Not all personal trainers make great group fitness instructors. That’s because it takes a special kind of fitness instructor to lead a group of people through a workout.
Six traits of exceptional group fitness instructors
1. They’re self-motivated and are also master motivators
The best group fitness instructors are passionate about exercise and fitness. They’re self-motivated in all areas of their life and they bring this into the classroom/studio too. This motivation is contagious – it’s one of the things that keeps their clients coming back.
These instructors are also masters when it comes to motivating others. They figure out what motivates each member of their class. They make sure to connect with each client, to create trust and rapport necessary for this motivation.
2. They’re creative and solve problems proactively
Things go wrong. You have a bad day. You forget to pack your gym gear. The studio is flooded. There’s bad traffic and all your students are late to class…
A great group fitness instructor generally has a Plan B (and Plan C), and can solve problems quickly and efficiently. They don’t get bogged down in the negativity of the situation, choosing instead to make the best of things.
3. They’re positive and have a fabulous attitude
Even the most passionate instructors have days when they want to veg out on the couch, rather than teach a class. But a great instructor accepts this as a normal emotional response. Then he’ll remind himself that there’s a group of buddies waiting for him to guide them through their workout, and he’ll smile and act enthusiastic. He won’t have to act for long – the natural joy of instructing usually kicks in soon!
4. They have excellent communications skills
As a group fitness instructor, you have to not only explain exercise movements to your clients, so they perform them correctly. You also have to engage them, so they’re interested, stimulated and so they feel valued.
If you’re a good communicator, these things will come easily to you, and you’ll be a fabulous group fitness instructor.
5. They’re educated about their sport
A really great group fitness instructor is knowledgable about his sport, about fitness and also about a healthy lifestyle. His clients wouldn’t trust him if he wasn’t, right? He’d be risking their health if he didn’t have the right knowledge!
Great instructors make sure they keep on learning about these things, so they’re never the dinosaur in the room.
6. They get results
A great group fitness instructor gets results. His clients see the improvements in their bodies; they can also say honestly that they’ve learned a lot
What Makes an Exceptional Group Fitness Instructor?
Group fitness classes are a great place for people to get fit, lose weight, get strong and make friends, and it takes a special kind of group fitness instructor to lead these people through a workout. Here are some tips to make your group fitness classes more engaging.
Group fitness instructor tips
Music matters
Are you playing the kind of music that gets your clients pumped up and excited for the class? Does the music carry them through your workouts, especially when they get tough? Music selection is important! It makes or breaks the vibe of the class. And it can kill the energy if it’s not been selected correctly.
Adapt your class
Make sure you know how to adapt or modify each class (or each exercise) for the few members who have, say a back injury or a sore knee. In this way, you’ll be meeting the needs of all your clients, and they’ll get more out of the class.
Know your regulars
Always introduce yourself to new clients and explain the class programme so that everyone is on the same page. And then make sure you chat warmly with your regulars to make them feel recognised. During the class, interact with them (to give feedback or share a joke). This makes your classes more interesting for everyone. If you are a good communicator, you will be a fabulous group fitness instructor.
Engage with members
Remember that you’re guiding your class – and it’s made of real people and they want to feel secure. Use eye contact and visual cues to guide them. If the classes are not engaging, then clients won’t get the best results, and they’re less likely to keep coming back.
Motivate
Most of the people in your class probably didn’t want to come to gym at all. They would rather be on the couch, or sipping coffee with a friend. But they came. They need motivation to get excited about the class, and to keep up!
The best group fitness instructors are passionate about exercise and fitness. They are self-motivated in all areas of their life and they bring this into the studio too. This motivation is contagious – it’s one of the things that keep their clients coming back.
Give feedback
As a group fitness instructor, you have to not only explain exercise movements to your clients, so that they perform them correctly, you also have to keep them interested. It’s important to give your clients feedback, wherever possible. This may be in the form of correcting their technique or some positive feedback.
In fact, you should always correct technique and methods – your clients will walk away with injuries if you don’t.
Have fun
Remember to have fun. Your enjoyment will become the contagious spirit that spreads and engages your class!
Contact Trifocus Fitness Academy
If you’re passionate about group fitness classes, and you think you could be a superstar aerobics group fitness class instructor, sign up for Trifocus Fitness Academy’s Comprehensive Aerobics Instructor certification today!
