOO worth it! A great fitness instructor creates an amazing journey for their students. It is all about the EXPERIENCE. And you…..can make or break it. Here are a few things you can do to make that 5 STAR experience happen.
How to Lead a Group Fitness Class Like a Rock Star
Before class starts: THE OPENING ACT
Be early so you can greet your participants when they walk in with a high five, a wave or an across the room shout-out. Usher them to their spot, and make sure they have their equipment. If possible connect them with another participant. Create a positive, all inclusive environment from the start! Have your music playing and your thoughts mapped out and ready - be prepared!
During class: THE MAIN EVENT
Read your room and be FLEXIBLE! Know when to push forward with new moves or new layers of choreography and know when to scale it back. SING THE dang SONG. Play with the music. I call it MAGICALITY: musicality & magic. Lead sing alongs on the chorus or use the special moments of a song to be silent. Let your personality shine. If you are silly be silly. If you are athletic, be strong. If you are the drill sergeant type, that's great just BE YOU! People will fall in love with the genuine you. When giving cues or direction, motivation or telling your stories use great vocal inflection. Calmer in some sections of class and more commanding in others.
After Class: CLOSE THE SHOW
This might be the MOST important time of class. Thank your students, tell them how amazing they did and encourage them to come back next week. Leave the music playing and make eye contact with everyone who was just at the PERFORMANCE as they leave the venue aka your classroom.
As a fitness instructor we have the opportunity to really change peoples lives for the better. Our classes are so much more than a place to sweat. I had the opportunity to reach out to a few of my fitness instructor friends from around the county and asked them to ask their participants why they come to class. Here are some of the responses their student gave them:
Why they initially came to class:
- Work out with friends
- For extra motivation
- Great music
- To get out of the house
- To not have to think and just follow the instructor
- For FUN
- New workouts
- Because of a specific Instructor
- Don't like working out alone
- Class type
- The time slot
- Consistency
- Accountability/ GroupSupport
Why they stay and come back:
- The INSTRUCTOR
- THE MUSIC!!!
As you can seen from the responses above fitness classes are a safe place, an opportunity to connect with people, a chance for students to push themselves more than they would alone, a place to laugh and cry and the opportunity to learn something new! Oh yay and a GREAT WORKOUT! But for most people that is secondary to the fact that they are in it for the whole EXPERIENCE! Be mindful of the amazing stage that you have been given. Strive to create an EXPERIENCE for your class participants by being the MVP that will make them FEEL.
FEEL strong
FEEL accomplished
FEEL a part of something
FEEL needed
FEEL SPECIAL
Get access to unlimited group fitness music to motivate your classes when you start a Power Music NOW membership!
About the Author: Michele Park has been a mentor in the fitness industry for over 30 years. Her creative style and unique ability to deliver valuable education to group fitness instructors in a fun non-intimidating environment has opened many amazing doors. Michele loves to INSPIRE, MENTOR and CREATE and is most excited about bringing her new format SOULfusion to life. She’s lives in Southern California with her husband, 2 daughters, 2 Goldendoodles and scat the cat! Follow her on Instagram here @michelepark
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