Tag: Cueing tips

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My Top 5 Tips for Cueing Group Fitness Exercises Effectively

Group X Instructor cueing group fitness exercises

One of the hardest parts of being a fitness instructor is cueing group fitness exercises effectively. Self-doubt always used to creep into my head as I explained technique. Am I talking too much or not enough? Are folks understanding what I’m saying? Are they even listening? It’s a delicate balance to find, and unfortunately, you won’t always get a lot of feedback from participants mid-activity. At first, it’s normal if cueing group fitness exercises sometimes feels like a shot in the dark whether it resonates with participants. But, I promise fitness instructor cues will come more naturally over time, and it’s definitely something you can learn to master.

Here are my tips to help you sound like a pro when cueing group fitness classes.

  1. Practice cueing group fitness exercises. ALL. THE. TIME.

The first time you ever use a cue, it usually comes out awkward and long-winded. Practice saying your cues often, so you can say them quickly and efficiently. You can practice this while you’re doing other stuff — taking a shower or driving in the car. Think about an exercise you want to do in your next class, and go through the cues you’ll use.

I strongly encourage you to practice saying your cues out loud. It makes such a difference to say it instead of think it. If you can, also practice your cues to the music you’re going to use. That way, you’ll get used to how much time you have to get through all the instruction you want.

It may feel silly, but it’ll save you from feeling uncomfortable in front of a class full of participants. Trust me, my boyfriend would walk in on me sitting on the couch with my headphones on saying, “Alright, ladies! Time for another hill!” He teased me about it for weeks, but my class went off without a hitch.

  1. Start from head to toe (or vice versa).

If you’re ever in doubt about what cues to share, think of the body like a checklist. Tick through the cue for each body part starting at the top and working your way down (or vice versa). For example, where should you be looking, at your feet or straight ahead? Is the neck in line with the spine? You can think of a cue to share for just about every body part. Even if some feel obvious, it’s nice to use as a reminder or clarification for the class.

  1. Scan the room, but don’t stare as you cue.

If you’ve ever taken a Group X class, you know that every cue the fitness instructor shares feels like it’s directed specifically at you. It’s mission critical that the instructor is scanning the room and sharing cues based on what participants are doing. Those cues are going to prevent injury and make sure everyone is getting a good workout. But, you don’t want to make anyone feel bad by staring at someone or pointing anyone out for doing the exercise wrong.

  1. Share both positive and negative feedback.

Sometimes we’re so busy sharing cues to correct form that we forget to acknowledge all of the good stuff our participants are doing. Have their push-ups gotten so much better in the past few weeks? Is their plank form on point? Tell them! It feels amazing to hear your Group X instructor tell you that you’re doing something well.

  1. Don’t be afraid of silence.

You don’t need to talk all the time, nor do you need to feel guilty about talking a lot. You’ll find your sweet spot between periods of silence and cueing. Especially in the warm-up and class intros, you can (and should!) talk a lot. The rest is up to you.

As you build your confidence in cueing group fitness exercises, you’ll be able to start having fun with it. Participants will come to your class each week because they like your personality. Start to personalize the cues you use and your style to really make your Group X classes your own.

For more cueing tips, check out the fitness motivation and cueing page.

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How to Cue Music for Group X Beginners

My fiance Chris and me

Learning how to cue music can be one of the hardest parts of teaching a Group X class. When I was taking UCLA’s Fitness Leadership Program, cueing was the very first thing we learned – and kept learning for the next month or so. For some, music just didn’t come naturally – they often would struggle to learn it as others whisked on to the next lesson.

Music can feel like a foreign language, and it’s stressful to teach a class to rhythm when you’re not confident in your cueing. Teaching to the rhythm means having participants do exercises or dance moves to the beat of the music and cueing new activities in time with the music, so that there’s no break in instruction.

While this isn’t an exhaustive list, here are a few initial tips for beginners trying to get the hang of cueing to music.

  1. Buy a premade CD, and use it for your first few classes.

Purchase a fitness CD online that has a consistent BPM (beats per minute). It’s much easier to count music when the beats stay the same. Also, the top of each phrase (32 counts) of music tends to be stronger in these CDs, so it’s easier to find in the middle of class. Use the same CD for as long as you need to really become comfortable with the music that’s included.

I’ve been happy with the CDs I’ve purchased from 32mixes.com, but there are countless other premade CDs out there. You can buy some from ITunes, or elsewhere on the web.

Keep in mind when you play a CD on the fitness stereo, you can’t change the BPM. But, I would recommend keeping the same BPM throughout the class while you’re learning anyway.

  1. Listen to music as often as you can.

Play music all the time — in the car, as background music at work and even while you’re doing chores or cooking dinner. Ideally, you’ll be listening to the premade CD you bought, so it can start to feel like you’re memorizing your cues.

It’s okay to start with memorizing the cues and using the same CD over and over again. As cueing becomes more familiar, you’ll start to branch out with other songs and playlists. While you’re listening, practice cueing every few minutes. Find the top of the phrase in the music, and then start counting your eight counts.

  1. When you feel like you know your CD like the back of your hand, start counting down instead.

Typically, instructors will cue the next activity by counting down. You’ll eventually want to start counting down that last eight count of a phrase, leading into the next phrase. So, “eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one.”

From there, I like to count down from four every other beat. It helps to clap in between each beat to keep you on track. It would look like this:

Grid of 8-counts to Help Cue Music

Once you’re able to cue music, you can start adding exercise instruction. I like to either say, “Squats at singles pace in four, three, two, let’s go.” Or, I’ll say, “In four, three, single squats, go.”

There’s a lot to learning how to cue music, but this is a great starting place. Mastering your music cues can take your classes to a whole other level, and it can start to feel fun! For more music advice, check out my post on finding the right music for your Group X class.

Good luck, and happy cueing!

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3 Reasons to Work Out, As Told By Pug Puppies

3 Reasons to Work Out

There are a million different reasons people work out. Many people, myself included, exercise in order to achieve a desired appearance, in addition to a host of other objectives. However, working out just to look a certain way can cause us to have a toxic relationship with exercise and our bodies. So, when I’m teaching Group X classes, I prefer to focus on other motivations that don’t rely on appearance. By tapping into other reasons we work out, fitness instructors can help to provide a positive experience that keeps members coming back.

Here are a few other reasons that people exercise, as told by pug puppies — because puppies make everything better, of course. And, what you might not know about me (yet :)) is that I come from a family of pug lovers. A few years ago, my mom decided to breed her pug Zoey, who gave birth to seven adorable, spirited puppies she eventually sold. Before that, we were able to take a bunch of pictures of the pups, and I’m including some here.

I work out to make friends.

Many people will come to Group X classes for the community. Working out in a group encourages folks to work harder and holds them accountable for their workout. It’s also a great way to meet like-minded people in your area that are also interested in a healthy lifestyle.

I work out to make friends. Picture of pug puppies in a row.

I work out to prevent injury.

This may sound counterintuitive, since over-exercising, improper form or unfortunate mistakes can lead to getting hurt, but exercising can also help prevent injury. By increasing flexibility and strength, members can navigate the daily tasks of life, like gardening and carrying groceries, with ease. For example, a better understanding of squats will help people pick up large, heavy items using their legs instead of putting their back at risk.

I work out to prevent injury. Picture of pug in a cone head.

I work out to sleep well.

Getting a good night’s sleep after a tough workout is one of my favorite things about exercise. I sleep noticeably better after a spin class that kicks my butt.

Stress and the glow from our devices are supposed to inhibit our ability to get a good night sleep. But, a good workout can knock you right out when it’s time for bed.

I work out to sleep well. Pugs sleeping on each other.

These are just three of the many reasons we work out that you can use to motivate your Group X class when the time is right. For more ways to pump up your class, check out the fitness motivation and cueing page.

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‘Woo’ Girls No More: Group X Class Check-in Tips

How are you? In most of the U.S., this question is often answered with a “good” or “fine”. But in many group fitness (Group X) studios scattered across the country, the appropriate response to that question is a variation of the phrase “woo”. I’m here to not only give you permission, but to encourage you, to break-up with the woo in your next Group X class.

Why? Because there are other questions or call to actions that will elicit the response you want.

Ultimately, when you ask a question expecting the woo response, you’re asking Group X class participants if they’re okay and if they’re following along. With the woo, most folks do not respond. If they do respond, it’s typically not in unison, which takes away from the momentum of the class. And to the chagrin of instructors everywhere still wearing leotards, leg warmers and hair scrunchies, the woo is wasted air — it doesn’t provide you with any useful information about your participants.

Lily and Robin talking about woo girls in a Group X class.

Now, before I go any further, some of us are meant to be woo girls. When the instructor asks how everyone’s doing, the whole room responds in perfect unison as if they were extras in a Disney movie. If that’s your style and you like it, then own it! As long as it feels authentic, you can ask your Group X class whatever question feels right, in the moment. But, if you’re still trying to find or evolve your group exercise teaching style, here’s a look at a few ways to check in with participants without demanding the woo.

Thumbs up/head nods

Rather than asking your class to say something, you can ask your class to give a thumbs up or nod their head. For some, this will feel less invasive or embarrassing. When you’re in the back of the class and don’t want any attention on you, it can feel unnerving to woo.

Instead, after you finish providing instruction or just finished a really challenging drill, ask your participants to give you a thumbs up. It can sound like this, “Give me a thumbs up if you understand and you’re ready to own this next interval,” or, “If you feel like you’ve finished your recovery and are ready for the next sprint, give me a thumbs up.” That way, you get the desired feedback from your class and your members still feel comfortable.

If/then statements

This is similar to a thumbs up, but it requires your participants to talk. Instead, of asking an open-ended question (e.g. how are you?) that puts your class on the spot, ask a direction question and feed them the answer. For example, you can say, “If you’re ready to do this next interval, say yes,”  or, “if you understand the next drill and are ready to give it all you’ve got, say ‘let’s go’.”

If/then statements are great, because they don’t require a lot of thinking. All your participants need to do is listen to what you’re saying and then respond. Then, you get what you wanted out of it, which is feedback that they’re still following and/or are ready to go.

Visible scan of the Group X class 

One option for checking in on participants is simply to scan the room. Once you’ve taught a class for a few weeks, you’ll start to get familiar with the participants. Their body language will tell you everything you need to know — how hard they’re working, do they understand, etc.

If you’re getting blank stares when you explain a new drill, don’t be alarmed. That could be how your participants look first thing in the morning or after a long day at work. More than likely, they’re following along just fine and will do a great job on your exercises. Have confident in your lesson plan and teaching abilities — allow participants to enjoy the class without feeling the need to give you feedback throughout. If you still want feedback, you can ask for it after class when everyone’s putting equipment away and packing up.

Ultimately, how you decide to ask for feedback and check in with your class is up to you. Take a chance and try something new in your class next time. Once you find a strategy that feels authentic, your classes will benefit.

For more suggestions on how to communicate with your Group X class, check out the fitness motivation and cueing page.