Fundamentals of Teaching Group Fitness Instructor Resources

The music used in the video drill practice is available through our music partner Yes!FitnessMusic.

www.yesfitnessmusic.com/

Vocabulary terms:

  • 32-count phrase – refers to grouping of four 8-count phrases that equal one 32-count phrase; a 32-count phrase is like a paragraph, with an identifiable beginning (opening sentence), middle (discussion) and concluding 8-count phrase (final sentence in paragraph that wraps up the main points). 
  • 8-count phrase – refers to how music arranged in identifiable groups of 8 beats each. 
  • Beats Per Minute (BPM) – determined by counting the beats for one minute of music.
  • Cues – words or phrases used to deliver your instructions.
  • Double-time – two movements per beat.
  • Downbeat – the strong heavy beat, pulsing on the odd counts of the phrase (1, 3, 5, 7).
  • Half-time – two beats per movement.
  • Melody – a combination of pitch and rhythm creating a sequence of notes that is musically satisfying.
  • Musical beat – regular pulses that have an even rhythm and occur in a continuous pattern.
  • Phrase – groups of beats that may be used to enhance movement instruction and demonstration.
  • Pitch – the degree of highness or lowness of a tone.
  • Reciprocal movement – the action of flexing one joint on one side while at the same time extending the opposing joint on the other side (example: alternating right-left biceps curl).
  • Rhythm – a strong, regular, repeated pattern of sound.
  • Syncopation – to displace the beats in a musical rhythm which are in some way unexpected.
  • Tempo – the rate of speed of a musical piece.
  • Upbeat – the lighter beat on the even counts of (2, 4, 6, 8).

Drills used in practice:

Drill 1- Warm-Up

 

Drill 7: Upper Body Combination 1 – Phrase Practice

 

Drill 8: Upper Body Combination 2 – Phrase Practice

 

Drill 9: Lower Body Combination 1 – Phrase Practice

 

Drill 10: Lower Body Combination 2 – Phrase Practice

 

Drill 11: Lower Body Combination 3 – Phrase Practice

 

Drill 12: Speed Variations

 

Drill 13: Strength Variations

 

Drill 19- Entry-Action-Exit

 

Practice Box Variations 1

 

Practice Box Variations 2

 

Practice Box Variations 3

 

Upper body combination 1: 

4/2x (16/8ct) shoulders up-down 

4/2x (16/8ct) shoulders front-back 

4/2x (16/8ct) arms cross-open 

4/2x (16/8ct) arms reach front-pull back

Upper body combination 2: 

8/4x (16/8ct) alt shoulder roll back

8/4x (16/8ct) alt reach across chest

8/4x (16/8ct) alt reach up to corners

4/2x (16/8ct) double arm push out-down

Lower body combination 1: 

(16ct/8ct/4ct) walk in place

8x/4x/2x (16/8ct/4ct) alt toe tap down

8x/4x/2x (16/8ct/4ct) alt knee lift

4x/2x/1x (16/8ct/4ct) double knee lift

Lower body combination 2: 

2/1x (16/8ct) 4x knee repeater > progression 3x knee repeater, hold 3rd knee up

8/4x (16/8ct) alt tap step > (if using 3x knee repeater-hold) step touch

8/4x (16/8ct) alt hamstring curl

4/2x (16/8ct) squat

Lower body combination 3:

4/2x (16/8ct) out-out-in-in

2x/1x (16ct/8ct) walk forward 4cts + walk backward 4cts

1x (16ct) walk forward 4ct + out-out-in-in + 4ct back + out-out-in-in

4x (8ct) alt side squat

2x (8ct) calf raise