You might have stumbled upon this post because you’re thinking about becoming a Group X (or group fitness) instructor. First and foremost, welcome! If you choose to take that next step, the path to becoming a group fitness instructor is both rewarding, invigorating and downright challenging.
To be frank, it’s not for everyone. You’ll want to do some research before getting certified to decide if teaching group exercise classes is right for you. I wanted to share a few thoughts on the different reasons people join the fitness industry. Once you figure out your why, you’ll have a better idea if you’re going to find long-term success pursuing your passion for fitness.
Let’s talk about the No. 1 wrong reason for teaching group exercise:
I love to workout. Why not get paid doing it?
I think it’s safe to say you have to love fitness and exercise to become an instructor. But, just because you enjoy working out, doesn’t mean you’ll enjoy teaching. What’s more, you will likely work out less when you teach. That’s because important components of teaching — cueing proper form, motivating your class to work harder and monitoring for safety — cannot be done while you’re doing the workout full out in the front of the room. On top of that, the pay can often be a wash, when you add in the cost for certifications, continuing education, clothes and music.
Typically, folks that try out teaching simply because they want to get paid to work out will end up burning out of the industry pretty quickly.
However, there are many reasons to become a group fitness instructor, including:
- I love sharing my knowledge of fitness with others.
- I enjoy finding creative ways to work muscle groups and planning comprehensive workouts.
- I am passionate about coaching and motivating others to be the best versions of themselves.
- I am a stickler for exercise safety and proper form. I want to share my knowledge with others, so they can avoid injury and still be working out in another 50+ years.
The list goes on. So, before you take that next step, be sure to drill down to the reason you want to become a group fitness instructor. With the right purpose, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a rock star teacher.
For more insight into teaching fitness classes, check out the group exercise ideas and tips page.
