Top 10 Tips for Running the “Perfect” Group Class
*adapted from TwoBrain Coaching
1. Smile, and greet everyone with their name
In our style of gym, people want the personal touch. That’s why they’re here! You also need to get to know your clients, make them feel welcome. Smile! Your job is awesome, and people are excited to be at the gym. Show them that you’re excited too, make eye contact, and say hello by using their name.
2. Use a “bridge-back”
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Along with that personal touch is showing that you pay attention to each individual. A bridge back is simply bringing something up that you talked about last time you saw them, or that you saw them post on social media, etc. Just another great way to connect with the many individuals that you work with.</span>
3. Session starts precisely on time, and you ask for injuries during the briefing
If it’s a 6 AM class, and someone constantly shows up at 6:03, then take that up with them 1:1 if need be - but start the class at 6 AM. Everyone's time is valuable!
4. Smile often
Again, people are excited to be here. Show them that you are, too! Smile, laugh, bring good energy, and make people feel welcome. A good trainer is able to elevate the energy in the room - smiling goes a long way!
5. Show up early and prepared
This ties in with #1 of the Top 8 Tips for Managing Class Flow - It’s in here twice for a reason!
6. Be mindful of class flow
Be aware of hitting your time stamps (within your margins) as you go through the workout, be mindful of your energy and tempo as you go through the different segments of the class, and keep things moving. Avoid getting off track and distracted with chatter and miscellaneous instruction.
7. Your energy level should match what you want out of the group
If you want intensity, you need to bring intensity. Nobody busted their butt for someone sitting in a chair (I actually lied - a lot of old school weightlifting coaches sit in chairs when their athletes lift. Whatever works for them, but that’s not this).
Your tone, your demeanor, your energy, should all match what you want out of your athletes in that given time. Warmup, workout, skill or play, cooldown, etc. It all changes as you go through the day’s workout, and is more fluid than anything else.
8. Coach Everyone.
Any given class will be full of unique individuals - not just a group of people. They all have different backgrounds, needs (by degree not kind), wants, feelings and preferences. You have to be able to coach someone who has never air squatted before and someone who can squat 400 lbs with perfection at the same time. If you aren’t able to, you need to educate yourself accordingly. You need to be able to teach someone who is brand new how to snatch at the same time as the national level lifter is prepping their bar, and be able to give them actionable advice to improve their chances of success. If you aren’t able to, you need to educate yourself accordingly.
Everyone comes to the gym to be coached - so coach them! Keep things helpful, relevant, and positive.
9. Highlight bright spots
A Bright Spot is intended to get clients to focus on positivity. Often times, we get ourselves stuck in a rut, and feel like there is no way out. We focus on the few negatives in our week rather than the many positives. We have much to be grateful for. By focusing on the positives, we’re able to find more positives. More positives turns into more happy, more happy turns into more motivation, and more motivation turns into more action. More action means more results!
When a client feels like they are closer to their goals, regardless of how close or far away they really are, they take more action towards their goals. This is the whole point behind calling out bright spots - for clients to see others making it happen, to look at themselves and see that they’re making it happen, and spread positivity, build connection, and eventually turn that into action.
In the real world of course, this is known as a compliment. Duh. I put it here though because it is often forgotten, and many coaches and trainers go through sessions like a robot who lives on graph paper and never points out the progress that people are making - remember that your clients don’t always know that they’re making progress! People have their own ways to measure progress that may or may not have any bearing on reality or be relevant to the actual thing they’re comparing to. It’s your job to call that out and put them on a pedestal - make them feel awesome! Do this for each person, and be genuine.
10. Thank them for coming!
People show up for many reasons, but it can never be overlooked that often it can be hard to show up to the gym. Hard days, intimidating workouts, the list goes on and on. It’s hard. But, anytime people show up to participate in what you’re putting out there, thank them for being here. It’s important. It also might be the only time they hear it all day. Plus, we love our people. Show them your appreciation!