Getting members into fitness classes can be a hassle. However, by developing classrooms that are welcoming to members, clubs will be able to involve more members in their group exercise classes. Mona Zignego wrote ‘Six Tips for Making Your Fitness Class Participants Feel at Home,’ for Fitcommerce.com. Take a look at her tips to help your club boost exercise classes in your clubs.
1. Get to Class Early
Even if you’ve heard this before, it doesn’t make it less true. Getting to class early ensures you will have time to get set up for class and greet newcomers. This is doubly important in classes like Spinning where the newcomer may not know how to set up their bike, or water aerobics where they may be feeling uncomfortable and self conscious as they have to put on a swimsuit before the start of class.
Do you blame them? Do you like walking into a room with no idea of where to go or what to do? Make your classroom a welcoming environment for your first timers. Treat the exercise room as you would your home and welcome your new students in. Show the newcomer where you will be teaching and then guide her to an appropriate place in the room where she can work out for the duration of class. This can alleviate that initial awkward feeling.
2. Remember the New Student’s Name
This may be the single most important way of helping your new students to feel comfortable. Dale Carnegie in his book, How to Win Friends and Influence People, says, “A person’s name is to that person the sweetest and most important sound in any language.” Using and remembering a student’s name shows you care. It makes the student feel unique, important and maybe even a little impressed with the power of your memory.
3. A Quick Introduction To A Warm And Welcoming Veteran Class Member Or Two Can Help The Newcomer Feel More Comfortable And Less Conspicuous
Connecting and getting to know another student can help the newcomer to ease into class. The new student may feel more comfortable and less like an outsider in your room after chatting with another member of the class.
4. Before You Begin Class Give Your New Participants An Overview Or A Description Of What You Are Going To Do That Day
The plan for the class does not have to be a deep, dark secret. 2006 ACE Group Fitness Instructor of the Year and founder of Sunshine Fitness Resources Shannon Fable says, “Give your students a road map for your class.” Divulge to your new and old students alike not only what you are going to do that day but how long each part will take. If you are teaching a cardio segment followed by toning tell them that; and then explain to them how long each part will last.
Letting the newcomer know what to expect from your class can alleviate anxiety and can also allow the new participant to better pace themselves throughout the workout. New and old students alike will benefit from knowing what they are doing, when they are doing it, and how long it will take.
5. Make It All About Them
Privately asking your new student a thoughtful question can really show them you care, create a warm environment, and possibly pick up a few things they may have neglected to mention on their health history form. For example, after the introductions have been made you could say, “How are you feeling tonight?” or “Is there anything you would like to let me know about before we start class?”
Though I have been teaching for many years it never ceases to amaze me how much I can find out from just talking to my students. Things they may not write on their health history forms can come out with more direct questioning. For example, recently I had a man who filled in that he had never had a surgery on his health history questionnaire. As we spoke before class, he mentioned he had had a surgery after a car accident many years ago. Why he neglected to write that on his health history form I’ll never know! Listening and learning about your students helps you to understand them better and confirms the class is about them and for them.
6. Last But Not Least- Smile
Just because we are serious about fitness doesn’t mean we can’t crack a smile. Take it from The New Teacher’s Complete Sourcebook from Scholastic. They advise teachers to smile to let new students know the instructor is comfortable and happy. This translates to comfortable and happy new students. What a cheerful thought!
As instructors you want to make your room as warm and welcome an environment as possible to encourage and motivate your students to make coming to class a part of their exercise routine. Getting to class early, letting people know what to expect and remembering students’ names are just a few small courtesies which can go a long way toward making your new students feel welcome and comfortable in your class. In turn this will keep them coming back raising them to greater heights of health and fitness. And in the end isn’t that what we are all about?
As a past instructor, this was something I did, and was expected to do at all my classes, now as a member at a large chain – only 2 of the maybe 10 instructors that I have come in contact with have even introduced themselves….. how can I pass on how great the class was if you don’t introduce yourself? any of this would have been nice…. really???