How do you know if being a group fitness instructor is right for you? I figured out it was for me in 1999 in the gym of Fort Valley State University where two upper class women were hosting step classes. They met a few days a week on the stage and it was free as they were doing service with their organization.  I had played basketball all of my life and immediately was looking for ways to stay active while away from home.  When I took that class and saw the energy they were giving off to motivate us to workout for an hour, I was hooked.  I had starry eyes to say the least!

My group fitness activities were cut short after I was encouraged to walk on to the basketball team and made it. My new exercise turned into serious training on the collegiate level.  However, the seed was planted in just those first three months that group fitness was something I would embed in my life at some point.  I am so excited to be having Collegiate day #InThePaint THIS Friday, August 14th at 6:00 PM. It’s a celebration of College Life, College students,  Group Fitness and my collegiate basketball career.

Group fitness ended up being  a major part of my life!  After graduating from FVSU, I started accumulating a massive DVD collection of fitness videos.  All though it wasn’t live group fitness, it was the same idea of taking classes on a college student budget.  There were no free fitness classes in pharmacy school so I purchased DVDs as I could afford them and worked it out in my living room. Then I graduated and joined a gym and got back to active classes.  I went and got a primary group fitness instructor certification and was ready to make my debut teaching a program.  I have shared before that a couple months after joining the gym, the gym closed unexpectedly.  I was super annoyed and lost my motivation to teach group fitness and go anywhere near a gym.  I had paid for the annual discount for me and my sister! It took about 4 years for me to get that gym chip off my shoulder.  When I reconnected with gym life by checking out the new gym in the area, it didn’t take long for me to inquire to the group fitness manager about joining their team.

She thought that I would struggle not because of my athletic ability, form or endurance but because I was quiet in class.  I ended up being a natural.  I knew from the first time I took a class that I wanted to be up front leading one day. I love working out, the challenge that comes along with it and the results you get from putting in the work.  Motivating others to get to that space and have those same desires is invigorating to me. I joined the team and trained in two programs starting in 2012 and trained in a third program in 2013.  I have taught at 4 gyms in the same chain since that time.

If you can check off these boxes, being a group fitness instructor might be for you too!

• You love to workout
• You are excited by motivating other to workout
• You like a challenge
• You like the accountability that teaching regular classes affords you for working out regularly (I call it exercise insurance)
• You like being in shape
• You would like to earn a little extra money or get a free gym membership

If you do decide to become an instructor, get started with some of my tips to rockstar your debut here.  There are a host of other articles on here to help you go through the process of getting started as well.

I am currently using all three of my trainings mixed with my love of basketball to deliver world class workouts with In The Paint.  I created this program to assist people with their workout desires from the convenience of their homes and for all fitness levels.  We have been having some what of an amazing time together during the pandemic in spite of what is going on in the world.  These special days like college day Friday, give us an opportunity to meet up LIVE and share our experience with family and friends.   I hope you will join us!  You can RSVP here through EVENTBRITE.

Live Healthy & Active. Be Prosperous.