After four years of teaching group fitness, I’ve learned that a great class is so much more than shouting out exercises as the music is on full blast. It’s an experience you design and bring to life every single time you step in front of a room. It’s art.
Energy, music, vocal tone, effective cueing, and theming are the “secret ingredients” that turn a simple workout into the reason why your students set their alarms at 6:30 am on a Saturday.
Whether you teach chair yoga or kickboxing, here are the five tips I swear by.
1. Energy. You receive what you put out.
Energy is truly contagious. As the instructor, you are setting the mood for your class. Your presence and body language matter from the moment you step into the room.
Think back to your favorite class at a studio like Barry’s Bootcamp or SoulCycle. What did you notice about how the instructor introduced themselves? Chances are, they commanded the room.
2. Music. The roadmap of your class.
Your playlist is never just background noise. Choose slower-tempo tracks for your warm-up and cool-down, and higher BPM (beats per minute) songs to fuel your cardio bursts.
Think about the best classes you’ve taken. Did a specific song or beat drop motivate you to do that one extra push-up?
3. Vocal Tone. It’s not just what you say — it’s how you say it.
You’ll be using your voice for the next 45 to 60 minutes, so use vocal variety throughout class. For example, for a vinyasa yoga class, use a calming voice as your students start to warm up in their bodies. During the actual flow and repetition, use a louder, more inspiring tone and sprinkle in your students’ names.
4. Effective cueing.
Your cueing should be relatable to everyone in the room, regardless of their fitness level. This is especially true if you have someone doing their first class. Effective cues should tell you how the exercise should feel, paired with a clear physical demonstration (aim for 4-6 reps).
Example: Mountain Pose
Simple cue: Stand with your feet together
Simple cue: Stand with your feet together
An effective cue: Root through all corners of your feet, and lift your thighs towards the ceiling to engage your quads.
Example: Squat
Simple cue: Bring your feet hip-width apart, sit your hips back like you’re sitting on a chair, then stand up
An effective cue: Draw your feet hip-width apart and lower your hands to your heart center. Inhale as you lower down, placing your weight on your heels; exhale, press through your feet to lift, and align your shoulders above your hips.
5. Theme. The "why" behind the sweat.
A theme gives your students a focal point to return to when they start to feel fatigued or distracted.
Example theme: Finding joy in the discomfort
How to apply it: During a set of squats, you can say, “As you start to feel your lower body fire up, can you smile in the mirror as you sink a half inch lower?”
Your students come for the workout and sweat, but they stay for the experience. By adding these tips to your next class, you almost guarantee that everyone walks out of the studio feeling stronger, more inspired, or, at the very least, smiling!
Let’s connect. Share how you bring the magic to your classes in the comments below.