For all of you who go to fitness classes, I would love some feedback. I recently got certified to teach Turbokick, and am working up the nerve to begin teaching at our local gyms. So please tell me what keeps you coming back to your favorite teacher? What qualities do they have, the class, the environment, the music?
I know people get attached and comfortable to their class/teacher. What are the things that make a great teacher, or even a not so great teacher? Thanks so much, Amy

Personally, I like people who I'm just a little afraid of! Both my spinning and my boxerfit instructors are the type of people who will push you as far as you can possibly go, and then a little further. They're both very nice people, and aren't mean, but I know that I'd better have pretty good form if i see them coming towards me during class, 'cause if it seems like I'm slacking they'll push me that much harder. For example, my boxerfit teacher makes us all do the plank for 3 minutes at the end of the class. If anyone falls or lets their stomach or knees touch the matt, she stops counting down and we all have to keep holding until the person who fell gets back up. It's funny, 'cause it's not like we have to listen to her - we could realistically all stop when we wanted, but the fact that we want to be pushed keeps us going. I'm not big on super-perky people, and I'm not big on super-nice instructors who area fraid to give criticism, either. I've gone to classes where I've known that I'm not working very hard and I'm not doing the exercises properly, and no one corrects me. I can slack off at home. If I'm in a class it's cause I want someone to kick my butt. Also, it's important for instructors to make sure that people can ask questions, make suggestions, etc. after class. good luck with your class!

Hmmm, I've taken a lot of classes over the years, and I can tell you what I like and don't like - most of which has very little to do with what's being taught.

- Don't play favorites/don't ignore anyone. Just hate it when I feel like I've wandered into a "private group" type of class.

- Don't play to music too loud (or wear a mike). I have trouble hearing instructions when the music is overpowering (consider where the speakers are - it might not sound too loud where you are), and that means I have to visually clue on what's next and miss some of it.

- Be prepared/be on time. I can't believe the number of teachers who aren't! Once in awhile if something's come up is understandable, on a regular basis it's not.

Like Sierra I like a teacher who makes sure everyone is doing the moves correctly. And I especially like one who's welcoming and approachable. Good luck!

I like an instructor who can help correct me but without putting me on the spot. I also like one that looks like he/she cares instead of "I'm going through the motions teaching this class." I guess that goes with the approachable. I also like an instructor who isn't afraid to have different people on different levels and even inspire someone to push themselves doing slightly different variations depending on what level they are. A good instructor should be watching her class as much as the class is watching her. I suppose this is a difficult thing to master for a while. No loud music. Because I'm hard of hearing I like an instructor who is willing to use 1, 2 , 3 finger movements or direction movements when requested instead of "just sit up front" comment and blowing me off.

The best instructor I ever had was one who would be encouraging, kind, inspirational, and was also a little intimidating (to me, anyways) and always expected us to do our best and always seemed to know when we weren't and would push (gently) to do the technique or get as close to it as possible. He was just as encouraging and helpful to the people who could barely keep up as he was to the more advanced students. It also helped that he expected the whole class to be that way as well.
At the end of every class he did a little mediation minute where he would read something or talk about something to provide a little inspiration or just something to think about.

Another instructor was so much fun. Her routines were always interesting and fun, and she changed it up every few classes. She would also talk to us about things while we were doing the warmups.

That reminds me of a ball conditioning class I took. Talk about going back to our childhood and just PLAY! It was so much fun and SO much work. I'm not technical on terms, but we used the ball that looks like it is saturn cut in half. We played leap frog on it, stood on the rings/or underbelly and balanced while we threw 10lb balls at each other. Then we had to stand on one foot and do that. We were falling and laughing but OMG what a core excercise class that was. You know the obstacle courses where you jump through a series of tires? We did something like that but with one foot on the ball and then the cross our leg over to the other side then to the other ball etc and RAPIDLY! We did squats while balancing. Jump on and off the ball. Team excercises (great idea!) of passing a regular weighted ball over our heads to the other person who is standing back to back from us then side to side (twisting our waists) and passing the ball to the person behind us. The instructor was part of the ball catching fun (while giving tips) and we watched her fall occasionally and that made us feel it is okay not to be perfect. My absolute most fun class!

Keep it like playing...or keep it peaceful (if it is that kind of excercise)

i always get so thrown off when my instructor is offbeat or sets the beat too fast for what we're doing.

I'm participating alot in this thread..lol. Speaking of too fast beat, I think clear transition times are necessary. When people switch without a good clear signal newbies get lost easily.

I like a cute and sexy instructor with the six pack and all lol... sorry girls it slipped out ...no seriously, I'd like someone who's not too indulgent but experienced enough to see people's limit so he knows how to push you to the limit but never over. Someone who has classes fit for every kind of people but also who does classes per type of people. I would rather take classes with fat people like me than see slim people that would only get on my nerves just because if they're slim I dont see what they're doing here ! And finally I wish my instructor would not be too expensive...I know Im asking for too much but please Santa, Ive been a good girl!

thanks for all the great feedback! Very helpful. Amy

HHAHAHAHA! Actually I rather enjoy it when I see a 6 pack person in class struggling to get through the class. It reminds me that nobody is good at everything. It also reminds me (not about that person specifically) that just because you are skinny doesn't mean you are healthy or in shape. I do make it to where some people aren't seeing my butt too often though (especially since poses often require the widest view possible), but being deaf and having to sit up front all the time, I had to get over it a long time ago. Try being late for a college class of 300 students (knowing you have to sit up front) and having the 2 interpreter entourage walk in during the same time you are (because they wait outside until you show in case you don't show). Now that is embarrasing..lol. Or how about signing and knocking my soda over in an auditorium style class and having to go back and forth to the bathroom to get papertowels while the instructor is teaching. If you didn't see it and the teacher didn't comment on it, you will notice the interpreters stopped signing and look to wonder why. Yeah, that was great too.

Oh, and how about I'm sitting up front (walked in late) with 2 other deaf people and we are having to explain to the instructor (in front of other people) what we need and she is having to set up bikes (because we didn't know you have to pre register (which is why we were late). Then after everybody is done waiting on us, I stood up and realized my feet weren't done healing (dropped a laptop on 3 toes) and lost my balance, sent my pda flying across the room, broke the water bottle holder, and was hanging on for dear life till the bike stopped spinning and I could step out of it. THEN when I tried to make a gracious exit, the instructor followed me for 5 min to find out why I fell and then went back and told the class. In all, this really turned out to be my favorite instructor because she was caring and she does all the above I explained. HAHAHA...fat don't bother me so much.

DISLIKES:
-The other week an instructor for a step class i was taking belted out "this is NOT the beginner class." i felt like she then purposely complicated the routine to force me and a few others to leave.
-i have insstructors at my gym who call out commands and don't do all the reps with you. i am fine if they have already taught 2 classes that day and are pooped, or are going around checking everyone's moves, but i'm not fine with it when they are lazy.

LIKES:
-kinda tough. i take a kickboxing class with an instructor who has a macho edge, but she balances it with her sense of humour and even makes fun of herself from time to time.
-good music and routines that change.
-"push yourself, it's good for you" attitude. also, "you can do and you're worth it"
-instructors who ask if anyone is new to the class. i've noticed the routine gets very complex when there are no newbies. it's good to teach to the class who is present, not who was there last week, etc.
-instructors who are approachable.