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Website of two of my favorite presenters - Douglas Brooks and Candice Copeland-Brooks
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The Ramp is cardio reinvented, visit www.rampfit.com |
Paul Chek, HHP, NMT is a prominent expert in the field of holistic health and corrective and high-performance exercise. Visit his website |
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Reflections on the Perfect Class - Part 2 In November 2003, I posted The Perfect Class, an article reflecting my pursuit of more perfect instruction. In order to teach a more perfect class, ultimately you must go to the source, the students. What do students really want? In order to find out, I surveyed my classes hoping to elicit as many responses as possible. My methodology would make a true pollster shudder. With less than 30 surveys returned, the sampling is rather small. Furthermore, the survey is essay style, rather than multiple-choice. I wanted students to speak from their hearts, rather than rate, rank, or choose. The surveyed students attend my classes, which may prejudice some of their responses toward my style of teaching, but all of them currently attend, or have attended other instructors’ classes. The polling may not be perfect, but the comments are priceless! The first question asked respondents to write down their top three expectations. In other words, what do you expect from class? The number one expectation listed by 60% of respondents was “TO GET A GOOD WORKOUT.” The surveys tell a story of students wanting to be challenged with a vigorous, upbeat workout that includes options for intensity and intricacy. Make note, many of these comments came from senior citizens! The comments from seniors basically state, “Don’t hold back! Give us challenging options and we will choose the appropriate fitness level to get the workout we need.” “ I expect a hard workout, and when I’m done I want to feel invigorated and “ I want to work hard and be positively pushed to work a little harder.” The #2 expectation was “TO HAVE FUN!” The surveys revealed that 72% of the respondents listed having fun somewhere in their list of top three expectations. According to the responses, a class incorporating a variety of exercises, paired with instructor humor and enthusiasm is a class that is fun! Upon reviewing the surveys, nearly everyone had the word fun somewhere in their comments. This is a powerful statement. Bottom line, if the students have fun, they will keep coming. If they keep coming, we can make a difference! “ I expect an awesome workout, and to have fun at the same time. I don’t “ A fun-loving instructor who makes the workout fun.” Mary, 56 The third most frequently chosen response was a bit of a surprise to me. 57% of all respondents listed “FEELING GOOD AFTER THE WORKOUT,” somewhere in their top three choices. Apparently our role expands beyond a one-hour class. In retrospect, it makes perfect sense. I think of my own workouts, and how amazing I feel afterwards. I love that feeling, and clearly, our students love that feeling too! “It is important to leave with an upbeat feeling that sets the tone for the day.” Judy, 65 “My biggest expectation is to feel good at the end of class.” Betty, 67 The next question on the survey asked students to name three instructor qualities that are most important to them. Once again, the students replied with a three-letter word. F-U-N! The first choice listed by 47% of the respondents was an instructor who is upbeat and fun. “Instructors need to be peppy and convey a positive tone. This makes the class “I like an instructor who has a sense of humor and makes class fun and The Aquatic Exercise Association will be happy to know that the second quality chosen by respondents was KNOWLEDGE. The responses indicate that students prefer an instructor who is certified, current, and who makes an effort to educate them with fitness tips and facts. “I prefer an instructor who keeps up to date on fitness training, adjusts the class “An instructor who knows how to work all of the muscle groups.” Judy, 65 Finally, the third quality picked by respondents was INSTRUCTOR INTERACTION. The students want to be acknowledged by the instructor. Such a simple thing to do, and yet so overlooked in our everyday haste. “I like an instructor who is interested in knowing our names and seems to want “A friendly hello.”Mildred, 78 “ Friendly and approachable.”Joanne, 45 I also wanted to give students a chance to sound off. I asked them to list any petpeeves they had, regarding classes, instructors, or pools. Fortunately for instructors, the surveys indicate that students get more ticked off at their peers, especially peers who GET IN THEIR WAY! “One thing I hate is people in my way that have no sense of where they are in Surely, we can all relate. I think about all the times I’ve been in crowded classes or IAFC sessions with overzealous participants, and thought to myself, “LISTEN ANNOYING PERSON, if you flail into my spot one more time, you’re going to get a HUGE shove in the middle of your back!” Fortunately, good will, common sense, and a modicum of restraint seem to prevail in the pool! Pet Peeve #2 also had nothing to do with instructors. In a virtual tie for second place, the surveys reveal that students do not like DIRTY LOCKER ROOMS, and they do not like COLD POOLS! “Wet and dirty locker rooms, and distractions like poor head sets and Pet Peeve #3 did have something to do with instructors, specifically UNPREPARED instructors. “ My pet peeve is when an instructor has no routine and doesn’t seem like they “ Instructors need to create a workout that is organized. They can’t just shout Ultimately, our students are reminding us that we ARE teachers and that teachers work with a lesson plan. I don’t remember any of my teachers or professors winging the class with whatever they felt like doing that day! Next up on the survey was music. I asked how important music was to a class, and to list their favorite type of music? Brace yourselves, because 80% of the respondents said music was VERY IMPORTANT! I’m glad I haven’t spent my entire fitness career being a Music Freak for nothing! On the kind of music played in class, the most popular music was 70’s and 80’s pop, and the least favorite was rap music. I was somewhat dismayed that a few of the older participants stated that they did not care for “oldies” music. Naturally, I just spent a fortune on a bunch of “oldies” CD’s! “I am a baby boomer, so I love the music of the 60’s, 70’s, and early 80’s. I Finally, the student’s were asked if they could design their perfect class, what would it include? Summing up the responses, here’s the perfect class designed by students. “Afun well- plannedroutine that includes variety and good music.” In the end, the students really aren’t asking for much. Their desires are simple, achievable, and can be implemented immediately. Actually, there was one more request for the perfect class. KICKBOXING! “I enjoy EVERYTHING about kickboxing. Kick it up a notch!”Cheryl, 49 “Kickboxing is a lot of fun!” Jane, 75 “I enjoy the kickboxing moves.”Nora, 73 (Nora also mentioned that one of her Yes, these are my students, and yes, I’ve created a kickboxing monster. I have been typecast in a role that I can’t break out of. No matter what spectacular routines I create with swing, salsa, or disco, my students always get out of the pool and say, “That was fun Mark, but we are going to do kickboxing next week aren’t we?” Finally, the students have spoken, and here’s what they said. Smile, have fun, be prepared with a routine, know your muscle groups, learn their names, have fun, crack jokes, work them hard, play upbeat pop music, have fun, make eye contact, laugh at yourself, laugh at them, correct their form, have fun, validate their efforts, motivate them with fitness facts, have fun, send them off with positive feelings… and whatever you do… DON’T FORGET TO THROW IN SOME JABS AND KARATE KICKS! And you thought you were supposed to just teach a class? HAVE FUN! Stay Fit and Motivated! Mark Grevelding is a free-lance writer and full time fitness professional living in Rochester, New York. As a personal trainer and group exercise instructor, he is certified through AEA, AFAA, and FITOUR. He may be contacted via his website www.fitmotivation.com or e-mail: markgrev@aol.com |
