By Biray Alsac

What makes a great instructor an extra-ordinary one? While there isn’t a golden answer to this question, there are certainly things every instructor should do. For extra ideas, you can learn from other successful colleagues and fitness professionals around the world. Last week I was an invited guest at FitnessTurk 2008, a conference for fitness professionals based in Istanbul, Turkey. In my down time, I attended a session facilitated by Lawrence Biscontini, an international presenter and extra-ordinary instructor, himself!

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I am really hard to impress.  At least, when it comes to buying stuff.  I have what my grandma calls the blood of a “Scotch-Irish Indian” which accounts for all or most of my penny-pinching, value-searching, non-impulse-buying characteristics.  I’m a tough sell, and for good reason — I worked hard for this money and I’m not a fool to be soon parted with it!

That said, when I find a product that I find particularly valuable or that is money well-spent, I enjoy sharing it with the friends I think can benefit from it.   That’s why I want to tell you about a program I joined just before Christmas 2007, called iTRAIN.  iTRAIN is an excellent place to download workouts to your iPod/mp3 Player for use on traditional cardio equipment or in the weight room.  At first, I was skeptical of the concept.  I mean, I am a Fitness Instructor for goodness’ sake.  I can do this stuff on my own, right?  However, I went for it and have gotten several benefits from using the program.
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Another great contribution by guest blogger, Biray Alsac!

Biray Alsac
http://fittmaxxinstitute.com
http://befitwithbiray.com

 It’s refreshing to meet a gym member who is a ‘first-timer’ to a health club or a newbie to our group exercise classes. You know the ones – they aren’t very fitness-savvy, are overwhelmed by the classes available on the schedule, and aren’t entirely familiar with gym culture. But, bless their hearts, they are open to trying something new.

As instructors, we love these people. Why? Because it gives us an opportunity to dispel any myths about group exercise and a chance to create an experience that will hopefully motivate them to come back for more – not scare them away.

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So it’s the middle of winter.  The cold weather has set in and your body has switched into energy conservation mode.  Maybe it isn’t the weather though.  Maybe something has happened to leave you feeling less giving, less motivated, less able to make it to your classes with a smile on your face.  Whatever the reason, wherever it came from you’ve got it…  You’re slumping.  The thought of leading a group of students to fitness nirvana leaves you cold.  How do you pick it up and find your joy of teaching again?  Not only for your sake, but the sake of your students?

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You really can’t say the words “New Year” without that sneaky word ”Resolutions” floating up in the back of your mind or escaping your lips.  Ah, yes, New Year’s Resolutions.  What would be the point of celebrating a whole new year if we didn’t all experience the anticipation and hope that a fresh start brings?  “Get busy living or get busy dying,” right?  If a New Year is what it takes to get you into gear, then bring on the power!

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You’ve been given this advice many times from me, from your Directors, from other sources….  If you need more bodies in your classroom, go out and pull them off of the cardio equipment!  Talk to the folks in the weight area and drag them in.  Make an announcement on the PA system — that’ll pack the room!

I laugh out loud even as I write these pieces of advice because I know exactly the thoughts and feelings I had at the prospect of trying to persuade someone already into their workout to stop what they are doing and come into my class.  My thoughts amounted to something like, “#@&*#@ That!”  Yours do too, I’m sure, unless you happen to be one of those unique and quite amazing individuals who could sell running shoes to a paraplegic.  In this post, I’m going to attempt to help you find real ways you can talk to strangers and get them to take your class.

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