So you want to get a class started, but where do you start? Do you just start handing out fliers and wait for the first class and just throw in random exercises and just go with the flow? That was the problem I was encountering when I wanted to start my own group class. I just thought in my head how the workout would be and wrote it down. Juan Carlos and I sat down looked over it and said they are great exercises but there is no format. I was stumped I thought for a group class since it's always unpredictable how many clients will show up, their fitness level, wouldn't you just go with the flow. But he thought of the bigger picture! He said if your class would be a success how would show people to run a class like yours and take it a step further. And I thought he is right so this is what he showed me.

First let's start off with Designing a Program. A program, even for your general fitness client, is more than just throwing a bunch of exercises together and saying "here is your workout" there are steps that need to be taken. The objective of the workout, how many days a week, and the style of workouts. Is the goal more strength and power, or cardio and agility, is it for athletes or a class were people just want to have fun working out.

The second step would be having a program layout or formant. Such as day one would be conditioning, day two strength, day 3 power, or day one only medicine ball, day 2 only bands and day 3 only body weight.

The third step would the circuits. How many and the type of exercises in the circuit. For example, doing the hybrid, or the 3 Tier integration, or one circuit of the same body movement as in all pushing exercises.

Once you get that you can start writing down exercises that you think you would like in your program and as Juan Carlos would say your "menu."

Then you just pull the exercises from your "menu" and then plug in the exercises and ouila there is your program. You got a system and now you can show people and who knows make a DVD out of the program you created.

Oh and you can't forget to do the program yourself and see first hand how it feels and the flow.

What do you think??? How is your experience in group class programming???

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written by Jeff Burbank, July 03, 2008

good timing with this blog. thanks for the ideas

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