It is natural to feel overwhelmed when beginning to learn the many layers applied to a SilverSneakers EnerChi class experience. Keep in mind this important fact: all great teachers had a beginning. Your passion for teaching SilverSneakers classes, promoting health and well-being and continuing to learn, set you on a wonderful path to becoming a successful teacher.
Below are tips to help you feel more comfortable and be successful when teaching SilverSneakers EnerChi.
Observe
Be observant when teaching class. Teach from a standing position as much as possible and face your class so you can better observe and interact with them.
Demonstrate
Demonstrate with precision, using concise verbal cues, clear visual cues and impeccable form and alignment.
Communicate
Speak slowly and clearly, making sure your cues are simple and direct. Keep the tone of each cue positive. Reframe negative cues such as “don’t let your knees go past your toes” to a positive cue such as “shift your weight back slightly, feeling your weight in the center of your foot. Lift your chest tall.” Demonstrate proper form and alignment for each exercise.
Preparation
Always be prepared to teach. Great instructors come with a plan and are ready to make on-the-spot adjustments. Know what form or forms will be taught in class. Practice the flow and how you will break down the movement to practice the components for success in learning the form. Plan how you will integrate each form into the flow. Be ready to teach to both seated and standing participants.
Instructor Tips:
- Write out some cues you can use to teach the form.
- Use your phone or another device to record your practice. Better yet, record yourself teaching class and review later that day. Note what you can improve upon. This is one of the best methods for self-improvement.
- Smile and enjoy the experience.
Pre-class instructions
Pre-class instruction is critical for a safe and successful class experience. It sets the stage and helps prepare students for an effective class. Explain the SilverSneakers Mind-Body 1 to 3 Perceived Exertion chart and ask for a number. Use cues like:
- “All forms and exercises can be practiced from a seated or standing position.”
- “You may sit down at any time during class.”
- “Work at your own pace.”
- “Take sips of water any time you need it. I will also provide opportunities for water breaks during class.”
- “Notice how you are feeling while you are practicing today.”
- “All movement should feel comfortable and pain free. Decrease your range of motion. Take a break if you need it.”
- “Follow any instructions given to you by your physician.”
- “Let me know if you need assistance.”
Teach mirror image
SilverSneakers recommends teaching the forms facing the class to offer participants optimal visibility and to increase motivation. Teach with mirror image cueing. This means that when you want your participants to move to the right, you cue “right” while you move left. Mirror image cueing takes practice. Teaching mirror image it is an effective means for increasing class engagement.
There may be some participants who would learn a form more easily if the instructor turned their back to the class and faced the same direction as the participant. During the breakdown in teaching and learning the new form, it is acceptable for the instructor to turn their back to the class and face the same direction while practicing the components of the form. Return to leading facing the class.
Instructor tip: When teaching mirror image (facing your class), be sure that when you say “right” you are actually moving “left.” Cue to the direction your participants are moving and not the direction you yourself are moving. Some instructors are successful teaching mirror image cueing when they tape a piece of paper with an “L” on the instructors right when facing the wall (the participants left) and an “R” on the instructors left when facing the wall (the participants right). This provides an easy reminder of what is the participants right or left.
SilverSneakers Safety Requirements
Cue the four SilverSneakers safety guidelines a minimum of three times in each SilverSneakers class.
- Postural alignment.
- “stand/sit tall”.
- “knees bent and relaxed”.
- “shoulders and upper body relaxed”.
- “remain supple, bending and moving easily, gracefully”.
- Perceived exertion (1 to 3 chart)
- “Think about how you are feeling with what we just learned/practiced. On a scale of 1 to 3, how do you feel?”
- Review PE before class, ask for a number during class, ask for a number again at the end of class.
- Water breaks
- Before class: “Before we get started let’s get some water.”
- During class: “Get a drink of water before we practice the sequence again.”
- “Before we move into our cool-down exercises, take a drink of water.”
- After class: “Please have a drink of water before you leave.”
- “It’s important to stay hydrated the rest of the day so make sure you are taking sips of water throughout the day.”
- Breathing
- “Breathe from your belly.”
- “Connect your breath with the movement.”
- “Breathe naturally.”
- “Focus on the exhalation.”
Instructor tip: Cue participants to imagine there is a small balloon just under and below their belly button. Inhale deeply and imagine the balloon gently expanding. Exhale and allow the air from the balloon to release, contracting the lower abdominal muscles, drawing the belly button towards the spine.
Additional Safety Considerations
- Have an emergency action plan
- Know where to exit the building if there is an emergency such as fire or extreme weather. Know the layout of your building and always have an exit strategy.
- Have a plan in case of medical emergency during class. Know where the first aid kit and AED are stored.
- Be prepared to identify a capable class participant to go to the front desk and get assistance in case of an emergency, while you stay with the member in need of help.
- Class Environment
- The space used to practice SilverSneakers EnerChi should have good lighting, be free of tripping hazards and be kept at a comfortable temperature for exercise.
- Be aware of the tripping hazard involved with moving on carpet if your class is held in a carpeted room. Hard, non-carpeted flooring like wood or vinyl is best for EnerChi classes.
- There is no floor work in SilverSneakers EnerChi. All exercise is performed from either a seated or standing position. The relaxation segment should be done from a seated position only.
- Water bottles should be placed underneath the chair, out of harm’s way, to reduce tripping hazards. Purses, coats and other personal belongings should be stored to the side of the room in a place that will not cause a tripping hazard.
- Provide support for those who need you the most. Consider placing frail or new participants in the front row.
- Large classes that regularly exceed 30 participants require additional support. Recruit additional staff or an assistant to help you watch for safety. If staff assistance is not an option, an additional class should be added when class participation continuously meets or exceeds room capacity for a continuous period of one month or 12 classes.
- Never give medical advice. Instead, refer members to a medical professional for questions about discomfort or injuries.
- Advise members to follow all physician directives for any chronic condition that requires ongoing care and support from a health care professional.
- Cue class participants to work within their pain free range of motion.
- Work to improve your verbal and non-verbal communication skills. Because of the age-related deterioration that can occur to the visual, auditory and nervous system of older adults, it is important for SilverSneakers instructors to speak clearly and cue with precise and specific instructions without constant filler cues or conversational speech. Enunciate and present movements in a clear visual manner.
- Both participants and instructors should wear comfortable, loose fitting clothing as this will promote good energy flow during practice.
- Both participants and instructors should wear shoes with a light sole that is comfortable and flexible.
Instructor tip: SilverSneakers EnerChi recommends all participants wear appropriate shoes during practice. Shoes provide good support and enhance balance. They also provide warmth. Cold feet may impede the flow of chi energy. For participants with diabetes, shoes are essential because any injury to the foot can be very difficult to heal and may lead to a serious infection.