Realistic goal or daft idea?

[RhubarbaraWindsor]

Hi everyone, just gathering opinions on an idea I have for becoming self-employed. I'm considering booking a course to qualify as an 'exercise to music' instructor. I've found a couple that cost around £550 and comprise online course-work, two weekends practical training and an assessment weekend. What makes my scenario slightly unusual is that I'm 56 years old! I believe there is a demand for more gentle exercise classes for the 50+ age group, something not so high impact, that includes stretches and some meditation. Is this a daft idea given I have no background in fitness?

I'm pretty fit, walk every day, go to the gym 2x per week, meditate occasionally and do a bit of yoga at home which has really helped my back. Haven't done any aerobics for a while but have enjoyed a few Zumba classes with my adult DD over the last couple of years.

I haven't even told my DH yet as I'm worried he will just laugh. Do you think I'm deluded? Thanks for reading!

I love this idea!! I say go for it! I am envious...I would love to do what you are doing some day...go go go!! 💪💪💪

No, I don’t think you’re deluded at all. If you enjoy it, you can afford the fees and have that infectious sort of enthusiasm then go for it.
Maybe also look at the competition, what they charge, the cost of kit and room hire, insurance and professional associations.
Then mail all the local WIs, care homes, elderly living villages, gated communities, churches and Towns Women’s Guilds with an introductory offer. See what you get back.
If your dh is something useful like an accountant or a solicitor, get him involved.

Have you worked out the financials? How much do you need to cover your qualifications, insurance, equipment, etc each year? Then where would you run classes? What would the hire charge be?

From that you’ll get an idea of what you’d have to charge, how many customers you need, etc. Do those numbers seem viable?

I think it's a great idea and there's definitely a gap in the market for that sort of exercise. Go for it and let us know how you get on

Go for it! I did this at the grand old age of 54. I qualified as an EtM instructor and now teach v low impact aerobics for older people. It is great fun and all of the people in my classes are lovely. 4 years on I'm really enjoying it.
I did a similar format for the training. The online stuff was OK and then the practical weekends and the assessments were quite full on but doable (even though I was technically a member of what they termed a "special population" ie > 50 yrs old)
There are some specific initial training courses around linked to particular programmes (like the Zumba setup) but you would then be tied to just that form of exercise and you'd have additional costs for licences and probably monthly fees to the specific programme and sometimes you're tied to using only their music and choreography. I think a general EtM qual. gives you more freedom and flexibility.
I spend easily as much time doing things for my business out of class as in class - choosing music, putting together and practising the choreography, sorting out room hire, publicity, etc etc. so make sure that you've factored that in to your plans.
As previous posters said there are quite a few costs involved. As well as insurance and room hire, there's PPL charges (depending on the music you use) and the cost of getting you and your equipment to the various venues, as well as any further training costs (e.g. a First Aid cert. as well as further exercise qualifications). You've also got the joy of doing a tax return.
I'll never make a fortune but it is very rewarding. I'd say go for it!

Wow, thank you all for you positive comments and encouragement, it means a lot! Miranda, that's really heartening to hear that you trained in your 50's too. You have really motivated me to think I can do this . Thank you so much for all the information and pointers of things to consider. I 'retired' last year and have enjoyed taking things easy for a while, now that our youngest is at uni' and the mortgage is finally paid off. I've been volunteering for 2 charities which I enjoy doing, but I feel I have more to give and I'm excited to begin a new chapter of my life doing something that I can fit in around my volunteering and a soon to arrive granddaughter! Thank you all again for your positivity - good to know I'm not deluded after all !

Just another thought .. it might be worth doing a chairbased exercise qualification after you've done your EtM . It will add another string to your bow and it's another very rewarding area of work.

Miranda you really are a . I will definitely look into a chair-based exercise qualification to complement the ETM qualification. I've been looking at potential venues and I'm going to speak to my gym as they run classes but nothing for the 50+. Also one of the charities (a preservation trust) I work for is a large heritage property which has an 'activity room' that can be booked for groups, so I'm going to speak to them about the possibility of booking it for an exercise group. There are also a few village halls locally and retirement villages I can contact.

Your post really cheered me up as I thought at 50+ I would be faced with a reaction when I book the course, but I'm very happy to be part of the "special population"!

Great idea! There are lots of people who have retrained in fitness in their 50s. Good luck.