We’re only strangers once
Would you feel more comfortable teaching something to a group of people you know or don’t know?
I saw this post pop up on my Facebook feed and was excited – they’re talking about a new class I’ll be teaching!
Then I was like, “holy crap that class starts this Monday,” and “ahhhhh, I’ll be teaching a bunch of strangers!!!
But hey – they’re only strangers the first time I meet them, right?
The unique thing about the studio where I teach strength class is that people sign up for classes for the month, and may take the same “night” of class for a long time. It ends up being a close-knit family cause you see your group every week for months on end! Drop-ins happen, but not often.
Sooooo… I end up knowing most of the people I teach really well, which gives me lots of advantages – I know their strengths and weaknesses (and can plan workouts focusing on them), I know their injuries (and can modify for them), I know their weight range (so I can tell them safely which weights to use), and I know their likes and dislikes and personalities. AND… they know me and what to expect. And I know I can get away with cheesy jokes and bad dance moves and a bit (oops) of swearing.
I don’t have that with a class full of brand new people, but! I’ll figure it out quickly enough and make class fun for them. Ha, and if not fun, at least challenging/worth their time!
Themocracy
Sounds like a good attitude! I love the community around my dance class, too. We have a lot of the same people every Saturday, which gives it a very warm “let your hair down” vibe.
That is such an awesome thing to look forward to on the weekends! 🙂
You’ll be fine! At the Y, there’s not signing up – just drop in – so though I have regulars, I can have complete strangers, too. I like teaching people I know but love having fresh faces. For me, I like bigger classes so I feel like it’s less about me. Or maybe, I just now thought, I need to do stations and just move around. Anyway.
Yay for a new class!
What do you mean do stations and move around? Like a circuit class?
How big are your classes? We max out at 8! 🙂
You’ll be great! Just be yourself (the cheesy jokes, occasional swearing, and bad dance moves are probably what keep people coming back to YOU – anyone can train them, but not everyone can train them AND make it fun). 🙂
Aww, thanks! 🙂
Wow, your classes sound great! I love that you can take the time to tailor things to the class’ composition.
Thanks! I really try to! And I sometimes take their requests too – we have a lot of people who really enjoy boxing! 🙂
BOOOOOOXXXXXIIIIINNNNGGGGGG!!!!!!!!!!!!
That’s really nice! I dislike when instructors just say light or medium weights because that varies so much! I like when I know the teacher and the tell me get 10lbs.
Yeah – that is exactly what I try to do! And a lot of times, it’s “Everyone grab 10s, except you, grab 12s or 15s” 🙂
You are going to be great! You give such a great energy to your classes 🙂
Aww, thank you!!!!
you will be awesome!
Thanks 🙂
If you taught at my gym, I would take your classes!
Aww, thanks! 🙂
You’ll be great! And I think that it will be fun for the people who attend the class and see how close-knit it is.
I only take spin classes from 2 spin instructors – I know their style and like how they teach. One of them occasionally teaches a strength class, and it’s fantastic because he can give me really good, honest feedback about what I should be doing.
Thanks! Yeah – and maybe since they are from a cycling club they will have some of that?
That is awesome that you have those teachers you really love!!!!!!!