What I wish I knew before becoming a Lagree instructor
What I learned and what surprised me about becoming a group fitness instructor.
Being a group fitness instructor is a pretty cool gig. I’ve been fortunate enough to coach at four different Lagree studios between two states. It is how I’ve made friends moving to a different city and where I found a new purpose after leaving my corporate job. Connecting with instructors and clients is one of my favorite parts about coaching and makes being a Lagree instructor so rewarding.
Maybe you are thinking about becoming a Lagree or group fitness instructor or have recently been certified, congrats! Here are the top takeaways that I wish I knew before becoming a group fitness instructor.
It will take time to build out your teaching schedule.
I get it; you’ve received your certification and you are itching to start teaching! I was there, too. As a new instructor, I wish I would have realized that it takes time to be hired by a studio and receive a permanent block of classes. In my experience, most studios start off with adding new instructors to their sub list which is an amazing place to start! You get to meet the clients, become more familiar with coaching group classes, and start to build your presence at a studio. After you’ve subbed for a few weeks to a few months and a permanent spot opens on the schedule, the studio will then start to offer those blocks to new instructors. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t get hired for a permanent slot right away. It took me months from the time I received my certification until I received my first block of classes. Studios are always looking for subs and depending on so many factors, it might take longer for you to score that block of classes that aligns with your schedule.
Be prepared to work weekends, early mornings, and evenings.
If you have a full-time job and coaching is your side hustle, maybe this schedule is ideal for you. In my experience as a newer coach, the time slots that the more senior instructors have are given to them for a reason – they’ve paid their dues at the studio and at one point, they were coaching the classes that you are being offered. When I was first hired, I drove 30 minutes at 5am on a Monday morning and was coaching until 8pm that evening because those were the times that were available, and I was grateful for them! Instructors are always moving or shifting their schedules, so don’t be discouraged if you have to pay your dues and take the blocks of classes at first that are not the most convenient.
Writing an effective routine and preparing for class takes a lot of effort.
From the outside looking in, it might seem like coaching group fitness is easy. Let me tell you, there’s nothing easy about keeping time, managing different fitness levels, remembering names and the routine all while keeping motivation levels high. For each 45-minute class I teach, I probably spend double that amount of time programming the routine and preparing for my class. To teach an effective class, you have to come prepared! Some factors I consider when writing my routines:
Are the moves different from the last class I taught at that studio (in case I have returning clients)
What is the level of the class (if it’s a class of 5 new people, I won’t start them off on advanced moves)
What modifications I’ll offer for someone with an injury or limitation
What muscle groups I want to target to reach the effective point of intensity
You will have nightmares about oversleeping for the early morning classes.
Sorry, this one never goes away, ha! I’ve talked to multiple instructors who also coach early morning classes and this is something that happens to all of us every so often. I always set a backup alarm for my early morning classes just in case I do happen to hit snooze.
Stick to the basics.
I made the mistake of trying to incorporate too many “hard” moves into routines just to make it seem like I was experienced. I highly recommend sticking to the basics when starting out as a new coach – you will make it way easier on yourself and, in my opinion, some of the foundation moves are the hardest (even for veteran Lagree clients!).
Be a team player and sub when you aren’t normally coaching.
Being a group fitness instructor comes with tons of perks, but unlike many traditional jobs, this one doesn’t come with PTO. If you are sick or have a vacation planned, it’s your responsibility as a coach to get your classes covered by a sub. Whenever my schedule permits, I always offer to sub for my teammates. It will make it that much easier for you to get your classes covered if you have stepped up for your fellow coaches.
Your coaching style isn’t for everyone.
As a recovering people pleaser, this one was hard to swallow. Your teaching style isn’t going to be for everyone and that’s ok! Some people will love your coaching style and others just won’t. It is impossible to appeal to everyone; show up for the people who DO continue to book your classes. It takes time but you will find your voice, groove, and ultimately your coaching personality will shine through. You will find your group of regulars and ultimately build your following of people who do resonate with your coaching style.
Never lose the beginners mindset.
If you take anything away from this post, take this tidbit: I’m always taking other instructors’ classes to learn something new. I recently even had someone record the audio of my class so I could find ways to be more concise and grow (TY Melissa!). I also found it extremely helpful to take the Level 2 Lagree certifications to refine my skillset and love following Lagree accounts on Instagram for helpful tips (some of my favorite follows are @lagreefitbyheather , @teachlagree , and @lagreewithkylie).
My fellow instructors – anything else you’d add to this list? For anyone who is newly certified, what questions do you have? Always happy to help and be a resource for the Lagree and group fitness community. <3