You may be wondering what separates a fantastic group exercise instructor from your average run of the mill amateur? How can you go from simply providing a service to inspiring and motivating your clients to make the most from your classes? The answer is through your own dedication of time and energy into your practice.
Organisation
Preparation is key when teaching a group – you need to have a plan of what you want to achieve and how you can reach these goals within your specific time constraints. It doesn’t need to be a step-by-step plan with lots of minute details, but a rough outline to keep you focused and have your clients on a set path rather than aimless exercise is a great idea to put direction in your actions. Preparing a certain choreography ahead of time, planning out your workout sets, or even constructing a playlist for the music you would like to play are all matters that should be decided beforehand.
Punctuality
This is extremely important – not only is it rude to appear late to any event, but one where you are in charge is incredibly unprofessional. Ideally you should arrive ten to fifteen minutes ahead of schedule to set up any equipment you require or set up music. This also allows you to be able to begin as soon as all your clients arrive, instead of wasting valuable time at the beginning of the session to prepare the space. This also creates an opportunity for any clients who arrive early to be able to ask you questions about your classes, or discuss any personal matters. This is great to form trust with clients, and gives you a much better grasp of control on your group exercise customers and overall timings.
Approachability
This is a fantastic quality to have as a group exercise instructor, as many people are often intimidated by authority figures in fitness. Being open and kind will build you a better reputation based upon word of mouth around potential clients and can create a more solid customer base founded upon your character. Not all clients are the same, and some will need more motivation and support than others. Many may find the environment uncomfortable or intimidating, and it is your job to alleviate these anxieties and make them excited and determined to exercise. The easiest way to do this is communicate with them and make them feel welcomed in the space.
Maturity
This applies to how you treat your clients both during and outside of your sessions. When motivating clients to push themselves, you need to strike a balance between inspiring them to go further, and respecting their limits. It can often feel frustrating for instructors when clients are hesitant to test their boundaries or give up when you know they can go further – but being a good instructor is knowing your clients and being able to sensitively and maturely navigate these situations without showing disappointment.
Awareness
Being knowledgeable and up to date about your field is crucial for staying relevant. Exercise is a constantly developing industry and keeping tabs on the latest trends and scientific information about health and fitness will make you a more credible instructor. It also means you will be qualified to answer the questions of your clients, rather than speculating. Making a conscious decision to educate yourself will make you more secure in your position, and will also give you the tools to progress and develop your lessons, keeping them from becoming too repetitive both for yourself and your clients. Education fuels creativity and inspiration, so keep yourself informed to be the best you can be!
Being Qualified
This is often overlooked by exercise instructors, who think that a certification is not relevant nor useful for their career. This could not be more wrong. A qualification is a physical representation to your dedication to the field and passion for your career – and it is material proof of your credibility as an exercise instructor. Furthermore, not having certain qualifications can limit who you work with (including children, post-natal clients or those with certain injuries and conditions) and in what capacity. Striving for a higher education that is relevant to your industry can take your career into new heights of success and enjoyment, and there are many different courses you can take to suit your individual needs, like those from TRAINFITNESS. The personal training courses provided by TRAINFITNESS offer a diverse range of options to take in becoming an accredited instructor, with the most up to date education on the industry requirements to provide the best student experience.
Follow through with these tips and you will see a vast improvement in the ease and success of your group instruction. These qualities separate the highest tier of instructors amid a popular and competitive field, but it is worth demonstrating your dedication and effort in such a rewarding career path.