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Will Group Fitness Survive? It's Up to YOU
Saturday, July 7, 2007
Joy Keller - Will Group Fitness Survive? It's Up to YOU
I'm curious. Do you think group fitness has a future? Think about it before you answer and consider the state of the industry itself. Now, I have another question for you. If you are an instructor, are you full-time or part-time? Are you what Shannon Griffiths Fable calls a "hobby instructor"? Do you do it for fun because you get a free membership and you get a good workout in? At this very point in the industry's lifetime we are at a crossroads. It seems the majority of our teacher base is made up of veterans who have been teaching for 10, 20 years and more. These skilled professionals carry with them the internal code for high-quality techniques. They will not be teaching forever. Who will take their place?
More than one person I've talked to this weekend has mentioned the ever-widening gap between the very good instructors who have been teaching for years and the new generation coming up who are a lot less qualified and, some say, unwilling to put in the time it takes to become good. In the session "Looking Forward, What's Next in Group Fitness," attendees got a glimpse of what's to come. Or maybe what's not to come. It's up to us. The panelists agreed that newer instructors seem less willing to learn how to teach at the top of a phrase or how to learn a new 32-count combination. Instead, they want a DVD that will teach them how to teach in 2 hours. Does this bode well for our future?
This session riled me up, I have to tell you. It brought up so many good points; it will take a year or more of exploring the concepts in IDEA Fitness Journal before I can clearly summarize a position. But I do know this: if we want the industry to grow and if we want to continue to Inspire the World to Fitness we have to be willing to invest more of ourselves in each other. We need to network with each other and find out what other clubs are doing and how their directors handle similar issues. We need to research university programs and see if we can offer some sort of mentorship or internship deals for budding professionals. Instructors who have experience perhaps can think about how much time they have to take someone under their wing and nurture their growth. Think about your own experience—did you learn it all on your own, or did someone help you? Would you be where you are today without that person's time, commitment and investment in you?
I'd love to know your thoughts on the topic of "hobby instructors" and how we can create a more viable career path for group fitness instructors. Please feel free to post a comment and let everyone know your own opinion. Let's put our heads together and secure the fitness industry's future. While we're at it, let's come up with as many ways as possible to motivate people to simply move.
Okay, final thought for today. Some trends mentioned in the above session I want you to know about early (before being published in IDEA Fitness Journal): group fitness is going back to basics. Simplicity is in, a menagerie of equipment is out, and dance-inspired classes are hot, hot, hot!!
Have fun everyone!
posted by Joy Keller @ 7/7/2007 6:32:11 PM
Comments:
The future of group exercise
Submitted by Vahagn Hayrapet on Mon, 07/09/2007 - 3:27am.
Hi, I think group exercise certainly will survive because the fitness industry is now moving from being mainly equipment / hardware oriented to being more content / experience oriented. How will that help pass on the knowledge and skills of senior instructors I don't know; however I'm sure that group exercise will evolve somehow.
You have somewhat similar situation in the martial arts, where the senior instructors pass the knowledge down to the junior ones in both group and individual settings. Then of course many martial artists are very self-motivated to learn all that knowledge, so it happens naturally over the course of time...
You mentioned the role of the universities and I think this is a promising prospect. Maybe one should lobby that fitness group exercise become a part of sports education programs at university level; or the individual fitness clubs / organizations can establish their own "mini-universities" that would adhere to some common standard.
Regards, Vahagn ("part-time instructor" :-)
www.vahagn.name
Looking forward, I must do something!
Submitted by Cheryl Lawson on Sun, 07/08/2007 - 8:16am.
As a long time group exercise instructor, I admit that I let life get me off my game, my IDEA membership-not renewed, my fitness program-haphazard at best. Until a few months ago when I committed to get myself a back to peak health and fitness.
I found a wonderful community college Pilates program, with well trained instructors, up to date equipment, and a dept. director committed to proper form and instruction.
So when I saw step classes, (my favorite to teach) I was excited about the opportunity to add it to my personal program. While many of us find it hard to find instructors we like to work out with, what I found was disturbing on so many levels! I don't think either of the two instructors I've worked with know what the top of the phrase is! Their steps are 3 risers high, but no mention of how or what the students should use based on their needs. No walking around during class to see if students are stepping correctly or even if they are wearing the right shoes!!!
Now what am I doing? I'm telling them about their shoe choices,(no flat skater shoes to step in) I'm moving things away from their step so they don't trip over mats and weights, I'm telling students "if it hurts don't do it".
What is most disturbing is that since this in an environment of mostly young minority students who are most likely "working out" for the very first time in their lives, they are not learning proper form, nor are they being inspired to get involved in group exercise certifications or IDEA.
You are correct in what we did to get training, I joined IDEA, I certified in Step, Kick boxing, Spinning (johnny G so you know how old i am), I spent a week at the Cooper Institute for Aerobic Research,attended IDEA World Events at my own expense; however, I had a full time (non fitness) job that helped me pay for all of this and I don't expect the new generation to do all of this, but a 2 hour video is not the answer.
I know I personally have to do something and I am committed to inspire people to fitness once again. I will let my voice be heard at the community college in hopes that their program can become a catalyst for these young students who are a clean slate of potential.
I encourage each of you to do the same in your communities!
