Likes and dislikes in a fitness class? For a new instructor.

[Coffeetree]

Hi everyone,

I've recently started teaching Legs Bums and Tums and Body Conditioning. Mostly women in the classes, in a leisure centre.

Of course I ask for feedback but thought I'd see what people here would recommend? Anything in particular you like or hate in fitness classes?

Can I add wear something that aligns with your audience. That maybe a bit odd but I went to a fitness class just after my babies feeling really awful wobbly and wearing a Baggy T-shirt, it was a post baby fitness class and when I walked in the instructor was beautiful, fit toned and wearing the skimpy gym gear I could only imagine wearing.

She was inspiring and lovely but I really at that moment wanted her to be in a loose t-shirt..

That says more about me than the instructor but I felt at that moment when training a room full of new mums maybe it would make a difference?

Sorry if that sounds awful I know we should all wear whatever we are comfy in but you asked for feedback and that's what popped into my head.

I don't like it when it is deafeningly loud and the instructor is then shouting into a microphone over the top of that

I don't like it when the instructor wizzes off into some set of dance steps without showing you / explaining to your first especially when there is no logic / repetition / doing the same with left side you have just done with right

I find it really helpful when the instructor tells you where you should be 'feeling' any stretch.....it confirms you are / are not doing it right

I like it when the instructor presents the move / position as what (s)he "expects" the move to be and then gives an alternative which is more challenging, rather than starting with the more difficult / higher level and then offering an alternative for those who can't manage it.

I can't keep up so I don't like people telling me what to do.

I know my own body and what it does. Once I went to a taster class and I had already warned the lady about an issue with my knee so I would do what I can. At one point she came and stood over me and told me o wasn't pushing myself I reminded her about the knee and she said yes but if you do that it will be fine.
I didn't go back. I'm not discussing my knee with someone who knows nothing about it.

So that and letting me do my own thing in terms of movement.

Making people work in twos , I always made me feel left out .

Do instructors really touch people? I've only ever had that in yoga class.

We're taught in training never to touch anyone ever.

@BudgeSquare agreed!

For me- don't piss off your regulars to appease newcomers. They might not even come back.

Dislike: cliquey classes with the instructor making ‘in jokes’ and being like ‘Oh Tanya, what are you like, we’re not in the pub now LOL’ 😄
Too much forced ‘thankfulness’ gratefulness, mindfulness etc but I think that’s just me being miserable

I've stopped going to one instructors class as if new people turn up just as the class is due to start, she will spend 10 minutes going over everything with them before then starting. I was missing the end of the class and was annoyed at paying 100% for a short class as I still needed to leave.

Vary the exercises. Otherwise regulars plateau

Make sure that the classes are hard enough - you can do this in a way that works for all levels eg if using machines, set calorie limits to hit, fitter people will get their quicker, others might be slower but it won't matter.

Ensure - especially for women - that you incorporate core exercises & weight training (even if just body weight but weights better)

Use AMRAP - again very good for mixed abilities

I disagree with others' comments on partnering, if done correctly. You ask one to do x task while the other does another. When partner 1 has completed x many reps, or so many calories / km whatever, you swap over. It makes people work as hard as they can.

Correct form. I am training for many years. I see so many new people doing exercises totally wrong. They may risk injury, and will get zero benefit. The instructors often don't correct them.

will get there* quicker. (Not 'their')

[quote HunterHearstHelmsley]@BudgeSquare agreed!

For me- don't piss off your regulars to appease newcomers. They might not even come back.[/quote]
I try to model an instructor who deftly dealt with this by saying, "We're all friends, lets shift around a bit and make room for everyone!"

Oh but I'm not friends with evil Hilary at the front who never goes the right way and steps on my toes.

Or with prissy Julia who hogs all the equipment in case she needs it.

Don’t tolerate bad behaviour, someone being a dick ruins the class for everyone.

Don’t touch me, certainly don’t touch me without asking. You don’t need to touch someone to correct their form.

Make everyone spread out, people tend to bunch together so it would be ideal if more instructors had the confidence to move everyone at the start.

We're all friends, lets shift around a bit and make room for everyone!"

I would 🤮 if I heard this. Mind you, it's not an issue in the classes I go to, which are SpinHIIT, Core, Strenght & use machine. They are also small classes.

I don't think there's any need for the fake camaderie tho. Just tell people where they need to be.

Yes but it's preferable to saying, "Quit being dicks, no one owns a space".

Thank fully that's not an issue in any of the classes im teaching.

Mine would be to not to let the big personalities take over a class.

No screaming (from people exercising)

I'm a regular (as in go everyday to a class) and I agree with not hogging spots. There's someone at ours who stands directly in front of the instructor, hogs their attention and basically makes a nuisance of herself. She's oblivious to everyone else getting increasingly pissed off. Said person has a tendency to try improve other people's form too. Really annoying. Can you tell I'm not keen on being in a class with them?

One of our coaches spends a lot of time talking about himself. That can get tiresome.

Good luck op, you sounds receptive which is great. Getting to know your clients is key. Our female coach is great at knowing who likes to be told to get on with it or given praise or not spoken to unless for a correction Etc. Everyone likes to train in a slightly different way.

I absolutely hate complicated routines that I can't follow. Keep it simple for me.

Use a variety of music. I'm older, so I don't necessarily want just the new stuff.

Don't let people chat.

Try and make it feel good and upbeat.

Be kind to me. Don't try and kill me.

@Coffeetree

Yes but it's preferable to saying, "Quit being dicks, no one owns a space".

Why would you need to say that either? Just ask people to go where you need them. My instructors will all move people around, indicate spaces. It's fine.

Not the same class but I went to a spin class the other day with a new instructor and she was really rude and left me a bit speechless to be honest! I was quite taken aback at how rude she was to my friend who had never been before. I was asked to leave feedback and was torn, the class was great (which I did write) but the manner of the instructor was unnecessarily rude!
So my advice would be: just be friendly and nice!!! Which I’m sure you are, I didn’t even think it would be a piece of advice I’d ever have to give

And also, remember that you can’t please everyone. Asking for advice is dangerous because if you take it all you’ll be bending over backwards. Believe in what you teach. Enjoy!

@TheChosenTwo

Not the same class but I went to a spin class the other day with a new instructor and she was really rude and left me a bit speechless to be honest! I was quite taken aback at how rude she was to my friend who had never been before. I was asked to leave feedback and was torn, the class was great (which I did write) but the manner of the instructor was unnecessarily rude! So my advice would be: just be friendly and nice!!! Which I’m sure you are, I didn’t even think it would be a piece of advice I’d ever have to give

How was she rude to her?

Ask newbies where they want to stand. Some will want to be at the front, so they can see you but, for someone as uncoordinated as me, this would be pure hell. The last thing that is going to make me comfortable is being judged by the regulars as I cock up the routine. I want to shuffle quietly at the back till I get the hang of it.

Tell your class what they are supposed to be working (e.g. hamstrings, hips, whatever) and where they are supposed to be feeling any stretch. It might be obvious to you, but it's not necessarily obvious to them.

Ask for constructive feedback on your cue-ing. It's a real art to do it just before the movement, but not so far before that the class gets confused.

Try to stop a few regulars monopolising you at the start or end of a class. There's always someone who wants to bore on for 10 minutes about what her osteopath said.

Agree with everyone saying no pair-work. This isn't speed-dating.

Properly cueing in changes within a routine - drives me mad when instructor just goes into the next move and expects the class to have read their mind

“Next, left leg lunge in 5,6,7,8…..”