If the idea of teaching fitness classes appeals to you, then you should consider learning how to become a group fitness instructor. This article will guide you through this process, covering:

• About the Role of a Fitness Instructor
• Different Employment Opportunities When Becoming a Group Fitness Instructor
• How Much Can a Group Fitness Instructor Earn?
• What Qualifications are Needed to Become a Group Fitness Instructor?
• How Do You Find The Best Course to Become a Group Fitness Instructor?
• Do Group Fitness Instructors Need Insurance?
• How Do I Become a Group Fitness Instructor Teaching Branded Classes?
• Become a Group Fitness Instructor with a Specialism
• Opportunities for Progression as a Group Fitness Instructor

You can launch your career today to be a group fitness instructor by qualifying with OriGym’s Personal Training Diploma. In doing so, you will be able to lead both group and 1-1 sessions!

You can also download our course prospectus (For FREE) to learn more about this course.

About the Role of a Fitness Instructor

Learning about the roles and responsibilities associated with this position will help you develop a better understanding of how to become a group fitness instructor. 

Whilst employed in this role, your main responsibility will be to lead class members through group workout sessions.

​​The actual content of these classes can vary depending on your chosen specialisation/what style you’ve been hired to teach, with popular variations including:

• Circuit training
• Indoor cycling
• Dance fit

Other responsibilities associated with the role of a group fitness instructor include preparing equipment for classes, liaising with management and adhering to safety policies to ensure the well-being of those in attendance.

An example of a job advertisement outlining a Group Fitness Instructor’s responsibilities can be found below:

  

Keep in mind, the duties you’re hired to fulfil and the amount of hours you work will vary depending on how you’re employed!

Different Employment Opportunities When Becoming a Group Fitness Instructor

Those who are interested in becoming a group fitness can do so on both a contracted and self-employed basis. Let’s take a look at both routes, to understand how the way you work affects aspects such as salary and daily responsibilities:

Contracted Group Fitness Instructor Role

When working as a group fitness instructor in a contracted position at a gym or fitness centre, you will work a set number of hours (part/full-time) determined by your employer and receive a fixed wage! 

An example of this job role can be seen below:

When working in this capacity you will be expected to fulfil other duties assigned by your employer. 

This form of employment is commonly held by those who have recently qualified and are working in the fitness industry for the first time! There are several reasons for this, for starters you won’t have to recruit any class attendees yourself, as they’ll already be members of the gym or fitness centre.

Additionally, there will be senior and more experienced members of staff for you to network with. This will provide you with a great opportunity to learn more about the role and develop skills used by industry professionals.

Finally, as previously mentioned you won’t have to worry about working a certain number of hours or earning a specific amount of money, as all of these things will be predetermined by your employer before signing your contract. 

Self-Employed Group Fitness Instructor

Once you’ve gained enough industry experience, you can decide to become your own boss, as a self-employed group fitness instructor.

In this capacity, your earning potential is unlimited, as you’re in direct control over how frequently you work! 

There are multiple different ways you can earn income when working in this capacity. For example, you may decide to apply for freelance positions at gyms/fitness centres, such as the example below:

In this instance, you will earn an hourly wage and will only be required to teach the fitness classes you’ve been hired to cover. This allows you to work at multiple different locations, rather than being confined to one site for X amount of hours every week.

As a self-employed instructor, you may also decide to run your own fitness classes business. In doing so, you will be able to control:

• What classes you will teach
• The prices you set
• The demographics of clients you will work with

Kerry’s Fitness is a great example of a self-employed group instructor who hosts her own classes. As you can see from the example below, she capitalises on the needs of different demographics by offering varied classes at different prices. 

You could even combine multiple different employment opportunities, working at gyms on a freelance basis alongside hosting your own classes to generate maximum income.

If you’re interested in becoming a self-employed fitness instructor who runs their own classes, check out our in-depth guide on how to set up a fitness class business. Here you’ll find valuable information ranging from organising the legalities to advertising strategies. 

How Much Can a Group Fitness Instructor Earn?

If you’re interested in pursuing this position, you will naturally question ‘How much does a group fitness instructor make?’. The answer to this is dependent on a variety of factors such as:

• Your location 
• Whether you’re contracted or freelance 
• The amount of experience you have 
• The number of hours you work 

As to be expected, experienced group fitness instructors will earn more than those who have just qualified. This is because they will have more skills and knowledge to pull from and will be regarded as ‘experts’ in the industry.

But to understand the influence your location can have on your salary, check out these stats: According to Glassdoor, the average salary of a group fitness instructor in Manchester is £30,825, whilst in London it is £31,236.

As you can see, group fitness instructors in London will typically earn a more lucrative salary, but this is in line with their much higher expenses – e.g. rent, utility bills, travel costs etc. 

Likewise, when it comes to how you work, those who are self-employed will likely earn more than those who are contracted. 

This is because they’re able to set their prices and work as often as they like. For example, take JD Aerial Fitness who charges £10 per person for a class:

If you followed a similar pricing structure, you could earn £100 from teaching just 10 clients for one hour! So be prepared for your earning potential to vary between each group fitness instructor position you have an interest in pursuing.

What Qualifications are Needed to Become a Group Fitness Instructor?

Becoming a group fitness instructor isn’t a complicated journey! All you need is a Level 2 Gym Instructor qualification. The great news is there are no prerequisites to enrol on this course, you simply need to be over 16 years of age!

Getting this Level 2 qualification is absolutely essential as it is the minimum requirement the majority of employers will ask for when advertising group fitness instructor positions, such as this one from David Lloyd Clubs below:

Keep in mind, these qualifications are still necessary even if you’re looking to be a self employed group fitness instructor. Having these certifications is crucial to show class members you’re a credible instructor and understand exactly how you can train them effectively.

Whilst enrolled on this course, you will develop the vital knowledge and skills required to become a successful group fitness instructor. For example, you will learn how to keep your class attendees engaged with your training, providing motivation that pushes them to reach new heights.

Likewise, you’ll gain experience in tailoring group workout sessions to meet the demands of different groups. This is vital for ensuring your classes are accessible and enjoyable for a wide range of attendees.

If you want to learn more about the qualifications you require, you can read our guide ‘Qualifications to Teach Fitness Classes’.

How Do You Find The Best Course to Become a Group Fitness Instructor?

Those looking to answer the question ‘how do I become a group fitness instructor?’, should always look for a course that meets their needs. But how do you find the right training provider?

First and foremost, you’ll want to look for a Level 2 Fitness Instructor course that has been endorsed by The Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA).

This organisation regulates the UK’s sports and fitness industry, ensuring vocational training providers meet the same industry standards!

Likewise, you should look for a qualification that has been regulated by Ofqual (The Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation). This is a governing body which provides vocational training courses with regulated examinations, qualifications and assessments.

At OriGym, we want to provide our students with the highest possible standard of training, which is why our Level 2 Gym Instructor Course is both Ofqual-regulated and accredited by CIMSPA.

Before settling on a training provider, you should ask yourself the following questions, regarding the validity of the training provider:

• What payment options are available? – Good training providers will take your financial situation into account. For example, OriGym offers interest-free instalments, with flexible payment plans to suit your needs.
• Do they offer post-course support? – Look for a training provider who offers career services. We help our graduates by distributing CVs and securing guaranteed job interviews. 
• Are there any hidden fees? – Some training providers may charge you extra for services such as examination resists. OriGym will never subject you to this, we even offer FREE unlimited resists. 
• Does the course come with free CPDs? – CPDs can help to bolster your experience and skill set. This is why we offer package deals, offering these courses for FREE as part of package deals.
• What do previous students say? – Read reviews to see what former students have to say. Thankfully, OriGym is among the highest-rated training providers in the UK, you can even see our 4.9-star rating on Trustpilot

By asking these questions, you’ll be able to find the right course provider to help you become a group fitness instructor.

Do Group Fitness Instructors Need Insurance?

As your understanding of the group fitness instructor role grows, you’ll naturally question – ‘What does a group fitness instructor do about insurance?’.

For immediate clarity, purchasing insurance is absolutely vital. Accidents can always happen, regardless of what kinds of classes you teach, insurance provides you with legal protection in the event that a claim is made against you.

When purchasing this be sure to opt for a reputable provider that offers both public liability and indemnity coverage – such as Insure4sport:

By selecting a package which contains these policies, you’ll be protected against claims such as:

• Professional negligence
• Injury or illness suffered by you or your clients
• Providing incorrect exercise guidance to clients

Reputable insurance providers like Insure4Sport will also provide you with the option of covering your equipment, in the event it’s lost, stolen or damaged.

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Enjoying this article so far? Here are three more you’ll find beneficial:

• LBT Class Ideas
• Make Money As a Personal Trainer
• Personal Training Business Plan

How Do I Become a Group Fitness Instructor Teaching Branded Classes?

With popular brands like Les Mills, Zumba and Spin dominating the fitness industry, it’s easy to see why so many people want to become group fitness instructors with these companies. 

If you fall into this category you’re going to need more than just a Level 2 Fitness Instructor qualification. You will be required to pay for specific training that has been created and approved by the brand itself.

This is because these types of classes and choreography will be trademarked by the brand, meaning you won’t be able to lead these sessions without that specific qualification. 

For example, the screenshot below shows how Les Mills requires applicants to pay £425 for a registration process alone!

Additional fees may follow, for example, the price advertised above is just for one Les Mills qualification. If you wanted to teach other classes for the name brand you’d have to pay the fee again and earn an entirely new qualification.

E.g. if you paid £425 for BODYATTACK training but also wish to teach BODYPUMP, then you’ll need to pay another £425 to do so.

Another factor to consider if you want to teach branded classes is where you’ll work. For example, as a Les Mills instructor, you will only be able to teach at locations that have paid for the rights to host Les Mills classes!

For example, you couldn’t go into a regular indoor cycling class and begin teaching Les Mills’ branded RPM choreography. 

We recommend conducting thorough research into the brand’s popularity within your local area prior to undergoing training. This will determine whether the branded qualification is a worthy investment for your career. 

In some instances, it will make you a more valuable employee and will allow you to pursue job roles that were previously inaccessible to you! 

Become a Group Fitness Instructor with a Specialism

One of the most rewarding things about being a group fitness instructor is that the role allows you to develop a specialism, teaching a key area of fitness that interests you.

The job advertisement below posted by The Oakwood Club is a prime example of how employers want instructors who are adaptable and can teach multiple different classes:

To become a group fitness instructor with a specialism, you may complete further training. Using the job advertisement mentioned above as an example, we can say that candidates who hold a Level 3 Diploma in Teaching Yoga are more likely to be hired than someone who has not undergone training. 

That’s not to say that every ‘speciality’ requires you to earn additional qualifications. Some instructors may gain industry experience in specific areas and develop an interest whilst working – e.g. leading indoor cycling classes.

Opportunities for Progression as a Group Fitness Instructor

Now you know how to become a group fitness instructor, you can begin to plan your career and look towards your future. With this in mind, let’s discuss some ways you can progress professionally within the fitness industry.

Start Your Own Fitness Business

After becoming a group fitness instructor, you will have gained enough experience working at a gym to start your own fitness class business, especially if you were a freelancer.

When running your own business, you’re in control! This means you can make all the important decisions, such as:

• How to market your services
• What hours you’ll work
• The kind of classes you’ll teach

For example, you could decide to specialise in dance fit sessions for postnatal mothers or work out classes that promote wellbeing in elderly individuals – the possibilities are limitless! 

Running your own business also comes with unlimited earning potential. This is because you have direct control over the prices of your classes, rather than being confined to a fixed salary.

Progress by Qualifying as a Personal Trainer

After becoming a group fitness instructor, you may wish to pursue additional qualifications and become a certified personal trainer.

In doing so, you can begin to work with clients on a one-to-one basis, creating tailored workout programmes that help them achieve their specific fitness goals.

Other responsibilities of a personal trainer include conducting assessments to assess a client’s current fitness levels and providing check-ins that monitor their progress throughout the programme.

This exciting career allows you to work across a variety of locations, including:

• Gyms
• Fitness Centres
• Parks
• Client’s Homes

You can also explore different employment opportunities, whether that’s in a fixed contracted position or becoming self-employed and starting your own business.

Whilst working in this highly lucrative position, you could potentially earn up to £39,860 according to Glassdoor – A drastic increase from the salary of a group fitness instructor.

Consider Nutrition Coaching

Becoming a Sports Nutritionist is an exciting opportunity that allows you to expand your services.

Alongside teaching group fitness classes, you will be able to provide class attendees with nutrition advice and recommend meal plans that help to facilitate their health-related goals.

After qualifying, you can even begin to expand beyond in-person group classes and establish an online nutrition business.

In short, becoming a sports nutritionist will set you apart from other competitors, as you will be able to provide services they don’t offer. If this sounds appealing to you, then you will first need to complete a nutritionist course.

In doing so, you will receive the highest possible standards of training in the industry, as our courses are regulated and approved by Ofqual.

Run Your Own Bootcamp

You could also consider starting a fitness bootcamp as a way of progressing your existing career. 

Bootcamps provide full-body workouts, not just physically but also mentally. These are intense group sessions that combine a range of training styles such as high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and military-style drills.

 

You could even learn how to integrate specific pieces of workout equipment into these sessions. This also allows you to continue expanding your knowledge and skills with courses such as a Kettlebell Course or Medicine Ball CPD to keep things engaging for those in attendance. 

Similar to the point above, running your own bootcamps means you will have control over the prices of your sessions and how many people you train, providing you with more income.

Before You Go!

Now you know how to become a certified group fitness instructor, it’s time to take your first steps towards this career.

Completing a Diploma in Personal Training acts as a great launching pad for your future career. Upon completion, we will help you make an immediate impact in the industry, with a guaranteed job interview! 

For more information on what to expect throughout this course, you can download our FREE course prospectus.

If you’re thinking about becoming an aerobics instructor or already have all of the necessary qualifications, you may want to know what to expect in terms of an aerobics instructor’s salary.

Here at OriGym, we’ve done the hard work for you and done a deep dive into what you can expect from an aerobics instructor salary in UK fitness markets, as well as the factors that may affect your wage.

In this article we’ll cover:

• What is an Aerobics Instructor Average Salary?
• How Does an Aerobics Instructor’s Salary Compare to Other Fitness Roles?
• 7 Factors that Influence an Aerobics Instructor’s Salary

Before we start, one of the best ways to earn more as an instructor is to invest in further fitness courses. You can do this with our Personal Trainer Diploma and get qualified to teach both groups of clients and individuals on a 1-on-1 basis in as little as 4 weeks.

You can more details by downloading our free course prospectus!

What is an Aerobics Instructor Average Salary?

Unfortunately, because this role is so varied in terms of where you’ll work and how you’ll be employed, it’s impossible to provide an exact figure for an aerobics instructor with an average salary.

For example, salaries differ greatly between freelance or self-employed instructors and full-time contracted instructors.

Despite the many factors that can influence an aerobics instructor’s salary, we did some digging and found that Glassdoor reports the average salary as £30,819:

This means that aerobics instructor hourly wages vary between £11 for entry-level positions to £35 for more experienced instructors. This works out, according to Glassdoor, as an average of £13.76 an hour:

As you can see from the first image, there’s only 296 salaries that make up this average as they can only base the number on salaries declared by people in the industry.

This is why it’s predominantly made up of people teaching fitness classes in gyms rather than those with their own fitness class business.

So, if you want to know what the average is for an aerobics instructor’s salary, you can see why it’s difficult to get a specific number!

This should give you a general idea of how much you could earn though, and what kind of figure you can expect from the salary of an aerobics instructor.

There’s several ways you can boost your aerobics instructor’s salary too, whether that’s with more qualifications or exciting ways to draw in more class members.

How Does an Aerobics Instructor’s Salary Compare to Other Fitness Roles?

Before we look at things that affect an aerobics instructor’s salary, and what you might do to boost it, let’s have a look at how it compares to some other roles in the fitness industry:

As you can see then, the aerobics instructor’s salary is one of the higher-end positions so this is a career worth pursuing!

How much you earn will depend on how well you can create a successful fitness class and some other career options, which we’ll look at next.

7 Factors that Influence an Aerobics Instructor’s Salary

We’ll look at the different factors that can affect an aerobic instructor’s salary and ways to maximise it now!

#1 One of the Biggest Influences on an Aerobics Instructor’s Salary is Location

Wages vary drastically between different parts of the UK based on the difference in cost of living and other factors.

It’s the same for an aerobics instructor salary too, with huge differences between London wages and those of the rest of the country.

It’s not just the wage itself that you’ll have to consider. Location will also affect the price of a spot in a gym or fitness centre if you’re looking to rent a space.

Your aerobic trainer salary will also be affected by whether you teach in an urban or rural area. For example, teaching in an urban, city-centre location will bring you a higher salary than in slower, less inhabited areas.

In rural areas, however, you wouldn’t have to worry about the higher cost of renting a space in studios, gyms, or centres.

Therefore, though the demand is higher in city centres so is the competition so there’s pros and cons to each location!

#2 An Aerobics Instructor’s Salary Depends on Whether They’re Freelance or Contracted

As we mentioned earlier, the average salary of an aerobics instructor is hard to determine because of the differences between full time, contracted work and freelance working.

In general, your aerobics instructor hourly wage will be higher working for yourself than it would as an employee or a gym or studio but it will often be a less dependable and regular wage.

Once you become an aerobics instructor, if you decide to branch out on your own then when you start out your income will depend on your own marketing and networking.

This means that, at least to begin with, there’s going to be inconsistencies and times when your aerobics instructor’s salary drops.

You may also have to pay more in travel when you’re working freelance because you’ll often be going from site to site rather than being in one venue.

However, this does have potentially uncapped earnings once you’ve established yourself because your earnings will depend on the rates you set and how many classes you teach!

Full-time contracted positions can be a great way for newly qualified aerobics instructors to develop experience while working in a much more income-secure position than freelance positions would.

If you can increase your fitness class attendance then people will often follow you when you branch out on your own and will attend your independent classes!

#3 How Many Classes You Teach Will Affect Your Aerobics Instructor’s Salary

A third factor that has an influence on your aerobic instructor salary is how often you work. Because instructing isn’t your standard 9-to-5 work week and is more flexible, your salary can be quite variable.

There’s no definitive industry standard for the number of classes you should teach either so you’ll have the freedom to control your own schedule.

For those working in a fitness centre or contracted in a gym, your working hours are dictated by the business itself, and you’ll often do 40-hour work weeks at these locations for a set salary.

Because of the rigour of an aerobics class you won’t be able to teach back to back all day but, when you’re teaching freelance, you can fill up your schedule as much as you like!

One of the factors affecting freelance workers is travelling from one location to another as this will inevitably eat into some potential teaching time.

However, it opens you up to teach in a wider variety of places which means you can vary your income and boost your aerobics instructor’s salary.

Mixing up locations means you can teach different demographics as well as in different styles of facility.

For example, you might teach one class in a budget gym, aiming it at students. You might then find an opportunity in an upmarket fitness studio where you’re able to charge more for individual classes.

We’ll look at these different types of gym and fitness facilities in more detail now!

#4 Where You Teach Your Classes Will Affect Your Aerobic Instructor’s Salary

The first obvious way in which the kind of facility you teach in would affect your aerobic instructor salary is the amount you can charge.

In a high-end gym there’ll be higher membership rates and so your rate for your classes will be a lot higher than in a budget gym.

For example, Third Space in London is a boutique space that offer a ‘Step’ class, which is what they call their aerobics offering:

As you can see from their membership prices, you would be dealing with a much higher price range for teaching classes in a place like Third Space:

A budget gym on the other hand, such as JD Gyms, may only charge £19.99 for their monthly memberships but they tend to be much bigger facilities with much higher membership rates.

As you can see, they offer over 200 classes so there’s a lot of room for you to pack your schedule and potentially boost your aerobics instructor’s salary through volume:

It can be easier to boost your numbers when you’re teaching out of a gym that’s already got a higher attendance rate because this saves you time and money on marketing.

As we mentioned earlier, one of the best ways to positively affect your aerobics instructor’s salary when you’re considering venues is to teach in a range of spaces!

This is because it will give you a wide range of experience and you’ll hit different demographics and build rapport and loyalty with class members.

Then, like we said, they’re more likely to follow you and pay a decent price for your services because you’ll have built up a reputation with them.

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If you’re enjoying this article, why don’t you give these a read?

• Become a Group Fitness Instructor
• How To Become An Aerobics Instructor
• Teaching Fitness Classes

#5 Amount of Qualifications Will Affect an Aerobics Instructor’s Salary

No matter where you work or in what capacity you’ll need to make sure you have at least a Level 2 Exercise to Music qualification.

You should also have completed a Level 2 Fitness Instructor Course. This will give you the foundational skills to design and instruct a class that’s perfectly paced for different groups.

However, the more experienced you are, and the wider variety of people you can work with, the more people will be attracted to your classes, boosting your aerobics instructor’s salary.

Also, the more qualifications you hold the more different places you’ll be able to work, getting a wide variety of experience working with different demographics.

For example, plenty of gyms and higher-paying positions will now expect you to have a Level 3 Personal Trainer qualification to work in a gym and teach classes.

If you haven’t yet completed your fitness instructor qualification, you can combine level 2 and level 3 in a Personal Training Diploma, saving money and time.

You can then enhance your expertise and your aerobics instructor’s salary by completing further CPD fitness courses. Through this training you can expand on your expertise working with groups and classes, allowing you to become a group fitness instructor and build your confidence instructing large numbers of people.

Experience teaching groups will help secure you some of the higher-paid positions and boost your aerobics instructor’s salary as you can see from this job below:

Here you could earn at least £23.10 per hour but they’re asking for group exercise instructors and the qualifications to do so.

If you’re able to say you have the necessary qualifications, plus a deepened understanding of the demands of group training and classes.

This will help you stand out from the crowd and secure the highest option for an aerobics instructor’s salary in the UK.

This will open up more doors and help you to secure higher-paid positions. You’ll also be able to advertise your expertise and if you’re freelance or independent you’ll be able to charge more because of your enhanced qualifications and experience.

#6 Level of Experience Will Massively Affect an Aerobic Instructor Salary in the UK

This ties into the above factor – the length and time you have been qualified and teaching will have a big effect on your aerobics instructor salary in the UK.

It makes sense that the longer you have been teaching, the more valuable you become and the more you can earn.

As we mentioned earlier, the difficulty of determining an aerobics instructor’s average salary is that these figures contain earnings for entry level positions as well as those more experienced.

An entry level position for any fitness instructor will be around £19,000 considering most people will, like we’ve said, start off working in a gym and gaining experience.

Once you’ve gained more qualifications and more experience you can apply for roles like the one below:

The range in this aerobics instructor hourly wage is based on experience. As you can see they would prefer a year’s experience in personal training.

So, not only will there be more positions open to you the more experience you have, you’ll also be able to ask for and expect the higher end of the aerobic instructor’s salary where there’s a range like this!

Also the more experience you have the more you’ll be able to branch out into opening your own personal training studio or teaching private classes in other venues!

#7 A Good Reputation Will Help Increase the Salary of an Aerobics Instructor

Building up a solid reputation within the world of fitness can be a challenge, and take a lot of time and effort, but it’s worth doing in the long run.

Cementing yourself as a reliable authority to both clients and colleagues will lead to a boom in clients and create important marketing strategies for you!

For example, when you build up a good reputation people are more likely to give you positive reviews and testimonials.

You can use this to promote yourself as an expert and reliable teacher, meaning you can then charge more for your classes.

For example, Jodie’s Aerobics teaches a range of classes including aerobics and has dedicated an entire page to her testimonials:

She’s put these front and centre to promote her services to newcomers and helps her to assert herself as an aerobics expert!

People will be willing to pay when they know the classes are of a high quality and you come highly recommended.

This is what’s called ‘social proofing’ where people who’ve tried out your sessions recommend you by digital word-of-mouth.

People will trust real people who’ve tried out your classes, especially if they’re friends and family, more than just a brand or company that’s promoting itself.

All of this will help raise your aerobics instructor’s salary and help you attract as many class members as possible, as well as meaning you can charge more.

Before You Go!

Don’t forget, one of the best ways to advance your career as a fitness professional is with our industry-leading Personal Training Diploma. With this certification, you’ll be qualified to teach both large numbers of clients and others on a 1-on-1 basis.

You can find details of this and our other courses if you download our free course prospectus here!

If you’re thinking about becoming a boot camp instructor, or you’ve recently qualified, you’ll be curious about the boot camp instructor salary expectations.

Here at OriGym, we’ve done the hard work for you to bring you this comprehensive article on everything you need to know about potential pay.

We’ll cover:

• What is the Average Boot Camp Instructor Salary?
• 7 Factors that Influence a Boot Camp Instructor Salary
• How Does a Fitness Instructor Salary Compare to Other Fitness Careers

Before we start, one of the best ways to boost your salary is by becoming a master personal trainer with our Personal Trainer Diploma. Find out about these and all of our courses by browsing our downloadable course prospectus!

What is the Average Fitness Boot Camp Instructor Salary?

Because the majority of boot camp instructors are self-employed or work on a freelance basis, getting concrete figures for the average fitness boot camp instructor salary in the UK can be difficult.

While some boot camp instructors work by running individual boot camp classes on a fixed day and time, others run set programmes that run over a number of weeks.

This makes it even more difficult to break down how much they earn on an hourly, weekly, or monthly basis.

Glassdoor lists the average boot camp instructor salary as £30,819, but they get this number from self-reported salaries:

These may be full-time employees in a gym or fitness centre, so can often be misrepresentative.

It can also be difficult to get averages because often this role will be fulfilled by people who have become a PT in general, rather than a role dedicated solely to boot camps.

As guidance for this, according to indeed, the average personal trainer salary is £25,529:

If you do work on a freelance basis or even start your own boot camp business, you can earn much more than this minimum wage as you’ll be free to set your own rates.

How much you earn will therefore be determined by:

• How many boot camps you run
• How many people attend your boot camp
• Your pricing structure
• How much you charge
• Whether you have additional income from other classes or PT sessions

We’ll have a little look at these now!

7 Factors that Influence the Boot Camp Instructor Salary

#1 How Many Boot Camps You Run will Affect Your Boot Camp Instructor Salary

One factor that can impact your boot camp instructor salary is how many boot camps you run and how regularly you run them. It goes without saying that the more you run, the more money you’ll make.

There is no industry standard for the number you should teach or hours you need to work. Especially when you’re self-employed, you’re in complete control of when you work, and how many hours you do.

This means that your earning capacity is essentially unlimited, depending on your own motivation and the capacity you have to source what you need for each boot camp!

You’ll also need to consider that whilst spending 30 hours running boot camps sounds good in principle, this might not be practical with such a physically demanding role.

You’ll need to make sure you allow time for the administrative side of the role too, including:

• Planning boot camps
• Your PT marketing strategy
• Signing up new clients
• Managing payments

#2 A Boot Camp Instructors Salary is Determined By How Many Attendees They Have

As boot camps are predominantly group-based, a big factor in your boot camp instructor salary is the attendance numbers.

The standard size of a boot camp class is 6 to 10 people, though this varies depending on the type of class you’re teaching and your level of experience as an instructor.

Let’s say, as an example, that you charge £10 per session on a pay-as-you-go basis (meaning there is no membership and people may drop in and out as they please).

If you run the boot camp twice per week for eight weeks, you stand to make between £960 (for 6 attendees) and £1,600 (for 10 attendees).

There’s other ways of boosting your attendance numbers and creating packages that make your income more reliable as a PT doing boot camps.

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Check out our other articles for more hints and tips in this area:

• How To Become A Group Instructor
• Fun Group Fitness Ideas
• Teaching Fitness Classes

#3 Mastering Your Pricing Structure Can Mean Earning a Higher Boot Camp Instructor Salary

There’s a few different pricing structures to choose from, depending on how you want to work. Our advice is to establish a fair fee and stick to it! You can choose from:

• Offer subscription based memberships
• Pay-as-you-go where individuals pay per session
• A block payment for a certain number of sessions or period of time

While pay-as-you-go is a terrific way to attract new employees, you should ideally get cash flow up front. This is where an eight or ten-week program comes in handy.

Bulk-buying sessions is another great option, giving you more money up front, but it means reselling to your client every time this block has been spent.

That’s why the subscription model is the best because you’ve got a steady stream of income, that you can rely on every month, and there’s no explicit end date.

You will usually have a plan whereby for a client to cancel their subscription they have to give a certain amount of time’s notice.

This is more reliable income and means that you can manage your finances more easily.

You can play around with different class structures and prices to see what suits your style of teaching best.

For example, Battle Bootcamp has three tiers of payment and membership options, split into the number of classes a client can take per month, from five to unlimited:

Giving too many options can adversely affect your membership base, so try to stick to four or five maximum.

#4 How Location Affects Boot Camp Instructor Salary

One of the biggest considerations when launching your boot camp business is where you’re going to work.

This is true of any career with the increased wages in the South to match the cost of living. For your boot camp instructor salary this also applies to whether you live within a city centre.

These central locations tend to have more demand than rural ones and so tend to drum up more business and so will earn more due to volume of work as well as the cost of the bootcamps themselves!

Don’t fret, though! For boot camp instructors in rural areas you can utilise more free spaces like parks, cutting down on rent costs of a studio.

Check out our article on personal training in parks for more information on the permits and permissions you might need to do this!

#5 Qualification Will Affect Your Boot Camp Instructor Salary

If you don’t hold any certifications in personal training, then the demand for your camp will be lower, affecting your boot camp instructor salary.

The more knowledgeable you are, and the greater your skills, the more popular your boot camps will be as people want to feel like they’re in expert, experienced hands!

This is why it’s so important to get the best Level 3 Personal Trainer qualification. This will deepen your existing understanding and allow you to work one-on-one with individuals.

If you become a personal trainer rather than just a fitness instructor you’ll be able to work anywhere and gain valuable experience with a range of different clients and needs.

In fact, most boot camp instructor positions will want you to be a qualified PT, as you can see below:

This is why getting your qualifications along with CPD fitness courses is so important. When you invest in yourself, you can also charge much more when you’re able to provide a more well-rounded and varied boot camp!

 

#6 Getting Some Experience Will Boost Your Boot Camp Instructor Salary

As we mentioned briefly above, the length of time you have been qualified and teaching will have an effect on your boot camp instructor salary in the UK.

It makes sense that the longer you have worked, the more knowledge you will gain and the more confident people can be in your abilities to get results!

The time you spent gaining this head start against your new competitors should be rewarded with a salary increase.

One of the best ways you can do this is work in a variety of different settings once you’re qualified.

Some examples include:

• Become a freelance personal trainer and work across several different gyms and leisure centres
• Do as much outdoor training with clients as you can so that you’ve got experience in several outside locations for boot camps
• Make sure you have experience in a range of different fitness classes, developing the skills and styles of training needed for a boot camp!

Still want to learn more, then give these articles a read:

• HIIT Class Plan
• Alternative Fitness Classes
• Circuit Class Plan

#7 Building Your Reputation Will Earn You a Higher Boot Camp Instructor Salary

When you start out and you’re trying to boost your boot camp instructor salary one of the best things you can do is to develop a good reputation with your existing clients and class members.

This provides what’s called ‘social proofing’ to potential customers and boot camp attendees! People are much more likely to trust the opinion of people who’ve tried your services, especially people they know.

One way you can do this is to gather personal trainer testimonials from people attending your boot camp!

You can use these in your personal training marketing strategies and will help you to charge more for your expertise!

If people can see that other people have had a positive experience and you’re well reviewed then you’re much more likely to be able to charge more and have a high boot camp instructor salary!

How Does a Fitness Instructor Salary Compare to Other Fitness Careers

Before we get into how your boot camp instructor salary in the UK can be increased, you may want to compare and contrast it to some of the other popular careers in the fitness industry:

This is something to bear in mind when you remember that there’s potential uncapped earnings when you’re running your own boot camps and running your own boot camp business!

Before You Go!

Hopefully now you know what you might expect from a boot camp instructor salary and things you can do to increase it!

Don’t forget to check out our Personal Trainer Diploma which will allow you to increase your expertise and cater to more clients either by training large groups or people on a 1-on-1 basis. You can find out more about our courses by downloading our free course prospectus!

In this article, we’re going to tell you exactly how to plan a circuit class so that you and your class members get as much as possible out of your sessions!

We’re going to cover the following:

• What Does a Circuit Class Plan Normally Consist of?
• How to Plan a Circuit Class
• Tips for How to Plan a Circuit Class
• Circuit Class Plan Templates

Before we start, you can enhance your fitness expertise for teaching classes and individuals with our Personal Trainer Diploma. Check out this and all of our other courses by downloading our course prospectus completely for free.

What Does a Circuit Class Plan Normally Consist of?

Before we look into how to plan a circuit class, let’s first run through the key components of this type of session.

A circuit class involves continuously performing between 6-12 exercises with little to no rest periods, testing participants’ endurance, strength, and cardiovascular fitness.

Such exercises are a combination of the following:

• An upper body exercise (i.e.: bent-over row, lateral raises, renegade rows)
• A lower body exercise (i.e. squat, lunge, glute bridges)
• A compound movement (i.e. mountain climbers, jumping lunge/squat)

Sessions usually last between 30-60 minutes and exercises can be adapted to suit different abilities.

If you want to know how to plan a circuit class there are a few components, other than the exercises themselves, that you’ll need to consider.

You’ll have to make sure that you select the appropriate equipment to use for each different exercise.

You’ll also have to make sure you scale the class based on the abilities of the class members.

So, without further ado, let’s get stuck into exactly how to plan a circuit class.

How to Plan a Circuit Class

Here we have a step-by-step guide on everything you need to know about how to plan a circuit class with relevant examples to aid your planning process.

Step #1 – Set a Difficulty for Your Circuit Class Plan

One of the most important aspects of how to plan a circuit class is choosing the difficulty level for your class members.

The difficulty of your classes may change from day to day depending on who is in attendance so it will affect everything from your class themes to your warm up ideas!

This is why it’s worth constructing multiple plans to accommodate all members of your class and be able to adjust on the fly depending on who attends.

For example, bodyweight exercises are best for beginners as perfecting the right technique and form is important before moving on to weighted exercises.

Conversely, intermediate to advanced members are likely already familiar with most basic exercises and want to use equipment to make them more challenging.

You can give different options within the class so that more advanced members can use equipment for an exercise that can also be modified to suit beginners with just bodyweight.

This way you’re centring your class around your members to ensure they get the most out of the class and return in the future.

Below are some examples of holistic circuit class plans suitable for beginners, intermediate, and advanced participants.

You should note that since a circuit class has little to no rest periods, each proceeding exercise must work a different area of the body.

For instance, you could start with an upper body exercise, then move on to an exercise that works the legs, followed by a compound movement as shown in these examples.

Ideas for Planning a Beginner’s Circuit Class:

10 rounds of 30-seconds of each exercise

• Sit-ups (core)
• Squats (legs)
• Include push-ups (arms and core)
• Mountain climbers (compound)
• Tricep dips (arms)
• Plank (core)
• Glute bridges (glutes)

As mentioned, bodyweight exercises are best for beginner-level circuits as introducing weights too early increases the risk of injury.

Plus, most participants will be familiar with these exercises already which is important for not overwhelming members with lesser-known exercises.

Here’s some ideas for how to plan a circuit class for intermediate members.

Ideas for Planning an Intermediate Class:

10 rounds of 40-seconds of each exercise:

• Squat jumps (legs)
• Renegade rows (arms)
• Russian twists (core)
• Romanian deadlifts (legs)
• Bicep curl (arms)
• Burpees (compound)
• Push-ups (arms)
• Dumbbell side lunge (legs)

Some of these exercises introduce weights into the class such as Romanian deadlifts, Russian twists, and bicep curls, making the circuit more challenging.

Plus, squat jumps involve short bursts of high-intensity exercise which is more difficult compared with regular squats and lunges which are suitable for intermediate-level participants.

You can give people the option for each offering a modification. You can also scale your classes and offer different ones for different levels, advertising the difficulty level for people who want to sign up.

Ideas for Planning an Advanced Class:

15 rounds of 45-seconds of each exercise:

• Kettlebell swings (legs)
• Plank rows (arms and core)
• Broad jumps (compound)
• Medicine ball sit-ups (core)
• Kettlebell glute bridges (glutes)
• Dumbbell skull crushers (arms)

With these exercises, the weights and short bursts of high intensity for longer durations make the circuit even more challenging.

This is an easy way to make your participants work that extra bit harder to promote optimal results.

Step #2 – How to Plan a Circuit Class: Factoring in the Right Equipment

The next step in our guide on how to design a circuit class is to factor in what equipment you need.

Choosing the right equipment, as we’ve mentioned already, will set the level of the class as well as give people options for how they can modify or intensify each exercise.

When you’re teaching fitness classes like circuit some of the most popular equipment includes:

• Kettlebells
• Dumbbells
• Medicine ball
• Bench
• Exercise mat
• Cones for designating stations

For stations that use weights, consider leaving a selection of weights to accommodate different members.

Participants working with too light weights may not feel challenged while weights that are too heavy increase the risk of injury.

If you wanted to know how to plan a circuit class that’s suitable for different levels, rather than having separate classes for different abilities, including scaled equipment like this is a great way to achieve that.

You must organise each piece of equipment into its relevant station before members arrive to portray a professional image while also allowing you to get straight into the session.

It’s especially important to do this if you work in a busy gym and access to all equipment can be limited.

Step #3 – How to Design a Circuit Class: Decide How Long Your Session Will Be

Once you’ve decided which exercises you’d like to include, the next step is deciding how long your session will be.

The average duration of a circuit class is between 30-60 minutes. For this reason, you may want to consider the following times for different fitness levels:

30-minutes: beginners

45-minutes: intermediate

60-minutes: advanced

If the session is too long, members may feel like they’re not good enough for the class and feel hesitant to return for future sessions.

Equally, longer sessions should be reserved for intermediate to advanced class members as half an hour may not be enough for them to feel challenged.

Participants want to feel a sense of accomplishment when the class is done which is why picking a suitable duration is so important.

Obviously you can only separate the classes like this if you’ve got several slots in a gym or start your own fitness class business.

Step #4 – How to Plan a Circuit Class by Considering the Duration of Each ‘Station’

The next step in our guide for creating a circuit class plan is to establish how long each ‘station’ is going to be.

The ‘station’ refers to the area in which participants perform each exercise before moving on to the next.

Typically, participants stay at each station for between 30-90 seconds.

When deciding the duration, you must first consider how many stations you’re going to have in your class and the total duration of the workout.

For reference, most circuit training classes have between 6-12 stations and anywhere between 3 and 10 rounds.

Typically, you’ll want to give class members a 30-60 second break between each round.

Let’s look at a few examples to help you decide.

EXAMPLE 1: If you have a total class time of 30-minutes and you have 9 stations, participants could stay at each station for 30 seconds for a total of 6 rounds, with a 30 second break between each round.

Alternatively, participants could do 3 rounds of 1 minute exercises with a 1 minute break between rounds.

EXAMPLE 2: You could also have a 45-minute class with 9 stations with participants doing 4 x 1 minute rounds, or 9 x 30 second rounds, with 1 minute breaks between every round.

EXAMPLE 3: A 1 hour long class could have 9 stations where participants do a total of 12 rounds, 30 seconds at each, with 30 second breaks. Or, those same 9 stations for 6 rounds of 60 seconds with a 60 second break after every round.

You may find that beginner participants are best staying at each station for just 30 seconds until they build their stamina enough to do the exercises for longer.

Conversely, intermediate to advanced members may want to remain at each station for around a minute to feel challenged.

This is why if you want to know how to plan a circuit class you should do a few calculations like these to establish how long members will be at each station.

We will cover some circuit class templates later in this article to aid your planning process.

Step #5 – How to Plan a Circuit Class: Include a Warm Up and Cool Down

What makes a good fitness instructor is not only choosing the right exercises but making sure everyone is prepared and there’s as little risk of injury as possible.

This is why another important step to consider for how to plan a circuit class is to include sufficient time to warm up and cool down.

Let’s look into both to help inspire your next session.

Warm up exercises:

Light cardiovascular activity is a good place to start.

Anything that elevates the heart rate is ideal but you want it to be gentle enough that you’re not putting undue strain on the muscles too early.

Doing jumping jacks or side steps is a great way to get the blood pumping whilst gently warming up the muscles!

You can then build up to doing laps around the studio but make sure you encourage class members to do a light jog rather than a sprint.

Follow this with some dynamic stretches to promote elasticity and a better range of motion in the muscles, which helps to reduce the risk of injury.

Examples include:

• Lunges
• Upper body twist
• Heel walks

You can find more warm up ideas in our article on ‘How to Plan an Effective Personal Training Session Warm Up’.

Cool down exercises:

One of the easiest cooldowns is light jogging or walking to steadily bring down the heart rate without stopping too abruptly.

It’s also important to stretch after physical activity to increase blood flow to muscles and reduce tension.

The stretches you choose should be general and make sure they focus on all areas of the body, but you can give special focus to a particular area.

For example, you might have had a legs focus for your class, or focused heavily on the lower body, so you want to make sure you focus more heavily on these areas in your warm up and cool down.

Some of the best stretches you can do for a cool down include:

• Ear to shoulder stretch
• Standing side reach
• Standing lunge
• Standing single leg hamstring stretch
• Tricep stretch

All of these will stretch some of the key muscles you’ll use if you’ve followed a well-rounded plan for your circuit class.

In summary, considering these circuit class ideas for instructors helps participants get the most out of your session and increases the likelihood of them returning in the future.

Step #6 – How to Plan a Circuit Class with Sufficient Breaks

Traditionally, a circuit training class involves performing a series of different exercises with very short rest periods.

However, this may not be feasible for some participants, particularly those new to fitness.

Remember you want to make your classes challenging and engaging but you also need to make your fitness class fun.

This is why you need to find the balance between pushing people out of their comfort zone to challenge them and simply pushing them beyond their capabilities.

This is when people will be put off and not return, potentially even injuring themselves.

This is why you should include the option to have an extended break or additional breaks for people if they feel dizzy or light-headed.

The last thing you want is for participants to feel overwhelmed by the difficulty and not return in the future.

So, here are a couple of ways that you could introduce breaks into your class to accommodate all fitness levels.

Have a mid-way breather:

You could have a mid-way breather during your class to allow members to recharge before carrying on. We recommend that this be no longer than 5-minutes to maintain motivation.

Alternatively, you could do 3 lots of 90-second breaks during a class. For example, a 45-minute class could have a 90-second rest point every 15-minutes.

You should make sure that you base this on who’s doing the class and what the level of ability is.

If you have mostly the same people coming each week you can scale this break and gradually reduce it or remove it to show class members how they’re improving.

Have longer breaks in between each exercise:

Another way that you could introduce breaks into your circuit is by having longer breaks in between each station.

An extra 10-20 seconds can help to preserve participants’ stamina as well as keep their motivation levels high as they’re more likely to finish the class.

Again, this is something that you want to make sure matches the levels of the participants and is something you gradually reduce or change as people become familiar with the format.

This should be something you keep as a rarity just for those who are new to the class.

It won’t be long before this is too easy for people taking part and they won’t feel the full benefits of the workout with these extra or extended breaks.

So, if you approached this article keen to discover some circuit class ideas for instructors, we hope that this step-by-step guide has provided some clarity about the planning process.

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If you’ve found our circuit class ideas for instructors helpful, check out some of our other fitness articles to help you be a better instructor!

• • How To Become a Group Fitness Instructor
  • What Qualifications Do I Need to Teach Circuit Training?
  • Qualifications To Teach Fitness Classes

Tips for How to Plan a Circuit Class

Now that we’ve covered how to plan a circuit class, let’s run through a selection of our top tips for designing the best possible session to keep your participants coming back for more.

#1 – Strike the Right Balance Between Difficult and Achievable in Your Circuit Class Plan

Our number 1 tip on how to design a circuit class is to include exercises that are going to challenge participants while still being achievable.

As mentioned earlier, class members must feel a sense of accomplishment once they’ve completed the class and so striking the right balance between difficult but achievable exercises is key.

To stop class members feeling intimidated or your class too challenging, carefully consider the most appropriate exercises that are suitable for class members whilst still pushing them.

As with the example exercises in the previous section, beginner members are best starting with bodyweight exercises to perfect their form and technique before working with weights.

Intermediate and advanced members are very likely to be familiar with weights and equipment and so introducing exercises with these makes it more challenging.

You should consider testing your circuit training on family and friends of varying fitness abilities to see whether the selected exercises are suitable.

This provides the opportunity to revise your structure to create the best possible class.

#2 – Design a Circuit Class Template & Take it With You

Another one of our top tips is to create a circuit class template so that you can create the best possible workout for your participants.

Plus, templates help you to visualise what your session could look like whilst providing additional information, such as:

• Difficulty
• Exercises
• Duration of class
• Duration at stations
• Equipment

Here’s an example of a template for a circuit class that you could use to prepare for your next session:

As you can see from this template, the top section allows you to insert the relevant information about the class, helping you maintain focus and direction with your plan.

Each box is also big enough for you to include the name of exercises plus any variations you might want to offer to class members.

An equipment checklist allows you to tick off each piece once you’ve collected it to ensure you have everything prepared.

We’d also recommend taking your circuit class template with you to your session so that you can refer back to the structure and even annotate as you go to inform your future classes.

So, if you want to get some circuit class format ideas to take into your own sessions, we hope that this template has provided some guidance.

#3 – How to Plan a Circuit Class in Stages to Maintain Your Focus

Next up on our list of tips on how to plan a circuit class is to create your plan in stages to maintain optimal focus.

Though you can create a circuit plan in one go, one of our top group fitness instructor tips is to revisit your plan with new ideas and tweak as you go along.

This will take your classes to the next level and help you improve as you go on, meaning your classes only get more rewarding for class members!

Taking note of new ideas when they come to mind is another good idea so that you can incorporate them into your plan when you get a chance.

This is also important for keeping your classes varied for repeat participants as engaging in the same workout each time could become monotonous.

Editing and redrafting your plans are important for creating the best final product possible.

Working on the same task for prolonged periods will deplete your creativity so you should take breaks too so that your ideas remain fresh and you can look at your plan with fresh eyes!

#4 – Record Yourself Performing Your Circuit Class Plan

Next on our list of tips for how to plan a circuit class is to record yourself performing the classes so you can assess if any changes need to be made.

While rewatching a recording of yourself may feel a little unnatural, it’s a great way to see how you deliver the class to ultimately ensure your participants get the best session possible.

Whether you come up with some new circuit class format ideas, change the exercises or change your delivery, feedback should always be welcomed – even if it’s from yourself.

Additionally, changing your plan ensures that you enjoy leading the class just as much as your members will enjoy taking part which is a win-win.

It’s also good practice for you to build up your confidence if you’ve only just become a personal trainer or fitness instructor.

We certainly hope that these circuit class ideas for instructors have been useful during your planning process. The more that you utilise each tip, the better your plan will be.

Next, we’re going to combine everything discussed so far with some circuit class templates to enhance your understanding.

Circuit Class Plan Templates

Beginner:

This beginner template for a circuit class is ideal for those that are new to fitness as it includes mostly bodyweight exercises.

It’s also an appropriate duration for a class to not overwhelm members while also giving them a mid-way break to recharge.

Each exercise is performed for 30-seconds which is enough time to challenge participants without being too difficult.

So, if you’re wondering how to plan a circuit class for beginners you can use this template as guidance when crafting your own sessions.

Intermediate:

This intermediate template for a circuit class begins to incorporate more challenging exercises and equipment.

As you can see, many exercises use free weights to make stations more difficult.

The duration at each station is also longer compared to the beginner plan to put participants’ muscular endurance and strength to the test.

The mid-way break has also been cut which tests members’ cardiovascular fitness.

Advanced:

Compared with the previous templates, this advanced plan involves lots of equipment with more complex exercises, designed for people with experience and high fitness levels.

The class lasts for 1-hour including warm up and cool down, with no mid-way break.

Each exercise must also be performed for 60-seconds before immediately moving on for a total of 5 rounds.

Furthermore, each component of this plan aims to put participants’ fitness and strength to the ultimate test and so is best reserved for very competent individuals.

Before You Go!

With all of this in mind, you now know how to plan a circuit class for participants of varying abilities!

Don’t forget, one of the best ways to improve your teaching and boost your expertise is with more advanced personal trainer courses, such as our Personal Trainer Diploma. You can find details of everything we offer if you download and browse our full course prospectus here!

Whether you’re a newly qualified instructor or looking to update your techniques and knowledge, our tips for the best group fitness instructor cues are bound to come in handy!

We’ll cover various techniques to help you become a confident instructor so your class has a great experience.

If you want to develop your fitness expertise, the best way is to advance your skills with a Level 3 Personal Trainer Course.

This will provide you with a wider range of expertise and advance your salary and knowledge.

Find out more by downloading our course prospectus for free!

What is an Example of a Cueing Technique? 

There are 3 main types of group fitness instructor cues. These are:

Voice inflection involves changing the tone of your voice when giving cues. 

As mentioned earlier, many fitness instructors talk in a monotone voice or by shouting. Neither are effective for all classes since monotones can be boring while shouting can be intimidating. 

This is why if you want to have a successful fitness class you should change your tone when conducting classes to keep all clients engaged.

Non-verbal cueing is using parts of the body to instruct a movement. 

This could be as simple as pointing in the direction you want participants to move or using a thumbs up to offer feedback. 

Non-verbal cues work best in accompaniment with verbal cues as clients will truly understand what is being asked of them. 

Visualisation cueing involves getting class members to imagine certain concepts or situations to help with their form.

We’ll cover an example of this in #6 to instruct people about how to improve their posture! 

If you master each of these methods you can help your participants to get the most out of your classes and steadily improve. 

9 Tips for Using Group Fitness Instructor Cues 

Now we’ll run through some tips for the best group fitness instructor cues and how to use them to maximise your classes!

#1 – Provide Demonstrations as Part of Your Group Fitness Instructor Cues

Demonstrations will help your group to process what is being asked of them more effectively than with just verbal cues.

Visual aids can be massively beneficial for new group members and for covering new movements, especially when accompanied by your verbal cues.

It will also help the running of the class as people will grasp the movements and exercises quicker, minimising the need to demonstrate individually.

You can quickly demonstrate the exercises you’re going to do, maybe focusing on which muscles class members should be using. 

So, if you want to teach fitness classes with the best mix of group fitness instructor cues, providing demonstrations is a great way to engage your class members!

#2 – Don’t Over Explain Your Group Fitness Instructor Cues 

Explaining movements and poses is important, but there comes a point when this is in too much detail for your group fitness instructor cues. 

This is because long-winded explanations can slow down the pace of a class. The rhythm of the class is especially important if you’re creating a HIIT class plan or circuit training. 

Class members won’t get the most out of the high intensity style of the class if you over explain and have to keep interrupting the class for corrections. 

A ruined rhythm makes it harder for clients to re-establish their flow which is an important aspect of many fitness classes.

Some participants may also find it condescending. You want to make sure everyone feels confident participating in the class without feeling like you’re talking down to them. 

You can make sure you’re making your group fitness classes fun and engaging by practising your instructions before incorporating them. 

You could do this with friends and family and ask for feedback so that the best version of your instructions is the one that you include.

Then explaining instructions in some detail may be useful the first time you go through it, yet it’s safe to assume that the class has gotten the hang of it by the third or fourth sequence. 

In these instances, remind the class of what’s coming quickly rather than going through each instruction again. 

#3 – Use Group Fitness Instructor Cues for Each Part of the Body 

Another top tip is to share cues for each part of the body. 

Doing this provides a short and snappy instruction that your group will understand quickly and also helps to preserve an established rhythm of the class. 

Doing this will act as a regular reminder of exactly what class members should be exercising and how they should be doing it.

It can also act as a fun way of commanding a certain movement and save time and keep the pace of the class fast.

For example, you can alternate between two upper body exercises or movements and lower ones, just shouting ‘legs’ and ‘arms’ after you’ve explained which exercise you’ll be focusing on.

Here are a few more examples to help inspire you:

• Back straight
• Chest up
• Arms out
• High knees

You should still always demonstrate first and instruct people how they should be doing the exercise.

This is what makes a good fitness instructor, finding the right balance between keeping the pace of the class perfect without compromising the safety and accuracy of class members’ exercise.

#4 – Don’t Overuse the Same Group Fitness Instructor Cues

As a group fitness instructor, you should have motivational cues which create impact and inspire your attendees. 

However, if they’re used too frequently, they’re likely to lose their effect. 

Plus, if you use cues too frequently, this could confuse the group in fast-moving sequences. 

Instead, use cues often at the beginning of a class so that the group becomes familiar with the movements and slowly reduce the amount you use as the class goes on. 

Too many instructions could also seem condescending, especially if you’ve performed certain sequences a few times previously and the group is familiar with what’s expected of them. 

As with our other tips, this is about finding the right balance. You want your class members to be focused and in the zone with your class, without feeling confused about what they should be doing.

You should use cues to keep people on track but not so much that you distract them and stop them focusing.

That’s why one of our top tips for any group fitness instructor is to keep your cues reserved for the occasion when they’re needed rather than using them just to fill silences!

#5 – Scan the Room Whilst Giving Your Group Fitness Instructor Cues

Continuing on from our previous tip, whilst you’re gradually reducing the instructions and cues you give you should scan the room to see how people respond to your instructions.

9 times out of 10, everyone will be getting on with the movements as expected. 

However, if you see anyone looking a little confused or moving slightly behind everyone else, consider repeating some of the instructions to remind them. 

Try not to direct such instructions to individuals, such as by saying their name, as this could cause embarrassment. 

You shouldn’t stare either or make it too obvious that you’re targeting any one member of a class unless you’re doing hands on adjustments. 

The best way to do this is to scan the room while making short eye contact with each person and evaluating whether repetition is needed. 

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Finding our tips useful? Check out our other articles on how to be a successful fitness professional:

• How To Become A Group Instructor
• Fun Group Fitness Ideas
• Teaching Fitness Classes

#6 – Use Visualisation in Your Group Fitness Instructor Cues 

When giving group fitness instructor cues, using visualisation techniques can also be valuable for clients. 

This is where you will tell class members to imagine something happening to them that will improve the form of whichever pose or exercise they’re performing.

The group may find visualisation particularly beneficial if they’re covering new concepts. 

For example, if you want to become a yoga teacher as well as a fitness instructor, you might use visualisation to describe how a class can achieve good posture when in a cross-legged seated pose. 

You might ask people to imagine they’re being pulled in a straight line from the top of their heads to improve their posture in a particular exercise.

You could say something like this:

Begin by sitting cross-legged on your mat. Then, imagine that there is a piece of string coming out of the top of your head and tugging slightly. 

Let the string pull your body up so that you position yourself in a neutral spine.

With this, the teacher could also use non-verbal visualisation when saying “pull” by using hand gestures to imitate the movement. 

This way you’ve got a great balance between all of the different group fitness instructor cues to keep class members engaged and working hard!

#7 -Practise Using Group Fitness Instructor Motivational Cues 

One of the best ways to master your group fitness instructor cues is to get comfortable practising them. 

Not only will you be more confident going into the class but this will also give you a process of trial and error so you can practise different tones of voice and different group fitness instructor cues.

In fitness classes, many instructors tend to use two tones when cueing: monotone (which many find quite boring and uninspiring) or loud and shouty (which can come across as intimidating). 

While the latter may be appropriate for bootcamp settings, it isn’t always the best way to motivate a group. 

If you’re unsure of exactly what you want to say, practice saying the cues out loud when in private. 

That way, if something sounds off, it’s easily modified without being in front of an audience. 

Once you’ve practised a few cues, you should try implementing them into a class.

You’ll probably find that once you feel comfortable using them, you’ll have more confidence to go off-script and experiment with new cues as the class is going on. 

You should try to match the tone of your voice and your group fitness instructor cues to the style of class that you’re teaching.

For example, if you want to teach the best yoga class you’ll want a peaceful tone whereas you should be more upbeat for a circuit or HIIT class. 

If you want to discover how to create good group fitness instructor motivational cues for your class, practising privately is the best place to begin.

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Still want to learn more about the fitness industry? Give these articles a read:

• HIIT Class Plan
• Alternative Fitness Classes
• Circuit Class Plan

#8 – Personalise Your Group Fitness Instructor Cues 

As a group fitness instructor, motivational cues help to keep the energy alive during a class and personalising your cues to attendees can help. 

When a group member is addressed directly, it can help to boost motivation levels and give them a push to keep going. 

Using nicknames is also a great way to establish rapport building with class members once you’ve reached an appropriate level of familiarity. 

To achieve this, you should try to reserve some time before and after your classes to speak with clients.

You want to make sure you find the line though between being directly encouraging and making people feel like they’re being called out.

You want to only direct your group fitness instructor cues at individuals when you’re praising people and giving positive motivation.

Otherwise people will feel singled out and may not want to come back to class!

A simple “Keep going, Stacy!” or “Nice high knees, Jack!” will help stimulate participants. 

You should also try not to address the same individuals more than twice per class as this draws a lot of attention towards specific people which they may not like.

It also runs the risk of lesser-known clients feeling excluded.

In short, personalising your group fitness instructor cues is a great way of engaging a class and helps when building a good rapport. 

#9 – Avoid Using Technical Language in Your Group Fitness Instructor Cues

Our last tip for using group fitness instructor cues is to avoid using technical language to do with exercise, fitness, or health in general.

This is because using it could potentially alienate your class members and take away from their experience.

Their confidence may be knocked if they don’t understand the language and could therefore potentially distract them from the instructions. 

For this reason, keep any complex terminology for chats with colleagues and use simple language during a class.

At the end of the day, participants of your class aren’t going to care about the intricacies of movements or poses as they’re there to have a good workout and have fun. 

So, don’t bog them down with technical words. Keep things upbeat and lively instead!

Before You Go! 

We hope that our top tips for using group fitness instructor cues have helped inspire you for your next class.

Don’t forget, you can inform and improve your class instruction with our range of advanced personal trainer courses!

You can find out more details if you download and browse our free course prospectus.

If you love an intense workout and want to inject this into your career, you may be interested in how to become a HIIT instructor. If so, we have all you need to know, including:

• What Does the Role Involve? 
• How Much do HIIT Instructors Earn?
• How to Become a HIIT Instructor: The Two Essential Steps

Before we begin, if you’re looking to become a HIIT instructor, read about our Personal Trainer Diploma or learn about our other fitness courses by downloading our free course prospectus here.

What Does the Role Involve?

So when you become a HIIT instructor, what will your day-to-day look like?

In order to be instructing any kind of fitness class, including HIIT, you can expect to be fulfilling the general duties of a fitness instructor. This could include of course teaching classes, but also some general responsibilities.

Some of these responsibilities could include:

• Cleaning the gym / studio you work at
• Conducting inductions for new gym members
• Help members to stay safe in the gym
• Hold the responsibility of first aid if necessary
• Basic administrative tasks if necessary

Whether you’re teaching classes or completing these tasks in between teaching, this is the general overview of what kind of jobs you could expect to take on, particularly if you work in a commercial gym.

This would be a face-to-face role, meaning that you should be confident and have the personality traits that you need to succeed and make members feel comfortable. Before you become a HIIT instructor you may find it useful to gain some experience as a fitness instructor since this could help you to build confidence and meet potential clients before holding classes.

This is generally the route that you would take regardless, but ensuring that you have this experience prior to planning your classes and starting is a good way to do some self-development and build up the right attitude and confidence.

How Much do HIIT Instructors Earn?

You are probably wondering how much you could earn before we go through how to become a certified HIIT instructor. So, we’ve done the hard work for you, here are the salary expectations based on our research.

There are a couple of different routes to becoming a HIIT instructor, so with that in mind, you can expect to earn different levels of income depending on the route you end up choosing.

First, let’s take a look at the employed route.

Getting Employed as a HIIT/ Fitness Instructor at a Commercial Gym

Dedicated HIIT instructor roles are more rare to come by, since HIIT classes are usually one among a variety of fitness classes provided at commercial gyms. This means that it is typical for HIIT instructors to also teach other classes or personal train clients within the other working hours of the week.

For example, commercial gyms like PureGym or even the higher end commercial gyms like Virgin Active have positions for ‘fitness instructors’ this could see you teaching HIIT among other classes too.

The salary for these commercial fitness instructor roles are typically at an hourly rate, you can see below what Indeed’s data on salaries say about gyms like DW and Virgin Active:

As you can see, there is an average hourly wage of approximately £25.00 per hour across the large gym chains. This is a healthy hourly wage, it is more than double the national average and so while you may not be working as many hours you wouldn’t be losing out.

Getting Employed as a Freelance HIIT Instructor

On the other hand, a more popular approach when becoming a HIIT instructor is to take the steps to become a freelance personal trainer with a business of your own.

Of course, you’ll need to be appropriately qualified in Level 3 Personal Training, which we’ll touch on in the next section.

This could lead you to hold your own classes in your own studio space rather than being under the orders of a commercial gym with a capped salary of £25.00 an hour.

For example, if you build a loyal client base, you could rent a studio space on the likes of UKTherapyRooms once, twice or three times a week depending on the demand.

Similarly, you could also choose to operate out of a commercial gym as a freelancer and pay your rent from the income that you earn from your clientele. Or, you can work hours in the gym to ‘pay your rent’ while you can then keep your total profits from your HIIT sessions.

During this time, you could charge clients to maximise your net profit overall.

HIIT classes, (subjective to where you’re located) can range upwards of £10 a class, in some more quiet areas you may find prices for around £6 / £8 a class. In order to earn more than you would hourly in a commercial gym you would only need around three clients through the door!

With an average class size being around 15 or more people, you could be earning upwards of £90 – £150 an hour for your HIIT classes.

That in mind, holding HIIT classes can be a hugely rewarding career prospect, particularly when paired with other roles within the fitness industry. If this sounds like something for you, let’s find out how to become a HIIT instructor in 3 simple steps.

For some more helpful resources on getting into the fitness instructing industry, head over to these articles below:

• How To Start A Fitness Boot Camp Business
• How To Become A Group Fitness Instructor
• How To Become A Barry’s Instructor: Step-by-Step 

How to Become a HIIT Instructor: The Two Essential Steps

So, once you have established if the role is for you, you need to gain your HIIT instructor certification (UK) which is what step 1 is all about.

Step 1: Make Sure You’re Qualified

You first need to get the correct qualification before you can apply. In order to teach any kind of fitness class you will need a minimum of a Level 2 Fitness Instructor qualification.

This grants you the ability to teach any fitness classes and this includes HIIT. This is the minimum to work in gyms and teach classes, for example, take a look at this job advertisement below for a fitness instructor:

As you can see, as a gym instructor it is your job to instruct classes as well as other responsibilities and to do this you need a minimum of a level 2 to be qualified for the job.

It is within this job role you can teach a range of different classes, you can see from gym to gym what classes they offer on their websites to see if HIIT is on the list.

Something to consider however is that many are indeed HIIT classes with different names, like this scheduled class at PureGym:

As you can see, this class called “burn it” is simply a HIIT class. As a fitness instructor, you would be qualified to teach this and would be expected to as an employee.

You don’t need a specific HIIT instructor qualification to teach these classes, like we said, you only actually need a level 2 in fitness instructing qualification!

Some employers may ask you to hold a Level 3 Diploma in Personal Training but isn’t a requirement that’s set in stone across the industry. Instead, you’ll typically see this advertised on job applications as a ‘desirable’ quality for candidates to have.

The Level 3 PT Diploma will also allow you to work with clients on a one-to-one basis, meaning you can offer personalised HIIT sessions tailored specifically for them.

Essentially, if you become a personal trainer, you have much more opportunity to build your class base and make more money all the while. So while it isn’t a requirement, it is certainly desirable.

Step 2: Finding a Job as a Qualified HIIT Instructor

After that, you should begin searching for a job as a qualified HIIT instructor. The best job openings to look for are general holistic fitness instructor jobs.

These are going to grant you more opportunity to teach a range of classes and often, in commercial gyms, you can work as a fitness instructor and a personal trainer.

So, this is why specific HIIT instructor courses are relatively unnecessary, since the jobs that allow you to earn a good income are the fitness instructors and personal training vacancies.

One of the most popular business structures within commercial gyms is to work 12 or more hours a week depending on the gym, within this time you can teach HIIT classes among other classes and responsibilities too.

Outside of this, you can use the pay that you earn from these hours to pay for your rent in the gym to train personal training clients. This gives you the best of both worlds and is what we would strongly recommend for a successful future.

Below, you can see the kind of job opening to look for:

As you can see, they do state that you need to be working towards your level 3 personal trainer qualification to be eligible for the role. So while for private gyms it is desirable to have a personal trainer certification and not a necessity, double check for each job role that it isn’t a requirement.

This isn’t the case for every job, so don’t worry if you only have the level 2!

Once you know what type of role you’re looking for, where do you look for it?

You should use job boards like:

• Indeed
• Glassdoor
• Google Jobs

As well as that, however, you should look directly at the source. For example, think about what gyms you want to work for. We have linked some of the careers pages for the most popular gyms in the UK to help you get started finding relevant job openings:

• Virgin Active Gyms: Careers page
• PureGym: Careers page
• David Lloyds: Careers page
• JD Gyms: Careers page
• The Gym Group: Careers page

These can always be a great first point of contact, you can see relevant openings and often you will avoid the task of applying for job vacancies that have already expired.

Be sure to check these regularly or where possible, set up alerts for your emails.

Before You Go…

Now that you know how to become a HIIT instructor enquire today about a  here at OriGym with no entry requirements so long as you are at least 16 years old.

Don’t forget that if you want more information on the Diploma in Personal Training and many other health and fitness courses, you can download our course prospectus here.

It’s a great time to consider starting a fitness boot camp business, as they’re a growing trend in the fitness industry.

We’re going to guide you through eight steps to help you get started:

• Step 1 – Starting A Fitness Boot Camp Business Begins With The Right Qualifications
• Step 2 – Gain Practical Experience Before Running A Fitness Boot Camp
• Step 3 – Conduct Effective Market Research To Inform Your Fitness Boot Camp Business
• Step 4 – Decide On Where You’ll Be Running Your Fitness Boot Camp
• Step 5 – Create A Strong Business Plan When Starting A Boot Camp Fitness Business
• Step 6 – Secure The Right Legal Coverage For Your Fitness Boot Camp Business
• Step 7 – Establish An Effective Pricing Strategy To Help Your Fitness Boot Camp Thrive
• Step 8 – How To Get Clients When Starting A Fitness Boot Camp Business

Before starting a fitness boot camp, you can get qualified and start earning with our Personal Trainer Diploma in as little as 4 weeks. Enquire now to find out more or download our course prospectus.

Step 1 – Starting A Fitness Boot Camp Business Begins With The Right Qualifications

What qualifications do you need to run a fitness boot camp? Well, it’s essential to hold a Level 2 qualification to teach boot camps, but qualifying as a personal trainer offers huge benefits, which we’ll discuss more in this section.

If you have both of these qualifications, you’re more than welcome to read about gaining practical experience in Step 2.

However, if you hold neither of these qualifications, we’ll explain why achieving your Level 2 gym instructor qualification is an essential first step.

This qualification teaches you the basic skills of fitness training by teaching you how to:

• Motivate individuals and groups by offering workouts that are challenging and varied compared to classes found in a traditional gym setting.
• Create engaging training sessions with intense workouts that are completed in a short period.

By having these skills, you will better manage your boot camps, create engaging classes with your anatomical knowledge, and advertise your programs effectively.

Not to mention, without this qualification, you won’t be able to get insured to run your boot camp business – but more on that later.

Once you’re qualified as a gym instructor, you’ll be able to develop specialist skills with a CPD or advance your skill set by becoming a personal trainer.

Origym’s CPD courses are great qualifications to undertake as they can be completed in one day and cover a wide range of subjects that include:

• Kettlebell Training
• Bodyweight Training
• Medicine Ball Training
• Hydration

Undertaking a Kettlebell CPD, for example, can strengthen your abilities to manage the large number of people and Kettlebell Instructors. It teaches you:

• The benefits of training in groups that will allow you to create fun workouts that benefit all attendees, regardless of the skill level.
• Different training phases and periodisation will teach you how to implement progressive workouts. This will be particularly effective if you’re running a 6-week weight loss program.

All of Origym’s CPDs are professional qualifications, enabling you to deliver a professional boot camp that complements your area of expertise.

Alternatively, you can expand your knowledge with a Level 3 personal trainer course.

It’s a hugely beneficial qualification, providing you with a new revenue stream which allows you to:

• Hold 1-to-1 personal training sessions with a client
• Assess the fitness levels of new clients
• Create bespoke workouts
• Set SMART fitness goals

If you’re running successful fitness boot camps, holding a Level 3 personal trainer certificate will allow you to convert members of your boot camps into clients for personal training sessions.

Finally, achieving a first aid certificate is a great way to improve your professional standing whilst protecting your clients at the same time.

This qualification will be useful if you’re wondering how to start a fitness boot camp outside and need the training to provide medical assistance to a client.

First aid courses can be found online, such as these on the St John’s Ambulance website.

Now that you understand the key qualifications for running a fitness boot camp, let’s explore the practical experience you need to run one.

Step 2 – Gain Practical Experience Before Running A Fitness Boot Camp

Gaining practical experience is a great way for you to understand how to start a boot camp fitness business. There are two ways you can get practical experience:

• Attend local fitness boot camps as a client
• Shadow fitness classes run by another teacher

Let’s explore these options in more detail.

Attend Local Classes To Understand How To Run A Fitness Boot Camp

A great way to understand how a fitness boot camp franchise operates is by attending them as a client in your area.

Attending boot camps will help you understand:

• How the teacher interacts with clients
• The number of people that attend
• The equipment that is used
• The time and locations of the boot camps
• Teacher’s feedback to clients
• Male-to-female ratio (if applicable)

If your schedule allows it, you would benefit from attending different boot camps specialising in your area of expertise. This will inform you of the different teaching styles that are taught.

For instance, you might have boxing class ideas to supercharge a boot camp in London. If that’s the case, then Chris B PT’s boxing boot camp in Greater London would be a useful class to attend:

Chris’ boxing boot camp can offer insight into the teaching techniques employed to help beginners interested in the sport.

This would help you learn how to instruct clients who attend your boot camp as beginners themselves.

Additionally, you would learn how successful this time slot was and, if you spoke to other people that attended, you could get an understanding of how enjoyable they found the boot camp.

Shadowing A Teacher Will Teach You How To Run A Fitness Boot Camp

Another way to gain practical experience to help you start a fitness boot camp is to shadow an existing boot camp teacher.

You could achieve this by identifying a boot camp provider that runs a class you would like to run in the future.

Preferably, this should be in an area where you don’t plan to run a class. It will prevent conflicts of interest from arising.

If you were planning to run a boot camp in London that improves general fitness, then Miracle Fitness would be a great company to contact:

By clicking on the ‘Contact’ tab at the top of their website, you will be given contact details to speak with them:

We’d suggest emailing, rather than speaking over the phone. In your email, you should address:

• Who you are
• Your professional qualifications
• Reasons for contacting them
• Length of time you wish to shadow them
• How it would benefit them

Here’s an example of how your email could read:

Hello Miracle Fitness,

I hope you’re doing well. My name is Ted Smith, and I’m a Level 3 personal trainer with 2 CPD qualifications in body weight training and kettlebell training.

I am looking to start a fitness boot camp in another part of London and would like to understand how it is done by a professional company, such as yourself.

This will help me understand how you teach and the results your clients get. I aim to attend your classes for 6 weeks to get full of understanding of how you run these classes.

In return, I’m happy to offer my professional knowledge to answer questions your class members might have, and use my group training skills to help manage any large turnouts you might encounter.

Please feel free to respond to my email address listed above with any questions you might have and I’ll be happy to answer them.

Have a great day,

Ted

Don’t be afraid to email multiple boot camps until you receive an offer that will help you get the right experience.

Step 3 – Conduct Effective Market Research To Inform Your Fitness Boot Camp Business

After achieving your qualification, you’ll want to start a fitness boot camp. Before you do, it’s important to carry out research and perform a SWOT analysis on competition in your local area.

To understand your competition there are many factors you need to consider. Let’s explore a few of them:

• How Much Do Your Competitors Charge? – How are they pricing their services? What do they offer that justifies their price tag? Use this to inform your own pricing, too.
• Where Do Your Competitors Train Their Clients? – Do they operate in a park or outdoor area you’re considering using? Have they got a specifically designed facility?
• Who Is Their Demographic? – Is there any crossover with the clients you’re targeting? Could you provide a more comprehensive service if there is an overlap?
• How Well-Established Are Your Competitors? – Do they have a reputation in the area, or are they relatively new?
• How Do Your Competitors Market Themselves? – Are your competitors taking advantage of social media advertising, or using Google Ads to boost their position on the search engine?

When researching your competition, it’s important to understand how many boot camps are running in your area.

If several boot camps run in a concentrated area, you may find it difficult to get clients. Understanding what boot camps your competitors run can help you find a more niche market.

To guarantee success, it makes sense to run your boot camp outside any competitive areas. This will reduce competition and increase demand for your services.

To illustrate this point, we performed a Google search on boot camps operating in the Liverpool area. This is what the competition looked like:

Several boot camps appeared on the first page of this Google search. Next, we’ll look at one of these competitors in the Liverpool area and how you can perform an efficient analysis.

Train with Payne has a qualified PT that offers one-to-one PT sessions alongside their boot camp.

The boot camps provided are for women only, aimed at those who want to ‘Burn Fat, Feel Stronger and enhance their sense of well-being.’

We’re also able to learn information about the packages they provide when you click on their boot camps tabs:

If you were planning to run a boot camp in Liverpool, you could see the services and prices Train with Payne would offer to attract new clients.

This information would help you create your packages and set prices to compete with them.

Searching for reviews is also a great way to understand how your competitor’s clients rate the services they receive.

A review of Train with Payne highlighted the high level of communication, professionalism and quality provided by the company:

These analytical techniques should be applied to every competitor you’ve identified from your research.

Providing something unique and appealing to your fitness target market is essential if you want to start up a boot camp in a competitive area.

You can also take a winning formula from another provider and turn it into your brand if you’re planning to open a boot camp in an area that lacks these kinds of classes.

Step 4 – Decide On Where You’ll Be Running Your Fitness Boot Camp

After you’ve conducted your research, you’ll need to find the ideal location to run your fitness boot camp franchise. These include:

• Transport – Are there good public transportation routes surrounding the area you intend to operate from? You’ll also need to consider whether there is sufficient parking at the site or neighbouring area.
• Terrain – Since most boot camps take place outside, incorporating the natural surroundings are a great way to give your boot camp a competitive edge. Your research will help you find ways to make use of dunes, trees and other natural elements.
• Weather – Adverse weather conditions can create hazards, so it’s important to eliminate uneven surfaces and areas prone to flooding to help you run an ideal boot camp.
• Local Authority – You may need to contact the local authority and ask them whether you need permission to run a boot camp in a public park you’ve discovered from your research.

The location depends on the type of fitness boot camps you wish to run. Let’s break this down into two areas: inside and outside classes.

Things To Consider When Planning An Indoor Boot Camp

If you’re wondering how to start a boot camp fitness program indoors, you’ll first need to consider the size of the venue you require.

Running a circuit boot camp, for example, means you’ll need to make sure you have plenty of space to accommodate the people attending, along with room for your equipment.

You would need to make sure the equipment is spaced out to reflect the numbers attending. An example of this can be found in Stephanie Gilles’ circuit boot camp:

Stephanie’s boot camp caters to the number of people, along with the space required for equipment. The space allows clients to move around without compromising their safety.

Another key factor to think about when running indoor boot camps is to make sure the equipment you require is readily available.

If you were running a kettlebell boot camp, for example, you would need to run to make sure enough kettlebells are accessible.

What To Consider When Starting A Fitness Boot Camp Outside

If you’re wondering how to start a boot camp fitness program outside, there are several factors you need to consider

Safety is crucial for your outdoor fitness boot camp because it will protect your clients and yourself from danger.  One way to promote safety is by carrying out a fitness risk assessment to mitigate any potential hazards.

If you’re running an aerobic endurance boot camp around Hyde Park in London, for instance, you could draw out a route using On The Go Map that avoids traffic, keeping clients as safe as possible:

With any outdoor boot camp, it’s important to make sure that you have the right permissions, as most areas would be considered public property and may require permission from the council.

If you wanted to use a public park for your boot camps, you would need to apply for a group fitness licence.

This would require you to apply for a licence, such as this service from Lambeth Council, where prices change depending on the number of clients you have:

Finally, for any outdoor class, you would need to make sure your class is carried out on terrain that is not difficult and could cause injury.

If you planned to hold a trail running boot camp around Merseyside as a reward for clients, you could use the Hale Park and River Mersey Route route found on All Trails:

The route is susceptible to becoming muddy, creating uneven terrain. This would require you to check the weather in advance so you could complete a risk assessment to keep your clients safe.

You could check the weather forecasts 24 hours in advance to predict whether these types of running conditions are likely to occur.

Step 5 – Create A Strong Business Plan When Starting A Boot Camp Fitness Business

Through your research, you’ll understand the fitness boot camp businesses that your competitors run, but also the boot camp you want to offer.

To help your boot camp’s success, you’ll need to develop a business plan to put your ideas into practice.

This will stop you from overcomplicating your business operations, and mean you can easily visualise your goals.

Goals To Consider When Running A Fitness Boot Camp

You can make your business successful by setting short-term and long-term goals. It will be easier to achieve your fitness business goals if you create a detailed report on the concept of the boot camp you’re looking to open.

This can be done by answering the following questions:

• Who are you trying to target?
• What problem does it solve?
• Why would someone want to join your fitness boot camp over another?
• Where do you see your business going in the future?

You could be set on developing a new fitness craze for your boot camp fitness business, such as those seen from CrossFit or Zumba classes.

Alternatively, you may want to just keep your boot camp as a side business to supplement your PT income and maximise its popularity. Either path requires you to plan to achieve your goals.

Your Fitness Boot Camp Business Model Will Require Investment

You may need to take out a business loan or invest a portion of your savings into boot camp fitness equipment to deliver a professional service.

If you’re investing your own money, budgeting your finances will help you secure new equipment, along with funds for other expenditures.

QuickBooks is a great app that helps you manage your finances in real-time. Using this app can help you calculate the expenditures you require to keep your boot camps functioning properly and keep your company profitable.

Using this app can help you calculate the expenditures you require to keep your boot camps functioning properly and keep your company profitable.

Understand Your Demographic Before Starting a Fitness Boot Camp

Understanding how to set up a fitness boot camp requires your business plan to identify your target market.

Once you’ve performed a thorough competitor analysis, this should be relatively easy. To help you identify your target market, there are questions you should be asking such as:

• Who are you aiming your boot camp business at? Men, women or both?
• Are you targeting kids, the elderly or working commercials?

This will help you define who your target market is and deliver an effective boot camp for them.

It is advisable to aim for a target market between the ages of 18-50 to increase uptake and broad appeal for your boot camp.

It’s always good to have a unique selling point (USP) that gives you a competitive edge but also makes you stand out to your target market.

For example, you might:

• Include nutrition plans for your clients
• Offer competitive prices
• Offer an innovative style

You will need to think about what type of exercises you could do with your class and what the training format needs to be.

It is also important to consider how many participants each session will have. Having a large turnout for your boot camp is great, but each session should be engaging and able to focus on one client at a time.

If you need to assist more than one person at a time, you could split your boot camp sessions into two for different activity levels.

You could have one boot camp for beginners, and another for more advanced trainers. Alternatively, you could have one fitness boot camp for the over-50s demographic and then for adults under this age barrier.

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• How To Become A Group Instructor
• Fun Group Fitness Ideas
• Teaching Fitness Classes

Step 6 – Secure The Right Legal Coverage For Your Fitness Boot Camp Business

Part of your business model should include securing insurance for your fitness boot camp. If you’re already working as a PT or fitness instructor, then you’ll already have secured insurance to work with the correct coverage.

Working as a fitness professional can be a demanding job. When your clients are pushing to improve their physical health, injuries can happen.

Fitness professionals need insurance as it covers them in case claims of negligence result in a client’s injury.

You could, for example, get the fitness insurance you need, alongside boot camp-specific insurance, from Insure4Sport:

When choosing a provider you want to be covered in every possible way. Comparing and contrasting the packages between competitors is a great way to make sure you get the right coverage for a price that works with your budget.

Your next step should be to register your business as a sole trader if you earned over £1,000, so you can start making national insurance contributions.

This can be done through the UK Government by following the instructions listed on their website:

Finally, you need to complete a basic DBS check before you carry out any fitness boot camps, this will apply to any businesses that hire your services as a freelancer:

This will confirm you hold no criminal records and are safe to work in a freelance capacity from anyone hiring your services.

Hiring An Accountant Ensures You’re Running Your Fitness Boot Camp Smoothly

Finally, you’ll need to have an accountant to help you with your finances. They carry many benefits when you hire them, including:

• Reducing the chances of receiving fines for missing tax deadlines
• Saving you time by completing financial paperwork
• Finding new ways to boost profits
• Ensuring you’re aware of any potential fitness tax deductions

For example, Ross Brooke will be a great accountant to assist you with your finances whilst you’re running boot camps, as they help fitness professionals with their accounts:

Ultimately, while an accountant will carry an associated cost, the money and time you’ll save more than make up for any outgoings.

Step 7 – Establish An Effective Pricing Strategy To Help Your Fitness Boot Camp Thrive

To help your fitness boot camp thrive, it’s essential to set up an effective pricing strategy to help your business grow.

This would be no different from setting online personal trainer prices, if you had previously set prices for your services.

Pricing your services can be determined by several factors, including:

• Boot camp plans you offer
• How many clients you’re anticipating
• Wages you’ll pay yourself/prices you’ll sell the boot camp places for
• Equipment costs and bills

Let’s take a look at some of these areas in greater detail.

Plans You Can Offer Whilst Running a Fitness Boot Camp Business

How you market your services to the public can help you determine the plans you offer to them. For instance, you might be interested in offering blocked services, because you can require a set period to achieve the results you wish to get with your clients.

While it might be tempting to offer one-off sessions as part of your boot camp business, we’d recommend offering larger commitment plans which increase your revenue and client retention.

This also prevents you from overbooking and taking on more clients than you can accommodate. Parkfit followed this practice which they introduced with their block blockings:

This service plan would require clients to pay between £45 – £85 depending on the number of sessions they would wish to receive.

An alternative to setting up a block session service is by creating a diverse range of boot camps that run for different lengths of time.

This would give clients greater flexibility to choose the best programme that works for them and also increase their commitment to the courses.

Northern Bootcamp, for example, offers 1-14 day boot camps to cater to a wider range of people that reflect their commitments.

A one-day boot camp would cost £110 whereas a 7-day boot camp would cost £1350:

For example, if you were looking to do a fast-track boot camp to get quick weight loss results for your clients, you could get them to commit to a 7-day camp.

Alternatively, if you do just want to focus on delivering one-day sessions, instead of getting people to commit financially to a long-term plan, you could introduce a monthly subscription model.

UK Outdoor Fitness provide a payment model based on these options:

This gives people the option to commit to a monthly subscription generating profits for themselves, but their training cancellation policy means there’s no financial penalties if they provide sufficient notice.

Pricing Equipment Costs and Bills Will Help Your Fitness Boot Camp Franchise Succeed

Equipment costs and bills are other things you will need to consider when you’re creating a pricing strategy to help your business thrive.

When it comes to purchasing boot camp equipment on a budget, you may need to consider what is the most cost-effective way for you to secure the equipment you need.

Purchasing second-hand equipment is a great way to start up your business, particularly if you’re operating with limited funds.

Let’s say you were looking for kettlebells for your boot camp. FitKit UK is a great second-hand website to secure the equipment that you need at a reduced price:

You could secure three different kettlebells from this site that would allow you to run a 6 person boot camp.

Whatever speciality you deliver for your fitness boot camp, it’s important to shop around until you find the best option for you.

You could also use businesses that hire gym equipment if this proves to be cost-effective for you, or if you’ve got limited time before you get started with your boot camp business.

Alternatively, you could find a gym that already provides you with the equipment along with the venue space you require.

If you were looking for the best of both worlds when it comes to receiving equipment and venue hire, then TX Group would be a great option for you:

Opting for a kitted-out venue like this one can help to alleviate some of the costs of equipment, and offers a great option for those just starting out.

However, we’d advise buying your own equipment to ensure you can keep this up in the long run, especially as that same space isn’t likely to always be available.

One key thing to note is that some venues require you to rent the space for 4 hours at a minimum. These were the conditions offered by TX Group we’ve just mentioned.

You may need to utilise this time, either by running two classes during an optimal period for yourself or one class at 5 pm and 7 pm for example.

You could use this time to your advantage by building a strong rapport with your clients by answering questions they have after the class.

Understanding The Costs Of Travel To Your Classes Will Help Your Fitness Boot Camp Business Thrive

Another consideration is that you would need to consider how you’re transporting yourself to the location of your fitness boot camp.

The likelihood is that you’re using your car, which is something that you would need to factor in from the price of petrol, along with the legal requirement for insurance and taxation to keep your car operational for your business.

You will also need to include any parking you would need to pay for when you’re teaching the class.

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Still want to learn, give these articles a read:

• HIIT Class Plan
• Alternative Fitness Classes
• Circuit Class Plan

A Successful Fitness Boot Camp Franchise Requires a Good Marketing Strategy

Another consideration you would have to analyse is how you would promote your business. You may be familiar with this process, particularly when promoting yourself as a personal trainer before.

To attract clients, for instance, you might have 500 DL Flyers printed by Solopress would cost you £34.91:

These can then be distributed at local shops and gyms to promote your business to the public.

You may also have bills you need to budget for digital adverts, this can be done through Google Ads to promote your business to the correct people.

This could cost you in the region of £200-300 to begin with, as Done For Your PPC states:

It’s certainly possible to achieve success with a small (say £200 – £300pm) budget in a lowish competition market, although once costs per click move into the £1.00 to £3.00 bracket, then your monthly spend could easily be £500 – £1000, depending on a wide range of differing factors.

Digital marketing as a fitness professional doesn’t have to be an ongoing fee you pay but instead, can be targeted to maximise your reach.

During the summer season, for example, you could create adverts that attract people to your outdoor boot camps.

You May Need To Purchase A Uniform To Help Your Fitness Boot Camp Franchise Look Professional

Finally, if you’re looking to project a professional appearance for your clients, you may wish to consider a uniform with your logo.

Depending on the number of boot camps you run, you may need to purchase several t-shirts with your logo on them.

For instance, 10 t-shirts with your logo from BIZAY will cost £46.50:

Settling on one of your fitness uniform ideas can help you promote your brand recognition, looks professional, and means you can passively market yourself to a wider audience.

You’ll Need To Consider Wages You Pay Yourself When Starting A Fitness Boot Camp

To make your fitness boot camp successful, you’ll need to consider the wages you’ll set yourself to make your business profitable.

There are two ways you can do this:

• How much the average wage is for a fitness boot camp instructor
• How much your competitors charge for their services

Let’s take a deep dive into these two areas:

How Much The Average Wage Is For A Fitness Boot Camp Instructor

Data for fitness boot camp instructors’ wages is difficult to find. However, since you’re already qualified as a fitness instructor to carry out these classes, you can at least charge the minimum wage of £14.27 that is listed as this professional minimum wage on Indeed for this profession.

This doesn’t have to be the wage you set for all your class types, particularly if you’re running personal training session classes with clients which can be set at a higher rate.

You can also increase your hourly rate if you’re delivering a fitness boot camp instructor class that is in demand in your area.

Understanding Your Competitors’ Charges Will Help Your Fitness Boot Camp Business Plan

Another factor you need to consider is the amount you will sell places on your boot camps for. This will help regulate your wages too.

One way you can do this is by researching your competitors’ prices and matching them or underselling them to become competitive.

Let’s say you were wanting to run a HIIT boot camp in London. Through your research, you’d find that Train Dirty London charges £12.50pp for a 45-minute session:

If you were running this, and 12 people attended, that is £150 you would have earned that hour. So if you charged £14.27 per hour that is just under 10% of your revenue going to yourself as wages.

How Many Clients You’re Anticipating Will Help You Create a Strong Boot Camp Fitness Business Plan

Another factor you would need to consider to make your fitness boot camp thrive is to make sure you predict the numbers you would expect to make the class profitable.

For instance, you would need to make sure the numbers you anticipate can be accommodated through the classroom size.

This would have been checked when you were hiring a room space for your class and making sure it was large enough to bring in the clients you wanted.

It’s also important to make sure you get the correct public park license which will depend on the number of people you teach and the frequency you run your classes.

Choose The Right Day Of The Week To Attract Clients To Your Fitness Boot Camp Business

Another tactic you could use to get the maximum number of people through your door is by deciding on the optimal day of the week to run the class.

Research by Class Pass indicated that the most popular day of the week to run a class was Tuesday:

So if you were looking for your boot camp class to succeed, you would need to make sure it runs on a popular day for fitness to be carried out.

Additionally, you might benefit from harnessing boot camp booking software to allow clients to book into classes round the clock. One of the best on the market is Class Fit, which allows you to embed all your classes on your timetable into your website, so that clients can easily book onto classes and with it’s report functionality, you can see which classes perform the best in terms of attendance and revenue.

You even get a 30 day free trial with ClassFit:

Step 8 – How To Get Clients When Starting A Fitness Boot Camp Business

Now that you’ve got everything in place to start your fitness boot camp business, the final step is to market your venture successfully.

We’ve outlined a few simple strategies you can use to maximise your investment, and ensure you reach your target demographic.

Create A Website To Help You Start A Fitness Boot Camp

Building a website is a great way to promote your business because it creates a digital location where new and current clients can learn about the services you offer.

They could also book them through your website and contact you if required. Many website builders (such as SquareSpace) can help you create a professional website:

However, if you can afford to invest, we would recommend paying a professional web developer to build you a website from scratch.

Whatever route you choose to go down with the initial, the most important content points your website should include are:

• Boot camp package cost
• Style of boot camp you will be running
• Ability levels (beginner’s a class/intermediate class)
• Any promotions
• Your credentials
• Dates and times of boot camps

Having a website is not just giving prospective clients some background information about your services but to ensure that you show in Google rankings, especially for your local area.

SEO Optimisation Can Help Your Website Rank Better When Starting A Fitness Boot Camp

Once you begin to rank through proper SEO optimisation, you’ll start to get a good amount of enquiries via your website and overtake any competitors in the area!

If you want to generate even more traffic and leads, you can also invest in PPC marketing. This will drive more leads to your website through online adverts instead of organic leads:

Essentially, PPC marketing involves paying for your business to be displayed in the top 4 positions of Google for search terms that directly relate to your boot camp business.

If you’ve just set up your fitness boot camp business in Leeds, for example, PPC marketing will help you get your boot camp business to show at the top of Google for terms such as:

• “Fitness boot camp Leeds”
• “Military boot camp Leeds”
• “Boot camp for kids Leeds”
• “Boot camp for the elderly Leeds”

This is an essential fitness marketing strategy for anyone looking to make their fitness boot camp successful.

Start Dedicated Social Media Accounts To Help Your Fitness Boot Camp Franchise Grow In Popularity

If you’re looking to create a fitness boot camp in the UK, social media is one of the best available tools to promote your business.

There is one main rule when it comes to social media: the more active you are, the more engagement you’ll get.

Therefore, if you’re active on social media you will have a much better chance of gaining potential clients.

You should make it your goal to turn like-minded individuals into followers, such as those who are interested in group training or fitness in general.

Bootcamp UK is a great example of this as they provide photos of the style of boot camps they run, along with who the boot camps are targeted for:

By doing this, not only do you increase your follower base or engagement but you also increase your chances of bagging yourself some leads.

You should:

• Choose a handle that is consistent with your brand
• Ensure that your content is original & unique
• Post often!

If you’re not familiar with setting up social media accounts, we can teach you how to start a fitness instagram.

Running Adverts On Social Media To Help Your Fitness Boot Camp Grow

You could use social media to target prospective clients who live within the vicinity of your boot camp by creating targeted Facebook, Instagram or Twitter ads as well as boosted posts.

Let’s say you wanted to run ad to promote your cardio-based boot camp in Liverpool. You would need to follow these steps:

• Choose an objective for your boot camp – that would be creating brand awareness because it promotes your business, drives traffic to your website and increases sales.
• Choose your audience – this would require you to choose an age group (18-60), location (Liverpool) and demographic (fitness enthusiasts).
• Set your budget – if you’re a new business then you would want to allocate just over 10% of your revenue to help with your marketing campaigns, you would need to consider the length of time you wanted to run the advert.
• Create your ad for your cardio boot camp – it’s important to make sure your advert contains colourful imagery that is also relevant to your business. In this instance, you could have people running in a park.You would also need to make sure the text you use is short and simple such as a brief overview of what your boot camp entails but it’s a date, time and location.
• Analyse performance metrics – you could run two similar adverts simultaneously (same information but different images) through A/B testing to see how each advert performs. This would allow you to increase investment in the advert that reaches a wider audience.
• Analyse analytics – this will help you understand the reach your advert had, its click rate and engagement for example.

This information can then help you adjust future marketing campaigns as you have accurate data to optimise your adverts performances.

Prices may differ when it comes to creating location-based ads. The more popular a certain place is, the higher the cost would be.

Managing your marketing expenditures will help you manage your budget and prevent you from overspending.

Social media marketing can be a vital tool to help your business succeed as it can help you target leads in your local area.

You can use social media to direct traffic to your website with offers and competitions that have value for users, incentivising them for followers to inquire about your services.

If those who don’t yet follow you can see that you’re active in creating promotions for your followers, then they will also be more likely to follow and connect with you.

We’re sure you’ve seen how competitions work on social media before, but in case you’re not familiar with them, here is a post from South Coast Gym:

This is a great PPC advertisement because it encourages sharing from users that see the page, allowing it to be promoted to a wider audience that would not ordinarily see it.

Set Up A Google My Business Page So Your Fitness Bootcamp Business Is Easy To Find

Finally, you should also make use of a Google Business Profile to help you market your business:

Creating a Google Business Profile can help you appear on maps when people search for you.

This will be useful if you decide to run any fitness boot camps outside because people will be able to use your address on Google to find the quickest route there.

Bootcamp UK Mill Hill run outdoor classes and thanks to their business account on Google can easily be found by clients attending their boot camp:

A Google Business Profile also gives your client’s the chance to write a review of your class, which, if positively reviewed, boosts your credibility, highlights your professionalism and attracts new clients.

You can see how Bootcamp UK Mill Hill was positively viewed by clients who left reviews on their Google Business Profile:

Your profile can also be used to provide analytics to understand the views your posts are receiving but also how often your business is being searched for.

Explore our step-by-step guide to GoogleMyBusiness for fitness professionals here.

Encourage Class Members To Try Your Boot Camp Services

If you’re working at a gym, you might be looking at turning a boot camp into a fitness side hustle to help boost your yearly salary.

A great way you could do this is by encouraging the members of your current gym classes to attend one of your boot camp classes at a discounted rate.

You could also list the benefits to members, for instance, some members might be working towards a target weight in the next couple of months and you’re planning to run a circuit boot camp.

You could mention to these members that not only will they lose weight during your boot camp, helping them achieve their target weight but they can also build their muscular strength too.

You could offer them a free taster session to thank them as a reward for their progress so far in your classes and later introduce a basic charge to encourage them to attend.

This is something Vibe Personal Training promoted for their 6 week boot camps, offering taster sessions before people commit:

You could even offer your taster class as part of a several week program, allowing people to feel invested in the taster session and commit to the rest of the program.

Ask People To Refer Their Friends & Family To Your Fitness Boot Camp Business

Another way you could get clients when starting a fitness boot camp is by asking your friends and family to refer people they know to your classes.

This is a great way to promote awareness of your business, get people to your classes and start generating revenue for your business.

One way you could incentivise friends and family to refer people is by offering a cash incentive.

Since your funds might be limited, one way you could present this cash prize is in the form of credit they can use at your boot camp.

This brings in more people to your boot camps and limits your expenditures during the campaign.

If you’ve got a website, then creating a landing page that you can share with people can help promote your referral scheme.

This is something that the Barn Boot Camp use to bring in new clients to their business:

When you run your referral campaign, it’s important to establish an expiry date on the offer, this will prevent classes becoming overcrowded.

If you’re new to the boot camp sector, you may want to run this campaign for several months until you’ve got a consistent number attending your classes.

Ask For Reviews To Promote Your Fitness Boot Camp Business

After you’ve run a couple of classes you would benefit from asking your current clients to write a review of your boot camp.

This can help promote your boot camp to new clients and provide them with an insight into what they involve.

There are several ways you can ask them to write a review, using:

• Trustpilot
• Google Reviews
• Social Media
• Your website

You might want to utilise Trustpilot if you want people to see verified reviews of your business, such as the one that appears for Bootcamp UK on the site:

This will help readers see that these reviews are authentic and not created by yourself for self-promotion.

Alternatively, if you want your reviews to reach as many people as possible, then you’ll benefit from utilising social media.

For example, Fitness Bootcamp in Dublin, has received 102 reviews that gave them a 4.8 rating on Facebook:

The consistency of these reviews demonstrates that the boot camp is active and receiving positive feedback from their clients. So don’t be afraid to utilise social media’s popularity to promote your own business.

Before You Go!

We hope you’ve got all the information on how to start a fitness boot camp, as well as how to successfully market yourself to ensure your business is a success!

Ready to take the first step towards turning this dream into your reality? Enquire about our industry-leading Personal Trainer Diploma now our download a free course prospectus for more information.

Implementing some challenging LBT class ideas into your sessions is crucial for keeping your class members motivated.

In this article, we’ve come up with 11 ideas designed to push your class members, keep them engaged, and ensure that they want to keep participating in your LBT classes!

Before we start, if you’re already a fitness instructor why not develop your expertise and boost your career with a Level 3 personal trainer diploma?

You can also check out all of our courses if you download and browse our free course prospectus here.

11 Creative Legs, Bums And Tums Class Ideas

#1 – Include Jumping Squats In Your LBT Class Plan

As a variation on conventional squats, jumping squats are one of the best legs, bums and tums class ideas for increasing the intensity of your sessions.

Performing a jumping squat targets the same muscles as a regular squat, which includes the:

• Quadriceps
• Hamstrings
• Glutes
• Calves

However, there’s more jumping squat benefits than the regular squat because it has a ‘plyometric’ element.

This means that the speed and force of the muscle contractions is increased adding an extra level of difficulty for your class members.

Over time, this means that jumping squats can improve functional movement patterns, helping members to develop more power and speed, making it one of the best LBT class ideas.

This also improves lower body strength and endurance, so that your members can sustain exercise for longer periods of time. 

Retaining balance upon landing also engages the core muscles, so is a great exercise to add to your LBT class ideas to cover the ‘tums’ element of the session too!

To perform jumping squats:

1. Keeping feet shoulder width apart and the back straight, ask class members to deeply inhale and squat down until their legs are parallel with the floor, at a 90-degree angle.
2. As they exhale, push through the balls of the feet and up into the air, keeping the core muscles engaged.
3. Land as gently as possible in the squat position, keeping the knees soft to provide a cushion for the landing.

A great way of including jumping squats into your session is to combine the movement with regular squats. We’d recommend programming 10 regular reps, followed by 10 jumping reps, to really push the quads at the end of the session.

If you want LBT class ideas to really increase the heart rate of class members, you could include Tabata style jumping squats, with 20 seconds on the exercise and 10 seconds off.

#2 – Add A Resistance Band To Some Legs, Bums, And Tums Class Exercises

Including resistance bands in your class is a great way of increasing the difficulty of certain exercises, without the need for free weights. 

Compared to dumbbells and barbells, they’re portable, inexpensive, and easy to use. Resistance bands also come in different lengths and tensions, from light to extra heavy.

This makes including resistance bands one of the best LBT class ideas for both beginners and those with more experience, as well as being extremely cost effective.

Resistance bands can be used to increase the difficulty of many different lower body exercises, including squats.

Not only do they add extra resistance to squats, but they also protect the knees whilst members perform the movement, helping to prevent injury.

Here’s a few legs, bums and tums class exercises that you could add a resistance band with:

Include Banded Lateral Squat Walks

Using a resistance band to perform lateral squat walks will allow your class members to recruit the hip abductors and the gluteus medius more effectively within the movement.

Using a resistance band to perform lateral squat walks will help exercise the hip and glute muscles more effectively!

Lateral squat walks are a great exercises for your fitness class warm up ideas because they improve stabilisation of muscles in the:

• Hips
• Feet
• Ankles
• Knees

This will help to improve overall movement efficiency for the rest of the workout.

Ask members to perform lateral squats by:

1. Wrapping the resistance band around the legs, just above the ankles. Placing the feet shoulder width apart, bend the knees and lower into a half-squat position. 
2. They should then shift their weight over one leg, taking a step sideways with the other leg.
3. Then, ask members to shift their weight into the other leg and take a step to the other side, maintaining the half squat position. Repeat for 10 repetitions.

Incorporate Glute Bridges

Adding extra resistance to a glute bridge forces the glutes to work even harder, in order to complete the movement.

It also targets other muscles including the hamstrings and lower back, as well as the hip abductors and muscles within the core.

To perform a banded glute bridge:

1. Put the resistance band on just above the knee.
2. Lying flat on their backs, with hands by their sides, ask members to lift their hips up until their bodies are at a 45-degree angle to the floor. 
3. Hold for 2 to 3 seconds, before returning to the starting position. Repeat for 10 reps, or 20 reps for an end-of-class burn out exercise.

Whilst performing this movement, ensure that your class members are fully pressing their heels into the floor to fully engage the glutes.

When coming up with LBT class ideas, you could include this exercise in the warm-up. It warms up muscles in the back and legs along the posterior chain to ensure these muscles are engaged throughout the session.

#3 – Focusing On Time Under Tension Is One Of The Best LBT Class Ideas

Time under tension (TUT) is training where the amount of time a muscle is held in tension or strain is increased steadily to lengthen each part of the movement.

This technique keeps the recruited muscles under tension for longer, which causes microscopic tears in the muscle tissue.

As the body repairs these tears, the muscles adapt, causing them to grow. This also creates a greater mind to muscle connection, as the performer really focuses on feeling the muscle move whilst slowing the movement down.

Focusing on time under tension benefits your class members, as it means that they’re more likely to engage the correct muscles effectively, and work on improving their technique.

Our recommendations for including this in your LBT class ideas is by using the TUT method with flutter kicks.

Flutter kicks primarily work the rectus abdominis, which is the muscle covering the stomach area.

By slowing the movement down and focusing on short, controlled repetitions, this forces the muscle to work harder to keep the legs in the air and provide sufficient support for the torso.

The movement also activates the hip flexors, which help to keep the legs moving up and down, as well as engaging the glutes, hamstrings, and quadriceps too. 

To perform flutter kicks using the TUT technique:

1. Ask class members to lie back and extend their legs to a 45-degree angle. They should keep their arms on the floor, with hands beneath the hips for lower back support, and palms facing down.
2. They should then lift their head, neck, and shoulders slightly off the floor. 
3. Keeping the legs straight and toes pointed, lower one leg, raising the other. Repeat this movement slowly, alternating between both legs.

Rather than performing a specific number of reps, ask members to perform for a set amount of time, such as 30 seconds. This means that they’re more likely to focus on time under tension, keeping the legs moving in the air for the allotted period. 

#4 – Include One and a Half-Rep Squats to Increase the Intensity of Your LBT Class Exercises

One and half-rep squats are a variation that involves lowering to the bottom of the movement, then coming back up only half way, before lowering back down again. 

This is one of the best legs, bums and tums class ideas as it increases the tension for the muscles used at the bottom of the squats.

This doubles the resistance on muscles recruited within the movement, which includes the:

• Quadriceps
• Glutes
• Hamstrings
• Erectors (lower back)
• Adductors
• Calves

As well as increasing the strength of these bigger muscles, the 1.5 rep squat also helps to strengthen the stabiliser muscles that are used in the exercise.

For instance, the core muscles prevent the upper body from falling forwards or backwards when members are at the bottom part of the squat.

Emphasising the bottom portion of the squat continually uses these muscles, so repeating this movement over time will help to improve their stabilising strength.

When it comes to the conventional squat, most people are able to perform the eccentric (lowering) part of the movement in a slow and controlled manner.

However, you may find that some members of your class struggle to push up out of the bottom of the lift due to weak quadriceps, glutes, and erectors.

So, by helping to improve strength within these muscles, placing repeated emphasis on the bottom part of the movement also helps to improve general squat technique.

When performing a one and a half rep squat:

1. Ask class members to place their feet approximately shoulder-width apart, with the toes turned out slightly.
2. As they lower down, they should bend the knees and drop the hips, keeping the back straight.
3. Begin to return to the starting position, but instead of going all the way up, stop halfway and perform the squat again.
4. Finally, return to the starting position, and repeat for 8 to 10 reps.

To include this squat variation in your class, we’d recommend starting out with normal squats, to demonstrate the correct form and technique to beginners.

You can then add the 1.5 squat as a progression, to increase the intensity of your LBT class plan.

#5 – Pulsing Exercises Are Another Of The Best Legs, Bums & Tums Class Ideas

Pulsing exercises are those which include moving a part of the body up and down in very small, repetitive motions.

Using these in your LBT class ideas is a great way of maximising muscle fatigue by isolating the active muscles.

This not only increases muscle endurance but helps to build mass too by bringing more blood to them during training!

If you’re looking for some legs, bums and tums class ideas that involve pulsing movements, here are some that we’d recommend including:

Squat Pulses

Squat pulses are a bodyweight squat variation that use a shorter range of motion than conventional squats.

Although they target the glutes and hamstrings, the pulsing motion is particularly effective for isolating and activating the quadricep muscles, which are closest to the knee.

The quads play a key role in stabilisation within the squat movement.

To perform a squat pulse:

1. Ask members to place their feet approximately shoulder-width apart, with the toes turned out slightly.
2. With bent knees, lower down until the hips are parallel with the ground.
3. To perform the pulsing movement, lift the body up a couple of inches without fully extending the legs, keeping a slight bend in the knee.
4. Then, return back down to a full squat position, quickly bending the knees again to continue pulsing up and down.

The squat pulse should be performed for at least 30 seconds, ensuring that reps are small and controlled, with muscles in the lower body contracted throughout.

Alternatively, you could add 2 to 3 pulses at the bottom of your normal squat movement, before returning to the starting position, and repeating again. 

Reverse Leg Lifts

Adding 2 to 3 pulse movements at the top of a reverse leg lift places a higher level of resistance onto the glute muscles.

This exercise is therefore a great option for including in your warm up, to help activate the glute muscles.

It also works well as a finisher, as the added pulse will help to fatigue the glute muscles at the end of your LBT class.

Here’s how to include a pulsing movement in your reverse leg lifts:

1. Ask class members to kneel down on all fours, placing their forearms on the floor with the elbows under the shoulders, and the knees under the hips.
2. Squeezing the glutes, raise one leg up and bend the knee so the leg it at a right angle.
3. Push the sole of the foot towards the ceiling, then perform 2 to 3 pulsing movements whilst keeping the leg in that position.
4. Lower the leg slowly and repeat for 8 to 10 reps, before switching to the other leg. 

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If you’re finding this article helpful, why not get more tips on training and teaching fitness classes with our others below?

• How To Become A Group Instructor
• Fun Group Fitness Ideas
• Teaching Fitness Classes

#6 Integrate Plank Variations into Your LBT Class Ideas

Planks are one of the best legs, bums and tums class exercises to actively engage your core. 

However, they also require the use of muscles throughout the whole body in order to keep you balanced. 

Strengthening these areas also makes it easier to maintain a neutral position in the lower back and prevents shoulders from hunching, improving the posture of your class members.

However, planks can be boring for members if you include them in every session, so we’d suggest incorporating some variations into your class to keep them engaged.

Plank variations add an extra stability challenge, including movements such as:

• Plank pulse
• Reverse plank
• Slow mountain climber

If you’re looking for effective, impactful LBT class ideas, we’d particularly recommend including the side plank variation, which targets the side abdominals and helps to strengthen the spine.

Performing them often can also help to rectify muscular imbalances, where one side is weaker than the other and the stronger muscles have to overcompensate as a result.

Here’s how to demonstrate a side plank to your class members:

1. Lie on your right side and put your right arm on the floor. Shift your weight onto the right forearm and use it to prop yourself up, ensuring that your elbow is in line with your shoulder.
2. Raise the hips up so that your body forms a straight line to the ground. You should form a triangle shape with the floor.
3. Hold for 30 seconds, then switch to the other side.

You could also try variations that incorporate some simple dynamic movement, to increase the heart rates of your members alongside challenging their strength. Some ideas include:

• Plank jacks
• Plank with shoulder tap
• Mountain climbers
• See-saw planks

#7 – Single Leg RDLs Are One Of The Best LBT Class Exercises For Improving Stability

Single leg Romanian deadlifts (RDLs) are a vertical hip-hinge exercise which is one of the best deadlift variations to target muscles in the:

• Glutes
• Hamstrings
• Back
• Calves

Similarly, to side planks, the single leg RDL is a unilateral (one-sided) exercise. This movement will therefore help your class members tackle any muscular imbalances in the glutes and hamstrings on each leg.

Bilateral exercises, such as the standard Romanian deadlift, can often mask these imbalances, which is why we’d suggest including the single leg variation in your LBT class plan.

Practising on just one leg is a great method of increasing the difficulty of a conventional RDL, as it requires members to keep their balance whilst they perform the movement.

The more that they practice the movement, the more it will help to improve stability within the ankles, knees, and hips, protecting the lower body from injury.

It also targets the core muscles, as they work to help members maintain a neutral spine position and keep them balanced on one leg. Ask your class to perform single leg RDLs by:

1. Standing in a staggered stance, with one foot in front of the other. They should then shift all of their weight into the front foot.
2. With a slight bend in the knees, push the hips back so that the torso tilts forward. As they do so, allow the back foot to lift off the floor, lowering the arm on the same side down simultaneously.
3. Lift back up to the starting position, and perform 8 to 10 reps on each leg.

Ensure that class members maintain a neutral spine position and do not round the back, as this can cause pain in the lower back.

Beginners can use props such as a chair or wall for balance, and for those who have nailed the basic movement, you could recommend using a dumbbell or kettlebell in one hand to increase the difficulty.

#8 – Try An Elevated Single Leg Glute Bridge If You’re Looking for Challenging LBT Class Ideas

The elevated single leg glute bridge combines two glute bridge variations together.

Regular glute bridges target the muscles within both the glutes and the hamstrings.

However, adding an elevation increases the distance that the hips have to travel, and therefore the work that has to be completed, pushing the muscles more and developing strength and endurance. 

Elevating the feet also means that the knees are bent at a 90-degree angle, whereas in a classic glute bridge the knees are placed at approximately 70 degrees.

The single leg movement allows class members to work on the individual strength of each leg, forcing muscles within the posterior chain to work even harder to complete the movement.

This also makes it a great exercise for addressing any muscular imbalances or weaknesses on one side. 

Here’s how to demonstrate an elevated single leg glute bridge to your class:

1. Lie on your back, with the knees bent and heels close to the glutes.
2. Place both heels onto a box or bench, keeping the knees bent at a 90-degree angle.
3. Pushing the hips high, take one foot from the bench and straighten the leg towards the ceiling, keeping the other leg in the same position.
4. Driving through the heel of the foot on the box, raise the hips, squeezing the glutes and keeping the core tight. Hold for a second, and then lower back to the starting position.
5. Perform this for 8-10 reps, then repeat with the other leg.

It’s important to remind your class members that the glutes should drive the movement, rather than the lower back. 

To prevent hyperextension of the back, you should also remind them not to arch their backs, and maintain a neutral spine position.

You could include the elevated single leg glute bridge into your LBT class plan as a warm-up movement, to stretch out the hips and really fire up the glutes and hamstrings for the main session. 

Alternatively, you may choose to include it as part of a superset, with exercises such as squats or lunges, to push the muscles to fatigue.

#9 – Walking Lunges Are Another Of The Most Challenging Legs, Bums And Tums Class Exercises

Whilst conventional lunges challenge class members’ coordination skills and balance, remaining upright whilst moving on one leg independently, walking lunges are a further challenge.

Not only will your members have to balance in one place, but walking adds a dynamic element to the exercise.

This is one of the best LBT class exercises because they exercise muscles in all of the targeted areas of the class:

• Quadriceps
• Glutes
• Calves
• Hamstrings
• Abdominals

Practising walking lunges instead of regular lunges can also help to increase your members’ range of motion and improve flexibility, loosening up the hamstrings and hips. 

Alongside the benefits to your coordination, the walking movement also helps to increase the heart rate of your members during the session.

This makes walking lunges the perfect exercise for a blast of strength and conditioning at the end of a session.

To perform walking lunges:

1. Starting with the feet approximately shoulder width apart, take a step forward with the right leg, pushing through the heel.
2. Next, bend the left knee, lowering down until it is in a lunge position parallel to the floor.
3. Then put the weight on to the right leg and straighten it, stepping forward with the left foot performing the whole movement on the left leg.
4. Repeat this movement for 20 reps, 10 on each leg, walking forward and alternating legs whilst lunging forward.

#10 Include Side Planks with Hip Dips in Your LBT Class Ideas 

A standard side plank is great for building muscle endurance and strengthening the oblique muscles (those on the sides of the torso).

This is one of the best LBT class ideas for making sure your classes target all of the core rather than just the abdominus muscles. 

The oblique muscles are also important for supporting the spine as well as the core so this is a great one for building strength and stability in your class members, especially those with any back issues!

Adding a hip dip in adds an extra level of intensity and an increased level of contraction in the oblique muscles with the range of motion.

Class members will also have to engage the glute muscles to remain stable and make sure that the spine remains neutral and the hips don’t jut outwards during the dip.

To perform this exercise, class members should:

1) Have the arm at a 90 degree angle supporting the weight of the body lying sideways.

2) Lift the hips off the ground with a neutral spin with the other hand on the hip, the body in a straight line leaning on the arm against the floor

3) Slowly lower the hip to the ground and touch the floor lightly before immediately lifting back up to a neutral position

4) Complete 3 sets of 10-15 reps per side 

You can do this exercise with beginners or regular class members but make sure you offer a modification for stability of staggering the legs so that both feet are touching the ground.

You should also make sure to tell class members not to stick their hips out and push out the glutes whilst dipping.

This will stop the obliques being engaged properly and put pressure on muscles in the lower back.

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Do you want to learn more, give these articles a read:

• HIIT Class Plan
• Alternative Fitness Classes
• Circuit Class Plan

#11 – Add Supersets to Your LBT Class Plan to Challenge Endurance

Combining two exercises into a superset is a great way of maximising your LBT class ideas, as it allows you to skip the break time between exercises. This means that you can pack much more into your class!

It also adds variety into the session, helping to keep your class members engaged and coming back for more.

Having less downtime between exercises means that the heart doesn’t have a chance to return to a resting state, improving cardiovascular endurance.

It’s important to remember that just because you’re targeting certain muscles in an LBT class this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t include cardio and aerobic exercises. This way you’ll help a wider variety of people with different goals!

We’d recommend not including too many back-to-back muscle group supersets in your LBT class plan, as this will lead to class members becoming too fatigued to complete the whole workout.

Therefore, we’d suggest including these supersets towards the end of the class, to act as a burnout for your class members.

If you’re looking for some LBT class exercises to create a superset with, you could combine some of the other ideas we’ve explored in this article.

For example, you could superset a regular squat with jumping squats. This will provide your class members with all of the strength benefits of squats, as well as improving power, speed and balance with the jumping variation.

Before You Go!

We hope that this article has provided you with all of the LBT class ideas that you need to switch up your usual session.

Incorporating multiple ideas into your class plan will provide a challenge for your class members, as well as help set your classes apart from the competition.

Don’t forget you can enhance your expertise and career by earning a qualification to become a Level 3 personal trainer.

Alternatively, you can find out more by downloading our free course prospectus!

Incorporating fun group fitness activities into your regular classes can help to boost retention levels, as well as attract new customers through unique experiences.

In this article, we’ll share 11 fun group fitness class ideas and explain exactly how you can integrate them into your sessions.

Our industry-leading Personal Trainer Diploma allows you to teach individuals on a one-to-one basis, as well as your usual classes. This qualification will make you look more desirable to employers, earn you an increased salary, and provide you with unique prospects for the future.

Download OriGym’s FREE prospectus and learn about all of our industry-leading courses.

11 Fitness Group Activities That Guarantee A Fun Class Experience

#1 – Cone Wars Is One Of The Best Group Fitness Activities For Adults

Starting our list of fun group fitness activities is ‘Cone Wars’, an activity which will require you to split your class into two even teams.

The rules are simple. One team will be tasked with turning the cones upside down, whilst the other half must run to turn them the right way up.

Before starting, ensure that an even number of cones are turned in each direction to create equal opportunity.

During the activity, participants will have 90 seconds to flip as many cones as possible. Whichever team has the most cones in their direction at the end of the time wins.

When it comes to fun group fitness activities for kids and adults alike, ‘Cone Wars’ can be seamlessly integrated into any class. Not only that, but this simple yet effective game:

• Caters to all abilities
• Requires minimal equipment
• Can be easily adapted for a range of environments

In addition to this, ‘Cone Wars’ is one of few group fitness activities that can be incorporated into different stages of the class. You can use it as either a warm-up activity, or incorporate it into a cool-down routine.

To make this game more challenging you may choose to:

• Include more cones
• Increase the distance between each cone
• Increase/decrease the duration of the activity

In terms of fun group fitness class ideas, ‘Cone Wars’ offers a plethora of customisation options, allowing you to tailor it to your class’ specific needs.

#2 – Why ‘Balloon Punch’ is One of The Top Fitness Group Activities

It can be difficult to find suitable group fitness activities for adults and kids to do together. But by incorporating ‘Balloon Punch’ into your classes you can create a fun environment for all ages.

First, split your class into two teams and allocate each team player a number – e.g. if there are 2 teams of 3 people, players of each team will be allocated a number from 1-3.

As the game begins, 1 player will start by hitting the balloon into the air. They will then have to shout a number associated with the opposing team (for example 1-3). Whoever is allocated that number on the opposing team will have to run towards and keep it in the air.

This individual will then shout another number, and the opposing team will then need to repeat the steps outlined above.

When teaching these fitness classes, you must ensure participants follow the rules to ensure everyone has a fair chance. For example, once a player has called the opposing team’s number, they must return to their own team.

Should players miss the balloon or accidentally run when it’s not their turn, their team will receive a forfeit. Examples of these could include:

• 5 burpees
• A lap around the gym hall, park etc.
• 10 push-ups

‘Balloon Punch’ is a fun group fitness activity as it adds a level of harmless competition to your sessions. This allows attendees to let loose and de-stress, without things getting too serious.

For fitness instructors who lead larger groups, you could always make this more challenging by adding multiple balloons, or running a competition with various teams.

Fun group fitness class ideas like ‘Balloon Punch’ are sure to get participants excited for class, and with the forfeits in place, there is still an element of challenge included.

#3 – Using Fitness Dice Ensures Unique Fun Group Fitness Activities

When you become a group fitness instructor, you may find it difficult to continue coming up with new ideas. However, did you know you can use fitness dice to make group fitness activities more exciting?

For those who are unfamiliar with the product, fitness dice will be sold in two, with one containing different exercises written on each face, and the other showing the number of reps/duration.

Examples of exercises could include:

• Jumping squats
• Burpees
• Star jumps
• Push-ups

There are several ways that you can create fun group fitness activities with fitness dice, such as:

Warm-up: Each participant must roll the dice once and the whole class must perform the exercises together.

Main Activity: Introduce some competition to the game by splitting the group in half. Each player must roll the dice once and whichever team finishes first wins.

Final Activity: The class instructor rolls the dice 5 times and everyone is to perform the exercises as an extra burn activity.

Cool-Down: Yoga fitness blocks allow class members to stretch out their muscles after an intense workout in a unique way.

As you can see, fitness dice provide endless opportunities for fun group exercise activities suitable for all ages. This is sure to keep your classes varied, reducing the risk of customers dropping out due to boredom.

#4 – You Should Add Plank Races to Your List of Fun Group Fitness Activities

Plank races are another example of the best group exercises for adults and kids alike, as the activity can be adapted to suit any age demographic or skill range. With this in mind, let’s break down how you can work this into your classes.

This is another team game, so be sure to split your class into teams of 3-4 members. Once this has been decided you can begin to designate the rules of the game, the first of which should dictate the start and end point of the race (15-20 metres).

Each team will then create a vertical line behind the starting point, starting in the plank position.

Once the race commences, the player at the back of the team must stand up and run in front of the first player. Once they have reached this position they should immediately return to the plank position.

A winner is determined once any body part of the front player crosses the finish line – Just make sure that the player isn’t overextending their arms, as this can be regarded as cheating.

As with the other fun group fitness ideas discussed so far, Plank Races are highly adaptable and can be conducted in any environment. Regardless of whether you prefer outdoor training sessions or the traditional gym setting, you can easily incorporate these into your sessions.

In a bid to make these fitness group activities more challenging, you could increase the distance between the start and end point.

Alternatively, to make this process easier you could also make the teams larger, decreasing the distance that would need to be travelled.

#5 – Generate Fun Group Fitness Class Ideas Through ‘Anything You Can Do I Can Do Better’

When looking to implement fun group fitness class ideas, the game ‘Anything You Can Do I Can Do Better’ will see clients compete against each other in pairs.

As the name suggests, there is an element of competition to this fitness activity. Once the pairs have been made, one participant will perform 1 rep of an exercise of their choice – e.g. 1 squat.

Following this, the second participant within the pair will have to perform 2 reps of the same exercise. This will then return to the initial player who will then repeat this process with 3 reps.

This fitness routine can continue until one of the participants can no longer perform the required number of reps.

This game is highly versatile as it can quite literally be performed at any location, and with or without any equipment.

For example, get creative with fun group exercise activities that see participants play this game on the treadmill. In this instance, the pair can increase the likes of their speed or time spent running in set increments.

‘Anything You Can Do I Can Do Better’ is a fun and energising game, sure to create bonds with participants, whilst packing in a beneficial warm-up or cooling-down process before the class begins.

#6 – Other Fun Group Fitness Activities Include Red Light, Green Light

Red Light, Green Light is another example of playground games that can be converted into fun group exercises for adults and kids alike.

For those who are unfamiliar with this game, your participants will act as the ‘vehicles’ and you will be in charge of dictating their movements.

This activity is similar to multistage fitness BEEP tests requiring participants to get from a starting point to an end goal. The distance for this game is not set in stone and can be customised to the skill set of your class.

A good example for an intermediate session would be 30 metres, as this will create some competitive back and forth without being too challenging for new class members.

In order to get from one point to another, the participants will have to perform specific exercises and move as they do so, such as:

• Lunges
• Broad jumps
• High knees
• Heel flicks

These workouts could be predetermined or changed at your will to keep the attendees on their toes.

As these group exercise activities commence you will shout ‘Green Light’ at which point the attendees will begin to perform the agreed upon exercise, whilst moving towards the finish line.

After a certain amount of time you should shout ‘Red Light’ prompting all the vehicles to freeze instantly. If any vehicle is seen to move after a “red light” is signalled, they must return to the starting line to begin again.

To create a sense of competitiveness, these fitness group activities could include a forfeit for the last participant to cross the finish line. This can include the likes of 10 burpees or push-ups.

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While learning about these fun group fitness activities, these other OriGym articles will be of great benefit:

• How To Become A Group Instructor
• Fun Group Fitness Ideas
• Teaching Fitness Classes

#7 – Use Plank Rolls as One of Your Group Fitness Activities for Adults

When conducting group fitness activities for adults, incorporating equipment can help to create a varied workout. In turn, this will offer a greater challenge for those in attendance, and could even help burn more calories.

To incorporate plank rolls into your class, split participants into two teams. Following this, players should hold a plank pose in a horizontal straight line, exactly 1-metre apart from each other.

Participants must roll a medicine ball down from the first player to the last. Once this reaches the final player in the line, this individual must run to the front and return to the plan position in order to repeat this sequence.

Each player on a team must complete this action 3 times in order for their team to win.

Furthermore, when searching for fun group fitness class ideas, you should consider how different activities benefit your prospective participants to keep them coming back for future sessions.

Planks Rolls are considered to be one of the best group exercise activities for adults as it’s a full-body workout. The plank position alone tests arm and core strength, whilst the running will provide cardiovascular benefits.

In addition to this, this particular pose has been linked with improving posture and alleviating back pain. If left untreated, these issues can prevent students from returning.

#8 – Why You Should Add The Cha Cha Slide to Your List of Fun Group Fitness Ideas

If you’re looking for examples of popular group fitness activities for kids and adults alike, look no further than this example that puts a twist on a popular dance craze.

The vast majority of participants will be familiar with the Cha Cha Slide song and dance, but did you know that you could actually incorporate an element of fitness into the song?

Normally, the song includes a range of commands that participants use to perform dance moves. But with this version, your class will be able to perform different exercises while maintaining a high plank position.

For example:

• “Cha Cha” – Mountain Climbers
• “Clap Your Hands” – Shoulder Taps (the left hand should touch the right shoulder and visa versa)
• “Hands on Your Knees” – Left hand should touch the right knee and visa versa
• “Slide to the Left/Right” – Move the plank position in that direction
• “Right/Left Foot Stomp” – Take the designated foot and kick it into the air as per the number of ‘stomps’
• “Hop” – Plank Jack Jumps – Jump the feet outward and back inward as per the number of ‘hops’
• “Criss-Cross” – Kneeling Plank – Go down to a kneeling plank on the first “criss-cross” by coming onto the forearms, and move back up to a high plank on the second “criss-cross”
• “Bring it Back” – Walk the plank back 3 places (make sure your class participants have adequate space to do this before beginning the song)

Note: Since there are quite a lot of instructions, you should shout out the required movement so that nobody feels lost or confused.

In addition to this, if you decide to work this routine into a children’s class, you could always amend it to ensure that it’s easy and manageable for those in attendance.

These fun group fitness activities take an approach to learning that is not too dissimilar to dance or aerobic classes. Learn more about these alternative fitness classes here.

#9 – Musical Planks Can Act as Fun Group Fitness Activities For Your Class

Everyone is familiar with the likes of musical chairs, and musical planks is a great, challenging variation of the popular party game.

The idea behind musical planks is simple, participants will jog in a circle around a series of yoga mats whilst music plays.

The number of yoga mats should begin with one less than the number of attendees present, e.g. if there are 10 participants you will need 9 mats.

When the music stops participants must find a yoga mat and perform a plank. The individual who does not find a mat will be eliminated and asked to step aside from the group.

The music will resume and this process will repeat with one less mat – you’ll remove one every time somebody else is eliminated, leaving one player at the end of the game.

To incorporate an extra element of fitness into this game you could have the eliminated participant perform a forfeit, such as:

• 20 push ups
• A lap around the field/sports hall
• Holding a stretch for the rest of the game

This will only add a further sense of competition to activity, as everyone will give their activity there all, in order to avoid the forfeit.

Be aware that this group fitness activity doesn’t have to be specifically restricted to planks either. The customisation options really are limitless and can be adapted to suit whatever workout or stretch that you desire.

#10 – ‘Hoarders’ Is One Of The Top Fun Group Exercise Activities

Next on our list of fun group fitness class activities is Hoarders, a quick-fire game that can be incorporated into any warm-up or cool-down routine. To play, you will need a bucket of tennis balls in the centre of a circle that is formed by your participants.

The instructor must then shout an exercise and rep number for the class to perform. You should keep an eye on each member’s form and technique and select the best 3.

These 3 will then run to the centre of the circle and collect a ball. Once all of the balls are collected, whoever has the most wins.

Here are some examples of exercises you could instruct your class to perform:

• 20 x star jumps
• 10 x squats
• 10 x push-ups
• 15 x high knees

As you can tell by these exercises, Hoarders can be a high intensity workout that encourages your class members to adopt the correct technique, alongside an element of healthy competition.

#11 – Themed Classes Can Prompt Fun Group Exercise Activities for Kids and Adults

Whilst not technically a singular activity, a themed group fitness class can engage participants and inject a sense of creativity into your sessions. With just a prompt you can influence the likes of:

• The class playlist
• What attendees wear
• Decorations for the studio

Having a theme that everyone in attendance can get involved with will help to create a sense of camaraderie among the attendees. Popular ideas that you could use for inspiration include classes based around:

• Holidays e.g. Christmas
• Decades
• Films and Television Shows

For example, if you choose to theme your class around the 1980s, you could ask attendees to come dressed in brightly colored leg warmers and leotards.

In addition to this, to ensure that everyone gets involved you could create a publicly accessible playlist for the session. This will allow attendees to add their favourite songs of the decade, guaranteeing a sense of personalisation to your teachings.

These are just a few examples of fun group fitness class ideas that can be generated from giving the class a prompt to follow. Don’t be afraid to stretch your creative muscle here, there is truly no limit to the themes you can incorporate.

Before You Go!

Any of the fun group fitness activities discussed in this article can help to promote an engaging environment for your participants.

In order to see which examples your class responds best to, be sure to try multiple of these group exercise activities.

Remember, by earning a Personal Trainer Diploma, you can begin or advance your career prospectus significantly! To assist with this, OriGym guarantees you an interview with a gym in your local area following graduation.

For more information be sure to download OriGym’s course prospectus here.

Trainers who know how to make group fitness classes fun will increase their customer base, and improve member retention.

To help you develop in these areas, we will look at fun group fitness class ideas, and why you should incorporate them into your classes.

• 5 Reasons to Prioritise Making Group Fitness Classes Fun
• 11 Creative and Fun Group Fitness Class Ideas

Are you looking to take the next step in your career? With our Personal Trainer Diploma, we will help get you qualified as both a fitness instructor and personal trainer in as little as 4 weeks! Get an overview of the courses we offer by downloading our free course prospectus.

5 Reasons to Prioritise Making Group Fitness Classes Fun

You must make a group fitness class fun. When you do, it makes your classes a welcoming place for new members and encourages your current members to return.

So dispense with the idea that ‘fun’ activities are expected to be casual, lack intensity and are not taken seriously. Below are group fitness class ideas that prove they can be enjoyable and improve your class members’ fitness levels at the same time.

#1 – Fun Group Fitness Ideas Make Your Classes More Engaging

Class engagement is crucial for a trainer because if your workout isn’t engaging, your members will feel bored and lose motivation.

To encourage engagement is simply a matter of showing care to your members. During your class focus on group motivation, not individual performance, and give them personal feedback.

These simple steps will make it easier for your customers to participate in the exercises and motivate them to work as a group. This is because you are acknowledging them as a group during the class and as individuals, once it has finished.

This will help keep everyone on track, allowing you to maintain authority and motivate everyone properly.

#2 – Knowing How to Make a Group Fitness Class More Fun Can Increase Member Retention

A lot of people find exercise a chore rather than a pleasure. They know it is necessary to maintain good health, but they do not want to devote time to it. Class member retention will improve if you have fun group fitness ideas that promote positivity, contain achievable goals and offer rewards.

It will even encourage the least exercise-minded to return and lead to fewer cancellations.

#3 – Fun Group Fitness Challenges Inspire Your Class To Push Themselves Further

Fun group fitness challenges can inspire your members to work harder as they would have to match the fitness levels of their peers.

By introducing games, such as balloon bounce and or a card game workout, you’re giving everyone an equal stake in achieving success, which is a great way to motivate everyone in the group.

Team games and group tasks also place the focus on completing the exercise rather than how you feel in the moment. When clients adapt their behaviour to achieve a goal, they will ignore feeling fatigued. After all, they’re having fun and competing!

#4 – Utilising Fun Group Fitness Ideas is Great for Your Class Members’ Mental Health

The physical benefits of fitness are fairly obvious but knowing how to make a group fitness class more fun, can have a positive impact on clients’ mental health as well.

Physical activity triggers the release of neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine in the brain, which naturally boost our moods.

You can create dopamine-fuelled workouts by introducing competitive and fun challenges into aerobic and dancing classes. Having fun also helps combat fatigue and gives them more energy.

Through hard work and developing new skills, members’ can improve their self-esteem and body confidence, which can have a dramatic impact on their mental well-being in the long run.

#5 – Fun Group Fitness Ideas Make Your Life Easier and More Interesting

Creating an exciting class for your members can make it exciting for you too! Your main job is to design routines for your members and encourage them to reach their potential. However, if you do the same series or type of workout in blocks over several weeks, they can feel repetitive.

You may even find yourself going through the motions, rather than actively teaching and motivating your members.  In the long run, it will also lead to apathy and less enthusiasm for your class.

This is something you want to avoid at all costs. Bored class members are less likely to return to your classes or talk about you positively with their friends.

Using a diverse range of fun group fitness class ideas as a part of your training programme will benefit your class, but also structure how you teach sessions every week. Your participants will see you having fun, which makes them enjoy themselves in response!

– – – – –

Before we continue, why not check out these 3 articles below?

• How To Become a Group Fitness Instructor
• Fun Group Fitness Ideas
• Teaching Fitness Classes

11 Creative and Fun Group Fitness Class Ideas

You now understand the importance of making a group fitness class fun. Let’s explore some of the tricks and tips you can use to enhance your classes.

#1 – Use Themes To Make Your Classes More Engaging

Themed, fun group fitness class ideas, will inspire you to come up with new and innovative exercises. When it comes to fitness class themes, your only limit is your imagination.

Routines will be more engaging for your class, giving them a connection to something outside the exercises.

You could run a workout around film and tv characters, taking elements from shows and combining them with your exercises.

You could do a superhero theme which would make strength routines exciting, providing the class with iconic genre soundtracks. This would also open up your routines to natural competition with hero and villain teams (we’ll touch on this in the next section).

Another option could be a sci-fi theme like ‘The Matrix’ or a supernatural theme like ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’. Within these themes, you can include more elements of martial arts or boxing to give you a combat-style workout.

#2 – Bring In Regular Competition Between Your Class Members

Competition is a natural aspect of sports when people compete in groups. If you manage this correctly, it can be a healthy way for people to interact.

It’s important to make sure the competition stays friendly with this fun group fitness idea.  Otherwise, this could lead to friction in the group rather than pulling people together. There are several ways you can use competition during your classes to help students succeed.

Fun group fitness ideas can include team challenges between members of your group. This could include two halves of your class competing in a circuit relay race, allowing everyone to contribute to their team’s success.

Progress tracking can also help members compete against past versions of themselves, encouraging them to beat their personal bests. Your customers will be inspired by their progress because they will see visible results every week.

#3 – Reimagine Childhood Games For A Fun Workout

Putting a modern spin on childhood games is a brilliant way to relieve stress and decompress, and improves your members’ mental health.

Environments like this can be fun and engaging, helping people make new friends during these activities. Groups in your class become more cohesive, breaking down any awkwardness.

There are several ways you can incorporate childhood games into your session:

For example:

• Tag and Stuck In The Mud are great forms of cardio.
• Hopscotch and skipping improve coordination, and reaction time, and test us mentally.
• 1,2,3 Home can be adapted to involve more running, and more weaving movements to improve agility.

Games like this are nostalgic and enjoyable for your class. It puts your class members in a great mood, they won’t realise how much effort they’re putting in! They will also see you don’t have to do boring or repetitive exercises to get fit.

#4 – Take Advantage Of New Equipment Where Possible

The challenge with fun group fitness is to keep things fresh and avoid them becoming stagnant. So one way to keep things interesting is to take advantage of any new equipment you acquire.

Fitness equipment can be expensive, making it unlikely for you to buy new pieces at once. This is especially true with group classes where you will need multiple copies of the same kit.

You could design some new routines or blocks of classes that will showcase a new piece of kit in the best possible way.

For example, you’ve got the right amount of kettlebells to run a full session. Here, you could introduce new exercises such as the Kneeling Plank and Goblet Squat into the workouts with your class members. This group fitness idea shows you’re keeping up with fitness trends and contemporary practices.

#5 – Change Your Location For More Variety

Changing class environments can create new, exciting challenges, it is a great way to inject some fun into your group fitness classes.

The new terrain could make workouts harder or allow you to focus on different areas of fitness. It also helps stimulate the brain by challenging your students in new ways both mentally and physically!

Exercising on sand forces your class to concentrate more on their balance, which will help improve their core strength and stability.

Using outside locations with clients can also offer you the chance to include incline training in your routines. It is a brilliant way to make cardio more challenging.

These group fitness class ideas will also encourage creativity when planning your programme, forcing you to adapt to new environments with your class.

#6 – ‘Buddy Up’ Class Members For Partner Exercises

Fitness classes can be daunting for new members, especially if they’re entering a group that has been together for a while.

If this is the case, you will need great fun group fitness class ideas that help minimise any awkwardness that comes with group interactions.

A quick, fun group fitness idea to promote group cohesion, is the use of partner exercises. Partner stretches could be included in your warm-up, throwing and catching drills.

Regularly changing pairs can also limit the chance of people working with their friends. This can improve members’ communication and create new friendships. It also increases customer retention, people are likely to return to classes if they know people there.

#7 – Create Different Playlists & Ask Your Class Members To Suggest Their Favourite Songs

Exercise and music are a perfect partnership to make your classes enjoyable. This group fitness idea will create a lively atmosphere in your sessions.

It can help people feel less vulnerable and more relaxed; seeing other members singing along and bringing a little silliness into the class.

You could use music to create a fun group fitness challenge, where the winner of each challenge picks the next week’s playlist.

With this fun group fitness idea you’ll be demonstrating you’re always willing to listen. This will make members more likely to return the following week.

Music can set the mood for your classes. For high-intensity workouts, you want music with a solid beat for your members to exercise to. Alternatively, you’ll want something relaxing for a cooldown or slower session.

By creating great workout playlists you’ll have a ready resource to pull out for every exercise situation, which makes your life a lot easier.

#8 – Get Your Class To Encourage Each Other To Succeed

To make a group fitness class work towards fitness goals, get other members involved in a friendly, supportive environment. This can be achieved by creating accountability and time-sensitive goals between your class members.

This fun group fitness idea helps improve members’ mental health, boosting their moods and motivating your clients during their workouts.

Teaching will also be easier for you. Whilst members are supporting each other, you’ll have time to dedicate 1-to-1 instruction to other members where needed.

This is a brilliant way to get everyone engaged with the exercises. It also helps members to monitor their own and other people’s progress.

#9 – Switch Between Routines Often So Members Don’t Get Bored

Teaching the same thing gets boring as the brain gets used to something. As a result, you end up plodding through a session rather than actively engaging with the content. To keep your group fitness challenges and ideas fresh, you should regularly introduce new exercises.

This constantly challenges members as variety means they won’t become familiar with any specific workout.

During a cardio workout, you could introduce a different exercise into the workout, such as Pound. This involves using drum sticks to air drum, which will be a great way for members to keep their cardio levels up whilst developing upper body strength.

This is beneficial to you in the long run, as you’ll end up with a bank of great usable workouts. You’re also likely to see members’ fitness levels improve, as switching up your routines will challenge your members’ physical and mental strengths with new exercises.

#10 – Get Involved With The Class & Enjoy Yourself!

Actively enjoying yourself during a session carries several benefits for you and your class.

Your group will appreciate you’re willing to get involved with them, especially when you bring in fun group fitness challenges such as Tug of War or Circuit Assault Courses to the session.

You need to find a balance between maintaining authority and having fun with your class. You don’t want to lose your passion for teaching classes because you don’t feel part of the group.

When your group sees you having fun it’s contagious. It helps reduce any awkwardness that members may feel during a session. It can help shyer members out of their shells.

By getting involved with your class, it shows you’re prepared to put in the hard graft and help class members get everything they can from exercise.

A Zumba class is a brilliant example of this. With an enthusiastic teacher, even if members can’t dance, they are more likely to participate and improve their fitness levels.

#11 – Ask Your Group What Exercises They Enjoy And Build Fitness Plans Around Them

It takes skill and inventiveness to connect various fun exercises and skills into a cohesive session plan, so you’ll be getting a challenge as well as providing one!

To make a group fitness class fun, why not take suggestions from your class? This will tell you what members enjoy most.

Everyone will find different exercises and routines fun, so it’s important to understand that not every workout will appeal to your group equally.

The advantage of creating customised programmes is that you can assist specific members who enjoy that type of content and encourage them to take part in something they enjoy.

People prefer to go to classes they enjoy over another workout that doesn’t interest them – so by taking on these suggestions from your class, you will improve retention at your sessions.

Responding to their feedback its demonstrating you’re willing to listen to what your members want and take their comments on board in the future.

This helps build confidence in you, which in turn will improve your professional reputation in the industry.

Before You Go!

We hope this collection of fun group fitness class ideas will help you spice up your exercise programme and most importantly, have fun! Remember, knowing how to make a group fitness class fun can have a huge impact on class member retention and engagement.

Remember, you can get started in the fitness industry or advance your current career with our Personal Trainer Diploma. You can also get an overview of the other courses we provide by downloading Origym’s prospectus.