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Working in the
fitness industry may sometimes feel overwhelming
for many fitness professionals. While we are
all interested in staying abreast with the
industry, it is often difficult to decide
where and how to allocate one’s energy.
Should one learn to teach each and every new
class concept? |
Or, rather, would it be best to concentrate on improving
existing skills? This is the dilemma that we fitness
professionals face.
A little bit of
history…
Aerobics has changed tremendously since its
conception in the late 60’s. It had
changed so much so that the original term
“aerobics instructor”, is no longer
an accurate representation of the activities
we engage in. Did you know that in 1997, IDEA
issued a press release recommending that the
term aerobics be replaced
by the term group fitness?
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Each and every year we are introduced to a variety
of new class concepts and innovations. Some have
stood the test of time, while others have been quite
short-lived. Over the years we have seen everything
from aerobics to step, slide, spinning, skipping,
aero-box, yoga, pilates, and now the Bosu…
just to name a few! As you contemplate on how or
what to do... here are a few tips you may want to
keep in mind.
1. Listen to your
Body… not the market
We must always remember to listen to our bodies.
Although we may feel tremendous pressure from the
market to jump on the latest bandwagon, it is always
important to stay focused and true to ourselves.
Making sure that we feel comfortable with what we
are teaching is imperative to delivering a quality
level class. If you are feeling uneasy or truly
do not enjoy what you are doing, it will definitely
reflect in your teaching. Do what makes you feel
right. 2. Don’t be so hard on yourself
Instructors can be excessively self-critical.
Many set outrageously high expectations for themselves
and are genuinely surprised when these goals are
unattained. Does this sound familiar?
“You mean, I am NOT the yoga, pilates,
kickboxing, afro-aerobics and ballet master all
at the same time? No, this is not possible!”
Fitness instructors are high achievers, and as
a result many of us attempt to learn too much,
too fast. Consider re-evaluating and selecting
the activities that best suits you when life feels
a little out of control. Narrowing down your scope
and concentrating on a smaller range of material
will make life much more manageable and alleviate
stress. With this big burden off your shoulders,
you will once again remember and experience the
joy in fitness.
3. Be innovative
Understand that innovative does not necessarily
mean new. One of your objectives as a group fitness
instructor is to retain and maintain your participants,
right? We often lose members as a result of boredom
or lack of motivation. Members need to be inspired
with change. Being innovative can take many forms.
You could add to your portfolio of skills by learning
to teach a new concept. You can however also find
ways to re-invent the skills that you already
possess. Rather than changing your product, change
the packaging!
4. Dig Deep
Do you have a hidden talent? Use the talents that
you already have! Perhaps you can create a new
type of class all by yourself! Do you have dance
experience? Some of the latest crazes in the industry
stem from very personal experiences. African aerobics,
Belly Dancing, Indian and Latin dances... Perhaps
your concept may not be the next Tae Bo, but it
would at least give your participants a new experience.
It would be unique and a wonderful change to what
they are used to. And one more added bonus...
you don’t have to get certified to do this!
5. Understand the trends
If you are really serious about investing time
into learning a new discipline, it would be wise
to analyze the market prior to making your decision.
In general, demographics dictate the trends of
an industry. Today, baby boomers are the fastest
growing group in North American fitness centres,
representing approximately 36% of all members*.
As this population continues to age, the demand
for gentler, low impact style workouts continue
to rise. The evidence of this trend is seen in
the decreasing popularity of high impact aerobics
and the emergence of body and mind activities.
Knowing where the market is going will help you
to decide whether or not your investment will
be worthwhile. Keeping this in mind will enable
you to distinguish between what is a fad and what
will be more sustainable. Another market you may
want to focus on in the future is kids fitness.
Today, an extraordinary amount of children are
obese due to the sedentary childhood habits of
the new generation. Fitness for these children
will become increasingly important as their health
continues to decline.
In conclusion, most of us teach because we love
it! We truly enjoy the profession and the people
we meet everyday. As you encounter these new concepts,
please do not feel pressured to surrender to the
market. Do what you are comfortable with. You
will feel much better about yourself, teach better
and be more confident. Good luck!
References: * Age-Old Trend/ Health-Conscious
Seniors Displacing Younger Fitness- Club Patrons.
The Gazette, Bill Radford, November 14, 2001.
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Rozel Genzales offers a refreshing splash of originality
to the Canadian fitness circuit. With an exceptionally
rare combination of talents in interantional dance,
martial arts, circus and gymnastics training, Rozel
draws from her unique background to create innovative
and fun-filled fitness concepts and choreography.
