Explore every episode of the podcast Group Fitness Real Talk
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| Strength is King: Why You Can’t Ignore This Trend | 11 Mar 2025 | 00:08:55 | |
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: | |||
| The End of ETM? What Les Mills Change in Direction Means for You | 10 Mar 2025 | 00:10:43 | |
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!
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| How to be Extraordinary as a GX Instructor with Jayne Nicholls | 04 Oct 2022 | 00:54:48 | |
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:
Links and References mentioned in this episode:
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| How to Teach a GREAT Cycling Class with Sarah Stoneley | 02 Aug 2022 | 01:03:45 | |
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.
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| How To Stand Out and Reach More People as a Fitness Instructor | 19 Jul 2022 | 00:32:43 | |
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!
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| “I can make ANYONE passionate about exercise” with Bevan James Eyles | 05 Jul 2022 | 00:48:50 | |
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
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| Every Fitness Instructor NEEDS to Know About This | 01 Jun 2022 | 00:38:15 | |
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:
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.
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| Accept No Limitations with Laura Ellis | 24 May 2022 | 00:32:23 | |
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… | |||
| How to Nail Teaching Virtually in 2022 (Part 2: Tools & Equipment) | 10 May 2022 | 00:19:43 | |
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!
Links and References mentioned in this episode:
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| How to Nail Teaching Virtually in 2022 (Part 1: Business & Marketing) | 26 Apr 2022 | 00:31:03 | |
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:
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| How to Price your Classes for Inflation with Ollie Bailey | 12 Apr 2022 | 01:01:31 | |
Today on the podcast, I'm talking about something that I get asked about a lot, which is how to set your prices for inflation. Today’s guest, Ollie Bailey from Gymcatch, is an expert on the subject. Gymcatch is a personal assistant app that helps fitness professionals manage bookings, fill classes and offer a great customer experience so they can focus on doing what they do best, teaching fitness! In this episode, we're talking about inflation and how it is affecting the GX industry, best practices for setting prices, and how to know if your pricing is on par with the market. There are loads of great stats in this one, so enjoy this episode with Ollie!
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| Reality Bites: The Best Time to Workout (And Other Myths) | 29 Mar 2022 | 00:21:18 | |
Today on the Group Fitness Real Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Sam Rider for another Reality Bites episode. This new series is essentially a bite-sized discussion on one topic of concern to Group Fitness Instructors. We talk about the best time to workout, the best way to workout, the myths surrounding those topics, and the role of fake news in the fitness industry. Enjoy! Links and References mentioned in this episode:
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| The Group Fitness Triple Threat Series | 06 Mar 2025 | 00:05:18 | |
2025 is one of the biggest shakeups we've seen in the Group Fitness industry in a long time. If you're an instructor and you're still teaching the way you did five years ago, you're falling behind. If you're waiting for someone to just give you a raise or increase your instructor pay... I'm sorry to say it's not happening. But if you're ready to adapt, pivot, and get ahead of the trends, then you're in the right place. We've created a brand new podcast series: “The group fitness triple threat” where we are breaking down the three massive shifts that are transforming our industry right now and giving you a complete action plan for each one. It's 10 episodes, each 10 minutes or less. We are not here to waste your time, we're getting straight to the point. In each episode you’ll hear the trend, what it means for you, and one action step that you can take today to make the most of what is changing. Think of it as your triple threat advantage: 1. Master your formats 2. Understand your members 3. Build your business. This is the most comprehensive look at where group fitness is heading in 2025. No fluff, no hype, just real actionable insights to future-proof your career. And the best part is that we've also created the Group Fitness Triple Threat Guide, your 2025 Action Plan. A downloadable guide with all the key info that you'll be able to download as soon as the first episode drops. This series launches on Monday, so subscribe now so you don't miss out. | |||
| Reality Bites: Warm Up and Cool Down with Sam Rider | 15 Mar 2022 | 00:25:21 | |
What's the tea on warm ups and cool downs? Love them? Hate them? How should it be done? Today’s expert is the grumpiest man in fitness, Sam Rider. Sam is a Creative Lead for SH1FT fitness, as well as a newly minted fireman AND father. For our topic of discussion, we’re dishing out some real talk about warm ups and cool downs. Enjoy this mini-episode!
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| Screw the Metaverse! with Dave Thomas | 01 Mar 2022 | 01:08:59 | |
Today on the podcast, I'm chatting with a good friend and co-founder of one of my favorite gyms in London, Dave Thomas from The Foundry. Dave has a wealth of knowledge on all things fitness, but today we're not here to talk about his gym. Instead, I wanted to get Dave on the podcast to talk about the future, and more specifically about something that we have all seen pop up across social media and various other places in relation to fitness, which is the metaverse of fitness. Now, as you're going to hear in this episode, it's not because I don't think these things are going to impact everyone in a big way, especially in the fitness industry. They definitely, definitely are. It’s more that the metaverse, and crypto, and blockchain are all getting so much airtime and that, for the average fitness industry professional, these concepts are a long way off from impacting how people run their businesses. It's causing a lot of people to stress about a failure to keep up with something that, right now, doesn't matter. Now, on with the episode…
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| How 2021 Changed the Fitness Industry Forever | 28 Dec 2021 | 00:28:17 | |
For the final episode of 2021, I am reviewing the three key predictions I made at the beginning of the year to see how they turned out. Now, if you are paying attention to what’s happening in the world right now, you will be aware that in the last couple of weeks, things have gotten a lot more grim. It looked like things were pretty good during summer and we were hopeful that COVID was over. But now, thanks to Omicron, we are back in the depths of it. While this podcast is intended to be both informative and uplifting, as it says in the name, the most important thing is that it's real talk. So this episode is going to stay true to the Group Fitness Real Talk approach for this final couple of weeks of 2021. I'm going to investigate how accurate my original 2021 predictions were, review the statistics and consumer trends for the fitness industry this year, and share what you, as a Group Fitness Instructor, can take away from all of it. If you need to sit and marinate in the fact that this is a bit of a crappy time, allow yourself to do it. Give yourself the opportunity to mourn the fact that we've lost another Christmas period to uncertainty and to COVID. Just know that it is going to get better in the new year and that there’s heaps of opportunity left for us to take advantage of. Now, on to the episode…
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| Delivering Fitness for EVERY Age with Kelly Froelich of Balanced | 14 Dec 2021 | 00:48:14 | |
Have you ever put yourself in the shoes of a 70-year old looking to stay active? If you have, you might realise that more and more older people looking to keep fit feel like there is nowhere they truly belong. The gym is intimidating for all ages, but this is an age group that didn't grow up with the gym as an option. Online fitness brands are targeted towards young, fit people and most options that do cater to an older audience focus on the negatives of aging and make the individual feel like they’re one step away from the grave. But with millennials and gen z’s taking the lions share of ‘fitness focus’, is it worth spending time trying to reach this older audience? The answer is a resounding YES! For two reasons:
If you’ve listened to the podcast for a while, you’ll know that myself and my business, SH1FT, are all about breaking down fitness stereotypes and creating fitness for life, at ANY age, with any body. So that’s why I’m so excited to chat to today’s podcast guest, Kelly Froelich! Kelly and her co-founder Katie have built an entire business around catering to the 65+ age group called Balanced and today, she’s going to share with you how they built it, why they built it and the tactics they used to ensure the business is a HUGE success. Enjoy the episode!
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| The Fitness Music Solution You Need to Know About | 30 Nov 2021 | 00:44:04 | |
Music is such an important part of teaching Group Fitness. It should be fun, inspiring and help people lose themselves in a class. But when COVID hit, all of the music that was once suitable for teaching classes became unusable online and music suddenly became a very confusing and stressful part of teaching Group Fitness. Many instructors didn’t understand the rules - and rightfully so - music industry licensing is incredibly confusing. But over the last 18 months, fitness experts and Instructors alike, have educated themselves in an attempt to find a music solution that worked. If you want more details on the basics of licencing and the impact of COVID, listen to episode 15 of this podcast. On today’s episode of the podcast, I'm diving into the topic of finding a music solution that is future-proof with special guest, Andy Pickles from Pure Energy Music. Pure Energy is a rights free music company that creates incredible music exclusively for the fitness industry and they have just launched a really exciting new App that aims to make music selection fun, affordable and smart. Enjoy my chat with Andy! **Sign up for the Pure Energy Go App here. Use code SH1FTApp for a FREE month + 10 pounds off your monthly or annual subscription!** | |||
| Nootropics Are Coming...But What Are They? | 09 Nov 2021 | 00:42:15 | |
If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably tried a number of different products and supplements over the years to help you deliver the best possible class. Pre-workouts, a certain amount of protein within a particular window after exercise - or just a hit of caffeine before class. My guest this week is Babak Brazell, the founder of Level Out, a nootropics company with a particular focus on the fitness industry. If you’re wondering what nootropics are - then keep listening. It’s essentially a cover-all term for supplements designed to improve brain function… and as you’ll hear they are becoming more and more popular with everyone from high performance athletes to silicon valley CEOs. If you’re interested in optimal physical and mental performance, then this episode is for you.
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| The #1 Way to Give Feedback During Class | 26 Oct 2021 | 00:17:35 | |
Today on the podcast, I'm sharing a snackable, shorter episode dealing with one specific question that keeps coming up again and again and that is this: “How can I get participants to improve what they're doing? How can I give feedback in a way which actually lands with those people in my class that need it, and encourages them to improve on the things that they're doing to allow them to get better results?” The good news? There is a really, really simple answer to this. I'm teaching you the #1 tried and true way of delivering feedback and creating positive change during class for your participants. It’s known as a CRC and stands for “Connect”, “Recommend” and “Commend”. Listen to the full episode for my tips for incorporating this feedback strategy into your classes today! If you already know what a CRC is, this will be a little bit of a refresher for you and if you haven't come across the term before, have a listen and then put it into play in your next class. | |||
| When an Injury Threatens to End Your Career | 12 Oct 2021 | 00:57:55 | |
Imagine you’re one of the leading Group Fitness instructors on the planet, you’re sitting at the doctor’s office and they tell you that you will never teach GX again. That’s exactly what happened to today’s guest, Lisa Osborne. If you’re a Les Mills Instructor, you’ll likely be very familiar with Lisa. For those of you that don’t know Lisa, do a quick google of “Lisa Osborne Les Mills” and you’ll find a fair few articles on her. She’s been the programme director for Body Attack for a number of years, the creative director for Body Step, and she’s an all-around Group Fitness Legend. Lisa is also a great friend and mentor who has had such a massive impact on my teaching and way I approach fitness, which you’ll hear in the podcast. So why was Lisa told she would never teach again? It was due to a pretty serious situation with her hip, which required a full hip replacement. But...spoiler alert, she did teach again and she came back stronger than ever. If you’ve been teaching Group Fitness for a while, it’s likely you have suffered an injury of some sort. It’s almost a right of passage - and as you age, the years of wear and tear on the body can take their toll. Although you can’t always prevent injury and aging, there is a huge amount you can do to ensure it doesn’t end your Group Fitness career. Lisa has a really powerful story and today she’s going to share her secrets as to how she’s still one of the most influential people in Group Fitness decades on from when she started.
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| How to Create Meaningful In-Class Connections | 28 Sep 2021 | 00:45:35 | |
On this week’s solo episode, I'm talking about a topic that I get asked frequently by instructors. It's something that the Group Fitness industry, and also the wider community, now understand to be an important role of a Group Fitness Instructor, and that's creating community and building connection with clients and in classes. Group Fitness Instructors now assume the role of helping people, in what is becoming more and more a disconnected world, to find community, connection, and fulfillment, all while learning to embrace exercise. So today, I'm is going to do a deep dive into how to create meaningful connections. I will be discussing why making connections is so important, what you need to do and be aware of before you can really create those meaningful bonds, and some specific tactics that you can use to become a better at it. Best of all, I'm sharing how these principles apply to both live and digital classes. So no matter what you're teaching, whatever type of instructor you are, there's something that you'll be able to take away from today's session. Enjoy the episode! | |||
| Making a World-Class Instructor with Jack Thomas | 14 Sep 2021 | 00:49:49 | |
What makes a world class fitness instructor? That's the million dollar question. Becoming a world class instructor doesn't just happen by luck and there isn't one key trait that makes an instructor world class, as every single instructor has a different style. While there's no one-size-fits-all approach to Group Fitness instructing, there are absolutely common things that every group fitness instructor can do to be better in their own unique way.
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| How to make more money as an instructor in 2024 | 18 Jan 2024 | 00:53:35 | |
We ALL live in hope that 2024 will be the year that instructor pay improves. But… this podcast is called group fitness Real Talk, and the real talk is that any big shifts - not matter how well deserved - don’t seem very likely. So how exactly can you make more money as an Instructor in 2024? I think you need to get smart in how you use your time and how you seek opportunities. And this is the subject that I’ll be discussing in this epsiode with Rosanna Tucker from CoverMe. Now I know that you’ve already got a headstart of the average instructor because you’re listening to this podcast. You know the importance of educating yourself and so I know that this opportunity will be music to your ears. So my advice is to get out there and take up this opportunity now, before the rest of the industry catch up. And - finally - check out the link below to get details on the VERY VERY special partnership discount that we have running with CoverMe. You’ll be able to access training in the SH1FT Fitness formats for a never before seen discount, exclusive to this partnership: If you’re a UK instructor, you’ll be able to set up and account with CoverMe right now - and start seeing what classes are available in your area. If you’re listening from anywhere else, you’ll still be able to access this exclusive discount with SH1FT, and you’ll be notified as soon as CoverMe hits your area. | |||
| The September Issue | 31 Aug 2021 | 00:32:28 | |
As anyone that has been involved in fitness for a long time will know, September is a key month for the fitness industry, particularly in the Northern Hemisphere. Instructors are coming back from their summer holidays, and it's a little bit like January in that they're refreshing their approach to fitness. September also presents an opportunity, particularly this year when the rest of the year has been so difficult with COVID, to focus on getting people back into fitness and creating habits they will actually stick to. In today's podcast, we're going to split it into three short sections. In the first section, I'm going to give a little bit of real talk on a topic that I'm hearing a lot about as we come back into live classes, which is Instructor pay. Then I'm going to ask fitness authority, Emma Barry, what she thinks Instructors should be thinking about as we go into September. Finally, we're going to finish up with some data based on what we saw during the pandemic and now coming out of the pandemic. I'll share what I think Instructors can do to really make the most of the data, the learnings, and the changes that have happened.
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| How to Find Your Joy with Kirsten Potenza of Pound | 17 Aug 2021 | 00:46:27 | |
I'm so excited to welcome Kirsten Potenz to today’s podcast. Kirsten is someone that I really admire in the Fitness industry. She is the creator and founder of the Group Fitness format, Pound. Now, if you haven't heard of Pound, be sure to check them out in the show notes. Pound is unlike anything else in the industry, and you need to see it to fully appreciate it. As you're going to hear on the show, I'm a massive fan of what Kirsten and Pound have accomplished, their authenticity, their style, their brand -- it really, really resonates. And what also resonates with me is that they have an approach to Fitness that's all about fun and escapism. It's not about losing weight. It's not about before-and-afters. It's not about getting abs. If you've been listening to this show for a while, you know that that's exactly my philosophy as well. Now, this type of approach and workout definitely isn't for everyone, but Kirsten has carved out a niche and is very particular on what the brand stands for. This shines through in everything that Pound does, from their branding to their instructor mentality to the trainings they offer in the community they’ve created. There are some great lessons here for every Group Fitness instructor around understanding your purpose and knowing the environment that you're looking to create. I just know you'll take a lot away from this chat, and I really hope you enjoy it! Links mentioned in this episode:
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| What Makes A Super-Trainer with Beachbody's Jeffrey Scott | 03 Aug 2021 | 00:55:31 | |
Today on the podcast, Will is talking to Jeffrey Scott. Jeffrey is Vice President of Fitness, Nutrition, & Results at Beachbody, which for those of you who follow the news will know, has just gone public in very spectacular fashion. As you'll hear, Jeffrey has worked with everyone: Reebok, Les Mills, 24-Hour Fitness, Equinox, and now Beachbody. He brings with him a wealth of knowledge on what it means to be a Fitness presenter, a Fitness educator, and someone whose job it is to select and inspire instructors. Whether you teach for a big gym or for your local community, it's important to stay informed on the industry as a whole — and this is an area where Jeffrey is an expert. Not only does Jeffrey have a really interesting career story, but we also talk a lot about what makes an instructor special and the future of fitness. You're going to also hear some sneak peeks on what Beachbody has in the store with their brand new program, BODi, coming out very soon. I hope you enjoy this episode as much as I did!
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| Takeaways from China with Matt Thraxton | 20 Jul 2021 | 01:13:40 | |
We have heard a lot about China in the last 18 months...but not a lot about what's happening there in the fitness industry. Today on the show, I'm talking to Matt Thraxton. Matt has been at the top of the Les Mills world for a long time and in the view of many, is one of the best Body Pump presenters there is. He has spent time working in the USA, the UK, New Zealand, Australia, and most recently, he took on the role of Training Manager for Les Mills in China. Matt has firsthand knowledge of how China has been, not only dealing with the pandemic, but also how fitness has continued to grow and thrive during that time. You're going to hear Matt talk about his experience being an expat in China and watching what happened to the fitness industry in his home nation of the UK and around the world, as opposed to what he himself experienced while he was in China. Spoiler: You're going to be a little bit gutted about how quickly they got back to teaching. You're also going to hear Matt talk about how his priorities, when it comes to fitness, have changed, how the role of a group fitness instructor has changed during that time, and what he now looks for when he's recruiting his exceptional talent in China. I really enjoyed this conversation with Matt and hope you do, too!
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| Lift Yourself with Laura Biceps | 06 Jul 2021 | 01:05:09 | |
Have you ever felt like you don’t fit into a certain fitness ‘image’? Or have you struggled to find a place in fitness that really makes you feel great about yourself? Today on the show, I'm talking to good friend, Laura Hoggins. If you’re in the UK, you may know “Laura Biceps” already. She’s built a name for herself in the fitness industry by being authentically her. Laura has inspired a new generation of women to be proud of their strength - both inner and physical. But if you’re not a woman, don’t think this episode isn’t relevant to you. Everyone can learn a lot from Laura’s story! Laura has built an incredible online community of empowered followers, is the director of a top London boutique studio network and has an incredible knack for building communities that make people feel included and celebrated for their individuality. In a world that seems to praise you for ‘losing weight’ or ‘toning up’, that promotes 8-week shreds and beachbody challenges, Laura’s approach to health, fitness and body image is a breath of fresh air. This episode is full of great perspectives on body image, building a community, fitness business, and much more!
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| 5 Ways to Supercharge the Growth of Your Community | 22 Jun 2021 | 00:50:15 | |
As live Group Fitness comes back and we all start to breathe a sigh of relief, many of us might be very keen to ditch the online workouts we’ve been forced into over the past year. But if today’s guest is proof of anything, it’s that there’s so much value in having an online presence and it’s important to think long and hard about your long term strategy and goals when it comes to teaching Group Fitness. Today’s podcast guest is Corinne Blight. Corinne is the founder of Limitless Fitness & Nutrition. She’s been working in the fitness industry for nearly a decade as a Group Fitness Instructor, PT & Nutrition Coach, and since the start of the pandemic, she quickly pivoted and established an award- winning women's online group fitness community. Corinne has won many awards and been featured in a lot of different media publications. But how has she gone from not having an online presence a year ago, to being a super successful business owner with a very bright future and a sideline in the corporate space? Corinne has been wonderful to take us through how she did it, step by step, and I think you’re really going to enjoy this chat!
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| Is Your Governing Body Doing Enough for You? | 08 Jun 2021 | 00:48:52 | |
Welcome back to the new season of Group Fitness Real Talk! This season is going to be filled with a lot of hope and excitement for the future. There is still a long way to go in our collective journey to recovering from the pandemic, but I’m feeling really optimistic about the future and I hope you are too. In the first episode, we are getting the perspective of an area of the Industry that we haven’t covered on the podcast before and that’s regulatory bodies and national governing bodies for Group Fitness. Today I’m interviewing Sue Wilkie from EMD, the governing body for group exercise across the UK. Sue played a crucial role for Instructors during the pandemic, acting as their voice to government and she and the team at EMD worked incredibly hard, not only to support instructors, but also to ensure the Group Fitness industry was heard. Now I know many of you are not UK based, but no matter where in the world you are listening from, it’s likely you had a governing body that was doing very similar to what the EMD UK team have undertaken in the last year so it’s well worth a listen to this chat to gain a perspective on this side of the Industry. Now onto my chat with Sue... Links mentioned in this episode:
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| How To REIGNITE Your Passion for Teaching | 06 Apr 2021 | 00:53:20 | |
Today on the podcast we are tackling the million dollar question of how to re-discover your passion and happiness in life and to help me answer this, I’m excited to welcome back Sacha Coburn to the show. Sacha first appeared in episode 7 of the podcast but she is such a wealth of knowledge I just had to get her back on. In this episode, Sacha is going to help you to understand the four key areas of your life that contribute to achieving ‘flow’. Many of us neglect one or more of these areas, and by doing that we are depriving ourselves of achieving that brilliant purpose - and believe me you don’t want to miss out on this as nothing feels better! But if this all sounds a little ‘too-hard basket’, don’t worry as she’s also going to give you some brilliant but simple tactics to help you get there. I strongly believe that right now is the perfect time to focus on YOU, so I urge you to keep an open mind during this episode and take the time to really reflect on where you are right now and what changes you could make to reignite that passion! Also - make sure you listen right to the end of the podcast as I’ve got a really exciting opportunity that I can’t wait to share with you - trust me, you don’t want to miss this! Now onto my chat with Sacha... Links mentioned in this episode:
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| What's Your Instructor Superpower? | 30 Mar 2021 | 00:16:13 | |
In a world with almost unlimited options for fitness, the one thing that you have to differentiate yourself is that you're unique. We have been conditioned to work on our weaknesses, but by doing this we neglect the strengths that makes us special. We at SH1FT believe that every instructor has a superpower and by embracing it, you can become a better teacher. In this podcast, Will talks about instructor superpowers, and he’s going to take it really high level with the intention of starting a conversation and a process for self-reflection that we think will really help you to develop and hone your skills in a way that will make you better at not only leaning into your unique strengths, but also to start understanding what your weaknesses might be. PLUS - to make this topic even easier to digest, we’ve created a quiz! In a few simple questions, we’ll help you identify your superpower and give you some actionable strategies to SUPERcharge your teaching performance. You can take the quiz right here: Enjoy this solo episode with Will! Links mentioned in this episode: | |||
| The Future of Fitness: What You Need To Know | 23 Mar 2021 | 00:59:22 | |
While we may not be zooming around in flying cars just yet, perhaps we can all agree that the future is here and technology is changing our lives at a faster rate than ever before. Whether you love or hate technology, there is no doubt that it has and will continue to have a big impact on the Group Fitness industry, so you don’t have to love it, but you do NEED to be across it. In this podcast, you’re about to hear some big, bold predictions about what is coming just around the corner in the fitness industry. We’re talking wearables, augmented reality, heads up displays and real time class performance data fed directly into your 5g enabled contact lens. Full sci-fi fiction territory. Today’s guest is Ian Mullane, an AI expert and the CEO of Keepme. He has pulled together a really interesting white paper entitled ‘The Fitness Future: Rules of Engagement’, which looks at how tech can improve gyms’ businesses not just in the future but now using AI, AR, 5G, and personalisation. As a former club operator, Ian brings an interesting perspective to the discussion of what comes next in fitness. If this talk of AI and the future has got you a bit concerned - relax. You don’t need to be a tech expert to succeed in the future of fitness. Ian provides some simple, actionable tips that every fitness instructor can follow (regardless of tech abilities) to get ahead of the inevitable changes that are coming to not just our industry, but everyday life.
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| Pre & Postnatal Fitness - What Every Instructor Should Know | 28 Feb 2023 | 00:56:49 | |
As a GX Instructor, you’ve undoubtedly had pre and postnatal people in your classes. This is why it's important to have a solid foundational knowledge in how to provide these members with a safe and effective workout. In this episode, Will speaks to Danielle Spangler, an industry expert on pre and postnatal fitness. Danielle has written many articles for fitness journals and education outlets about this very topic. Not only is she a GX Instructor herself, but she also owns a studio, Beach Life Fitness Boutique, as well as COREMOM Fitness, specializing in prenatal, postpartum, and women’s health and fitness. In this chat, Danielle is breaking down some of the things that can happen during each stage of pregnancy and postpartum, some of her observations from working in this field for a long time, and ways that you, as an Instructor, can make your classes more helpful, safe, and welcoming for people who are pre and postnatal. We also talk about why this is a great niche for more GX Instructors to explore. Before we get into the episode, please always ensure that a pre or postnatal member of your class has their doctor's clearance before partaking in exercise. And with that said, have a listen and enjoy this information packed episode with Danielle!
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| The BIG Thing Many Group Fitness Classes Are Lacking | 16 Mar 2021 | 00:14:23 | |
This week on the podcast, Will talks about a principle that is close to his heart and forms a big part of his approach to fitness. That principle is novelty. Novelty, by definition, is the quality of being new, original or unusual and is incredibly important if you want to train for longevity in fitness. But it’s also a concept that is often lacking in Group Fitness classes. Now, in the Instagram age, the term ‘novelty’ can sometimes foster negative connotations - think fit-fluencers who do kettlebell swings on a swiss ball in a headstand. But that’s definitely NOT what this episode is about! In this episode, Will explains why novelty is so important for exercise, staying fit for life, and overall happiness. He also shares how Group Fitness Instructors can incorporate more novelty into their classes, whether you freestyle, or pre-program. Enjoy this solo episode with Will!
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| 5 Teaching Tips from an Indoor Cycling Master | 09 Mar 2021 | 01:10:57 | |
Unless you've been living under a rock, you have probably noticed the huge transformation of the indoor cycling sector over the last decade. Just a few years ago, peloton didn't exist. Soulcycle was a crazy fad, and performance metrics were reserved for competitive cyclists. Flash forward to today and indoor cycling is everywhere. And there was a style for everyone. From dancing on a bike to hot out metrics and leaderboards. indoor cycling has evolved hugely.
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| Is Diversity Really That Important? | 02 Mar 2021 | 01:01:43 | |
Diversity and inclusion. Two incredibly important concepts, but also two words that can cause a lot of emotion, confusion, apprehension and fear of judgement. As a leader and voice in the Group Fitness space, I feel it’s my responsibility to champion diversity and inclusion across the Instructor community, and for you as Instructors, I strongly believe you have an important role to play in championing diversity and inclusion across your classes. But that doesn’t mean I or you will always get it right. But rather than not trying at all through fear of missing the mark, how can we approach this subject in a way that acknowledges and respects everyone's differences whilst also being authentic to you and your beliefs? In today’s podcast, I’m tackling this topic with Rodney Morris. Rodney is the founder of myfitpod and the workplace culture workout, and has been leading voice in the talent, culture and diversity space for a number of years. Rodney breaks down this sensitive subject in a really great way, and I personally found it incredibly helpful. Diversity comes in so many forms in Group Fitness - race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, body image. I want you to keep an open mind whilst listening to this episode and think about how you approach diversity and inclusion within your community - no judgement, fear or worry, just observation because it’s with a learning mindset, that we really can grow as a community together... | |||
| The 3 Biggest Business Mistakes Group Fitness Instructors Make | 23 Feb 2021 | 00:41:26 | |
Over the past 12 months, Instructors have been forced to completely rethink the way we teach. We’ve been forced to wear more ‘hats’ than we ever have before. Not only are we the Instructor, but we also have to be the tech set-up, the marketeer, hone our digital delivery all whilst also acting as a rock to our class goers to help them through this tough time. It’s a lot! And when you’re doing it on your own and feeling WAY out of your comfort zone, it’s easy to fall into some traps or make some mistakes along the way. Today on the show, I have host of the Fitpros Connect Group, Kelly Coulter. And Kelly is here to talk about the three biggest business building mistakes that Instructors make when they start out teaching online. Now you’ve probably made a load of mistakes - maybe your video cut out half way through a class one day, maybe you sent the wrong link to your class goers. We’ve all been there and these and these mistakes are all part of the cause - they won’t make or break your business. But there are some BIG mistakes, that we see many Instructors falling foul to, that if not dealt with, could mean an end to your teaching career. Kelly explains these mistakes, but also gives tips on what you should be doing instead. And what we love about the focus of these tips are - it’s all about keeping it simple and doing the things that are going to have the biggest impact on your revenue. | |||
| Hitting the Pandemic Wall | 16 Feb 2021 | 00:22:01 | |
This week on the podcast, I'm going to address an issue that I'm hearing more and more from instructors in the Northern Hemisphere. And that is that while they've persevered for a long time during the pandemic, maintaining a positive attitude, being open to virtual, creating community, doing everything they can to bring their classes joy and exercise during lockdowns, numbers in virtual classes are falling. It's harder to get people in. And it's more of a struggle than ever for instructors to keep on trucking.
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| Having the Confidence to be Unique with Ellen de Werd | 09 Feb 2021 | 00:54:52 | |
Do you often worry about what people think of you? Or been concerned people might judge you for a certain aspect of your life or your body image? These are all difficult, but common things for humans to feel, and they can be even more exaggerated for us as Group Fitness Instructors, as by nature of our jobs, we are putting ourselves in front of people every day, and that can make us feel very vulnerable. Today on the show, I’m speaking to Ellen de Werd, former Beachbody Master Trainer, and creator of the Warrior Method. Ellen opens up very honestly about how she got into fitness, the struggles she had to overcome and also her constant friction between becoming comfortable in her skin and worrying that others would judge her for her decisions. Ellen has had some challenging moments and has gone through an amazing personal journey to get to where she is today. But what is really inspiring about Ellen's story, is that by allowing herself to free her mind from the worry of others judgement, she was able to become the person she wanted to be, and in doing so, has created a life and fitness career where she feels truly happy and fulfilled.
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| The Year of 'AND' w/ Shannon Fable | 02 Feb 2021 | 00:54:20 | |
2021 is the year of ‘and’...but what does that mean? Well, here to explain more, is this week's podcast guest Shannon Fable. Shannon has been IDEA ACE Instructor of the Year and has spent more than two decades helping impressive brands such as Anytime Fitness, Schwinn and Bosu fitness business and programming consultant. She has a lot of expertise to share and I was super excited to have her on the podcast this week. So what does the year of ‘and’ actually mean? Shannon explains this further and also how she believes the key to success in fitness this year is having a cooperative and collaborative mindset. If we all stop competing and comparing ourselves to one another and instead work together we can achieve not only individual success but also the collective goal of getting as many people as possible active - which we can all agree is the reason most of us love what we do! Shannon provides some awesome actionable tips on how you can open your mind to the opportunities in the fitness industry and ensure you play a pivotal role in the fitness journey of your class goers. It’s a great talk and I really hope you love it...
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| Understand Your Value: The 5 Things Every Instructor Must Know | 26 Jan 2021 | 00:51:42 | |
Are you making smart decisions today that will set you up for the next 5, 10 or 20 years? When we are go, go, go it’s very easy to get caught in the moment, but now, more than ever, it's really important to take the time out to sit back and reflect on where you are at and where you want to be in future. Today on the podcast, I’m excited to welcome Barbara Brodowsky. Barb has dealt with some big career and life changes in the last couple of years, including losing her ‘dream job’ that have challenged her and really forced her to think about what is most important to her. And today, she’s here to share all of her wisdom with you! Barb’s got five very wise tips that will help you to ensure you are getting the most out of your current role but that will also help you to future-proof your career and carve out the future YOU want. I guarantee there is something in here to help everyone! Links mentioned in this episode:
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| Overcoming Imposter Syndrome and Growing Your Audience with The Martinez Brothers | 19 Jan 2021 | 00:47:36 | |
Have you managed to make it through 2020 but feel like you are just holding on? Maybe you’re feeling a bit lost or unmotivated about how to grow your Group Fitness Business in 2021. Or are you rearing to go and looking for some tips that will help you in your journey? No matter how you are feeling right now, today’s episode should prove useful. My guests today are brothers abd business parnters Chris and X Martinez - these guys have a great story. Their background is as PTs, but they have since launched a coaching business for fitness professionals. They have gone on to help 1,000s of fit pros build their own successful and businesses and they are here on the podcast today with their top tips for success. We cover everything from self-limiting beliefs and re-framing your mindset, to more practical tips like how to price your offering and how to win more clients. Definitely worth having a pen and paper handy as you’ll want to write some of these tips down! | |||
| 3 Key Predictions for Group Fitness in 2021...And How to Capitalise on Them | 12 Jan 2021 | 00:25:57 | |
In the fitness industry of 2020, just staying afloat was an achievement in itself. But as we move into 2021 with hope of a more optimistic future, now is a great time to focus on the changes that have happened and how they have altered the fitness industry forever. So how do we try to get back to a place where we all feel a bit more comfortable and what exactly will this new normal look like this year? In this podcast, Will is sharing three key predictions, as well as some actionable tips to ensure you maximize these opportunities to your advantage. | |||
| What Instructors NEED To Know About Social Media | 25 Jan 2023 | 00:49:33 | |
Today on the podcast, I'm talking with Rachel Holmes about all the things Instructors NEED to know about showing up on social media in 2023. Rachel is both a fixture in the UK fitness circuit and also smashing it on social media right now, so I really wanted to pick her brain and get her top tips for GX Instructors. Rachel is a seasoned fitness professional who transitioned from being a BMX champion (yes, you read that right) to a fitness Instructor, and is now teaching fitness professionals how to monetize their knowledge and build recurring income. In this week's episode, Rachel gets REAL about:
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| Real Talk with a Beachbody Supertrainer w/ Joel Freeman | 22 Dec 2020 | 00:55:22 | |
I was so excited to have Joel Freeman on the podcast this week! Joel is a Beachbody Super trainer, a Group Fitness legend and an all round great guy! Joel has the dream job that many Group Fitness Instructors would love - but it wasn’t pure chance or luck that got him there. Today Joel and I discuss how he went from working the graveyard shift on reception at a local gym to being a Group Fitness Superstar. There was a lot of hard work, grafting and perseverance along the way and Joel also has some great tips to share and some brilliant insight into a day in the life of a super trainer! Joel and I also touch on another issue that’s really important, and one we covered in depth in episode 5 of the podcast and that’s body image. From talking to Joel, and also from my own experiences and struggles with body image, what our conversation reiterates is that it doesn’t matter whether you are in a smaller, bigger, rounder or leaner body - body image issues can affect everyone - even those you least expect. Enjoy my conversation with Joel! | |||
| From Group Fitness Instructor to Gym Owner & New Mother (During A Pandemic) | 16 Dec 2020 | 00:51:37 | |
Imagine having your first baby, opening your first fitness business and dealing with a global pandemic all within the space of a few weeks. This was the reality back in March for today’s podcast guest, Kate Slee. In today’s episode, we talk about what it’s like to start your own fitness studio, dealing with finding out you are going into lockdown on the day that studio is due to open and finally - fitness whilst pregnant and with a newborn. Kate is a self-proclaimed fitness addict, so for anyone who has been through or is considering a pregnancy, Kate shares some brilliant lessons she learnt through the process and how her relationship with fitness has changed because of it. Kate doesn’t do things by halves and her ambition, drive and optimism is truly inspirational. I hope you enjoy my chat with Kate!
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| Music in Fitness Classes - Why All The Rules? | 08 Dec 2020 | 00:50:58 | |
Music is a topic that I get asked about A LOT from Instructors. It’s always been a complex topic, but with the rise of teaching virtually this year, everything Instructors thought they knew about music rights was flipped on its head. And that’s exactly why today's podcast episode is dedicated to the subject.
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| Learning from UK's Biggest Gym Chain | 01 Dec 2020 | 01:03:00 | |
How does the UK's biggest gym chain approach Group Fitness? What are the differences between low cost Group Fitness and the rest of the market? In this week's podcast, I’m talking to Dave Cross, Group Fitness Manager for Pure Gym, the UK's biggest gym chain. We talk about how they approach programming, being a low cost provider, what formats they focus on and how they empower their staff to teach Group Fitness. And finally, we touch on how they pivoted when lockdown hit - and I think Dave’s approach to this is up there with the best I’ve seen from anyone! This is the first time we’ve looked into the low-cost segment of the market, which makes up a HUGE portion of fitness. It’s a really interesting perspective, and, if you’re a very experienced Instructor, quite different to what you might be used to. Enjoy the episode! Links mentioned in this episode:
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