Why Personal Trainers Need to Teach Group Exercise

Training fitness clients one-on-one and leading fitness classes are two different things with different skill sets. Personal trainers excel at working with one person at a time, helping them achieve health and fitness goals. Group fitness instructors are good at energizing and motivating a group. 

If you’re a personal trainer, have you considered picking up some fitness classes on the side? If you haven’t yet, here are some excellent reasons it might be a good idea. 

What Qualifications Do You Need to Be a Group Fitness Instructor? 

First, it’s important to understand qualifications. Most roles in the fitness industry are not officially regulated. This means there are no legal requirements to have a certain certification or license. However, most gyms and clients only work with certified personal trainers. 

As for group fitness teachers, the qualifications are generally less. Some gyms will hire instructors to lead classes with no formal credentials. It’s a good idea, though, to have a group fitness certification. Running a class isn’t as easy as it looks. 

You can study to earn a specialty certificate in group exercise. If you already have your personal trainer certification, adding a group fitness specialization shouldn’t take long. It will provide you with valuable information about successfully leading a group class. 

Small group personal training and group instruction are not the same thing. Learn more about small group training here. 

5 Reasons Why Personal Trainers Should Teach Group Exercise

So, why should you consider this additional career path as a fitness professional? From earning a little more on the side to growing your personal training business, there are many good reasons to consider leading group classes. 

1. Group fitness is popular

2. Market yourself to potential new clients

3. Supplement your income

4. Extra offerings for your training clients

5. Teaching group exercise can make you a better trainer

1. Group Fitness is Popular

Group fitness classes are increasingly popular with gym goers. According to one survey of over 3,000 people who attend these classes found that 85% of them consistently participate twice a week. Nearly half of them go to the gym four times a week for a fitness class. (1)

But why is group fitness so popular? There are a lot of reasons people like fitness classes. These factors not only bring people into gyms, but they also boost retention: 

• Working out with other people is fun. It’s a social event rather than a solo chore. 

• Group classes offer accountability through positive social pressure, which can make exercise more effective. It if helps someone stick with an exercise routine, they’re more likely to get all the benefits and see results. 

• While social pressure can push people to work out more, this format is also highly motivating. It feels good to workout and socialize with friends, a double motivation that keeps people coming back. 

• The set schedule associated with group classes makes it easier to adhere to a routine. 

• Fitness classes offer a lot of variety. You can lead groups in yoga, cycling, dance fitness, strength training, and even fitness drumming. The possibilities are endless. 

With so many people interested in and regularly attending fitness classes, it just makes sense to be a part of it as a group instructor. Even if personal training remains your primary role, teaching classes can be a fun and profitable side hustle. 

2. Market Yourself to Potential New Clients

What better way to get in front of a lot of people who might be interested in hiring a personal trainer? If group classes are where the people are in the gym, you need to be there too. Leading classes can be a great way to market your primary business as a personal trainer. 

People who are motivated to pay for and regularly attend group exercise classes are more likely than the average person to sign up for individual training sessions. This is a chance to sell yourself to your target audience. 

Although classes are much more generalized, take some time to work with individual participants as much as possible. Offer pointers, correct form, and answer questions to showcase what you could do in a one-on-one session to support their fitness goal. Be prepared with a business card or flyer in case anyone shows interest. 

If you’re ready to jump into group fitness instruction, check out these best practices for leading a group fitness class. 

3. Supplement Your Income

Even if personal training is your primary business and income source, teaching group fitness classes can be a great way to earn more. You can probably fit in a few classes a week around your training sessions. Another option is to offer yourself as a sub at gyms. 

Being on a regular schedule for classes, even just one or two a week, provides a consistent revenue source. Gyms keep a pretty regular calendar because members rely on being able to go to their favorite classes at their regular times. And, gyms will always have participants for fitness classes, so the opportunities should be available indefinitely. 

4. Extra Offerings for Your Training Clients

If you already offer personal training sessions, you have ready-made workouts for your personal training clients. A group exercise class would not take the place of your one-on-one personal training session, but they provide an “extra” you can offer them. 

For example, if you have a client focusing primarily on strength training with you, it’s likely you assign them cardio as homework. If you teach fitness classes, invite them to join as a fun way to get their cardio done. The added layer of accountability associated with this approach makes it even more likely that they’ll adhere to the plan and meet their goals. 

5. Teaching Group Exercise Can Make You a Better Trainer

This reason for taking up group instruction is more of a long-term investment in your fitness career, although it will still result in a new source of revenue. You can learn a lot from teaching groups, and what you learn can make you a better fitness trainer that more clients will seek out and return to. 

Both group fitness instructors and personal trainers know a lot about exercise science and fitness, but not all of their skills overlap. Personal trainers are skilled at individualizing programs and adapting their knowledge to each client’s unique fitness level, needs, abilities, and limitations. 

Group exercise instructors do not need as much technical knowledge, but they must excel at maintaining high energy through an hour-long workout, projecting their voices, and generalizing to a group of people with different needs. They can communicate quickly and clearly. They adapt and make changes on the fly. 

These are skills you can use in your personal training to make you better at communicating, being flexible, motivating clients, and being enthusiastic. 

How to Get Started as a Group Exercise Instructor

If you already have your personal trainer certification, consider going back for a specialization in group exercise. Most gyms are always on the lookout for new instructors, and being a personal trainer is a bonus. 

You will probably have to go through some training to learn the types of classes you’ll be teaching. Some types of classes require a certified teacher, which may mean going through the company’s training program.

Once you’re ready to jump in as a teacher, expect a totally new but fun and educational experience. You can get a lot out of teaching as you support participants looking to meet their fitness goals.

Take Your Fitness Training to the Next Level

If you’re not yet a certified personal trainer, consider starting with ISSA’s Personal Training Certification program. Complete it at your own pace and be ready to work one-on-one with clients, teach group classes, and more. It’s a foundational course for any professional fitness journey. 

References

1. Research Shows Group Exercise is the Key to Member Retention. (2016, October 20). American Spa. https://www.americanspa.com/sponsored/research-shows-group-exercise-key-to-member-retention