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What do you look for in a group fitness instructor and class?

7/23/2013

8 Comments

 
On my never-ending search for trying new things in the fitness world, I recently took a rowing class at Row Zone Rittenhouse on Chestnut Street in Philadelphia.  The class was great and definitely had me dripping in sweat at the end of the 45 minutes, but when I looked over at the instructor at the end of class, I realize she wasn't sweating at all!  Except for demonstrating a few exercises, she didn't do any of the workout, which got me thinking - is this what group fitness participants prefer?
Row Zone
Les Mills Bodypump
Step Aerobics
I've taken quite a few trainings for different group fitness classes, and they each recommend a different approach.  Specifically, when taking the Les Mills Bodypump Instructor Training, it is recommended (as an instructor) to do the entire workout with the class, maybe stopping a handful of times during specific exercises where everyone is laying on the bench, and it's difficult to see the class. However, when taking the Beachbody Insanity Instructor Training, it is repeated over and over that 'this is not your workout' as the instructor, and you should be walking around the room, helping everyone with their form and motivating everyone.  I also know that while teaching heavily choreographed classes such as Step Aerobics, Hip Hop Hustle and TurboKick, if I were to stop doing the workout, the class would stop too, which is okay, because I don't think it should be expected that the participants memorize the choreography.
Furthermore, if the instructor IS doing the workout alongside the class, as a participant, would you rather see instructors pushing themselves to the max and struggling, and maybe not saying as much during the exercise?  Or would you rather that instructors workout at a comfortable level so that they can give cues and focus more on helping you out as a participant?  I think there are benefits to both approaches, and as an instructor, I try to fall somewhere in the middle.  I know participants that like to see instructors work just as hard as they are - it serves as motivation and encouragement to continue to work hard.  But I also know of participants that would rather the instructor focused on helping them as participants, correcting their form and giving them more personal attention.  The extreme example of this is the instructor at Row Zone, where she wasn't doing the workout at all.

As a professional 'academic', I am fully aware that everyone learns differently, and there may not be an ideal way to teach group fitness class - everyone is going to have their own style of teaching and learning.  In an ideal world, there would be a few instructors at every group fitness class - one to lead the workout, one to show some modifications or options and one to walk around the room, helping people with their form.  However, this many instructors would only make group fitness classes more expensive and less accessible to the average gym-goer.

So, I'm asking YOU - what type of group fitness instructor do you prefer?
8 Comments

I heard Step Aerobics is for Grandmas!

6/23/2013

4 Comments

 
Do you have a soulmate workout?  I do!  My soulmate workout is step aerobics.  I love so many forms of exercise, but nothing really compares to step aerobics for me.  What do you think of when you hear step aerobics?  Perhaps you're thinking back to 80's/90's style aerobics classes (below, left), or even the video that recent viral video of a man doing step aerobics in a speedo - he's missing the step, but boy is he having fun (below, right).
 
Picture
My class has often been described as "dancy" or a "workout for your mind AND body" - not only is my class fast-paced, but the choreography is more complicated than the average step class.  All of these things are exactly what I love about it!  So imagine my surprise when a new member introduced herself before class and said, "I heard Step Aerobics is for Grandmas!"  To set the record straight, I've had women who are grandmothers take my class, and they not only keep up with the younger people in my class, but they sometimes outshine them and have WAY more energy!  Check out Leeni in the photo below - an amazing stepper AND a grandma!  It just goes to show that age is just a number and if you 'keep up with your fitness', you'll never get 'old'.  But, that doesn't take away the impression people have about step aerobics.  Yes, step aerobics has been around for a LONG time, dating back to the Jazzercise and Richard Simmons years of fitness world (did you know Richard Simmons, at age 64, is STILL teaching group fitness in CA?), but it has evolved SO much!
In the beginning, a lot of my choreography came from a class that I took before I became an instructor, taught by my personal step aerobics guru, Deanna (in the picture to the right).  She is who got me hooked on step from day 1 - her choreography is FABULOUS (you can take her class at Club One in Pittsburgh)!  I was determined to be as amazing as she is!  I find choreography inspiration everywhere, but one of my favorite places is YouTube.  My favorite step aerobic YouTube-er is Tony Cicala, or "sunshine Tony" in Italy.  His choreography is so inspiring and I "borrow" his moves ALL the time!  Check him out:
 
Picture
Leeni, Deanna & I at Club One, Pittsburgh, May 2013
Can YOUR grandma do that?  If she can, she's pretty awesome!  I know step aerobics isn't for everyone, but I LOVE IT!


What's your soulmate workout?
4 Comments

    Jillian [FitYaf]

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