Group Fitness Real Talk – Details, episodes & analysis

Strength training isn't just trending—it's DOMINATING the fitness landscape in 2025. The American College of Sports Medicine now ranks traditional strength training as the #1 fitness modality, but what does this mean for group fitness instructors?

Today on the podcast, Will Brereton breaks down the massive shift toward strength training across all demographics, explains why this trend is fundamentally different from past fitness fads, and provides practical strategies for incorporating strength elements into any class format!

Plus don't forget to download your Group Fitness Triple Threat Action Plan right here.

Enjoy the episode!

Links and References mentioned in this episode:

• Will’s Facebook, Instagram and Email Address
• SH1FT Fitness Website
• Download your 2025 Action Plan 
• American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) Fitness Trends for 2025
• Strava stats on weight training for women

Les Mills is pivoting away from pre choreographed exercise to music, or ETM, formats in a major way. Now this is a huge shift for instructors who rely on these programs. So, what does it mean for you? Is exercise to music dying? And, how should you adapt?

Today on the podcast, Will Brereton analyzes Les Mills' shift away from ETM formats, examines the data behind this major change, and provides concrete action steps for instructors to adapt their teaching approach and future-proof their careers!

Enjoy the episode!

Links and References mentioned in this episode:

• Download your 2025 Action Plan 
• Philip Mills Presentation - if you’re short on time, jump to 18:50 for the section Will references in the podcast. 
• Will’s Facebook, and Instagram 
• SH1FT Fitness Website

You may have noticed I took a break from the podcast over the summer to recharge - but I'm back and super excited for the shows we are bringing your way for the rest of 2022. 

Today's guest, Jayne Nicholls, is a fixture of the UK fitness industry, an International Fitness Presenter and the creator of Freestyle Fitness Yoga which is the UK's leading contemporary yoga program designed specifically for qualified fitness instructors. 

Jayne is the perfect guest for us to jump back in with, because as you're going to hear, she is 100% team 'Real Talk'. She doesn't beat around the bush with her views on fitness, where we came from and where we're going as an industry. My goal for this show is to always give you authentic and honest opinions from experts in the fitness industry and today, you’ll get just that.

In this week's episode, Jayne gets REAL about:

• What it means to be extraordinary as a GX Instructor
• Why failure can be SO good for your growth
• How to diversify your offerings for more long term career stability

Links and References mentioned in this episode:

• Connect with Jayne on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn
• The GXT Studio Website
• Will’s Facebook, Instagram and Email Address
• SH1FT Fitness Website

Here today on the podcast is a cycling expert who you may recognise from our R1DE format, Sarah Stoneley. Sarah is a Master Trainer at 1Rebel and currently the Head of Brand Development for 1Rebel Saudi.

I met Sarah back when I was the General Manager of ClassPass. At that time, I attended a number of boutique classes, and Sarah’s quickly became one of my favorites, mostly because she was one of the best cycling Instructors I had taken class with.

In this episode, Sarah and I chat about her transition from the fashion industry to group fitness, the top qualities she looks for in a great cycling Instructor, and the importance of celebrating the beginners in class, not just the top performers. Enjoy the episode!

Links and References mentioned in this episode:

• Connect with Sarah on Instagram
• 1Rebel Saudi Arabia
• Will’s Facebook, Instagram and Email Address
• SH1FT Fitness Website

This week, we're doing something a little bit different. We are giving you a bonus episode, and this time, the tables are turned! I’m being interviewed by Ann-See Yeoh, a yoga and mindbody expert and teacher, for a special seminar series she hosted for Mindbody Fitness Professionals. Ann-See and I have known each other for a long time and worked together at Les Mills. She also has a great Facebook group linked in the show notes below, so be sure to check that out.

We chat about how to have longevity in your fitness career, the future of mindbody classes, how instructors can tap into their unique strengths, how to stand out as a fitness professional, and much more!

Links and References mentioned in this episode:

• Ann-See’s Facebook & Website
• Ann-See’s Facebook Group, MindBody Fitness Professionals
• Will’s Facebook, Instagram and Email Address
• SH1FT Fitness Website

Today’s guest is a good friend and one of my Group Fitness role models, Bevan James Eyles. Bevan has been a world leading Instructor for a LONG time and one of the things I love most about him is that he still has just as much passion and gets just as much joy out of teaching today as he did 20 years ago. In case you missed it, checkout out his first appearance on the podcast all about building community and the secret to longevity as a Group Fitness Instructor. 

Now, Bevan is BACK and he wrote a book that I want you to hear about! “I Will Make You Passionate About Exercise” (the title of his new book), is NOT for fit people. It’s for people who struggle to exercise, period. As you may already know, reaching this demographic is important to my mission. You’ve likely heard me talk about how enormous the impact and opportunity is around the 80% of people who are inactive around the world, a sector that is often overlooked by big chains like Peloton and Apple Fitness+. If you’re passionate about this too, give this episode a listen and be sure to pick up the book as resource for your clients. Here’s the link: https://www.passionaboutexercise.com

Bevan has also extended an opportunity for listeners of this podcast to bring in some extra affiliate income by referring this book to your clients. If you’re interested, apply here: https://www.passionaboutexercise.com/becomeanaffiliate

Links and References mentioned in this episode:

• Buy the book: “I Will Make You Passionate About Exercise” 
• Become an affiliate of the book and make a commission!
• Ep 09: The Secret to Longevity as a Group Fitness Instructor w/ Les Mills legend Bevan James Eyles 
• Bevan’s website, Instagram and Facebook
• Bevan’s podcast, The Fitness Behaviour Podcast
• Will’s Facebook, Instagram and Email Address
• SH1FT Fitness Website

The fitness industry has just had a big shake up and if you aren't yet across it, you NEED to be because it's a complete game changer for instructors!

On the podcast today, the tables are turned and Will is being interviewed by guest host Richard Playfair. Why? Because Will's got a story to tell that every Instructor needs to hear.

We’re coming up to the 5th birthday of SH1FT Fitness, and we've made some BIG changes. Will doesn't often talk about SH1FT on the podcast, but this is a special occasion because these changes have caused a ripple throughout the entire fitness industry.

Will gives background on the BIG swing the company has taken to put the needs of instructors front and centre of the group exercise conversation. Will talks about:

• SH1FT PRO the industry first multi-genre membership
• The limitations in other group fitness models that SH1FT has solved
• How every instructor can open up more opportunities and teach every genre thanks to the SH1FT App
• The unlimited ability of instructors to create unique personalised workouts
• The game changing monthly price that allows instructors to pay less, and earn more.
• Plus a special deal for instructors - see below for details. 

To celebrate the launch of the industry's first ever multi-genre membership, PRO, we are offering all of our Group Fitness Real Talk listeners 25% off training in ANY SH1FT Fitness format. 

At SH1FT, we do not do regular sales or discounts. Our business model is built on keeping prices as low as possible for Instructors 365 days a year. But launching PRO is a BIG DEAL to us, so we are making an exception - this offer is a celebration! But it does mean that if you have been thinking about training in any of our formats, now is the time to buy, as you won't get these discounts again. 

You can sign up to train via the link below: 

https://sh1ftfitness.com/registration/formats

Then enter the following discount code to claim your 25% off: REALTALK 

This discount is valid for any or all of our formats, and that includes our most popular option the PRO TRAINING BUNDLE which is training in all five SH1FT Fitness formats for the price of 3. If you use the 25% off code you can train in SH1FT, L1FT, R1ZE, M1ND & R1DE for an incredibly low USD$337 / £262. Even if you never intend to teach one or two of the formats, it's worth it for the value! 

This offer is valid for 7 days only from today. 

Links and References mentioned in this episode:

• Signup link for training (Don’t forget your discount code: REALTALK)
• Richards Facebook Group: 
• Will’s Facebook, Instagram and Email Address
• SH1FT Fitness Website

We talk about diversity in fitness a lot, and that applies to culture, ethnicity, body shape, and age. But it also relates to disabilities and physical limitations, too.

Today’s podcast guest is Laura Ellis, a SH1FT Instructor. As you're going to hear, Laura was diagnosed with scoliosis at 11 years of age, and she’s been dealing with her back problems ever since. But that hasn't stopped her from pursuing her dreams of working in the Fitness Industry and meaningfully changing the lives of people in front of her. Laura talks about the transformation she has gone through just since the pandemic in the last year, from hiding her scoliosis to proudly showing what her body can do.

In my view, one of the most important things we can do as Fitness Instructors is inspire other people into movement. And sometimes one of the most inspiring things we can do is be authentic and transparent about our limitations (or what other people may view as limitations), showing that we do not let those limit us.

Here's Laura's story…

This week on Group Fitness Real Talk, I'm back chatting with Richard Playfair, founder of SweatLife Films, for Part 2 of "How to Nail Teaching Virtually in 2022". In case you missed it, go back and listen to Part 1, where we talked about the marketing and business elements of running a digital fitness business as an Instructor. 

Today, we delve into the technical side of things. Richard shares an updated list of useful tools and equipment to grow the digital side of your business, where you should and shouldn’t invest your money, and the importance of developing your talent in front of camera.

Enjoy this short but practical episode!

Here’s a glance at this episode…

• (2:11) Essential items for the Instructor teaching digital classes
• (5:11) Recommendations for head mics to go with the receiver
• (7:26) How to upgrade your video
• (10:13) Lighting recommendations
• (10:54) Something you SHOULDN’T spend your money on right now
• (11:50) Storage recommendations and file naming
• (14:36) Tips for developing your talent as a digital Instructor

Links and References mentioned in this episode:

• Richard’s Facebook Group: Fitness Video Production Help For Fitness Professionals
• Richard on LinkedIn
• Richard’s YouTube: Sweatlife Films
•  Episode 8: Digital Fitness: Pricing, Packaging and Platform
• Episode 10: 5 Pro Tips For Creating Better Virtual Classes
• FREE Timer Pack
• Rode HS2 Headmic
•  Trantec Headmic
•  Rode Wireless Go I
• Rode Wireless Go II
• Neewer Lights
• Research HDMI Out Camera Options
• Will’s Facebook, Instagram and Email Address
• SH1FT Fitness Website

Back in 2020, Richard Playfair, SH1FT Fitness Video Producer and owner of Sweatlife Films, came on the podcast to share his expertise on creating a better virtual class. ⁠Things have changed a lot since then, so now he’s back to give some updated insights on some of the business and marketing aspects of being a digital fitness instructor in the current industry. ⁠

In this week’s episode, Richard gets REAL about the biggest pitfalls he sees Instructors running into with their digital offerings⁠, his go-to platforms for managing the admin side of a GX business⁠, practical tips for structuring and pricing fitness packages⁠, and more!

Enjoy this episode full of actionable takeaways!

Links and References mentioned in this episode:

• Management platform: Fitune
• Richard’s Facebook Group: Fitness Video Production Help For Fitness Professionals
• Richard on LinkedIn
• Richard’s YouTube: Sweatlife Films
•  The Crystal Maze
• Will’s Facebook, Instagram and Email Address
• SH1FT Fitness Website