Q:
One thing that keeps coming up from participants is how difficult it is to follow certain instructors. They will come up to me after the class and say that they like the basic routines (although they can be a bit boring, and I am working on that) but they are happy that they can follow. I think instructors need to know how to include the interesting moves without losing the beginner steppers.

Liliane Brunetti
Montreal, QC

A:
Yes good...but, losing beginners...let me just comment quickly...

Classes have levels of difficulty and those levels are based on cardio as well as choreography complexity. Therefore, my basic philosophy at the Gym is that instructors should respect the level that they are given. On the other hand, beginner level participants should also know when they are in a higher level class and they should expect to be challenged.

I believe that you are correct about those beginner participants that say that they cannot follow more complicated routines, but I can tell you from personal experience as well as observed experience that advanced participants that are in an advanced class where the instructor is slowing things down for the 1 or 2 beginners that have come in, will be frustrated and will not come back. So, it works both ways...In this case, you will lose your advanced regulars in hope of keeping a beginner participant that is perhaps never going to come back anyway...I can absolutely attest to this, personally...It happened to me when I started teaching and I can tell you that it has happened to other instructors as well.

Intermediate and advanced participants and I include myself in this category will be bored in a class where it is too basic and not return...we are looking for the fun and funky moves.

Solution: All instructors, particularly for Step, should explain either individually to a new participant(s), or to group, the level of their class and what that means. Therefore, the expectations are clear. I do this for every class and frankly, I rarely lose anyone. If I am teaching advanced Step, when I see a new face, I almost always approach that individual and let them know that the pacing is fast and that they might expect to only get 30% of choreography (which I exaggerate, so that they almost always get more) . I let them know that the choreography is meant as a challenge to participants who desire that. (If they are insecure, occasionally they leave right then and there, most often they tell me they will stay and leave if it is too difficult). Because, I break down everything and give so many options, I would say that 90% of the time, I keep those participants who are now informed and up for that challenge. I also include choreography breaks in all my classes which are high cardio intervals.

Now, if a beginner level participant walks into another beginner class and does not follow 70% of class, then there is definitely a problem...

I hope my answer clarifies a bit...

Diana

(A Response from Ingrid)

Hi Diana,
Thank you sooooooo much for all your precious insight! I loved your website and will add another "all I wanted to know about teaching step and was afraid to ask" to the list: while teaching multilevel classes, it can become very difficult (and often stressful) to offer options, given participants will immediately go for the higher version (i.e. repeater knee-tap-knee as opposed to three knees) despite lacking the "level" (coordination-wise, not so much in terms of cardio) to execute said move SAFELY. My solution to this problem has been asking my loyal advanced participants (discreetly, before class) to pay attention when I show the variation (and I will do so two times, maximum) and then I return to perform the original, basic move, along with the rest of the class (and calling out, on cue, the advanced option, i.e. "repeater OR repeater tap"), as I want to pass the "moral of the story" ("safety first, and you're not necessarily getting less of a workout by doing the basic form of the move, watch first and then try it WHEN YOU'RE READY"). Still, it often does not work and they still go for the higher version and I freak that they may fall. I also believe it has to do with the gym per se (at other places, more advanced/experienced participants who are concerned about their knees and ankles do simple version of my moves on their own), but still, I was wondering what you'd have to say about that...?

Many, many thanks, and once again, congrats on the website!

Ingrid
Montreal

Hi Ingrid,

Thanks for feedback on site. I think your solution is a very good one and works very well. The most important is to teach to the level of the course as it is described (beginner, intermediaet or advanced) and to the level of your participants. As a general rule, advanced participants usualy enjoy doing advanced modiifications and they don't need the instructor whereas beginner participants are more self conscious and try to follow everything...so all the more reason for you to do the easier version. I agree that gyms differ and the participants are usually as good as their last instructor(s). They will follow with habits that were already given to them from previous classes. You sometimes have to train people to adapt to your style and eventually they do come around. I have done this many times. I am patient and until people get used to my cueing, teaching style, I keep repeating the same things and train them to my method. For ex., I will let them know that I teach levels of cardio and difficulty and repeat this throughout the class, i.e.option1...repeater, option 2 repeater tap etc. Over time, it usually sinks in. I am very persistent about having people get used to my style of choreography, breakdown and cueing. It is a synergystic relationship as we adapt to them and they get used to us.

Diana

Hi Diana,

Thank you so, so, so much for the reply (and efficiency in responding!). Your comments/advice were VERY helpful, especially the idea of letting them get used to the different method -- sometimes I also find they are not used to listening to cues (I guess because very few instructors, unfortunately, put emphasis on that -- can you imagine, some even complain about having to teach bilingual, when scenarios as 80% of the class being francophone can be so common!). Your class is a DREAM because of that -- I once followed your advanced step class (Westmount Y) just "on command" (HARDLY needing visual cues; in fact, once the choreography was broken down, I didn't even have to look!), which is AWESOME, because, for sure, it's not always that we can get a spot on the front and next to the instructor (especially at packed Y's!). Your point about letting them getting used to styles (as in this case, LISTENING) is an excellent one. And on that note, by all means, feel more than free to publish your reply on the website -- it will be very helpful to other instructors (who most certainly share the same anxiety). All the best to you!

Ingrid

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As a consultant on the FITforces.com web site, Diana will share her knowledge as a Fitness Instructors Specialist.