Emily Evans | OriGym https://www.origym.co.uk/blog/author/emily-evans/ Educational Excellence Wed, 19 Feb 2025 13:12:33 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.2 https://www.origym.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/cropped-O-Icon-17-black-32x32.png Emily Evans | OriGym https://www.origym.co.uk/blog/author/emily-evans/ 32 32 How To Write A Fitness Instructor Cover Letter https://www.origym.co.uk/blog/fitness-instructor-cover-letter/ Mon, 30 Jan 2023 08:00:00 +0000 https://www.origym.co.uk/blog/fitness-instructor-cover-letter/ Learning how to write a fitness instructor cover letter is necessary when applying for jobs. This guide will provide insight on what information to include and how the document will be formatted.

The post How To Write A Fitness Instructor Cover Letter appeared first on OriGym Centre of Excellence.

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An effective fitness instructor cover letter can be the deciding factor in determining whether you land a job role, or are passed over in favour of another candidate.

By following the steps outlined below, you will learn how to write a cover letter for a fitness instructor position that perfectly encapsulates who you are:

Enrolling on our Personal Trainer Diploma can help to strengthen your fitness instructor cover letter and lead to exciting opportunities, such as helping you to become a personal trainer. This training will present you as a stronger candidate, as you will be able to offer one-to-one training, in addition to leading fitness classes.

You can also download OriGym’s FREE course prospectus for further information on all our courses.

Step 1 – Prepare And Research For Your Fitness Instructor Cover Letter

Prepare And Research For Your Fitness Instructor Cover Letter

If you want to write an effective cover letter for a fitness instructor position, the first thing you’ll need to do is conduct research into the company and role you’re applying for.

By doing so, you can guarantee that the information on your gym instructor cover letter is reflective of the company in question, and personalised to each job you apply for.

Presenting employers with a generic cover letter that you’ve sent to multiple jobs will present you as a lazy individual who wants any job, not this job specifically.

When creating a cover letter for a fitness instructor position

When creating a cover letter for a fitness instructor position, you should check resources such as the company’s website or LinkedIn Page. This can provide valuable insight into aspects, like the organisation’s:

  • History
  • Values
  • Aims
  • Current projects
  • Staff news

For example, take a look at The Gym Group’s LinkedIn Page:

fitness instructor cover letter uk screenshot

The ‘About’ section alone contains plenty of valuable information about the brand’s identity. You’ll be able to identify what values will resonate with your employer and tailor your cover letter for the fitness instructor position accordingly.

For example, you can see how The Gym Group prioritise candidates who are customer focused:

fitness instructor cover letter examples

If you were to create a group fitness instructor cover letter for this position, you’d need to mention traits you possess that demonstrate your commitment to customer service.

When conducting any kind of research into a prospective employer, you should ask yourself:

  • What will I do as a gym instructor at this location?
  • What experience and qualifications are required for the role?
  • What skills do I need?
  • What are the company’s brand values?
  • When was the company founded?
  • What employee benefits do they offer?
  • Do they target a specific area of fitness or demographic?

These answers can help inform the information you include on your fitness instructor cover letter. By doing so, you’ll present yourself as a candidate who is highly engaged with the role they’re applying for.

Anything you learn during this research can also be beneficial if you secure an interview, as you will have a wide knowledge of the gym.

Step 2 – Plan Your Gym Instructor Cover Letter Structure

Plan Your Gym Instructor Cover Letter Structure

The next step in writing a cover letter for a fitness instructor position is to consider how you’re going to structure the piece.

Applying for a fitness instructor job role can be an exciting process, so it’s only natural you’ll want to get started as soon as possible. But the last thing you want to do is begin without a detailed plan.

Without a clear plan, you could include irrelevant details that detract from the content of your cover letter, and may sway employers to choose another candidate instead.

writing a cover letter for a fitness instructor position

With this in mind, here is a brief rundown of what to include when writing a fitness instructor cover letter in the UK:

  • Your Contact Information 
  • Employer Contact Information
  • Cover Letter Salutation/Greeting 
  • Body of Letter 
  • Sign Off
  • Your Name/Signature  

To ensure that each section of your cover letter is optimised for employers, you should follow the P.E.E method of writing. This stands for:

  • Point
  • Evidence
  • Explain

This simply means that you will make a statement, provide evidence for it, and then add a small explanation of why you believe it’s relevant for a fitness instructor role.

fitness instructor cover letter no experience PEE

For example, let’s say that you wanted to highlight your commitment levels to providing good customer care. You could write something like:

I am a hardworking individual, who puts a great amount of effort into ensuring that every customer has the best possible experience at my fitness classes. I’ve demonstrated thus with my current employer by hosting regular check-ins at the end of every class.

Customers are able to come to me with valuable feedback that helps to shape future classes, ensuring that improvements can be made whenever relevant.

Through structuring your cover letter for a fitness instructor position in this manner, you can ensure that employers only read relevant information.

Step 3 – Writing Your Fitness Instructor Cover Letter

fitness instructor cover letter uk

We’ve briefly touched on the structure you should follow for your fitness instructor cover letter, but it’s equally important to know what each section should include.

Let’s break it down into simple steps.

#1 – Start Your Fitness Instructor Cover Letter With Your Contact Information

 Start Your Fitness Instructor Cover Letter With Your Contact Information

When writing a cover letter for a fitness instructor role, the first thing you will need to include is your contact information. Typically, this will be situated in the top, right-hand side of the page, and will include:

  • Your full name
  • Address
  • Email address
  • Phone number

Some employers may also specifically ask you to include your professional social media account in this section too.

Even if the inclusion of social media isn’t requested by the gym, featuring it here can help shed more light on who you are as an instructor.

#2 – Should You Include The Gym’s Contact Information?

Plan Your Gym Instructor Cover Letter Structure 2

This next step is optional, as how you send a cover letter for a gym instructor position can influence whether an employer’s contact information is necessary.

For example, if you’re sending the employer a hard copy of a cover letter through the post, you’ll need to include the following information in the top left hand corner of the page:

  • Date of sending the letter
  • The name of the employer 
  • The name of the company
  • The company address

On the other hand, if you’re sending this cover letter via email, or through employment websites, you won’t need to include any of the employer’s contact information.

#3 – How to Greet a Hiring Director in a Fitness Instructor Cover Letter

 How to Greet a Hiring Director in a Fitness Instructor Cover Letter

When writing your gym instructor cover letter, you should include a greeting before your professional correspondence. When writing this greeting it will help to know who will be reading your cover letter, which could be:

  • The employer
  • The head of HR
  • The hiring director
  • The manager of the department you’ll be working with

In addition to showing that you’ve taken initiative to research the company, this greeting will also highlight an element of specificity,indicating this letter hasn’t been reused for other roles.

This will also give you an idea of who will be conducting your fitness instructor interview, should your cover letter be successful. In some instances, vacancies on employment sites such as LinkedIn will provide clarity on who you should address.

For example, should you decide to apply for this position in Athelis Club & Spa, your cover letter would address Tye Handley, as he is the ‘job poster’.

fitness instructor cover letter sample Tye

If this information isn’t immediately available, you should conduct your own research through LinkedIn. If you still can’t find a name, you can use a general greeting in your cover letter, like:

  • ‘To the Hiring Director at [Company Name]
  • ‘Dear [company name] Recruiter
  • ‘To whom it may concern at [Company Name]

This strategy ensures that you’re still personalising the cover letter to the company, rather than using a generic address such as ‘Dear Sir/Madam’.

#4 – What To Include In The First Paragraph Of A Fitness Instructor Cover Letter

fitness instructor cover letter uk 1st paragaph

The next step in writing a cover letter for a fitness instructor position is to tackle the main body of text. In this section, you’re essentially providing the hiring director with information such as:

  • What role you’re applying for – There may be multiple vacancies within the company at any given time, so be sure to stress this.
  • Why you want to apply for this specific role – Demonstrate how passionate you are about the role.  You should also stress some key skills, such as previous experience leading fitness classes.
  • Where you saw the position advertised – Here, you could demonstrate your research skills and state how you saw it advertised across many different platforms.
  • When you will be available to start – Employers will need to know this information, as they may have to fill the position urgently.

The first paragraph acts as a first impression for prospective employers. If they like what they see, they’ll continue reading to learn more about you.

When Should You Include The Employer’s Contact Information in Your Gym Instructor Cover Letter

If you’re currently writing a fitness instructor cover letter, an example of what the first paragraph may look like can be found below:

I am writing to you in regards to the Freelance Fitness Instructor advertisement posted on LinkedIn and Indeed. I believe that I would make an excellent candidate for this vacancy, as I already possess 2 years worth of experience leading fitness classes at my current place of employment.

I am aware of the high standards that your fitness facility has, and wish to contribute to this with my own knowledge and experience for the benefit of your customers. I am even willing to hit the ground running, ready to start in the position whenever I am required!

With our example, you can see the applicant has explained their past experience, touched on where they’re applying for, and when they can start.

From this, employers will gain insight into why they’re applying for the vacancy, along with some of the experience the applicant possesses.

#5 – Writing The Second Paragraph of a Fitness Instructor Cover Letter

Information That Features in The Second Paragraph of a Fitness Instructor Cover Letter

When writing a gym instructor cover letter, the second paragraph is arguably the most important as it provides the biggest opportunity to sell yourself. In this section you should make reference to relevant:

  • Qualifications 
  • Skills
  • Experience

When looking at job vacancies you should always check what qualifications employers are asking for.

This will help to inform what is included in your fitness instructor cover letter. For example, if the position only mentions the Level 2 Gym instructor qualification, then you need to make reference to this.

This doesn’t need to be super detailed, and can be as simple as:

I initially earned my Level 2 Fitness Instructor certification in 2022 with OriGym Centre of Excellence, with whom I am currently studying for my Level 3 Personal Training qualification.

As well as discussing relevant qualifications, your gym instructor cover letter should also include relevant skills to support your application.

For example, when describing their ideal candidate, this advertisement for Frame in London specifies applicants should hold strong communication skills:

fitness instructor cover letter examples Indeed Job

You can use past experiences to demonstrate these strong communication skills, making use of the P.E.E strategy. This doesn’t have to specifically relate to the fitness industry either, as you may be writing a fitness instructor cover letter with no experience:

I have strong communication skills, honed through 3 years of experience in Customer Service Management. In this position, I was responsible for providing customers with assistance, resolving complaints, and answering phone calls to respond to enquiries.

If chosen for the fitness instructor position, I will therefore feel confident in addressing the class, offering feedback to those struggling, as well as having discussions with customers on how I can better the service I provide.

As you can see from the example, the applicant supports their argument with evidence relating back to their previous/current place of employment.

In some respects, the second paragraph can touch on what’s included in the ‘work experience’ section of your fitness instructor CV. A cover letter should select the most relevant aspects of your experience and expand upon those.

#6 – Paragraph 3 Of Your Cover Letter For A Fitness Instructor Position

What to Include in The Third Paragraph of Cover Letter for A Fitness Instructor Position

The next section of your fitness instructor cover letter should demonstrate the knowledge you possess about the company you’re applying for. This is where all of the research you previously conducted will come in handy.

Specifically, when referencing your knowledge of the company, you can highlight why you would be a good match for the position, whilst also sharing what attracted you to the role.

For example, you could research the brand’s core values, and draw on how they resonate and align with your own. For instance, if you applying for a role at David Lloyd, you would find the following information relating to the brand’s core values:

fitness instructor cover letter examples David Lloyd

This fitness instructor cover letter sample demonstrates how you could link your own values with David Lloyd:

I particularly resonate with David Lloyd’s Passion to Serve, and greatly admire the company’s dedication to make a real difference. As someone who has held multiple jobs in customer facing roles, I know first hand that even the simplest of actions can make a big impact on their overall perception of the business.

For this reason, I’d strive to deliver the highest possible level of customer service at your gym. This will carry through when completing every role, be it hosting inductions, or confidently leading fitness classes.

By making connections between the company’s beliefs and your own, you are essentially highlighting how you fit in. Employers will want to hire someone who exemplifies their values, so mentioning this is a must.

While it might be tempting, try to avoid using phrases like “I have wanted to work for your company for as long as I can remember…”, as these phrases are incredibly overused, and don’t hold much meaning as a result.

#7 – Writing The Final Paragraph Of Your Fitness Instructor Cover Letter

Writing the Final Paragraph of a Fitness Instructor Cover Letter

When closing out your group fitness instructor cover letter, you should strive to present yourself as the best possible candidate for the role. This process will involve:

  • Offering a brief summary of your application
  • Thanking the employer for taking the time to read your application
  • Mentioning your availability to take part in an interview
  • Share your preferred method of communication

Doing so encourages the employer to move your application forwards since you’re showing a clear interest in chatting with them more.

cover letter for fitness instructor position excited

The following sample cover letter for fitness instructor position demonstrates how you may do this:

In summary, I believe that I’d make an excellent member of the team, and would strive to uphold the brand’s core identity, with a dedicated work ethic that always places the customer first.

Thank you for taking the time to read my application and for considering me for the position.  I am available for an interview on Mondays and any other weekday after 6pm, where I would behappy to discuss my application further with you.

Closing out a fitness instructor cover letter is arguably the most straightforward part of the writing process. This doesn’t mean that you can rush it – remember this is the last thing an employer will see, so it’s important to leave on a positive note.

#8 – How To Sign Off A Gym Instructor Cover Letter

How to Sign Off a Gym Instructor Cover Letter

There are a few rules when it comes to signing off a formal fitness instructor cover letter. Through following this advice, you can ensure your ending on a positive note:

  • If you know the name of the hiring director – Sign the letter with ‘Yours Sincerely’
  • If you don’t know the individual’s name – Sign with ‘Yours Faithfully’
  • Use a signature if you’re sending a hard copy of the cover letter
  • Electronic signatures may be required but aren’t always necessary for online applications, so be sure to check if the employer requires one.

Whilst this section discussed how to write a cover letter for a fitness instructor position, the next will explore how this written should be formatted.

– – – –

If learning about how to write a fitness instructor cover letter interests you, then these other OriGym articles will be of great benefit:

How To Format A Cover Letter For A Fitness Instructor Position

How to Format a fitness instructor cover letter in the uk

When writing a cover letter for a fitness instructor position, many applicants prioritise content above all else. Whilst this isn’t necessarily a bad thing, you should also ensure that the format is correct too.

Employers can see hundreds of cover letters for the same position, and if yours isn’t formatted correctly, it can highlight your inexperience, and paint you in an unprofessional light.

Therefore, ensure that your gym instructor cover letter is formatted correctly by following these tips:

  • Choose a Suitable Font: Pick fonts that are easy to read such as Arial, Times New Roman and Calibri.
  • Font Size: For headings and titles use 16pt, and 12pt for all other text.
  • Consistency Between Fitness Instructor Cover Letter and CV: These two documents should share identical font choices and colour schemes. This may seem like a minor detail, but can create a sense of cohesion across your application.
  • Paragraphs: Split your cover letter into paragraphs, as large chunks of text could be off putting for employers.

Format for cover letter for gym instructor

Formatting is a simple process, but, if done incorrectly, it can have negative effects on the overall perception of your application. You should therefore follow the advice provided above, in order to ensure that your final document is both presentable and professional.

Complete Fitness Instructor Cover Letter Example

Complete Fitness Instructor Cover Letter Example

This section includes a fitness instructor cover letter sample so that you can have a look at what a finished document may look like. This example has been created following the guidance we’ve provided in this article:

Dear Katie Chadwick (HR Manager):

I am writing this letter to express my interest in your posting on Indeed for a Fitness Instructor position. 

With both a Level 2 gym instructor and Level 3 personal training certificate under my belt, I was able to secure employment working as a receptionist at my local gym. Whilst I enjoy the many responsibilities associated with this role, I am ready to embark on a career change, and believe I would be a valuable asset to your organisation.

Throughout my time working as a gym receptionist, I have shown exemplary communication and problem-solving skills. This is exemplified through the many responsibilities I completed daily, which included resolving customer complaints, as well as answering communication requests. 

This position also utilised and developed my organisation and multi-tasking skills. If chosen for this position, these can be transferred into liaising with multiple customers at the same time, ensuring that everyone receives a fully-rounded class. 

I am also someone that is incredibly passionate about collaborative work, having been heavily involved in group collaborations throughout my professional and educational careers. 

Truthfully, this is why I felt such a strong connection to your company, as your website clearly lays out a dedication to a ‘Joint Effort Value’. I believe that I would make an excellent addition to your team, gelling well with fellow employees to deliver a high calibre service.

In summary, I believe that I’d make an excellent member of the team and would dedicate myself to not only honing my existing skills, but to developing new ones too. 

Thank you for taking the time to read my application and for considering me for the position. 

I am available for an interview on Mondays and any other weekday after 6pm when I would be happy to discuss my application further with you.

Yours sincerely, 

John Smith

Remember, the sample cover letter for fitness instructors displayed above is just an example. You shouldn’t copy what we’ve written above word for word, as all cover letters should be specific to the job you are applying for.

This sample was created to provide you with insight into what a full cover letter should look like.

6 Tips On Making Your Fitness Instructor Cover Letter Stand Out

Writing a Fitness Instructor cover letter UK

This next section will focus on providing guidance for how you can make your cover letter stand out. The following list of tips has been created to offer guidance on what you should keep in mind during the writing process.

#1 – Earning a Personal Training Qualification Can Set Your Gym Instructor Cover Letter Apart

Earning a Personal Training Qualification Can Set Your Gym Instructor Cover Letter Apart

Following the completion of a Level 2 Fitness instructor course you should consider obtaining a Level 3 Personal Training qualification. This achievement will strengthen your cover letter for a fitness instructor position by presenting you as a candidate with more experience and knowledge.

For reference, whilst enrolled on this course you will build on the pre-existing knowledge acquired on your Level 2 qualification. Specifically, through becoming a certified personal trainer you can begin training clients on a one-to-one basis.

This will be something you’ll want to stress on your fitness instructor cover letter, as it will highlight to employers that you will be able to offer specific training advice for customers, rather than just holistic advice for an entire class.

Some employers will even stress that this is a preferred additional qualification to have, meaning that these applicants will be favoured during the hiring process. This can be seen below in an advertisement for LifeStyles Fitness:

fitness instructor cover letter uk Job ad Lifestyles

From this example, you will be able to understand how a personal training qualification can help you stand out among other applicants. It simply highlights to the employer that you have more knowledge and experience to draw from, meaning that you can take on more responsibilities in the workplace.

#2 – Be Concise When Writing a Fitness Instructor Cover Letter

Be Concise When Writing a Fitness Instructor Cover Letter

One of the most important things that you can do when it comes to writing a cover letter is to be concise. Waffling will likely deter employers from reading your entire application, as it will present you as someone who lacks clear focus.

You should only include relevant information, and try to keep the contents of the letter to one side of A4.

#3 – Check Your Spelling and Grammar Before Submitting Your Gym Instructor Cover Letter

 Check Your Spelling and Grammar Before Submitting Your Gym Instructor Cover Letter

Whilst this may seem obvious to some, the importance of ‘spell checking’ your cover letter cannot be overstated.

Even the smallest of mistakes could deter potential employers from selecting your application, so be on the lookout for any grammatical or factual errors.

With tools like free tools such as Spell Check and Grammarly at your disposal, there is simply no excuse for these mistakes to arise.

#4 – Use Examples In Your Fitness Instructor Cover Letter

Gym Instructor cover letter examples

As mentioned throughout this article, when writing a cover letter you should always opt to use the PEE structure (Point, Evidence, Explain).

Anyone can claim to have a diverse range of skills suitable for a particular job role, but without evidence to back you up, these claims will be unfounded.

For example, if you want to discuss how you have developed strong selling skills,  you could support this by using stats to show how you increased fitness class attendance in your current place of employment.

Using evidence to support your claims will essentially verify the content of your cover letter. Without it, employers may be unwilling to believe the legitimacy of your abilities.

#5 – Be Honest When Writing a Group Fitness Instructor Cover Letter

Be Honest When Writing a Group Fitness Instructor Cover Letter

If you find a job vacancy that you really want, it can be tempting to embellish the truth to get ahead of other applicants – but in truth, this is never worth it!

No matter how insignificant it may seem to you, if an employer discovers that you’ve lied on your CV or Cover Letter, they could terminate your application immediately.

Even worse yet, should you become employed when this information comes to light, these employers could take legal action against you for false representation.

#6 – Follow Up After Sending In Your Cover Letter

Follow Up After Sending In Your Cover Letter

Once your application has been submitted you may think it’s time to relax and await a response, but remember employers can sometimes receive hundreds of applications at once.

For this reason, there is a chance that your application may have gotten lost in the post, or redirected to an ‘unread’ or ‘spam’ folder.

You should always receive some form of confirmation that your application has been received, so if this does not occur you will have to conduct your own follow up.

This can be in the form of an email to simply ask whether your application was received by the employer. In doing so, you will receive reassurance that your cover letter has been processed through the right channels.

Before You Go!

Now that you’re equipped with all the necessary information, you can begin working on your own fitness instructor cover letter.

Completing a Personal Trainer Diploma can improve your perception among employers. Through this course, you’ll learn how to lead bespoke training sessions, and make yourself a much more attractive prospect for employers.

Our FREE course prospectus is also available to download here!

The post How To Write A Fitness Instructor Cover Letter appeared first on OriGym Centre of Excellence.

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How to Plan a Circuit Class https://www.origym.co.uk/blog/circuit-class-plan/ Wed, 04 Jan 2023 16:30:00 +0000 https://www.origym.co.uk/blog/circuit-class-plan/ Wherever you are in your career, OriGym's article will tell you how to plan a circuit class that you and your class members will get the most out of. It has everything you'll need to feel prepared!

The post How to Plan a Circuit Class appeared first on OriGym Centre of Excellence.

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In this article, we’re going to tell you exactly how to plan a circuit class so that you and your class members get as much as possible out of your sessions!

We’re going to cover the following:

Before we start, you can enhance your fitness expertise for teaching classes and individuals with our Personal Trainer Diploma. Check out this and all of our other courses by downloading our course prospectus completely for free.

What Does a Circuit Class Plan Normally Consist of?

tick list how to plan a circuit class graphic

Before we look into how to plan a circuit class, let’s first run through the key components of this type of session.

A circuit class involves continuously performing between 6-12 exercises with little to no rest periods, testing participants’ endurance, strength, and cardiovascular fitness.

Such exercises are a combination of the following:

  • An upper body exercise (i.e.: bent-over row, lateral raises, renegade rows)
  • A lower body exercise (i.e. squat, lunge, glute bridges)
  • A compound movement (i.e. mountain climbers, jumping lunge/squat)

Sessions usually last between 30-60 minutes and exercises can be adapted to suit different abilities.

If you want to know how to plan a circuit class there are a few components, other than the exercises themselves, that you’ll need to consider.

You’ll have to make sure that you select the appropriate equipment to use for each different exercise.

You’ll also have to make sure you scale the class based on the abilities of the class members.

So, without further ado, let’s get stuck into exactly how to plan a circuit class.

How to Plan a Circuit Class

Here we have a step-by-step guide on everything you need to know about how to plan a circuit class with relevant examples to aid your planning process.

Step #1 – Set a Difficulty for Your Circuit Class Plan

levels how to plan a circuit class image copy

One of the most important aspects of how to plan a circuit class is choosing the difficulty level for your class members.

The difficulty of your classes may change from day to day depending on who is in attendance so it will affect everything from your class themes to your warm up ideas!

This is why it’s worth constructing multiple plans to accommodate all members of your class and be able to adjust on the fly depending on who attends.

For example, bodyweight exercises are best for beginners as perfecting the right technique and form is important before moving on to weighted exercises.

Conversely, intermediate to advanced members are likely already familiar with most basic exercises and want to use equipment to make them more challenging.

You can give different options within the class so that more advanced members can use equipment for an exercise that can also be modified to suit beginners with just bodyweight.

This way you’re centring your class around your members to ensure they get the most out of the class and return in the future.

Below are some examples of holistic circuit class plans suitable for beginners, intermediate, and advanced participants.

You should note that since a circuit class has little to no rest periods, each proceeding exercise must work a different area of the body.

For instance, you could start with an upper body exercise, then move on to an exercise that works the legs, followed by a compound movement as shown in these examples.

Ideas for Planning a Beginner’s Circuit Class:

beginner how to plan a circuit class image

10 rounds of 30-seconds of each exercise

  • Sit-ups (core)
  • Squats (legs)
  • Include push-ups (arms and core)
  • Mountain climbers (compound)
  • Tricep dips (arms)
  • Plank (core)
  • Glute bridges (glutes)

As mentioned, bodyweight exercises are best for beginner-level circuits as introducing weights too early increases the risk of injury.

Plus, most participants will be familiar with these exercises already which is important for not overwhelming members with lesser-known exercises.

Here’s some ideas for how to plan a circuit class for intermediate members.

Ideas for Planning an Intermediate Class:

intermediate how to design a circuit class image

10 rounds of 40-seconds of each exercise:

  • Squat jumps (legs)
  • Renegade rows (arms)
  • Russian twists (core)
  • Romanian deadlifts (legs)
  • Bicep curl (arms)
  • Burpees (compound)
  • Push-ups (arms)
  • Dumbbell side lunge (legs)

Some of these exercises introduce weights into the class such as Romanian deadlifts, Russian twists, and bicep curls, making the circuit more challenging.

Plus, squat jumps involve short bursts of high-intensity exercise which is more difficult compared with regular squats and lunges which are suitable for intermediate-level participants.

You can give people the option for each offering a modification. You can also scale your classes and offer different ones for different levels, advertising the difficulty level for people who want to sign up.

Ideas for Planning an Advanced Class:

advanced how to plan a circuit class image

15 rounds of 45-seconds of each exercise:

  • Kettlebell swings (legs)
  • Plank rows (arms and core)
  • Broad jumps (compound)
  • Medicine ball sit-ups (core)
  • Kettlebell glute bridges (glutes)
  • Dumbbell skull crushers (arms)

With these exercises, the weights and short bursts of high intensity for longer durations make the circuit even more challenging.

This is an easy way to make your participants work that extra bit harder to promote optimal results.

Step #2 – How to Plan a Circuit Class: Factoring in the Right Equipment

kettlebell how to design a circuit class graphic

The next step in our guide on how to design a circuit class is to factor in what equipment you need.

Choosing the right equipment, as we’ve mentioned already, will set the level of the class as well as give people options for how they can modify or intensify each exercise.

When you’re teaching fitness classes like circuit some of the most popular equipment includes:

  • Kettlebells
  • Dumbbells
  • Medicine ball
  • Bench
  • Exercise mat
  • Cones for designating stations

For stations that use weights, consider leaving a selection of weights to accommodate different members.

Participants working with too light weights may not feel challenged while weights that are too heavy increase the risk of injury.

If you wanted to know how to plan a circuit class that’s suitable for different levels, rather than having separate classes for different abilities, including scaled equipment like this is a great way to achieve that.

You must organise each piece of equipment into its relevant station before members arrive to portray a professional image while also allowing you to get straight into the session.

It’s especially important to do this if you work in a busy gym and access to all equipment can be limited.

Step #3 – How to Design a Circuit Class: Decide How Long Your Session Will Be

stopwatch how to plan a circuit class graphic

Once you’ve decided which exercises you’d like to include, the next step is deciding how long your session will be.

The average duration of a circuit class is between 30-60 minutes. For this reason, you may want to consider the following times for different fitness levels:

30-minutes: beginners

45-minutes: intermediate

60-minutes: advanced

If the session is too long, members may feel like they’re not good enough for the class and feel hesitant to return for future sessions.

Equally, longer sessions should be reserved for intermediate to advanced class members as half an hour may not be enough for them to feel challenged.

Participants want to feel a sense of accomplishment when the class is done which is why picking a suitable duration is so important.

Obviously you can only separate the classes like this if you’ve got several slots in a gym or start your own fitness class business.

Step #4 – How to Plan a Circuit Class by Considering the Duration of Each ‘Station’

circuit station how to plan a circuit class graphic

The next step in our guide for creating a circuit class plan is to establish how long each ‘station’ is going to be.

The ‘station’ refers to the area in which participants perform each exercise before moving on to the next.

Typically, participants stay at each station for between 30-90 seconds.

When deciding the duration, you must first consider how many stations you’re going to have in your class and the total duration of the workout.

For reference, most circuit training classes have between 6-12 stations and anywhere between 3 and 10 rounds.

Typically, you’ll want to give class members a 30-60 second break between each round.

Let’s look at a few examples to help you decide.

EXAMPLE 1: If you have a total class time of 30-minutes and you have 9 stations, participants could stay at each station for 30 seconds for a total of 6 rounds, with a 30 second break between each round.

Alternatively, participants could do 3 rounds of 1 minute exercises with a 1 minute break between rounds.

EXAMPLE 2: You could also have a 45-minute class with 9 stations with participants doing 4 x 1 minute rounds, or 9 x 30 second rounds, with 1 minute breaks between every round.

EXAMPLE 3: A 1 hour long class could have 9 stations where participants do a total of 12 rounds, 30 seconds at each, with 30 second breaks. Or, those same 9 stations for 6 rounds of 60 seconds with a 60 second break after every round.

You may find that beginner participants are best staying at each station for just 30 seconds until they build their stamina enough to do the exercises for longer.

Conversely, intermediate to advanced members may want to remain at each station for around a minute to feel challenged.

This is why if you want to know how to plan a circuit class you should do a few calculations like these to establish how long members will be at each station.

We will cover some circuit class templates later in this article to aid your planning process.

Step #5 – How to Plan a Circuit Class: Include a Warm Up and Cool Down

warm up how to plan a circuit class image

What makes a good fitness instructor is not only choosing the right exercises but making sure everyone is prepared and there’s as little risk of injury as possible.

This is why another important step to consider for how to plan a circuit class is to include sufficient time to warm up and cool down.

Let’s look into both to help inspire your next session.

Warm up exercises:

Light cardiovascular activity is a good place to start.

Anything that elevates the heart rate is ideal but you want it to be gentle enough that you’re not putting undue strain on the muscles too early.

Doing jumping jacks or side steps is a great way to get the blood pumping whilst gently warming up the muscles!

You can then build up to doing laps around the studio but make sure you encourage class members to do a light jog rather than a sprint.

Follow this with some dynamic stretches to promote elasticity and a better range of motion in the muscles, which helps to reduce the risk of injury.

Examples include:

  • Lunges
  • Upper body twist
  • Heel walks

You can find more warm up ideas in our article on ‘How to Plan an Effective Personal Training Session Warm Up’.

Cool down exercises:

cool down circuit class template image

One of the easiest cooldowns is light jogging or walking to steadily bring down the heart rate without stopping too abruptly.

It’s also important to stretch after physical activity to increase blood flow to muscles and reduce tension.

The stretches you choose should be general and make sure they focus on all areas of the body, but you can give special focus to a particular area.

For example, you might have had a legs focus for your class, or focused heavily on the lower body, so you want to make sure you focus more heavily on these areas in your warm up and cool down.

Some of the best stretches you can do for a cool down include:

  • Ear to shoulder stretch
  • Standing side reach
  • Standing lunge
  • Standing single leg hamstring stretch
  • Tricep stretch

All of these will stretch some of the key muscles you’ll use if you’ve followed a well-rounded plan for your circuit class.

In summary, considering these circuit class ideas for instructors helps participants get the most out of your session and increases the likelihood of them returning in the future.

Step #6 – How to Plan a Circuit Class with Sufficient Breaks

breaks circuit class template graphic

Traditionally, a circuit training class involves performing a series of different exercises with very short rest periods.

However, this may not be feasible for some participants, particularly those new to fitness.

Remember you want to make your classes challenging and engaging but you also need to make your fitness class fun.

This is why you need to find the balance between pushing people out of their comfort zone to challenge them and simply pushing them beyond their capabilities.

This is when people will be put off and not return, potentially even injuring themselves.

This is why you should include the option to have an extended break or additional breaks for people if they feel dizzy or light-headed.

The last thing you want is for participants to feel overwhelmed by the difficulty and not return in the future.

So, here are a couple of ways that you could introduce breaks into your class to accommodate all fitness levels.

Have a mid-way breather:

time how to plan a circuit class graphic

You could have a mid-way breather during your class to allow members to recharge before carrying on. We recommend that this be no longer than 5-minutes to maintain motivation.

Alternatively, you could do 3 lots of 90-second breaks during a class. For example, a 45-minute class could have a 90-second rest point every 15-minutes.

You should make sure that you base this on who’s doing the class and what the level of ability is.

If you have mostly the same people coming each week you can scale this break and gradually reduce it or remove it to show class members how they’re improving.

Have longer breaks in between each exercise:

clock how to plan a circuit class graphic

Another way that you could introduce breaks into your circuit is by having longer breaks in between each station.

An extra 10-20 seconds can help to preserve participants’ stamina as well as keep their motivation levels high as they’re more likely to finish the class.

Again, this is something that you want to make sure matches the levels of the participants and is something you gradually reduce or change as people become familiar with the format.

This should be something you keep as a rarity just for those who are new to the class.

It won’t be long before this is too easy for people taking part and they won’t feel the full benefits of the workout with these extra or extended breaks.

So, if you approached this article keen to discover some circuit class ideas for instructors, we hope that this step-by-step guide has provided some clarity about the planning process.

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If you’ve found our circuit class ideas for instructors helpful, check out some of our other fitness articles to help you be a better instructor!

Tips for How to Plan a Circuit Class

Now that we’ve covered how to plan a circuit class, let’s run through a selection of our top tips for designing the best possible session to keep your participants coming back for more.

#1 – Strike the Right Balance Between Difficult and Achievable in Your Circuit Class Plan

goals how to plan a circuit class graphic

Our number 1 tip on how to design a circuit class is to include exercises that are going to challenge participants while still being achievable.

As mentioned earlier, class members must feel a sense of accomplishment once they’ve completed the class and so striking the right balance between difficult but achievable exercises is key.

To stop class members feeling intimidated or your class too challenging, carefully consider the most appropriate exercises that are suitable for class members whilst still pushing them.

As with the example exercises in the previous section, beginner members are best starting with bodyweight exercises to perfect their form and technique before working with weights.

Intermediate and advanced members are very likely to be familiar with weights and equipment and so introducing exercises with these makes it more challenging.

You should consider testing your circuit training on family and friends of varying fitness abilities to see whether the selected exercises are suitable.

This provides the opportunity to revise your structure to create the best possible class.

#2 – Design a Circuit Class Template & Take it With You

laptop how to plan a circuit class graphic

Another one of our top tips is to create a circuit class template so that you can create the best possible workout for your participants.

Plus, templates help you to visualise what your session could look like whilst providing additional information, such as:

  • Difficulty
  • Exercises
  • Duration of class
  • Duration at stations
  • Equipment

Here’s an example of a template for a circuit class that you could use to prepare for your next session:

how to plan a circuit class graphic

As you can see from this template, the top section allows you to insert the relevant information about the class, helping you maintain focus and direction with your plan.

Each box is also big enough for you to include the name of exercises plus any variations you might want to offer to class members.

An equipment checklist allows you to tick off each piece once you’ve collected it to ensure you have everything prepared.

We’d also recommend taking your circuit class template with you to your session so that you can refer back to the structure and even annotate as you go to inform your future classes.

So, if you want to get some circuit class format ideas to take into your own sessions, we hope that this template has provided some guidance.

#3 – How to Plan a Circuit Class in Stages to Maintain Your Focus

plan how to design a circuit class image

Next up on our list of tips on how to plan a circuit class is to create your plan in stages to maintain optimal focus.

Though you can create a circuit plan in one go, one of our top group fitness instructor tips is to revisit your plan with new ideas and tweak as you go along.

This will take your classes to the next level and help you improve as you go on, meaning your classes only get more rewarding for class members!

Taking note of new ideas when they come to mind is another good idea so that you can incorporate them into your plan when you get a chance.

This is also important for keeping your classes varied for repeat participants as engaging in the same workout each time could become monotonous.

Editing and redrafting your plans are important for creating the best final product possible.

Working on the same task for prolonged periods will deplete your creativity so you should take breaks too so that your ideas remain fresh and you can look at your plan with fresh eyes!

#4 – Record Yourself Performing Your Circuit Class Plan

influencer planning a circuit class graphic

Next on our list of tips for how to plan a circuit class is to record yourself performing the classes so you can assess if any changes need to be made.

While rewatching a recording of yourself may feel a little unnatural, it’s a great way to see how you deliver the class to ultimately ensure your participants get the best session possible.

Whether you come up with some new circuit class format ideas, change the exercises or change your delivery, feedback should always be welcomed – even if it’s from yourself.

Additionally, changing your plan ensures that you enjoy leading the class just as much as your members will enjoy taking part which is a win-win.

It’s also good practice for you to build up your confidence if you’ve only just become a personal trainer or fitness instructor.

We certainly hope that these circuit class ideas for instructors have been useful during your planning process. The more that you utilise each tip, the better your plan will be.

Next, we’re going to combine everything discussed so far with some circuit class templates to enhance your understanding.

Circuit Class Plan Templates

Beginner:

beginner circuit class template graphic

This beginner template for a circuit class is ideal for those that are new to fitness as it includes mostly bodyweight exercises.

It’s also an appropriate duration for a class to not overwhelm members while also giving them a mid-way break to recharge.

Each exercise is performed for 30-seconds which is enough time to challenge participants without being too difficult.

So, if you’re wondering how to plan a circuit class for beginners you can use this template as guidance when crafting your own sessions.

Intermediate:

intermediate circuit class template graphic

This intermediate template for a circuit class begins to incorporate more challenging exercises and equipment.

As you can see, many exercises use free weights to make stations more difficult.

The duration at each station is also longer compared to the beginner plan to put participants’ muscular endurance and strength to the test.

The mid-way break has also been cut which tests members’ cardiovascular fitness.

Advanced:

advanced circuit class template graphic

Compared with the previous templates, this advanced plan involves lots of equipment with more complex exercises, designed for people with experience and high fitness levels.

The class lasts for 1-hour including warm up and cool down, with no mid-way break.

Each exercise must also be performed for 60-seconds before immediately moving on for a total of 5 rounds.

Furthermore, each component of this plan aims to put participants’ fitness and strength to the ultimate test and so is best reserved for very competent individuals.

Before You Go!

With all of this in mind, you now know how to plan a circuit class for participants of varying abilities!

Don’t forget, one of the best ways to improve your teaching and boost your expertise is with more advanced personal trainer courses, such as our Personal Trainer Diploma. You can find details of everything we offer if you download and browse our full course prospectus here!

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9 Tips for Using Group Fitness Instructor Cues https://www.origym.co.uk/blog/group-fitness-instructor-cues/ Wed, 04 Jan 2023 16:30:00 +0000 https://www.origym.co.uk/blog/group-fitness-instructor-cues/ If you're looking to enhance your classes, check out OriGym's guide on group fitness instructor cues, and how to use them. Wherever you are in your career there's tips and suggestions for everyone!

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Whether you’re a newly qualified instructor or looking to update your techniques and knowledge, our tips for the best group fitness instructor cues are bound to come in handy!

We’ll cover various techniques to help you become a confident instructor so your class has a great experience.

If you want to develop your fitness expertise, the best way is to advance your skills with a Level 3 Personal Trainer Course.

This will provide you with a wider range of expertise and advance your salary and knowledge.

Find out more by downloading our course prospectus for free!

What is an Example of a Cueing Technique? 

teacher group fitness instructor cues graphic

There are 3 main types of group fitness instructor cues. These are:

Voice inflection involves changing the tone of your voice when giving cues. 

As mentioned earlier, many fitness instructors talk in a monotone voice or by shouting. Neither are effective for all classes since monotones can be boring while shouting can be intimidating. 

This is why if you want to have a successful fitness class you should change your tone when conducting classes to keep all clients engaged.

Non-verbal cueing is using parts of the body to instruct a movement. 

This could be as simple as pointing in the direction you want participants to move or using a thumbs up to offer feedback. 

Non-verbal cues work best in accompaniment with verbal cues as clients will truly understand what is being asked of them. 

Visualisation cueing involves getting class members to imagine certain concepts or situations to help with their form.

We’ll cover an example of this in #6 to instruct people about how to improve their posture! 

If you master each of these methods you can help your participants to get the most out of your classes and steadily improve. 

9 Tips for Using Group Fitness Instructor Cues 

Now we’ll run through some tips for the best group fitness instructor cues and how to use them to maximise your classes!

#1 – Provide Demonstrations as Part of Your Group Fitness Instructor Cues

group fitness instructor cues 1 image

Demonstrations will help your group to process what is being asked of them more effectively than with just verbal cues.

Visual aids can be massively beneficial for new group members and for covering new movements, especially when accompanied by your verbal cues.

It will also help the running of the class as people will grasp the movements and exercises quicker, minimising the need to demonstrate individually.

You can quickly demonstrate the exercises you’re going to do, maybe focusing on which muscles class members should be using. 

So, if you want to teach fitness classes with the best mix of group fitness instructor cues, providing demonstrations is a great way to engage your class members!

#2 – Don’t Over Explain Your Group Fitness Instructor Cues 

teacher 2 group fitness instructor cues graphic

Explaining movements and poses is important, but there comes a point when this is in too much detail for your group fitness instructor cues. 

This is because long-winded explanations can slow down the pace of a class. The rhythm of the class is especially important if you’re creating a HIIT class plan or circuit training. 

Class members won’t get the most out of the high intensity style of the class if you over explain and have to keep interrupting the class for corrections. 

A ruined rhythm makes it harder for clients to re-establish their flow which is an important aspect of many fitness classes.

Some participants may also find it condescending. You want to make sure everyone feels confident participating in the class without feeling like you’re talking down to them. 

You can make sure you’re making your group fitness classes fun and engaging by practising your instructions before incorporating them. 

You could do this with friends and family and ask for feedback so that the best version of your instructions is the one that you include.

Then explaining instructions in some detail may be useful the first time you go through it, yet it’s safe to assume that the class has gotten the hang of it by the third or fourth sequence. 

In these instances, remind the class of what’s coming quickly rather than going through each instruction again. 

#3 – Use Group Fitness Instructor Cues for Each Part of the Body 

knees group fitness instructor cues graphic

Another top tip is to share cues for each part of the body. 

Doing this provides a short and snappy instruction that your group will understand quickly and also helps to preserve an established rhythm of the class. 

Doing this will act as a regular reminder of exactly what class members should be exercising and how they should be doing it.

It can also act as a fun way of commanding a certain movement and save time and keep the pace of the class fast.

For example, you can alternate between two upper body exercises or movements and lower ones, just shouting ‘legs’ and ‘arms’ after you’ve explained which exercise you’ll be focusing on.

Here are a few more examples to help inspire you:

  • Back straight
  • Chest up
  • Arms out
  • High knees

You should still always demonstrate first and instruct people how they should be doing the exercise.

This is what makes a good fitness instructor, finding the right balance between keeping the pace of the class perfect without compromising the safety and accuracy of class members’ exercise.

#4 – Don’t Overuse the Same Group Fitness Instructor Cues

kettlebell group fitness instructor motivational cues graphic

As a group fitness instructor, you should have motivational cues which create impact and inspire your attendees. 

However, if they’re used too frequently, they’re likely to lose their effect. 

Plus, if you use cues too frequently, this could confuse the group in fast-moving sequences. 

Instead, use cues often at the beginning of a class so that the group becomes familiar with the movements and slowly reduce the amount you use as the class goes on. 

Too many instructions could also seem condescending, especially if you’ve performed certain sequences a few times previously and the group is familiar with what’s expected of them. 

As with our other tips, this is about finding the right balance. You want your class members to be focused and in the zone with your class, without feeling confused about what they should be doing.

You should use cues to keep people on track but not so much that you distract them and stop them focusing.

That’s why one of our top tips for any group fitness instructor is to keep your cues reserved for the occasion when they’re needed rather than using them just to fill silences!

#5 – Scan the Room Whilst Giving Your Group Fitness Instructor Cues

instructor group fitness instructor cues image

Continuing on from our previous tip, whilst you’re gradually reducing the instructions and cues you give you should scan the room to see how people respond to your instructions.

9 times out of 10, everyone will be getting on with the movements as expected. 

However, if you see anyone looking a little confused or moving slightly behind everyone else, consider repeating some of the instructions to remind them. 

Try not to direct such instructions to individuals, such as by saying their name, as this could cause embarrassment. 

You shouldn’t stare either or make it too obvious that you’re targeting any one member of a class unless you’re doing hands on adjustments. 

The best way to do this is to scan the room while making short eye contact with each person and evaluating whether repetition is needed. 

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Finding our tips useful? Check out our other articles on how to be a successful fitness professional:

#6 – Use Visualisation in Your Group Fitness Instructor Cues 

lotus pose group fitness instructor cues graphic

When giving group fitness instructor cues, using visualisation techniques can also be valuable for clients. 

This is where you will tell class members to imagine something happening to them that will improve the form of whichever pose or exercise they’re performing.

The group may find visualisation particularly beneficial if they’re covering new concepts. 

For example, if you want to become a yoga teacher as well as a fitness instructor, you might use visualisation to describe how a class can achieve good posture when in a cross-legged seated pose. 

You might ask people to imagine they’re being pulled in a straight line from the top of their heads to improve their posture in a particular exercise.

You could say something like this:

Begin by sitting cross-legged on your mat. Then, imagine that there is a piece of string coming out of the top of your head and tugging slightly. 

Let the string pull your body up so that you position yourself in a neutral spine.

With this, the teacher could also use non-verbal visualisation when saying “pull” by using hand gestures to imitate the movement. 

This way you’ve got a great balance between all of the different group fitness instructor cues to keep class members engaged and working hard!

#7 -Practise Using Group Fitness Instructor Motivational Cues 

megaphone group fitness instructor cues graphic

One of the best ways to master your group fitness instructor cues is to get comfortable practising them. 

Not only will you be more confident going into the class but this will also give you a process of trial and error so you can practise different tones of voice and different group fitness instructor cues.

In fitness classes, many instructors tend to use two tones when cueing: monotone (which many find quite boring and uninspiring) or loud and shouty (which can come across as intimidating). 

While the latter may be appropriate for bootcamp settings, it isn’t always the best way to motivate a group. 

If you’re unsure of exactly what you want to say, practice saying the cues out loud when in private. 

That way, if something sounds off, it’s easily modified without being in front of an audience. 

Once you’ve practised a few cues, you should try implementing them into a class.

You’ll probably find that once you feel comfortable using them, you’ll have more confidence to go off-script and experiment with new cues as the class is going on. 

You should try to match the tone of your voice and your group fitness instructor cues to the style of class that you’re teaching.

For example, if you want to teach the best yoga class you’ll want a peaceful tone whereas you should be more upbeat for a circuit or HIIT class. 

If you want to discover how to create good group fitness instructor motivational cues for your class, practising privately is the best place to begin.

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Still want to learn more about the fitness industry? Give these articles a read:

#8 – Personalise Your Group Fitness Instructor Cues 

personalise group fitness instructor cues image

As a group fitness instructor, motivational cues help to keep the energy alive during a class and personalising your cues to attendees can help. 

When a group member is addressed directly, it can help to boost motivation levels and give them a push to keep going. 

Using nicknames is also a great way to establish rapport building with class members once you’ve reached an appropriate level of familiarity. 

To achieve this, you should try to reserve some time before and after your classes to speak with clients.

You want to make sure you find the line though between being directly encouraging and making people feel like they’re being called out.

You want to only direct your group fitness instructor cues at individuals when you’re praising people and giving positive motivation.

Otherwise people will feel singled out and may not want to come back to class!

A simple “Keep going, Stacy!” or “Nice high knees, Jack!” will help stimulate participants. 

You should also try not to address the same individuals more than twice per class as this draws a lot of attention towards specific people which they may not like.

It also runs the risk of lesser-known clients feeling excluded.

In short, personalising your group fitness instructor cues is a great way of engaging a class and helps when building a good rapport. 

#9 – Avoid Using Technical Language in Your Group Fitness Instructor Cues

speech group fitness instructor cues graphic

Our last tip for using group fitness instructor cues is to avoid using technical language to do with exercise, fitness, or health in general.

This is because using it could potentially alienate your class members and take away from their experience.

Their confidence may be knocked if they don’t understand the language and could therefore potentially distract them from the instructions. 

For this reason, keep any complex terminology for chats with colleagues and use simple language during a class.

At the end of the day, participants of your class aren’t going to care about the intricacies of movements or poses as they’re there to have a good workout and have fun. 

So, don’t bog them down with technical words. Keep things upbeat and lively instead!

Before You Go! 

We hope that our top tips for using group fitness instructor cues have helped inspire you for your next class.

Don’t forget, you can inform and improve your class instruction with our range of advanced personal trainer courses!

You can find out more details if you download and browse our free course prospectus.

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11 Fun Group Fitness Activities For Your Class https://www.origym.co.uk/blog/fun-group-fitness-activities/ Tue, 13 Sep 2022 13:00:00 +0000 https://www.origym.co.uk/blog/fun-group-fitness-activities/ Explore 11 dynamic group fitness activities to energise your class and draw in new members. Learn how to seamlessly incorporate them into your sessions!

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Incorporating fun group fitness activities into your regular classes can help to boost retention levels, as well as attract new customers through unique experiences.

In this article, we’ll share 11 fun group fitness class ideas and explain exactly how you can integrate them into your sessions.

Our industry-leading Personal Trainer Diploma allows you to teach individuals on a one-to-one basis, as well as your usual classes. This qualification will make you look more desirable to employers, earn you an increased salary, and provide you with unique prospects for the future.

Download OriGym’s FREE prospectus and learn about all of our industry-leading courses.

11 Fitness Group Activities That Guarantee A Fun Class Experience

#1 – Cone Wars Is One Of The Best Group Fitness Activities For Adults

#1 Fitness Group Activities Cone Wars

Starting our list of fun group fitness activities is ‘Cone Wars’, an activity which will require you to split your class into two even teams.

The rules are simple. One team will be tasked with turning the cones upside down, whilst the other half must run to turn them the right way up.

Before starting, ensure that an even number of cones are turned in each direction to create equal opportunity.

During the activity, participants will have 90 seconds to flip as many cones as possible. Whichever team has the most cones in their direction at the end of the time wins.

When it comes to fun group fitness activities for kids and adults alike, ‘Cone Wars’ can be seamlessly integrated into any class. Not only that, but this simple yet effective game:

  • Caters to all abilities
  • Requires minimal equipment
  • Can be easily adapted for a range of environments

#1 group fitness activities for adults Cone Wars

In addition to this, ‘Cone Wars’ is one of few group fitness activities that can be incorporated into different stages of the class. You can use it as either a warm-up activity, or incorporate it into a cool-down routine.

To make this game more challenging you may choose to:

  • Include more cones
  • Increase the distance between each cone
  • Increase/decrease the duration of the activity

In terms of fun group fitness class ideas, ‘Cone Wars’ offers a plethora of customisation options, allowing you to tailor it to your class’ specific needs.

#2 – Why ‘Balloon Punch’ is One of The Top Fitness Group Activities

#2 - fitness group activities balloon

It can be difficult to find suitable group fitness activities for adults and kids to do together. But by incorporating ‘Balloon Punch’ into your classes you can create a fun environment for all ages.

First, split your class into two teams and allocate each team player a number – e.g. if there are 2 teams of 3 people, players of each team will be allocated a number from 1-3.

As the game begins, 1 player will start by hitting the balloon into the air. They will then have to shout a number associated with the opposing team (for example 1-3). Whoever is allocated that number on the opposing team will have to run towards and keep it in the air.

This individual will then shout another number, and the opposing team will then need to repeat the steps outlined above.

#2 Balloon punch fun group exercise activities

When teaching these fitness classes, you must ensure participants follow the rules to ensure everyone has a fair chance. For example, once a player has called the opposing team’s number, they must return to their own team.

Should players miss the balloon or accidentally run when it’s not their turn, their team will receive a forfeit. Examples of these could include:

  • 5 burpees
  • A lap around the gym hall, park etc.
  • 10 push-ups

‘Balloon Punch’ is a fun group fitness activity as it adds a level of harmless competition to your sessions. This allows attendees to let loose and de-stress, without things getting too serious.

For fitness instructors who lead larger groups, you could always make this more challenging by adding multiple balloons, or running a competition with various teams.

Fun group fitness class ideas like ‘Balloon Punch’ are sure to get participants excited for class, and with the forfeits in place, there is still an element of challenge included.

#3 – Using Fitness Dice Ensures Unique Fun Group Fitness Activities

#3 Fitness Dice group fitness activities for kids

When you become a group fitness instructor, you may find it difficult to continue coming up with new ideas. However, did you know you can use fitness dice to make group fitness activities more exciting?

For those who are unfamiliar with the product, fitness dice will be sold in two, with one containing different exercises written on each face, and the other showing the number of reps/duration.

Examples of exercises could include:

  • Jumping squats
  • Burpees
  • Star jumps
  • Push-ups

There are several ways that you can create fun group fitness activities with fitness dice, such as:

Warm-up: Each participant must roll the dice once and the whole class must perform the exercises together.

Main Activity: Introduce some competition to the game by splitting the group in half. Each player must roll the dice once and whichever team finishes first wins.

#3 use dice to create fun group fitness class ideas

Final Activity: The class instructor rolls the dice 5 times and everyone is to perform the exercises as an extra burn activity.

Cool-Down: Yoga fitness blocks allow class members to stretch out their muscles after an intense workout in a unique way.

As you can see, fitness dice provide endless opportunities for fun group exercise activities suitable for all ages. This is sure to keep your classes varied, reducing the risk of customers dropping out due to boredom.

#4 – You Should Add Plank Races to Your List of Fun Group Fitness Activities

#4 Plank Race Fitness Group Activities

Plank races are another example of the best group exercises for adults and kids alike, as the activity can be adapted to suit any age demographic or skill range. With this in mind, let’s break down how you can work this into your classes.

This is another team game, so be sure to split your class into teams of 3-4 members. Once this has been decided you can begin to designate the rules of the game, the first of which should dictate the start and end point of the race (15-20 metres).

Each team will then create a vertical line behind the starting point, starting in the plank position.

Once the race commences, the player at the back of the team must stand up and run in front of the first player. Once they have reached this position they should immediately return to the plank position.

#4 Plank Race group fitness activities for adults

A winner is determined once any body part of the front player crosses the finish line – Just make sure that the player isn’t overextending their arms, as this can be regarded as cheating.

As with the other fun group fitness ideas discussed so far, Plank Races are highly adaptable and can be conducted in any environment. Regardless of whether you prefer outdoor training sessions or the traditional gym setting, you can easily incorporate these into your sessions.

In a bid to make these fitness group activities more challenging, you could increase the distance between the start and end point.

Alternatively, to make this process easier you could also make the teams larger, decreasing the distance that would need to be travelled.

#5 – Generate Fun Group Fitness Class Ideas Through ‘Anything You Can Do I Can Do Better’

#5 - Fun Group Fitness Class Ideas Anything

When looking to implement fun group fitness class ideas, the game ‘Anything You Can Do I Can Do Better’ will see clients compete against each other in pairs.

As the name suggests, there is an element of competition to this fitness activity. Once the pairs have been made, one participant will perform 1 rep of an exercise of their choice – e.g. 1 squat.

Following this, the second participant within the pair will have to perform 2 reps of the same exercise. This will then return to the initial player who will then repeat this process with 3 reps.

This fitness routine can continue until one of the participants can no longer perform the required number of reps.

#5 - group fitness activities for kids Anything

This game is highly versatile as it can quite literally be performed at any location, and with or without any equipment.

For example, get creative with fun group exercise activities that see participants play this game on the treadmill. In this instance, the pair can increase the likes of their speed or time spent running in set increments.

‘Anything You Can Do I Can Do Better’ is a fun and energising game, sure to create bonds with participants, whilst packing in a beneficial warm-up or cooling-down process before the class begins.

#6 – Other Fun Group Fitness Activities Include Red Light, Green Light

#6 Red Light Green Light fun group fitness class ideas

Red Light, Green Light is another example of playground games that can be converted into fun group exercises for adults and kids alike.

For those who are unfamiliar with this game, your participants will act as the ‘vehicles’ and you will be in charge of dictating their movements.

This activity is similar to multistage fitness BEEP tests requiring participants to get from a starting point to an end goal. The distance for this game is not set in stone and can be customised to the skill set of your class.

A good example for an intermediate session would be 30 metres, as this will create some competitive back and forth without being too challenging for new class members.

In order to get from one point to another, the participants will have to perform specific exercises and move as they do so, such as:

  • Lunges
  • Broad jumps
  • High knees
  • Heel flicks

#6 fun group exercise activities Red Light

These workouts could be predetermined or changed at your will to keep the attendees on their toes.

As these group exercise activities commence you will shout ‘Green Light’ at which point the attendees will begin to perform the agreed upon exercise, whilst moving towards the finish line.

After a certain amount of time you should shout ‘Red Light’ prompting all the vehicles to freeze instantly. If any vehicle is seen to move after a “red light” is signalled, they must return to the starting line to begin again.

To create a sense of competitiveness, these fitness group activities could include a forfeit for the last participant to cross the finish line. This can include the likes of 10 burpees or push-ups.

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While learning about these fun group fitness activities, these other OriGym articles will be of great benefit:

#7 – Use Plank Rolls as One of Your Group Fitness Activities for Adults

#7 fun group fitness ideas plank ball

When conducting group fitness activities for adults, incorporating equipment can help to create a varied workout. In turn, this will offer a greater challenge for those in attendance, and could even help burn more calories.

To incorporate plank rolls into your class, split participants into two teams. Following this, players should hold a plank pose in a horizontal straight line, exactly 1-metre apart from each other.

Participants must roll a medicine ball down from the first player to the last. Once this reaches the final player in the line, this individual must run to the front and return to the plan position in order to repeat this sequence.

#7 group exercise activities for adults plank

Each player on a team must complete this action 3 times in order for their team to win.

Furthermore, when searching for fun group fitness class ideas, you should consider how different activities benefit your prospective participants to keep them coming back for future sessions.

Planks Rolls are considered to be one of the best group exercise activities for adults as it’s a full-body workout. The plank position alone tests arm and core strength, whilst the running will provide cardiovascular benefits.

In addition to this, this particular pose has been linked with improving posture and alleviating back pain. If left untreated, these issues can prevent students from returning.

#8 – Why You Should Add The Cha Cha Slide to Your List of Fun Group Fitness Ideas

#8 Fun Group Fitness Ideas Cha Cha

If you’re looking for examples of popular group fitness activities for kids and adults alike, look no further than this example that puts a twist on a popular dance craze.

The vast majority of participants will be familiar with the Cha Cha Slide song and dance, but did you know that you could actually incorporate an element of fitness into the song?

Normally, the song includes a range of commands that participants use to perform dance moves. But with this version, your class will be able to perform different exercises while maintaining a high plank position.

For example:

  • “Cha Cha – Mountain Climbers
  • “Clap Your Hands – Shoulder Taps (the left hand should touch the right shoulder and visa versa)
  • “Hands on Your Knees – Left hand should touch the right knee and visa versa
  • “Slide to the Left/Right – Move the plank position in that direction
  • “Right/Left Foot Stomp – Take the designated foot and kick it into the air as per the number of ‘stomps’
  • “Hop – Plank Jack Jumps – Jump the feet outward and back inward as per the number of ‘hops’
  • “Criss-Cross – Kneeling Plank – Go down to a kneeling plank on the first “criss-cross” by coming onto the forearms, and move back up to a high plank on the second “criss-cross”
  • “Bring it Back – Walk the plank back 3 places (make sure your class participants have adequate space to do this before beginning the song)

#8 fun group fitness activities Slide

Note: Since there are quite a lot of instructions, you should shout out the required movement so that nobody feels lost or confused.

In addition to this, if you decide to work this routine into a children’s class, you could always amend it to ensure that it’s easy and manageable for those in attendance.

These fun group fitness activities take an approach to learning that is not too dissimilar to dance or aerobic classes. Learn more about these alternative fitness classes here.

#9 – Musical Planks Can Act as Fun Group Fitness Activities For Your Class

#9 Musical planks fun group fitness class ideas

Everyone is familiar with the likes of musical chairs, and musical planks is a great, challenging variation of the popular party game.

The idea behind musical planks is simple, participants will jog in a circle around a series of yoga mats whilst music plays.

The number of yoga mats should begin with one less than the number of attendees present, e.g. if there are 10 participants you will need 9 mats.

When the music stops participants must find a yoga mat and perform a plank. The individual who does not find a mat will be eliminated and asked to step aside from the group.

The music will resume and this process will repeat with one less mat – you’ll remove one every time somebody else is eliminated, leaving one player at the end of the game.

#9 fun group fitness class ideas musical

To incorporate an extra element of fitness into this game you could have the eliminated participant perform a forfeit, such as:

  • 20 push ups
  • A lap around the field/sports hall
  • Holding a stretch for the rest of the game

This will only add a further sense of competition to activity, as everyone will give their activity there all, in order to avoid the forfeit.

Be aware that this group fitness activity doesn’t have to be specifically restricted to planks either. The customisation options really are limitless and can be adapted to suit whatever workout or stretch that you desire.

#10 – ‘Hoarders’ Is One Of The Top Fun Group Exercise Activities

#10 Hoarders group fitness activities for adults

Next on our list of fun group fitness class activities is Hoarders, a quick-fire game that can be incorporated into any warm-up or cool-down routine. To play, you will need a bucket of tennis balls in the centre of a circle that is formed by your participants.

The instructor must then shout an exercise and rep number for the class to perform. You should keep an eye on each member’s form and technique and select the best 3.

These 3 will then run to the centre of the circle and collect a ball. Once all of the balls are collected, whoever has the most wins.

#10 fitness group activities

Here are some examples of exercises you could instruct your class to perform:

  • 20 x star jumps
  • 10 x squats
  • 10 x push-ups
  • 15 x high knees

As you can tell by these exercises, Hoarders can be a high intensity workout that encourages your class members to adopt the correct technique, alongside an element of healthy competition.

#11 – Themed Classes Can Prompt Fun Group Exercise Activities for Kids and Adults

#11 - fun group exercise activities themes

Whilst not technically a singular activity, a themed group fitness class can engage participants and inject a sense of creativity into your sessions. With just a prompt you can influence the likes of:

  • The class playlist
  • What attendees wear
  • Decorations for the studio

Having a theme that everyone in attendance can get involved with will help to create a sense of camaraderie among the attendees. Popular ideas that you could use for inspiration include classes based around:

  • Holidays e.g. Christmas
  • Decades
  • Films and Television Shows

fun group fitness activities decades

For example, if you choose to theme your class around the 1980s, you could ask attendees to come dressed in brightly colored leg warmers and leotards.

In addition to this, to ensure that everyone gets involved you could create a publicly accessible playlist for the session. This will allow attendees to add their favourite songs of the decade, guaranteeing a sense of personalisation to your teachings.

These are just a few examples of fun group fitness class ideas that can be generated from giving the class a prompt to follow. Don’t be afraid to stretch your creative muscle here, there is truly no limit to the themes you can incorporate.

Before You Go!

Any of the fun group fitness activities discussed in this article can help to promote an engaging environment for your participants.

In order to see which examples your class responds best to, be sure to try multiple of these group exercise activities.

Remember, by earning a Personal Trainer Diploma, you can begin or advance your career prospectus significantly! To assist with this, OriGym guarantees you an interview with a gym in your local area following graduation.

For more information be sure to download OriGym’s course prospectus here.

The post 11 Fun Group Fitness Activities For Your Class appeared first on OriGym Centre of Excellence.

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How to Plan a Yoga Class https://www.origym.co.uk/blog/yoga-class-plan/ Mon, 05 Sep 2022 11:30:00 +0000 https://www.origym.co.uk/blog/yoga-class-plan/ If you’re a newly qualified instructor wondering how to plan a yoga class, we will provide you with the necessary tools to keep your yogis coming back!

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If you’re a newly qualified instructor wondering how to plan a yoga class, this article will provide you with the necessary tools to keep your yogis coming back for more.

In this article we’ll cover:

Before we start though, if you’re not already qualified, our 400-hour Level 3 Yoga Teacher Training course will teach you how to plan a yoga class for a range of abilities. You can find out more about all of our yoga teacher training courses by downloading our free course prospectus!

What Does a Yoga Class Plan Normally Consist of?

cobra how to plan a yoga class graphic

Before we delve into how to plan a yoga class, let’s first establish the key components to consider.

A yoga plan will first and foremost revolve around the particular style of yoga you decide to teach, or the style of class you want to do.

If you don’t specialise in a particular style you still want to be aware of how you want to pace the class and the kind of person you want to cater to.

You’ll also have to establish which poses (or asanas) you’ll choose, as well as how you’ll use breathing techniques (pranayama) to structure the sequences.

Depending on the style you’ll also have to decide the duration of each pose and how fast you want your transitions to be.

You may also choose a theme and set an intention for the class, which your yogis can keep returning to to ground themselves throughout the class.

We’ll touch on these components further in our step-by-step ‘how to plan a yoga class’ guide to inform your planning process.

How to Plan a Yoga Class

Step #1- Start Your Yoga Class Lesson Plan by Deciding on a Style and Purpose

warrior 3 how to plan a yoga class graphic

The most important thing you need to remember for how to plan a yoga class is the particular style and pace of class you want to design.

Various styles of yoga differ in everything from their pacing and speed to the specific asanas included in sequences.

This is why you’ll need to decide on the style first because this will structure everything else in your class!

For example, if you’re interested in becoming an Ashtanga yoga teacher there’s a very strict sequence of postures you’ll have to adhere to in a certain order and speed.

However, if you want to know how to plan a yoga class for beginners or want tips on teaching a restorative yoga class, these are less strict styles where you’ve got more room to choose a variety of different postures.

You could either choose a specific variety of yoga such as:

  • Rocket yoga
  • Vinyasa
  • Hatha yoga
  • Hot yoga

Or you could have a class theme or a class based around certain levels such as:

  • Beginners
  • Beginners to intermediate
  • Summer flow
  • Easy zen flow

Once you’ve decided on the kind of yoga class you want to teach you can also then be more specific about yoga class themes, centering them around a particular mood or time of year such as seasons.

You also need to consider the demographic here. No matter what style you choose you should be aware of being adaptable and helping people get introduced to new styles!

Step #2- Plan a Yoga Class With a Specific Time Frame

stopwatch how to plan a yoga class graphic

Next you’ll need to structure the class based on the amount of time you have for the class. This may be dictated by the slot of time that you’re given if you’re working freelance in a studio.

However, if you’re independent and can design your own class to your own schedule you can decide how long you want your class to be.

Students must know the duration of a class as they’ll need to align their practice with their schedule, and choose a class that matches their capabilities.

A standard yoga class is 1-hour long but there are also classes, such as the full Ashtanga series, that last 90-minutes.

‘Express yoga classes’ also last between 30-45 minutes.

You may want to consider leading classes of different durations to accommodate yogis schedules and abilities.

For beginner yogis, it may be best to organise shorter classes to help them build confidence and stamina gradually rather than overfacing them with a 90-minute practice.

Conversely, intermediate to advanced yogis may not feel fulfilled by a 30-minute class and so 1-hour or more is best.

For shorter classes, you may find that performing each asana once is enough yet you may need to repeat some stages to fill more time in longer classes.

We will highlight some pacing tips later in this article to ensure you make the most of your time while staying punctual.

Step #3- Consider Planning a Yoga Class with a Meditation

easy pose how to plan a yoga class graphic

Once you know how much time you’ll be working with, and what style you want to teach, you’ll need to decide whether to include a meditation.

Most classes will have a short meditation or meditative practice at the start and end of each class.

Meditation before a class can help yogis tap into the right headspace before delving into the physical sequences of the class.

With that, meditation at the end of the class can help yogis restore tranquillity after an energising class.

The depth and length of this meditation will, again, depend on the style you choose. If you want to become a yin yoga teacher and you’re working on a yin yoga class plan you might include up to 5 or 10 minutes at the start and end of class.

You can either have these moments in silence or have them as guided meditation or guided breathing exercises (pranayama).

Step #4- Choosing the Right Asanas and Sequences for Your Yoga Class

asanas how to plan a yoga class graphic

You’ll then need to select the right asanas for your class to make sure you’re structuring your class appropriately.

A lot of classes will start with a short meditation or easy pose in order to ground class members before class starts.

There are several styles, for instance, that all start with sun salutations as part of the sequence structure.

If you were teaching one of the following styles you would use these either as part of a strict sequence or as a warm up for your class members:

  • Power yoga
  • Vinyasa
  • Rocket yoga

When compiling an appropriate list of asanas, you must first consider the level of your class.

For example, if you’re going to teach a beginner’s yoga class you want to include simple poses like Downward Facing Dog and Cat/Cow. These are easy to teach and execute.

downward dog how to plan a yoga class graphic

Equally, if you want to know how to plan a yoga class for beginners you wouldn’t include inversions such as head stands, as these asanas are dangerous without sufficient experience.

You will also usually centre class around a certain sequence, progression or even a particular pose.

For example, if you’re interested in becoming a hatha yoga teacher, it’s common for these classes to be progressive and gradually build up to one particular pose.

If you’re doing this then you’ll want to include asanas that go with the end pose. For example, if you decide to work up to a particular balance such as tree pose, you’ll want to work on balancing asanas throughout the class.

It’s also fairly common to centre a class around a particular part of the body and strengthening that area.

You may decide to do a legs focused class and include all of the following to target and lengthen different muscles:

  • Downward facing dog
  • Triangle pose
  • Half moon pose
  • Standing half split
  • Warrior II

triangle pose how to plan a yoga class image

You should also always give modifications for anybody who has an injury or is a beginner or new to a particular style.

For any pose you should tell class members potential modifications or where they can stay in a pose, giving other class members an opportunity to deepen the stretch or push themselves further.

We’ll look at this in more detail in our next step when we look at the best yoga equipment to use in your classes.

Step #5- Assemble the Equipment You’ll Need for Your Yoga Class

block how to plan a yoga class graphic

Just as you need to provide modifications for your class members, you’ll need to choose the right equipment to help.

Planning a yoga class for a variety of abilities will mean providing these modifications using equipment such as yoga straps and yoga blocks.

So, when you’re deciding on which asanas to include, you need to think about which pieces of equipment will be required to support your modifications.

This will dictate the sorts of poses you include, based on who you’re catering to in the class, as well as how you build up to each pose.

You might choose a pose that involves a block for everyone, even if it’s not necessarily a modification for anybody suffering from an injury.

For example, you may have everybody sit on a block at the start of class to lengthen the spine and start the class by correcting the posture of class members.

This helps start class members’ awareness of their bodies and alignment.

Step #6- How to Plan a Yoga Class with Enough Breaks

how to plan a yoga class 1 image

Another key component of a yoga class lesson plan is to be aware of when to suggest breaks.

You don’t necessarily need to strictly include breaks in your sequences but want to give people enough of an opportunity to take a restful pose if they need to.

It’s important, especially for beginners, that you allow enough time for people to draw themselves back to the breath and ground themselves.

Not only will this inform their practice but also help them to engage without pushing themselves too hard and putting themselves at risk.

The easiest way of doing this is to give opportunities for child’s pose instead of downward facing dog.

Being aware of this will help to structure the class as you can offer these whenever you take a vinyasa at the end of a sequence.

Once you’ve built up to a pose you can do this and offer class members the option of a child’s pose to have a rest and return to the breath.

You can also remind class members that they can take this pose whenever they need a rest and need to return their focus.

Step #7- Set an Intention for Your Yoga Class

cobra how to plan a yoga class graphic

For each class you should set an intention to ground the practice in a particular way. You don’t have to do this necessarily but it helps, like the breath, to give class members something to return to throughout the class.

This should be abstract enough for class members to interpret it in their own way. For example, you may choose to have one of the following intentions:

  • Practice patience
  • Acceptance
  • Let go of the ego
  • Grounding
  • Self love

Each of these will serve your class members by making them think about why they’ve come to your class on that particular day, and what they want to get out of their practice.

This will also help you structure what you say throughout the class and the verbal reminders you give to class members.

Tips for Planning a Yoga Class

Now we’ll run through some general tips for how to plan a yoga class, so that you can create the best class for your students.

Tip #1: Jot Down Ideas for Your Plan as You Go

jot down how to plan a yoga class image

You may be more than capable of devising a solid plan in one sitting. However, adding new ideas can turn a good class into a great one.

To do this, jot down new ideas whenever they come to you and find ways to implement them into your class.

You’ll probably find that new ideas pop up when you’re not planning classes and so it’s important to take note of these to enhance your initial plan.

These may just come to you throughout the week or may be inspired by your own, ongoing practice.

In terms of productivity, you’re more likely to remain focused on a plan when you do it across several stages rather than trying to create multiple plans with different intentions in one go.

You should do your plan in several drafts as you’ll have to try out the class first in order to work out timings and transitions.

Tip #2: Perform a Practice Run Before Your Yoga Class

ashtanga how to plan a yoga class image

As we mentioned, when you’re designing your plan you’ll need to leave yourself enough time to work out the timings and transitions.

This is so that you can iron out any mistakes or identify any room for improvement.

This will also ensure that you don’t go over the time of the class as well as designing a class that will fill the time allotted.

If your class isn’t long enough then you risk compromising the speed of the flow and the pacing of the class.

If you go over or you run out of time you won’t only be compromising the class and its structure in terms of warming up and cooling down, you’ll also potentially disrupt class members’ schedules.

You should consider recording yourself leading the class and watching it back to see what you’ve done well and areas you could improve on.

You could also use these recordings when you’re marketing your yoga business in Instagram reels or TikTok videos.

Tip #3: Plan Your Speech at Different Intervals Throughout the Class

how to plan a yoga class 2 image

You should also schedule in what you’re going to say as well as the asanas you’re going to use.

It’s no use just having the sequence – you’re going to have to communicate that to your class members in an accessible way.

For example, are you teaching an intermediate class where people are likely to be familiar with the sanskrit names for the poses such as savasana?

If you’re teaching a beginners yoga class you’ll probably need to have more verbal instruction and explain the names if not substitute them for the english names of the poses.

You should also have reminders throughout the class which will instruct your class members but also remind them to move with the breath.

This will ground your students as well as show that you have control over the class and the structure.

This is especially important when you’re doing a guided meditation but you also want to remind people of the muscles being targeted, or how a particular pose should feel.

This will mean your class members are getting the most out of your class and show your professionalism and understanding of the practice!

If you’re finding this helpful, why not check out our other articles full of tips on growing your business and other yoga teacher tips:

Yoga Class Plan Templates

In this section, we’re going to bring everything we’ve discussed so far into a yoga class plan template for you to use when devising your next session.

Here is an example template you could use:

yoga class plan template image

As you can see, the template invites teachers to write the following at the top of the sheet, so that you can maintain focus throughout planning:

  • Intention
  • Duration
  • Style
  • Ability
  • Equipment

Having your class written down in a format like this will give you something to follow whilst you do a practice run.

As mentioned earlier, this also helps you to find the right pace so that you finish on time and so, if you’re just starting out, having a copy of your template may prove beneficial during a class.

Now, since we’ve covered how to plan a yoga class with our top tips for the process, let’s now provide some examples of yoga class plan templates for different yoga types.

A Hatha Yoga Class Plan Example

high lunge how to plan a yoga class image

Hatha yoga is the oldest style of yoga and forms the foundation of many of the different styles in the West today.

‘Hatha’ literally means force and so involves moving the body slowly through different asanas and holding poses for a few breaths.

There’s focus on the breath and mindfulness, connecting the breath with movement and developing strength and control.

This yoga type is easily adaptable and so is ideal for beginners. This is the target audience of the example below:

hatha yoga class plan image

As you can see there’s some very basic poses building up to a more difficult posture once the class is warmed up.

You should punctuate all instructions with any modification options or any moments where you could use a block or strap.

For instance, because this is a beginner’s class, yogis may need to use a strap when lifting the leg for a hamstring stretch.

You can also suggest using a block for a low lunge if class members have tightness in their hips or a weak lower back.

If you’re moving through the poses a little too quickly, you can easily repeat certain stages.

Conversely, if you’re pushed for time, you can look ahead at your plan to see which areas you could omit.

So, if you want to instruct Hatha yoga, class plan templates like this can help you to craft the best quality practice for your yogis.

Let’s now touch on a restorative yoga class plan.

Restorative Yoga Class Plan Template

savasana how to plan a yoga class image

Restorative yoga is a very gentle and therapeutic yoga form that involves holding asanas for longer than other types to completely relax the body, allowing it to heal and rest.

The reason it often involves props such as yoga blocks and bolsters so that the muscles aren’t contracting at all.

The aim with these classes is to be as relaxed in a pose as possible, allowing the body to be fully supported and breathing into each pose.

Sometimes these will be held for up to 10 minutes with the eyes closed over in a meditative state of relaxation.

This is why a restorative yoga class plan will look like less than the others – this is because there will be fewer poses. Here’s our example:

restorative yoga class plan image

As you can see there’s fewer poses and all of them involve a bolster and a block.

Regardless of ability, everyone in class will use this equipment in order to completely support the body and allow the muscles to relax.

The focus is around supporting but also opening up parts of the body. This is a particularly spiritually influenced practice bringing the energy system into balance as well as the body.

This is why there should be focus on lots of different areas of the body throughout the practice but especially the back and hips!

Yin Yoga Class Plan

yin yoga how to plan a yoga class image

Finally, we have a template and tips for teaching a yin yoga class plan to help guide your planning process.

Similarly to restorative yoga, yin yoga involves holding postures for prolonged periods.

The key difference is that yin yoga targets deep connective tissues, such as:

  • Ligaments
  • Joints
  • Fascia

Yin yoga postures can often feel uncomfortable to perform yet a class aims to teach practitioners how to breathe and deepen postures to enhance flexibility and strength of the connective tissues.

Below is our own yin yoga class plan template:

hip yin yoga class plan template image

This plan focuses on the hips in particular working on poses that stretch the hip flexor muscles in particular.

This is a common focus of a yin class with plenty of options for modifications with blocks and bolsters.

Before You Go!

Now that you know how to plan a yoga class, you can create the best possible session for your yogis and help them develop their practice.

Don’t forget that the best thing you can do to plan the best class for students is with OriGym’s Level 4 certificate in yoga teaching, where you’ll plan and deliver a particular style of class as part of assessment.

Download our full free course prospectus to find out about all of our yoga instructor training courses.

The post How to Plan a Yoga Class appeared first on OriGym Centre of Excellence.

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How To Write An Effective Nutritionist Bio For Instagram https://www.origym.co.uk/blog/nutritionist-instagram-bio/ Thu, 01 Sep 2022 13:00:00 +0000 https://www.origym.co.uk/blog/nutritionist-instagram-bio/ An effective nutritionist bio for Instagram will communicate your businesses' mission statement. This article explores the writing process and provides detail on what information to include.

The post How To Write An Effective Nutritionist Bio For Instagram appeared first on OriGym Centre of Excellence.

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By writing an effective nutritionist bio for your Instagram, you can encapsulate your brand’s image and draw in more potential clients.

We’ll look at relevant examples of current nutritionist Instagram bios, and explore topics such as:

Social media can be a highly competitive place, so if you’re looking to diversify your skillset and stand out from the competition, why not earn a Personal Training Diploma? In doing so, you can develop advanced skills and create bespoke workout programmes for your clients.

Alternatively, you can download a FREE prospectus to learn more about the courses we offer at OriGym.

What To Include in a Instagram Bio For a Nutritionist

nutritionist bio for instagram

A bio is one of the first things a user will see when they arrive at your Instagram profile. During the writing process, you should communicate exactly what you’re offering.

We’re going to break down exactly what you should include in this bio, and how you can do this as effectively as possible.

#1 – Instagram Nutritionist Bios Must Include Who You Are & What You Do

instagram nutritionist bio

One of the most important aspects of a nutritionist Instagram bio is introducing yourself and your business. This can be a straightforward process, including information such as:

  • Your name
  • Any certificates, qualifications, and accomplishments
  • Your line of work

While it might seem difficult to include these in a 150-character limit, this doesn’t have to be overly complicated.

Let’s look at @thefoodmedic’s page for an example of an account with a strong Instagram nutritionist bio:

TheFoodMedic Nutritionist Bio for Instagram

This example provides a clear and concise answer to what kind of nutritionist Dr Hazel Wallace is, as from the information provided we can determine:

Name: Dr Hazel Wallace

Certificates, qualifications, and/or accomplishments: Nutritionist (ANutr), Medical Doctor, Author, and Podcaster

Website: www.thefoodmedic.co.uk

It’s important to include this information, especially your nutritionist qualifications, in your Instagram bio, as it provides potential customers with reassurance that you’re equipped to provide them with everything they need.

Take Bryony Clark (@body_by_b) as another great example – she displays both her Level 3 personal training certificate and her Level 4 nutritionist qualification as a way to build trust and reassure her potential clients.

nutritionist bio instagram

You should proudly display all your qualifications alongside other areas of expertise that you feel set you apart in the nutrition field, like recipes you’ve created or projects you’ve been a part of.

For example, Hazel Wallace included the name of her nutritionist podcast, which lets visitors know what she gets up to in her free time, as well as how she keeps up-to-date with developments and news in the industry.

Ultimately, The Food Medic is a prime example of a strong nutritionist bio for Instagram that utilises the space well to convey valuable information about them and what they do.

#2 – A Nutritionist Bio for Instagram Must Encapsulate You & Your Business

writing your nutritionist bio for Instagram

When writing your nutritionist bio for Instagram you will also need to incorporate your mission statement.

A mission statement simply describes the purpose of your nutrition business, shedding light on why it was created to begin with. The purpose behind the inclusion is to help customers visualise what they can achieve with your guidance.

Therefore, when incorporated correctly, mission statements can be incredibly persuasive tools used to attract clients to your business. @cleancookingcaitlin’s Instagram account is a great example:

CleanCooking instagram nutritionist bio

Within the highlighted section, Caitlin effectively communicates her mission statement by explaining that:

  • She helps to combat obesity
  • She offers predominantly vegan recipes
  • Clients can expect ‘healthy lifestyle changes’ and to get ‘fit’

Just a handful of characters offers plenty of relevant and valuable information that helps to turn a generic Instagram user into a potential customer.

#3 – An Effective Nutritionist Bio for Instagram Should Include Strong, Compelling Language

An Effective Nutritionist Bio for Instagram Should Include Strong, Compelling Language

As we have already mentioned, when using Instagram a nutritionist bio should include compelling language that encourages users to sign up for your service.

With an unlimited character limit at your disposal this would be an easy task, but remember when crafting your bio you will be limited to 150 characters. This means that whatever language you do use must be snappy and persuasive.

Pronouns are an excellent example of compelling language, as they address the reader personally. Examples of this include:

  • You
  • Your
  • Us
  • Our
  • We
  • Together

Such language helps to break down barriers between a client and a nutritionist, allowing them to feel that you’re personally inviting them to sign up.

When it comes to Instagram bio ideas for nutritionists, refer to the example below from @nutritionhappens to gain a better understanding of persuasive pronouns:

instagram bio for nutritionist NutritionHappens

May Zhu’s Instagram bio includes the pronouns ‘you’ and ‘your’ to warmly welcome potential clients into her practice.

When reading this, Instagram users will feel that Mary is directly addressing them. In doing so, she highlights just how important her clients are, ensuring they know that they’re placed at the forefront of her business.

This also shows that you do not need to include each example of the persuasive language discussed earlier to communicate your passion for helping other people.

By implementing any of these Instagram bio ideas for nutritionists, you’ll be able to make the most out of your 150-character limit.

But with this in mind, a strong bio will make use of multiple different mediums to attract clients.

The Importance of CTAs and Links in a Nutritionist Bio for Instagram

Instagram Nutritionist Bio Example

Creating a strong nutritionist bio for Instagram will also require you to use CTAs (Call to Action) which invite customers to complete a task such as:

  • Sending a direct message
  • Calling me at [phone number]
  • Emailing me at [email address]
  • Filling a form on my website (include a link)

By incorporating these direct CTAs into your Instagram bio, you can increase the likelihood of turning a potential client into a paying customer. For example, take a look at @twist_of_lemons bio:

TwistofLemons instagram bio ideas for nutritionist

Katie’s Instagram bio encourages followers who are interested in the service to submit an enquiry email.

Whilst written CTAs are a reliable source of converting followers into sales, other Instagram bio ideas for nutritionists include incorporating links to your website.

These sites can offer significantly more information about your business to prospective clients, rather than restricting this information to a character limit. For example, check out @prenatalnutritionist.

Prenatalnutrition Instagram Ideas for Nutritionist

Ryann Kipping’s nutritionist Instagram bio instructs her followers to ‘Join the Library today’ using an emoji to point to a link below.

When users click on this link, they are led to Ryann’s website.

Instagram bio for nutritionist Example Site

Here, users can discover more about Ryann’s business, such as:

  • Her professional nutritionist qualifications
  • Her existing community of clients  
  • The price of his nutrition advice and meal plans

By including a link to your website within your Instagram bio clients will be able to gain access to more relevant professional information. This would be otherwise unavailable due to Instagram’s strict character limit.

If you want to include more than one link in your bio, you should consider creating a LinkTree account. This platform is used by over 20+ million people in the world, which allows them to have all their links in one place, directing customers to:

  • Website
  • Blog
  • Portfolio
  • Podcast
  • Book
  • Online store
  • LinkedIn

Here’s an example of @the_fitness_dietitian’s Instagram bio which details a LinkTree link:

TheFitnessDietican nutritionist instagram bio

This is what an Instagram user will see when they click on the link:

TheFitnessDietican nutritionist instagram bio LinkTree

As you can see, there’s no feasible way that Leanne could have included each link in her Instagram bio, which is why LinkTree is a valuable tool for those wanting to market several aspects of their business.

LinkTree has several packages on offer, each varying in price, so be sure to conduct your independent research before determining which one would be right for your business. For more of these top tips, check out our in-depth guide exploring 9 strategies for marketing a nutrition business.

As a nutritionist, your Instagram bio should include links, and to do this yourself, follow the steps outlined below:

Professional instagram nutritionist bio

  1. On your Instagram profile, select ‘Edit Profile’
  2. In the ‘Website’ box, insert the link to your website 
  3. Click ‘Save’ 

Always be sure to check that your links are working correctly, as broken links can negatively affect your business by presenting you in an unprofessional manner.

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Those who are interested in learning how to write an effective nutritionist bio for Instagram should check out these other OriGym articles:

Other Aspects to Consider Alongside Your Instagram Bio for Nutritionists

Instagram Bio Ideas for Nutritionist Header

Even if you have the best possible Instagram bio for a nutritionist business, this factor alone won’t be enough to attract clients.

Instead, you will need to consider other aspects, and how you can incorporate them into your nutritionist business plan.

#1 – Alongside Your Nutritionist Instagram Bio You Will Need a Relevant Handle

Instagram Bio Ideas for Nutritionist's Social Media

Once you’ve created a nutritionist bio for Instagram you should also choose your handle wisely.

Whilst it may seem inconsequential, an Instagram handle can help to attract clients to your business, it must therefore be:

  • Relevant to your business
  • Easy to read
  • Memorable
  • Communicate something about your brand

Here’s an example of Dr Megan Rossi’s Instagram handle (@theguthealthdoctor):

instagram bio ideas for nutritionist TheDoc

As you can see, Megan’s username is easy to read and communicates fundamental aspects of her business niche.

From simply reading TheGutHealthDoctor we can immediately tell that Dr Megan Rossi is a nutritionist in the medical field, who specialises in gut health.

Hypothetically, if you’re a nutritionist for a sports team, your handle could be something related to sport, like GymRecipesByJake or FoodForFootballers.

This advice is only really applicable if you have a niche, whereas holistic nutritionists should instead use their actual name as their handle.

Take @jennahopenutrition‘s Instagram account as an example:

JennaHope Instagram Nutritionist Bio

Including your name in the handle can help to create a sense of personal connection, highlighting to visitors that you are the face behind the business.

This is also a great example of a username that’s easy to read and communicates key aspects of the business.

#2 – Switching to a Professional Account Can Add Further Resources to the Nutritionist Instagram Bio

Instagram Nutritionist Bio example

For immediate clarity, if you’re looking to switch your personal account into a professional one, follow these simple steps outlined by Instagram’s support team:

  1. Select the Menu (3 horizontal lines) in the top right-hand corner
  2. Select Settings
  3. Tap Account
  4. Select Switch to a professional account
  5. After tapping Continue, select the relevant category for your business
  6. Include any contact details – this step is optional

By making this switch, you can add additional buttons that allow potential customers to instantly connect with you.

Take @sophieshealthykitchen’s professional page as an example, as you can see she now has the option to ‘Email’ her, rather than just generic ‘Follow’ or ‘Message’ options.

Sophie Instagram Bio for Nutritionist

When selected, your preferred email app will automatically pop up with Sophie’s email address already inserted. This only allows your followers to immediately get in touch with you in regards to signing up for the likes of meal plans.

While it may seem like such a minor addition, when accompanied by a strong nutritionist bio for Instagram, a professional account will help to streamline your sales.

In addition to this, when you change over to a professional account, Instagram will begin to promote your service as a local business.

Local customers looking for Nutritional guidance will then be directed to your page, increasing your rate of online engagement and the likelihood of generating a new lead.

#3 – An Instagram Nutritionist Bio Should be Accompanied By a Good Quality Profile Picture

instagram bio ideas for nutritionist photo

Alongside your nutritionist bio for Instagram, you must ensure to have a quality profile photo.

This image should convey a sense of professionalism, for that reason we would recommend avoiding selfies. Instead, opt for the likes of:

  • A good quality photo showing your face clearly with a plain or relevant background (an image taken during a photoshoot would be even better)
  • Your nutrition brand logo

For example, @bewellbykelly’s Instagram profile picture displays her face, with the photo shoot taking place in her kitchen, a relevant location for her business.

BeWellByKelly instagram bio ideas for nutritionist

If a photo like this is preferable to you, we would recommend hiring a professional photographer who will be able to direct you on getting the best quality photos. Whilst it is an additional business expense it will help to generate profit down the line.

Alternatively, you can go down the logo route for your profile photo such as @mynewroots:

MyNewRoots nutritionist bio for instagram

Having a graphic logo will help to create a sense of professionalism, and further build upon a sense of brand identity. Customers will be able to see the logo and immediately associate with your nutrition business.

Deciding which approach is right for your business may take some trial and error, experimenting with different examples until you find one that works for your business.

Before You Go!

Within this article, we have covered different examples of Instagram bio ideas for nutritionists. If implemented correctly, the ideas discussed can help you to communicate your brand and grow your business.

If you’re looking to expand, earning a Personal Training Diploma and offering additional services to your clients can help. Through the completion of this course, you will be able to create bespoke workout programmes that work alongside a client’s existing nutrition plans.

Download OriGym’s comprehensive course prospectus to learn more, and start your journey today.

The post How To Write An Effective Nutritionist Bio For Instagram appeared first on OriGym Centre of Excellence.

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11 Creative Warm Up Ideas For Fitness Classes https://www.origym.co.uk/blog/fitness-class-warm-up-ideas/ Wed, 31 Aug 2022 13:05:40 +0000 https://www.origym.co.uk/blog/fitness-class-warm-up-ideas/ Are you looking for ways to make your fitness classes more exciting? Look no further! We’ve compiled a list of the best warm up ideas for fitness classes to give you all the inspiration you need. 

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Are you a fitness instructor looking for ways to make your classes more exciting? Want some fitness class warm up ideas that are a little outside the box?

Well, look no further! We’ve compiled a list of the best warm up ideas for fitness classes to give you all the inspiration you need.

If you’re already a fitness instructor, why not take your career to the next level and become a qualified Level 3 personal trainer with OriGym?

Enquire today, or download our free course prospectus here for more information about the range of courses we offer.

 

Fitness Class Warm Up Idea #1 – Skipping

Starting our list of the best warm up ideas for fitness classes is skipping.

This is perhaps one of the most accessible warm up ideas, as it’s suitable for all levels of fitness and it’s easy for you to teach as an instructor.

In fact, you may find that many participants are already familiar with skipping which can help to reduce time running through instructions.

There are several ways that you could introduce this to your class, but an ideal way is to skip along to a high-energy song. This is a surefire way of getting your participants’ heart rates up and energy levels high!

Alternatively, you could lead the skipping warm up by instructing your class through different movements. For example:

  • Regular skipping
  • Fast skipping
  • High knees skipping
  • Double jump skipping

There are many health benefits of skipping, since it works a wide range of muscles in the body, including:

  • Calves
  • Quads
  • Hamstrings
  • Biceps/triceps
  • Abs

Fitness Class Warm Up Idea #2 – Alternating Marching and Jogging

Another one of the top fitness class warm up ideas is to alternate marching and jogging.

The march aspect involves standing in place and alternating high knees. This is done for 30 seconds before moving on to jogging in place for another 30 seconds.

Alternating these movements for just 3 minutes at the beginning of a class is a great way to elevate the heart rate and prepare the muscles for the session ahead.

However, if you wanted to make this warm up more challenging, you could add an extra jog around the space to bring your class members’ heart rates up even more.

This fitness class warm up provides a range of great benefits for your students, including:

  • Improved cardiovascular fitness
  • Improved circulation
  • Promotes weight loss through increased metabolic rate
  • Strengthening the leg muscles
  • Strengthening the core

Switching between marching and jogging also provides an effective, full-body warm up ahead of an intensive class.

Fitness Class Warm Up Idea #3 – Blast Off

Blast Off is a unique and versatile fitness class warm up that is both beneficial for your students and quick and easy for you to implement.

So, what is ‘Blast Off’?

To perform this fitness class warm up, one exercise is completed for 10 reps. Then, a different exercise is performed for 9 reps, then again for 8 reps, counting down until just 1 rep is left.

This provides the opportunity to work various areas of the body through different exercises, and is a good way to keep your students engaged and interested.

Here’s an example structure of Blast Off to inspire your next session:

10 x Bodyweight squats

9 x Arm circles

8 x High knees

7 x Forward static lunges

6 x Star jumps

5 x Hip circles

4 x Broad jumps

3 x Side squats

2 x Lunge curtseys

1 x Burpee

Since there are a lot of movements to instruct, it is a good idea to write a list of exercises before beginning so that you know exactly what you’re going to perform and when.

Then, once you’ve conducted Blast Off a couple of times, you’ll feel more confident leading it.

This is arguably one of the best fitness class warm up ideas for fitness instructors wanting to offer versatile warm ups that immediately gets students engaged.

It also boosts the chance of participants coming back for future sessions- which is always a bonus!

Fitness Class Warm Up Idea #4 – Swinging Movements

fitness class warm up 12

If you teach resistance training fitness classes, this is a good fitness class warm up idea for you!

As you may be able to tell from the name, this warm up involves swinging movements to loosen up the muscles and joints. This not only promotes flexibility, but also reduces the risk of injury during the class itself, particularly if you are using heavy weights.

Here are some examples of swinging movements that you could introduce to your next class:

  • Arm circles: Extend the arms so that they’re parallel to the floor. Create small circles before progressively increasing until you can feel a stretch in the triceps. Do this for 30-seconds before reversing the direction.
  • Standing leg swings: With the support of a chair or wall, swing one leg forward while keeping it straight. Swing the leg backwards and repeat 10 times before changing legs.
  • Side leg raises: With the support of a chair or wall, extend one leg out to the side as far as it will go before bringing it back to the body. Repeat 10 times before changing legs.

 

Fitness Class Warm Up Idea #5 – Cone Wars

Next on our list of warm up ideas for fitness classes is Cone Wars. This is a fun, easy to organise game that is suitable for all abilities.

Cone Wars involves dividing your class into two teams. One team will be responsible for turning the cones upside down and the other half will turn them upwards.

You should set a timer for 90-seconds, in which time teams should flip as many cones as possible. Once the time is up, whichever team has the most cones in their direction wins!

There are many reasons why this is one of the greatest fitness class warm up ideas, such as it:

  • Gets participants’ heart rate pumping
  • Improves cardiovascular fitness
  • Easily adapts for all fitness abilities
  • Requires minimal equipment
  • Functions as a good ice breaker
  • Can be conducted in all environments (gym studios, parks, sports halls, etc.)

Plus, if you want to up the difficulty with Cone Wars, simply include more cones, distance them further apart, or increase the duration.

Games like this are a great way to make warm ups more exciting whilst also introducing a sense of healthy competition.

This is a great way to keep your members engaged and motivated, making them ready for the class ahead!

Enjoying this article so far? Here’s 3 more that we think you’ll love:

Fitness Class Warm Up Idea #6 – Red Light, Green Light

You may remember this game from school, but it is actually a great fitness class warm up idea to use with people of all ages!

To play Red Light, Green Light, class members are marked as ‘vehicles’. As the instructor, you will be the ‘traffic controller’, dictating when the vehicles can move.

There must be a start and finish line (use cones to show this) of approximately 30 metres.

You will choose an exercise for the vehicles to perform. For example, you could choose to have class members perform:

  • Side steps
  • Lunges
  • Broad jumps
  • High knees

When the traffic controller shouts “green light”, vehicles are free to move but when “red light” is shouted, vehicles must stop.

If vehicles are caught moving after the red light has been signalled, they must run back to the starting point and begin over again.

This is one of the best fitness class warm up ideas as it elevates the heart rate whilst also working various areas of the body with different exercises.

A game of Red Light, Green Light is relatively short, so we’d recommend repeating the game 3 times so that each member’s muscles are adequately warmed up for your class.

Fitness Class Warm Up Idea #7 – High Energy Dance Steps

Next up is another stimulating warm up idea for fitness classes!

High energy dance steps simply involve teaching a selection of dance-based moves to upbeat music. Some examples of these moves are:

  • Jumping side steps
  • Box steps
  • Heel digs
  • Crab walks

You should do this for approximately 5 minutes to get your class members’ heart rates up, muscles warm, and to create a positive atmosphere to carry through the rest of the class.

However, this type of warm up requires some pre-planning before implementing it into your class as you must choreograph each exercise carefully.

You should also ensure that each move is performed in time to the music and that you’re confident providing quick, informative cues to participants.

Additionally, high energy music will help to increase morale. We recommend choosing music that your participants are likely to be familiar with to enhance positivity and motivation.

Whilst this is one of the best warm up ideas for fitness classes, it’s also one that requires some practice time before bringing it to your class.

If you find that you enjoy teaching this kind of exercise, why not become an exercise to music instructor and get qualified to teach a wide range of dance-based fitness classes?

Fitness Class Warm Up Idea #8 – Use Fitness Dice

If you’re a fitness instructor looking for some unique warm up ideas to mix up your classes, using a fitness dice could be a great solution.

Fitness dice usually come in packs of 2. One dice will have different exercises on each face while the other will detail durations and repetition numbers.

Check out our list of the best fitness dice here for our top picks!

Examples of exercises included on fitness dice include:

  • Squat
  • Burpee
  • High knees
  • Star jumps

So, how can you incorporate a fitness dice into a class warmup?

  1. You could stand at the front of the class, roll the dice, and command the class to perform whatever the dice reveal. The amount of times you do this is dependent on the class ability.
  2. Alternatively, you could have your participants standing in a circle and each takes a turn rolling the dice. Whoever is rolling must announce the exercise before passing the dice on to the next member.
  3. A final option is to divide the group into two teams and have each team roll the dice between 5-10 times. Whichever team finishes their warm-up  first wins.

Options 2 and 3 are great for making participants feel more involved in a class rather than just simply following commands from the instructor.

They are also a good opportunity for participants to get to know one another better which can create a more positive atmosphere for the rest of the class.

 

Fitness Class Warm Up Idea #9 – The Bleep Test

Also known as a Multistage Fitness Test, The Bleep Test is a great fitness class warm up idea if you are teaching a longer or more advanced fitness class.

The Bleep Test is a 20-minute activity, but it can be easily shortened and adapted as a challenging warm up before your fitness class.

Put simply, it involves running continuously between 2 points that are 15 metres apart.

Participants must run between the points before the ‘bleep’ and if they don’t reach the other side in time, they will be eliminated.

To begin with, participants have longer to reach the other side, yet bursts get gradually shorter causing participants to speed up.

The warm up version takes just over 13 minutes to complete which is why we recommend reserving this warm up for more advanced fitness levels.

This is not suitable for beginner fitness levels, as it could simply tire them out before the main body of the class has even begun!

Fitness Class Warm Up Idea #10 – Medicine Ball Exercises

Medicine balls are a great tool to use in any kind of workout or fitness class, including in the warm up!

Here are some of the best ways to use a medicine ball in a fitness class warm up:

  • Under/Over Ball Pass. First off, the Under/Over Ball Pass is a great way to get class members ready for the class ahead.

It involves dividing the group into teams of 4 and having them stand in a vertical line approximately 1 metre from one another.

The front player will pass the ball over their head for the behind player to receive and pass underneath their legs. Once the ball reaches the back player, they must run to the front to repeat the sequence.

The first team to complete the sequence 3 times wins.

  • Medicine Ball Chase. This next activity also involves splitting your group into teams of 4. You must designate a start and finish point of approximately 30 metres.

The first player will chest pass the medicine ball forward and chase after it before repeating until they cross the finish line.

They must then run back to the group and pass the ball to the next player who will do the same. The first team to complete the sequence once each wins.

Both of these activities are great since they introduce some healthy competition to the warm up which can help to boost motivation levels for the session ahead.

Plus, medicine balls are fantastic for helping to improve muscular strength, and the short bursts of running will improve cardiovascular fitness!

Fitness Class Warm Up Idea #11 – A Mini HIIT Session

Finishing up our list of ways you can warm up your fitness class members is leading a mini HIIT session.

HIIT stands for High Intensity Interval Training, and involves short bursts of intense activity, followed by a low-intensity period of recovery.

There are lots of benefits of HIIT, particularly as a way to warm up a fitness class, including:

  • Increase heart rate
  • Warm up muscles
  • Increase energy levels

But since you will be doing a HIIT as a warm up, we recommend keeping it relatively short to prevent tiring members out too much.

Given the intensity of this kind of exercise, we would also recommend using this warm up idea for fitness classes with more advanced participants with an already strong level of fitness.

With this in mind, here’s an example template of a mini HIIT to inspire your next class:

  • 40 seconds of star jumps, 20 second break
  • 40 seconds of squat jumps, 20 second break
  • 40 seconds of quick fire punches, 20 second break
  • 40 seconds of mountain climbers, 20 second break
  • 40 seconds of heel flicks – finished!

In total, this will take just under 5 minutes which is a good amount of time for a warm up.

You can make it easier by exercising for 30 seconds followed by a 30 second break, or add an additional challenge by increasing the duration of the warm up. You could even incorporate some light weights.

 

Before You Go!

So, we hope our list of the best warm up ideas for fitness classes has given you the inspiration you need for your next class!

Feeling inspired? Take the next step in your career in the fitness industry by taking a personal training qualification with OriGym! Enquire today, or browse the full range of classes we offer by downloading our free course prospectus here.

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7 Best Voice Amplifiers For Fitness Instructors https://www.origym.co.uk/blog/fitness-instructor-voice-amplifiers/ Mon, 22 Aug 2022 23:00:00 +0000 https://www.origym.co.uk/blog/fitness-instructor-voice-amplifiers/ Finding the best voice amplifier for fitness instructors can be tricky! To help your search, we’ve curated a comprehensive list of the best voice amplifiers on the market, including their features.

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Finding the best voice amplifier for fitness instructors can be tricky. To help you decide, we’ve curated a comprehensive list of the top amps on the market.

But before we get onto our list, have you considered advancing in the fitness industry by completing a Level 3 Personal Trainer Diploma to help you expand your skills to help you continue developing an exciting career!

Find your ideal course by downloading our latest prospectus or enter your details below.

7 Best Voice Amplifiers For Fitness Instructors

From waterproof to wireless voice amplifiers for fitness instructors, we’ll explore the features of each to help you settle on the ideal one for you.

#1 – SHIDU Portable Fitness Voice Amplifier

best voice amplifier for fitness instructors

Price: £34.99

Kickstarting our list is a product from SHIDU, making it as one of our best voice amplifiers for fitness instructors on the market.

With a compact amplifier, this is perfect for fitness professionals wanting effortless portability. However, the small size doesn’t mean lower sound quality!

SHIDU’s range boasts a 10W output, offering crystal clear sound – ideal for those looking to become a group fitness instructor and teach large classes.

It also comes with a compatible microphone headset with a flexible gooseneck design, making it both comfortable and convenient for leading high-energy classes.

The SHIDU is among the best voice amplifiers for fitness instructors with hectic schedules as it provides up to 12 hours of amplifying time and up to 10 hours of music time, all on just a 3 hour charge.

voice amplifier for fitness instructors

You also have the option to inject some personality into your aesthetic as SHIDU’s range comes in either black or rose gold, perfect if you enjoy a matching colour palette.

When shopping around for a voice amplifier for a fitness instructor, product reviews can be a great way to help you make a decision.

If this product has caught your attention, you’ll be pleased to know it has a 4.5 star rating on Amazon, awarded by over 900 satisfied customers.

If you’re after an affordable, good quality voice amp for fitness instructors, SHIDU’s is certainly one to consider.

#2 – NORWII S358 Voice Amp for Fitness Instructors

best voice amplifier for fitness instructors

Price: £25.95

NORWII’s S358 is one of the best voice amplifiers for a fitness instructor as it offers a range of fantastic features we think you’ll enjoy.

First off, it’s quite small in size. At just 4.9 x 1.9 x 3.6 inches and weighing only 0.56 lbs, transporting the amp is a breeze.

It also has a maximum 10 wattage of sound that can cover up to 10,000 sq. ft, certainly impressive considering its compact size.

Plus, NORWII’s range has a more advanced sound sensitivity and sound penetration compared with previous models, meaning it’s perfect for fitness instructors with larger gym classes.

voice amplifier for fitness instructors

In terms of battery life, the S358 provides between 18 to 20 hours, considerably longer than other amps on the market. This is an especially important feature if you’re running multiple classes in a row or looking to start a fitness bootcamp business.

Another reason why this is the best voice amplifier for fitness instructors is the adjustable headset with durable rubber to keep it in place during classes.

The microphone wire also has a clip you can attach to your gym leggings or t-shirt to prevent wires from getting in your way.

300 purchasers have awarded NORWII’s amp 5 stars, with many praising the excellent voice projection and sound quality for an affordable price.

#3 – WinBridge Wireless Voice Amplifier For A Fitness Instructor

best voice amplifier for fitness instructors

Price: £78

This next option offers something a little different to the other products discussed so far, in that it’s a completely wireless voice amp for fitness instructors.

Wireless equipment helps make leading classes slightly more straightforward as it cuts out the need to clip wires to your favourite gym wear brands that could get in your way.

Instead, you can roam freely around your class at a distance of up to 164 feet, allowing you to approach and motivate participants right at the back of the class.

voice amplifier for fitness instructors

This ensures your sessions are that bit more personable, boosting the chance of participants coming back for future classes.

In terms of operating the amp, it’s very straightforward to use. All you need to do is turn the device on and pair it to your mobile via Bluetooth.

The signal transmission is very stable with low feedback and distortion, enabling you to conduct classes without the worry of poor sound quality.

Finally, weighing in at a mere 203 grams, WinBridge’s amp is ideal for those wanting to transport equipment from home to class with utmost ease.

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If you’re looking for other information on fitness, check out these articles below:

#4 – JCWY 12W Rechargeable Voice Amplifier

best voice amplifier for fitness instructors

Price: £26.99

JCWY is a technology brand that has been supplying top-of-the-range equipment to fitness professionals for the past 10 years and their 12W rechargeable voice amp is no exception!

It is a multifunctional tool for instructors as it operates both as a voice amp and speaker, providing different options for instructors on how they lead classes.

Out of the other voice amps discussed so far, JCWY’s also has the most compact design, coming in at just 85 x 85 x 33mm – perfect for portability.

However, while small in size, the amp provides fantastic sound quality and can cover a room of up to 80 people – great if you’re running some popular group fitness classes.

It’s also very simple in design. All you have to do is attach the amp to your gym leggings, insert the headset and you’re good to go.

amplifier for fitness instructor

Now, if you want to discover the best voice amplifier for fitness instructors, reviews may influence which ones you go for.

You’ll be pleased to know JCWY’s range is loved by fitness professionals around the UK. One reviewer praised the product’s longevity, saying:

I use this for training large groups. It has excellent battery life and works very well.

While another commented on its user-friendliness:

I use this for a seated movement class for the elderly and provides good volume for large rooms. It is also quick to set up and easy to charge.

Such reviews show this is one of the best voice amplifiers for fitness instructors, especially for those wanting compact, easy-to-use equipment at an affordable price.

#5 – ResponseBridge Bluetooth Voice Amp For Fitness Instructors

best voice amplifier for fitness instructors

Price: £43.99

If you’re after a voice amplifier for a fitness instructor, this next option is worth the read.

This ResponseBridge bluetooth amp has multiple functions. It’s both a microphone and speaker, allowing you to talk to your class while playing music.

This is a great feature some other amps don’t offer, certainly worth considering before making a decision on which is best.

ResponseBridge also promises a loud and clear sound quality, projecting your voice for up to 200 people to hear – ideal for large-scale fitness events and classes.

It also boasts a long battery life thanks to the built-in 2200mAh capacity battery, providing class leaders with hours of use on just a three hour charge.

amplifier for fitness instructor

This is perfect for those conducting several lessons a day and need an amp they can rely on.

With that, each purchase comes with the following:

  • Mini voice amplifier
  • Wired headset microphone
  • Charging cable
  • AUX cable
  • Waistband
  • Product manual

Furthermore, this is one of the best voice amplifiers for fitness instructors who want a one-stop-shop for their gym machines.

Be sure to check out ResponseBridge’s product to discover how it can enhance the experience of class members.

#6 – RZM Portable Bluetooth and Waterproof 25W Amp

voice amplifier for a fitness instructor

Price: £124.99

This next product by RZM is certainly among the best voice amplifiers for fitness instructors thanks to its wide range of high-spec features.

Firstly, this amp is crafted with TPU, an unbreakable silicone material, bringing you shock and waterproof equipment.

This is perfect for those conducting outdoor training and want equipment that can withstand all types of weather. Plus, you can easily connect your amp to your mobile phone or tablet to play your favourite songs while the microphone is connected.

The superb 25w output can cover sounds of up to 10,000 sq. ft, allowing fitness professionals to project their voices loud and clear.

voice amplifier for a fitness instructor

In regards to the battery life, RZM’s range is fitted with a built-in lithium-ion battery that can operate for up to 12 hours. With just a 2 hour charge time, it’s ideal if you need a top up in between classes.

You also have 2 colour options with this product:

  • Black
  • Black & Green

Although a little more expensive compared with other options on this list, RZM’s is more powerful and durable – worth considering if such features are what you’re looking for.

#7 – WinBridge Voice Amplifier with 2 Wireless Microphones

voice amplifier for a fitness instructor

Price: £137.00

Finishing our list is one of the best voice amplifiers for fitness instructors on the market, especially in terms of additional features. This is WinBridge’s wireless set with a compatible microphone and headset.

Although the answer to ‘what makes a good fitness instructor’ is the same, each one is different. This means you should have the option for both a handheld or headset microphone which WinBridge understands.

Both provide a maximum range of 33 feet, allowing you to walk around your fitness class offering motivational cues without the worry of your microphone cutting out.

voice amplifier for a fitness instructor

Alternatively, you can also have your microphone connected to the amp via a cable if this is preferable.

As for the sound quality, this WinBridge product is unrivalled, guaranteeing crystal-clear sound with no distortion.

There’s nothing worse than trying to deliver a fitness class and your equipment lets you down. However, there’s no worry about this with WinBridge’s range.

Each purchase comes with the following:

  • Voice amplifier
  • Wireless headset microphone
  • Handheld microphone
  • Adjustable waistband
  • 2 x adapters
  • User manual

This is everything you need to conduct the best possible sessions for your participants which is why we believe it to be the best voice amplifier for fitness instructors.

Before You Go!

If you started this article keen to discover the best voice amplifier for fitness instructors, using our list, you’re sure to settle on the ideal one for you!

To continue developing your skills and knowledge in the industry, why not complete a Level 3 Personal Trainer Diploma and separate yourself from the competition?

Download our course prospectus to see what else we have on offer or leave your details in the space below.

The post 7 Best Voice Amplifiers For Fitness Instructors appeared first on OriGym Centre of Excellence.

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What Is A BODYPUMP Class? Definition, Benefits & What To Expect https://www.origym.co.uk/blog/what-is-bodypump-class/ Tue, 02 Aug 2022 09:15:10 +0000 https://www.origym.co.uk/blog/what-is-bodypump-class/ If you’ve ever wondered “what is a BODYPUMP class?”, then look no further!  This article covers everything you need to know about BODYPUMP covering: What Is A BODYPUMP Les Mills Class? The Benefits Of A BODYPUMP Class Where Can I Find A BODYPUMP Class? What Do I Need For A BODYPUMP Gym Class? How Can [...]

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If you’ve ever wondered “what is a BODYPUMP class?”, then look no further! 

This article covers everything you need to know about BODYPUMP covering:

Before we get started, why not get qualified to teach exercise classes such as BODYPUMP yourself with OriGym’s Personal Trainer Diploma? Enquire today, or download a free prospectus here for more information about our range of fitness courses. 

What Is A BODYPUMP Les Mills Class?

Before we delve into the specifics, a BODYPUMP class description may help newbies to understand the basics. 

BODYPUMP is a barbell-based workout class created by fitness brand, Les Mills.

Les Mills is one of the most well-known names in the fitness industry, with a range of popular trademarked classes in gyms across the world. 

But what is a BODYPUMP Les Mills class?

what is bodypump 3

A BODYPUMP gym class consists of performing a range of fast-paced exercises with light to moderate barbell weights for several repetitions. 

This is accompanied by upbeat music to keep the class energetic and motivation levels high. 

Classes are led by qualified Les Mills instructors who will coach you through a selection of scientifically-backed exercises and techniques. 

Instructors will also help you to build confidence using weights so you needn’t be worried if you’re unfamiliar with them. 

BODYPUMP classes are available as either 30, 45, or 55-minute workouts, and can burn up to 400 calories per session!

They are therefore ideal for those wanting to:

  • Lose weight
  • Gain muscle
  • Tone up
  • Improve cardiovascular fitness and stamina

With this in mind, next we will explore some of the benefits of BODYPUMP classes in more detail! 

The Benefits Of A BODYPUMP Class

So, now that we have answered ‘what is a BODYPUMP workout?’, you may be wondering, ‘so what is BODYPUMP good for?’

We’ll outline some of the main benefits of BODYPUMP classes below!

BODYPUMP Classes Can Help You Burn Calories 

what is bodypump class

If you are looking to lose weight, you may be wondering, how many calories does a BODYPUMP class burn? 

The exact number of calories burnt in a BODYPUMP class will vary from person to person, depending on various individual factors. 

But on average, a single BODYPUMP class can burn up to 400 calories!

This is on par with other popular workout classes such as Spin, kettlebell, and Zumba.

Plus, once you begin to build muscle from classes, you’ll burn even more calories! This is because people with a greater muscle mass burn more calories than those with a smaller muscle mass. 

With that, BODYPUMP is a viable solution for those wanting to lose weight, since it helps work towards a calorie deficit. 

However, remember that BODYPUMP gym classes alone aren’t enough to achieve and maintain weight loss– it also involves other things such as eating healthily and entering a calorie deficit. 

So, if you’ve ever wondered “how many calories does a BODYPUMP class burn?”, you now know that a single class can burn up to 400 calories, which is very impressive!

BODYPUMP Gym Classes Can Improve Strength And Endurance 

what is bodypump 4

Another one of the great benefits of BODYPUMP classes is increased strength and endurance.

BODYPUMP involves using low to moderate weights for a high number of repetitions- rather than using higher weights for less reps.

In general, low reps and heavy weights is best for increasing muscle mass, whilst more reps and lighter weights is effective for increasing muscle tone and endurance. 

This is because exercising with light weights triggers “slow twitch” muscle fibres, which can sustain force for longer periods when compared with the muscles required to lift heavy weights. 

This allows for muscles to develop endurance and overall strength.

BODYPUMP classes are a full-body workout, which means you can expect to see improved strength in the following areas:

  • Arms
  • Core
  • Back
  • Legs
  • Glutes

There are many benefits of strength training, from making everyday tasks easier, to improving your mood and reducing the risk of injury. 

So, if you’ve ever thought “what is BODYPUMP good for?”, getting stronger is as good a reason as any to get started!

Les Mills BODYPUMP Classes Can Improve Your Posture 

what is bodypump class 2

Did you know that Les Mills BODYPUMP classes can also improve your posture? 

If you’re someone who typically slumps your shoulders or is hunched over a desk all day, then a BODYPUMP class can help with that!

As mentioned in the previous point, one of the benefits of BODYPUMP classes is improved strength.

By strengthening your back, shoulders, and core, you’ll be far more capable of supporting your body in the right posture.

Plus, poor posture can often lead to lower back pain- and BODYPUMP can help to alleviate this too. 

While it might seem counterproductive to complete a vigorous workout with a sore back, barbell-based classes can help to iron out muscle stiffness and aches. 

Furthermore, if improved posture and experiencing less pain is important to you, BODYPUMP is an excellent class to consider.  

BODYPUMP Classes Can Improve Your Mood

what is bodypump

Another one of the fantastic benefits of BODYPUMP classes is they can help to boost your mood. 

During exercise, your body releases chemicals called endorphins which react with the receptors in your brain that reduce the perception of pain and trigger positive feelings in the brain. 

This can result in you feeling that post-workout “high” which you can get from a BODYPUMP workout class!

In a more long-term way, this can then help alleviate symptoms of mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. 

So, if you started this article thinking ‘what is a BODYPUMP class good for?’ – improving your mood is surely one of the best benefits you can ask for!

If you’re still on the fence, perhaps this BODYPUMP class review from Australian PT, nutritionist, and fitness blogger Rachael Attard will help to sway you. 

BODYPUMP is the original Les Mills class and it is all about helping people get into better shape and look lean and toned. The class is a strength training class with low weight and high repetitions. 

BODYPUMP is full of variety. If you do these workouts, you’ll definitely notice that you get in better shape. You’ll probably see yourself become stronger and your cardio health should improve too.

If you’ve ever found yourself wondering “what is a BODYPUMP class like?”, Rachael’s informative and unbiased account is sure to make you want to get involved!

– – – –

Enjoying this article so far? Here’s 3 more that we think you’ll love:

Where Can I Find A BODYPUMP Class?

what is bodypump 6

Now that we’ve answered this article’s key question ‘what is a BODYPUMP class like, and discussed some incredible benefits, we bet you’re keen to get started!

But where can you find a BODYPUMP class?

Whether you’re looking for an in-person session or a BODYPUMP online class, here’s how you can find the right class for you.

How to Find A BODYPUMP Class In Your Local Area

BODYPUMP classes can be found in many commercial gyms around the UK, such as:

  • JD Gyms
  • David Lloyd
  • Nuffield Health 

Classes are also organised by Les Mills in local leisure centres and independent gyms. 

So, how can you find a BODYPUMP class that is local to you? 

One of the easiest ways to find your nearest class is to go to the ‘Join the Movement’ page on the Les Mills website.

Once you insert your location, you’ll be presented with all of the classes within the area.

what is bodypump 5

It’s worth noting that classes conducted in gyms may require a membership. You should therefore refer to your local gym’s website before turning up for a class. 

However, there are other classes in locations like leisure centres and school halls that offer one-off payments, meaning memberships are not required. 

In both settings, instructors will provide you with all the equipment – all that you need to do is turn up!

How To Find A BODYPUMP Virtual Class 

what is bodypump class 4

If you don’t want to attend an in-person class, Les Mills also offers BODYPUMP online classes for you to enjoy from home, whenever you like. 

There are 100+ videos available to use that can be downloaded to all of your favourite devices. 

There are also 3-12 week workout plans to help you achieve your health and fitness goals, written by highly-trained experts.

To create your own BODYPUMP space at home, you must be a Les Mills+ subscriber which you can do on the Les Mills ‘BODYPUMP: At Home Barbell Workout’ page on their website. 

New customers can access a 7-day free trial. Thereafter, the price for subscriptions is as follows:

Monthly: £12.99 per month

3-monthly: £35.97 (£11.99 per month)

Annually: £119.99 (£9.99 per month)

Since BODYPUMP is a barbell-based workout, you’re going to need the following equipment:

  • Barbell
  • Weights
  • Barbell clamps
  • Exercise step
  • Fitness mat

When shopping around for your equipment for your BODYPUMP online class, one option is to get the official Les Mills BODYPUMP set

However, you are not required to use the official equipment and can use existing barbells and weights if you already have them. 

You may also be interested in reading up on some online BODYPUMP class reviews before deciding on where to conduct your workout. 

Les Mills+ has great reviews on Trustpilot, with an average rating of 4.7/5-stars, awarded by over 500 fitness enthusiasts. 

Here’s one reviewer’s comments: 

It is not always easy to train at home, that is why top online classes are so important. This is the case with the Les Mills+ classes, where you can pick from various types of training. The classes are dynamic and engaging, and there is a constant renewal of videos.

BODYPUMP class reviews like this should give you the extra push to get started with a BODYPUMP virtual class! 

What Do I Need For A BODYPUMP Gym Class?

what is bodypump class 5

Now that you’re ready to get started with a Les Mills BODYPUMP class, you may now be wondering what you need to take to your first class- whether that’s in-person or online.

Here’s a check-list of everything you need:

  • Comfortable and breathable workout clothes
  • Supportive trainers
  • A litre of water
  • Sweat towel

Comfortable clothes are an absolute must as wearing garments that are too tight or dig into you can distract you from your workout.

Plus, adequate water is essential since BODYPUMP classes get very sweaty! This is also where a sweat towel will come in handy.

During a class, you should have some space next to your step equipment to keep your bottle and towel to use during breaks. 

How Can I Lead A Les Mills BODYPUMP Class?

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Once you’ve become a regular at BODYPUMP classes, you may now feel like you’re ready to take your workout to the next level and teach one yourself!

We have a whole article here detailing how to become a Les Mills instructor

But in summary, here’s what you need to become a BODYPUMP instructor:

The first step is to obtain your Level 2 Gym Instructor qualification. This is a requirement for working on a gym floor and as an instructor for classes- such as BODYPUMP.

However, you’ll need a Level 3 personal trainer qualification if you are serious about having a successful career in the fitness industry. This qualifies you to work as a personal trainer. 

Even if you don’t want to work as a full-time PT, many employers, particularly commercial gyms, will prefer staff who are Level 3 qualified. This is because it shows that you have an in-depth level of expertise and knowledge of health and fitness.

Once you have these qualifications, the next step is to take the Les Mills instructor training course.

The training course costs £425 to enrol- it’s an intensive 2-day programme that will provide you with all of the necessary tools to become a qualified Les Mills instructor. 

You will receive a selection of resources and music to begin practising your routines. 

When the training is complete, you must then consider whether you have access to facilities to conduct BODYPUMP gym classes, such as a studio in a gym or leisure centre. 

You will also need to make sure that there is enough equipment for all participants, and you will also be responsible for sourcing class members. 

There are various ways that you can do this:

  • Promote the class on your fitness socials
  • Tell attendees of your other fitness classes
  • Create leaflets to leave around the gym, such as at the reception desk
  • Create posters to pin on gym walls and in bathrooms
  • Ask existing BODYPUMP attendees to bring their family and friends

FAQs

What is a BODYPUMP Class Like As An Instructor?

what is bodypump 2

Now that we’ve outlined how you can become a class instructor, you may be thinking – but what is a BODYPUMP class like as an instructor? 

As an instructor, you need to be very familiar with the music and routine so that you are confident and able to teach the best class you can. 

It’s important to practise the routine thoroughly to prevent missing steps, exercises, or songs. 

You should also become familiar with giving instructor cues. 

Instructor cues are words and phrases designed to help your class achieve a certain movement. 

Cues are super important when leading fitness classes that involve weights as participants must know exactly how to perform each movement properly.

Incorrect technique runs the risk of injury.

Finally, being a BODYPUMP instructor can be a tiring role as you may conduct 1-3 classes per day and so it’s good to prepare for each day with ample snacks and fluids.

In summary, if you’ve ever wondered “what is a BODYPUMP class like as an instructor”, you should know that it’s a very physically demanding job that requires a lot of preparation but is hugely rewarding for you and your class members.

What is a BODYPUMP Class Like For Beginners? 

If you’ve never done a Les Mills BODYPUMP class before, you may be wondering whether it is suitable for beginners.

Well, BODYPUMP can be ideal for those new to exercise and particularly strength training, as it’s easily modified to meet your level.

You can decide what weights to put on your barbell, and so can increase them as your strength improves. 

If you’re completely new to lifting weights, let the instructor know at the start of the class, so that they can check on you frequently to ensure you’re using the correct form. 

Beginners should expect their first few sessions to be pretty tough since it’s a physically demanding class, but don’t worry, it will get easier over time! 

What Is A BODYPUMP Exercise? 

If you’re a BODYPUMP beginner, you may be wondering, ‘exactly what is a BODYPUMP exercise?’

Here are some examples of exercises that you can expect from your first class:

  • Squats
  • Upright Rows
  • Deadlifts
  • Static Lunge 
  • Rotator Press

Even though class leaders will provide instructions on how to perform each exercise, you may find that familiarising yourself with them before the class can be beneficial.

That way, you’re going into the class super confident and ready to smash your workout!

Before You Go! 

So, we hope you now have a complete answer to the question, “what is a BODYPUMP class?” From a BODYPUMP class description to the benefits of the class, we’ve covered all you need to know before you get started!

Feeling inspired? Become a Personal Trainer Diploma and teach your very own fitness classes! 

You can also browse the full range of courses we offer by downloading our free course prospectus here

The post What Is A BODYPUMP Class? Definition, Benefits & What To Expect appeared first on OriGym Centre of Excellence.

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How To Write An Exceptional Yoga Teacher Instagram Bio https://www.origym.co.uk/blog/yoga-teacher-instagram-bio/ Fri, 22 Jul 2022 11:00:00 +0000 https://www.origym.co.uk/blog/yoga-teacher-instagram-bio/ Creating an effective yoga teacher Instagram bio can help to communicate a brand image. In this guide OriGym will walk you through this writing process explaining what you should include.

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Creating an Instagram bio for yoga teachers can help to communicate a brand image and captivate the attention of prospective customers.

In this article, we’ll cover how you can tackle this creative process, and highlight the implications it can have on your business, with guidance on:

If you’re already a qualified instructor, enrolling on a Level 4 yoga teacher training course will provide you with specialised knowledge to advance your career, and equip you with the skills you need to excel.

Download our FREE course prospectus to learn more about every qualification we offer.

Why It’s Important To Have A Strong Yoga Teacher Instagram Bio

Some of you may have clicked on this article curious as to why a yoga teacher bio on Instagram is even necessary.

One of the common misconceptions of business owners who use Instagram is that it’s all about the aesthetic, and how your brand is visually presented. Whilst this is true to some regard, you can’t rely solely on these aspects to draw yogis to your service.

Think about it this way – when you go onto a yoga Instagram page, the user’s bio is the very first thing you see.

This means that an unappealing or uninformative bio could drive away customers, regardless of how well-presented the rest of your account may be.

For reference, as a yoga teacher your Instagram bio should include the following pieces of information:

  • Who you are
  • What you do/offer
  • What content you create
  • Contact information

One challenge that many business owners face when creating their bios is sticking to the strict 150 character limit.

Whilst it may seem like a daunting task to include all this information in such a limited space, we’ll walk you through this process to ensure you know what to write.

What To Include In An Instagram Bio For A Yoga Teacher

Let’s take a look at exactly what you should include in your yoga teacher Instagram bio, along with a few examples so you can see exactly what this might look like for your own page.

#1 – Mention What You Do & Who You Are In Your Yoga Teacher Instagram Bio

Arguably the most important aspect of a yoga teacher bio on Instagram is how you introduce yourself. This aspect is critical in establishing who you are in a bid to grab the attention of potential followers.

When creating an introduction, you should take the following aspects into consideration:

  • Your name
  • Your line of work
  • Accomplishments

While this may seem like a lot of information for a small space, it doesn’t need to be overcomplicated. Here’s an example of how you could fit this into your bio:

From the information provided above, we can see how Adriene Mishler has hit all three of those aspects:

Her name: Adriene Mishler

Her line of work: ‘actor artist teacher writer’

Accomplishments: CEO of ‘Find What Feels Good’, Co-founder of ‘YOGA With Adriene’

Whilst professionalism is important, you should strive to include a touch of personality in this introduction too. For Adriene this came in the form stating she was an ‘actor, artist, teacher, and writer’.

Some yoga teachers get overly excited during this process and as a result, over share irrelevant information. It’s vital to keep this intro short and sweet, as customers will likely be driven away if they click on your profile, only to be met with long chunks of text.

Simply put the accomplishments that are most likely to grab their attention. For Adriene this included being the CEO and Co-Founder of yoga brands Find What Feels Good and YOGA with Adriene.

Other accomplishments were relegated to posts on her feed, like this moment in 2020, when the New York Times crowned her the ‘Queen of Lockdown Yoga’.

Example of what not to include in yoga teacher bio instagram

For some, this kind of recognition warrants a mention in their bio. However, due to the size of Adriene’s audience, owning multiple of her own yoga brands is considered to be a greater accomplishment.

As a teacher you need to think about all the accomplishments you’ve made in your career, before determining which ones are most likely to attract yogis within your target demographic.

This could include the likes of:

  • Your yoga teacher training qualification
  • Awards you have received
  • Businesses you own or partner with
  • Recognition from yoga related outlets

These accomplishments will catch the attention of your ideal customers, and immediately tell them ‘what you do’ as a yoga teacher.

#2 – Use Persuasive Language In Your Yoga Teacher Bio On Instagram

Whilst sharing information about yourself is important, you should also remember the main goal of a yoga teacher Instagram bio is to bring in yoga customers. You want your potential followers to be interested in signing up for your services.

This may sound like a straightforward task, but remember you only have 150 characters to really make a statement, and persuade yogis to sign up for classes.

One way of incorporating persuasive language into a yoga teacher’s Instagram bio is through the use of inclusive pronouns.

Examples of this kind of language are words such as:

  • You
  • We
  • Our
  • Us
  • Together

The use of this persuasive language helps to break down the barriers that potential customers may have in place. It reassures them that you’re inclusive and welcoming, wanting to work as a team rather than just as teacher and class member.

Let’s look Esther Marie Yoga as an example of how you can incorporate this persuasive language into an Instagram bio for yoga teachers:

As we can see Esther Marie uses the word ‘you’ twice in her bio, immediately establishing to her followers that she places them at the forefront of her business.

Notice how within this section of her bio she doesn’t mention herself – she does this purposely to avoid alienating herself from her readers. A good biography will follow this behaviour, striking the right chord between addressing followers and advertising yourself.

If we were to create a Instagram bio for yoga teachers we would write something like:

By working together, we can reach your dream yoga goals, taking your skills to new heights!

Think of persuasive language as addressing your customer- you want them to feel that you’re communicating directly to them, rather than at them.

#3 – Encapsulate Your Business Mission In A Yoga Teacher Bio For Instagram

When creating an Instagram bio for yoga teachers, you should aim to encapsulate your business’ mission statement.

For those unaware, a yoga mission statement simply describes the purpose of your yoga studio/business, explaining to potential students why you created the brand in the first place.

This is a marketing tool that’s often used by yoga instructors to highlight why customers should choose their business over a competitor’s.

Rachel Brathen’s Instagram bio is a great example of someone that communicates her mission statement, and what she can offer customers:

The information in this yoga teacher Instagram bio is a ‘mission statement’, and it highlights to potential customers what they can expect from Rachel’s classes.

From the information provided, we find out that:

  • Her business is a course
  • It focuses on healing practices
  • Course members can expect ‘life changing’ results

This is a great example of how a yoga teacher’s bio on Instagram can be used to incorporate their business’ mission statement.

From just one sentence, customers can tell so much vital information regarding Rachel’s business, which will help to sell her teachings.

– – – –

If you’re interested in learning how to use social media to your advantage? Check out our articles below:

The Importance Of CTAs And Links In Yoga Teacher Bio On Instagram

The next step for creating a good Instagram bio for yoga teachers is to utilise CTAs (Call to Action).

For those unfamiliar with the term, it’s one that’s commonly used in marketing, and simply means the way we ask a potential customer to undertake an action (like clicking a link, or sending a message).

On Instagram, CTAs can turn followers into leads (or prospective customers). By displaying this information in commonly visited areas of your profile, such as your bio, the likelihood of a lead being generated will increase.

When looking to incorporate CTAs into a yoga teacher Instagram bio, you could write something along the lines of ‘book a place on my next hot yoga class’ before directing a reader to:

  • Send a direct message
  • Call (remember to include phone number)
  • Visit your website to book there

A great example of this process comes from Yogi Sofia’s profile:

She invites potential customers and followers to message her directly for classes, which is a great option for smaller, more bespoke yoga teachers.

Larger-scale yoga businesses, though, will often provide a link to their website, like this example from the BoysOfYoga account:

The bio asks the user a question, before then putting the ball in their court encouraging these particular followers to take action and ‘Start here’.

By clicking the link, followers are directed to the BoysOfYoga website, where they can learn more about what the brand offers:

This particular approach to incorporating CTAs into a bio ensures that the customer experience is streamlined and straightforward. This process needn’t be complicated – in fact, the easier it is for customers to follow, the greater the likelihood of generating a lead.

For those interested in incorporating a link to their website into their CTAs can follow this simple process:

  • Go to your Instagram profile and click ‘Edit Profile’
  • You can insert the link in the ‘Website’ section and once you hit ‘Save’
  • This will then automatically appear on your profile at the bottom of your bio

Similarly if you’re someone who has several links that you want to advertise, then you should consider putting a direct link to your LinkTree account in place of a website.

Linktree is a platform used by 20+ million people around the world that allows you to include all of your links on one landing page.

For example, you could include a link to:

  • Website
  • Podcast
  • Book
  • Blog
  • Clothes/merchandise online store
  • Linkedin
  • Portfolio

You might also choose to draw attention to your link, using emojis or symbols to indicate to a customer where they should go next.

This can be seen an example taken from Tara Stiles’ Instagram account, in which she points down towards her LinkTree profile to direct customers towards a 7-day free trial to her StralaYoga app:

For reference, this is what a user will see when they initially click on a Linktree link. Following the instructors as indicated on her bio, visitors will then know to click the Strala Yoga app section in order to activate this 7-day free trial.

When incorporating CTAs into a bio for a yoga instructor’s Instagram it may help to think of this process as inviting the customer to do something, or interact with you and what you offer.

Simply put, a call to action is the only way in which people are going to move away from following your business on Instagram to actually becoming a customer.

Other Aspects to Consider in an Instagram Bio for Yoga Teachers

Now that we’ve covered what to include in your bio, and how you can incorporate CTAs into this, we will now discuss finer details that can make your account look more professional to the average follower.

#1 – A Relevant Instagram Handle Can Support Your Yoga Teacher Bio

Along with a good Instagram bio, you’re also going to need a good handle, or account name.

Since it’s one of the main aspects of your Instagram identity, it should be easy to read, relevant, and communicate something about you and your brand.

A straightforward example can be found below from Chelsea Jackson Roberts’ profile:

When creating your handle you need to distinguish the difference between your profile name and actual name. Take another look at the ChelseaLovesYoga profile:

By including your actual name it helps to distinguish who is actually behind the business. In doing so you won’t be this faceless operator of a yoga business, instead you will offer personable insight into who you are.

#2 – Include A Good Profile Image Alongside An Instagram Bio for Yoga Teachers

Your profile image should be as professional as possible. After all, this is not a personal profile – it’s a business one!

A top tip would be to avoid generic selfies, as this could communicate a sense of unprofessionalism. Having these within your Instragam feed is fine, but they should not be the first picture potential customers see.

Instead, by having a professional profile picture, you can instantly communicate that you’re serious about your business.

There are two ways in which you can create this professional appearance:

  • A front facing picture that has been taken during a photoshoot
  • A fitness brand logo that has been specifically designed for your business

Here are some examples to help inspire you.

As you can see from these examples, both profiles look professional and communicate different aspects of their specific brand.

Deciding what approach is right for your particular yoga brand may take some instances of trial and error. Eventually, you will find a profile picture that works for you and communicates your brand effectively to your target audience.

#3 –  Switch To A Professional Account To Add Further Resources To Your Instagram Bio

A final thing you should consider is switching your profile to a professional account. To do so simply follow these steps as established by Instagram’s support team:

  • Go to your profile and tap Menu in the top right-hand corner.
  • Tap Settings.
  • For some accounts, the Switch to professional account option will be listed directly under Settings.
  • Tap Account.
  • Tap Switch to a professional account.
  • Tap Continue.
  • Select a category for your business and tap Done.
  • Tap OK to confirm.
  • Tap Business.
  • Tap Next.
  • Add contact details and tap Next. Or tap Don’t use my contact info to skip this step.
  • If you’d like, you can follow the steps to connect your business account to a Facebook Page associated with your business. This step is optional, and will make it easier to use all of the features available for businesses across the Facebook family of apps. At this time, only one Facebook Page can be connected to your business account.
  • Tap X in the top-right corner to return to your profile.

By swapping your account to a business one, you can add additional buttons that allow potential customers to instantly connect with you.

This example from EmilyMouu highlights what your account will look like once this switch has been made. You can clearly see that clients will be able to easily contact Emily, simply by pressing the Email button at the bottom of her profile.

When users click on the ‘email’ button, their phone will automatically open an email app with the Instagram user’s email address included.

This makes the customer experience even more accessible and so switching to a professional account is worthwhile for this reason.

Making this change can signal to Instagram that you’re a local business, which will ensure that they will promote you as such.

As a result, local customers who are specifically looking for yoga training will be directed to your page, increasing the likelihood of creating a new lead.

Ultimately, by converting your personal account to a professional one, you can promote growth and development within your business. This will in-turn lead to an increase in engagement with your content and higher intake of customers.

Whilst this may seem like a small detail, in the grand scheme of things a professional Instagram account can help to take your yoga business to the next level.

Before You Go!

With this article, we’ve included a range of tips that will help to captivate the attention of prospective customers, and given you everything you need to write a powerful bio for your yoga page.

Remember, a Level 4 yoga teacher training course will help to improve the overall quality of your teaching ability, and ultimately mean you’ve got more to feature in your yoga teacher Instagram bio.

Download our free prospectus to view every course we have to offer.

The post How To Write An Exceptional Yoga Teacher Instagram Bio appeared first on OriGym Centre of Excellence.

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