Answers (10)
1
Hi Maura,
your math is impeccable but I wonder how flexible you are scheduling time around your family when you teach every day of the year at least 3 group fitness classes.
Let me answer your questions first:
1. The rate per group class varies by geography but $25.00 is a reasonable assumption.
2. At least around here, there is no consideration for compensation at the front or back end of the classes.
3. 3.5 classes per day, 25 classes a week is an awful lot unless you can teach such a variety of modalities that you can just stand there and talk people through.
4. If the facility where you teach is okay with 5 people or less in class, then that's what it is. Most facilities have a policy that will cancel a group class if it has consistently less than a specified number of participants.
Another consideration: no facility would let you teach that much per week. It is simply too much of a risk. If you get sick (and, trust me, with that many classes to teach, you will), then the entire group exercise schedule is jeopardized. So you would have to teach in at least 3 facilities which means travel back and forth.
Is it worth it? Not in the way you put the question. Frankly, I have yet to see an instructor who teaches that much or makes that much off group exercise alone.
I look at the classes I teach more as a hobby than as a money making enterprise. I enjoy it a lot but I keep my commitments to only 2 classes a week and substitute for others if I can. It has also given me great exposure to a lot of people which has benefitted my personal training business.
I wish you best of luck with whatever path you choose. Being a group exercise instructor has many rewards but they are not primarily pecuniary.
your math is impeccable but I wonder how flexible you are scheduling time around your family when you teach every day of the year at least 3 group fitness classes.
Let me answer your questions first:
1. The rate per group class varies by geography but $25.00 is a reasonable assumption.
2. At least around here, there is no consideration for compensation at the front or back end of the classes.
3. 3.5 classes per day, 25 classes a week is an awful lot unless you can teach such a variety of modalities that you can just stand there and talk people through.
4. If the facility where you teach is okay with 5 people or less in class, then that's what it is. Most facilities have a policy that will cancel a group class if it has consistently less than a specified number of participants.
Another consideration: no facility would let you teach that much per week. It is simply too much of a risk. If you get sick (and, trust me, with that many classes to teach, you will), then the entire group exercise schedule is jeopardized. So you would have to teach in at least 3 facilities which means travel back and forth.
Is it worth it? Not in the way you put the question. Frankly, I have yet to see an instructor who teaches that much or makes that much off group exercise alone.
I look at the classes I teach more as a hobby than as a money making enterprise. I enjoy it a lot but I keep my commitments to only 2 classes a week and substitute for others if I can. It has also given me great exposure to a lot of people which has benefitted my personal training business.
I wish you best of luck with whatever path you choose. Being a group exercise instructor has many rewards but they are not primarily pecuniary.
0
Maura,
Karin answered the more direct questions re: pay and classes running. A few other items to consider beyond just the initial certification are continuing education, liability insurance, legal music selections, and your personal attire, etc., which if you are teaching 25 classes/week, you'd need to have quite a bit. You will also want to consider, as Karin mentioned above, that you'd have to teach at several facilities, as no facility (I'm a program director myself) will permit any one instructor to teach that much, so you'll need to consider gas/mileage/travel time, etc. On the other side of it, by being an instructor, you're generally going to save on a gym membership, as most facilities will provide that as a benefit of employment, and though when you teach you are there for your participants, you will in a sense be paid to workout (depending on the format, and how much demonstration you do vs. moving around the room).
But, to get to your point about the "worth" of being an instructor-you simply can't be a part of this profession if you're here just for the money-you won't last. You must be a part of it because you have a passion for it. You have to consider the value/reward of changing lives, as the impact that has on you is monumental. There are other ways to make money in the profession beyond teaching, like managing, or teaching beyond the fitness room, but that comes with experience and additional knowledge. As Karin mentioned, you may want to start with this as a "hobby" that you do in addition to work you may need to do for steady income until you can replace whatever you do now-but once you get the bug, everything will fall into place. When it's the right fit, you'll know!
Karin answered the more direct questions re: pay and classes running. A few other items to consider beyond just the initial certification are continuing education, liability insurance, legal music selections, and your personal attire, etc., which if you are teaching 25 classes/week, you'd need to have quite a bit. You will also want to consider, as Karin mentioned above, that you'd have to teach at several facilities, as no facility (I'm a program director myself) will permit any one instructor to teach that much, so you'll need to consider gas/mileage/travel time, etc. On the other side of it, by being an instructor, you're generally going to save on a gym membership, as most facilities will provide that as a benefit of employment, and though when you teach you are there for your participants, you will in a sense be paid to workout (depending on the format, and how much demonstration you do vs. moving around the room).
But, to get to your point about the "worth" of being an instructor-you simply can't be a part of this profession if you're here just for the money-you won't last. You must be a part of it because you have a passion for it. You have to consider the value/reward of changing lives, as the impact that has on you is monumental. There are other ways to make money in the profession beyond teaching, like managing, or teaching beyond the fitness room, but that comes with experience and additional knowledge. As Karin mentioned, you may want to start with this as a "hobby" that you do in addition to work you may need to do for steady income until you can replace whatever you do now-but once you get the bug, everything will fall into place. When it's the right fit, you'll know!
0
I think the answers above are excellent!
I would definitely encourage a certification, especially if you don't have a fitness/health related degree.
You would probably benefit from doing some research on the places you want to teach. Most places are probably going to require a certification and may have preferences on where the cert comes from. Also, gyms are going to have different payment systems. In my part of the country (Wyoming), instructors make less than half that $25 per hour fee as a starting wage. Some gyms will pay per hour, per class or a portion of the fees collected from registration (80/20 split etc.- a contract employee vs. hourly) We do pay our instructors 1.5 hours for an hour class, assuming they are here to set up/clean up etc. and we also pay them for a reasonable amount of planning time/making playlists etc./trainings etc. and other places won't pay for prep work at all.
I wish you the best of luck- I love teaching, and among the many things my job as a fitness coordinator requires, teaching is definitely my favorite!
I would definitely encourage a certification, especially if you don't have a fitness/health related degree.
You would probably benefit from doing some research on the places you want to teach. Most places are probably going to require a certification and may have preferences on where the cert comes from. Also, gyms are going to have different payment systems. In my part of the country (Wyoming), instructors make less than half that $25 per hour fee as a starting wage. Some gyms will pay per hour, per class or a portion of the fees collected from registration (80/20 split etc.- a contract employee vs. hourly) We do pay our instructors 1.5 hours for an hour class, assuming they are here to set up/clean up etc. and we also pay them for a reasonable amount of planning time/making playlists etc./trainings etc. and other places won't pay for prep work at all.
I wish you the best of luck- I love teaching, and among the many things my job as a fitness coordinator requires, teaching is definitely my favorite!
0
I guess the question, as Ashley suggests, comes down to what are you a group exercise instructor for. If it's $ you're in the wrong business, at least for most. Certifications should come from inside of you. They are not a marker of your value to others. They are a testament to you that you have worked to know as much as you can about what you do.
Take care.
Take care.
0
It really depends on what you would like to do. I was initially certified as a personal trainer and then got my specific format certifications (Turbo Kick, Hip Hop Hustle, and PiYo). I went on to teach these formats at a national chain gym without a group fitness certification or individual insurance. Pay was per class, no fractions of an hour or anything like that.
In any case, I still haven't gotten my group certification yet but I do plan on doing it to satisfy my own educational pursuits.
By the way, I would consider getting trained in a specific kind of class, like Zumba or Spin, so that you have something specific to offer that you like to do. Often group fitness directors are looking to fill holes in their schedule with classes that members want but they don't have yet (and step is still very popular).
So, figure out why you want this certification and go from there!
In any case, I still haven't gotten my group certification yet but I do plan on doing it to satisfy my own educational pursuits.
By the way, I would consider getting trained in a specific kind of class, like Zumba or Spin, so that you have something specific to offer that you like to do. Often group fitness directors are looking to fill holes in their schedule with classes that members want but they don't have yet (and step is still very popular).
So, figure out why you want this certification and go from there!
0
You have to really love it to do it.
Being about the pay is only a small part of why we teach!
if you decide to go for it yes, get certified by ACE or ACSM!!
Being about the pay is only a small part of why we teach!
if you decide to go for it yes, get certified by ACE or ACSM!!
0
well, now. I didn't know anyone could find employment in this industry without certification. You know, liability issues and all. Makes me wonder what the legal ramifications are for gyms/rec ctrs that hire people with no certification. What happens if someone gets injured due to an instructor not knowing music speed guidelines, etc?
0
Yes, if this is truly the field you want to be in. I teach Zumba and have been certified in pre/postnatal. It always feel good to say "BAM" yes I am a certified group fitness instructor and was before I taught Zumba. It adds credibility and knowledge that is invaluable.
0
Hi Maura. I agree with the other posters that if this is something that you're passionate about, then I'd say go for it! The rate you are paid per hour not only varies per region/state, but also, I'm assuming that by your calculations you are only considering your pay scale based on teaching classes for a gym or other organization. Something that you may want to factor into your calculations above is whether, as you gain more experience AND reputation as a group exercise instructor, you will either 1. begin to teach some classes on your own (thus making a MUCH higher hourly rate), and 2. with your experience, be able to command a higher hourly rate even at the gym over time.
Factor those two things in when making your decision!
Good luck!
The answer to your question depends a lot on a couple of factors: they type of group class that's involved, and the degree to which the instructor is an 'active participant.' For example, I train teams and small groups of athletes. Depending on the actual session involved (e.g. is it a weight training session, or something like a plyometric or speed training session) my active involvement varies. If I were to try to actively participate in several plyometric training sessions in a week, I might find myself injured, whereas if I'm merely supervising and/or demonstrating a weight training session, I may be able to do several of those in a week.
So, take a look at what type of group sessions you're talking about and see where that answer leads you.
Good luck, and stay healthy!
LaRue, CSCS
www.lecfitness.com
larue.cook@lecfitness.com
Factor those two things in when making your decision!
Good luck!
The answer to your question depends a lot on a couple of factors: they type of group class that's involved, and the degree to which the instructor is an 'active participant.' For example, I train teams and small groups of athletes. Depending on the actual session involved (e.g. is it a weight training session, or something like a plyometric or speed training session) my active involvement varies. If I were to try to actively participate in several plyometric training sessions in a week, I might find myself injured, whereas if I'm merely supervising and/or demonstrating a weight training session, I may be able to do several of those in a week.
So, take a look at what type of group sessions you're talking about and see where that answer leads you.
Good luck, and stay healthy!
LaRue, CSCS
www.lecfitness.com
larue.cook@lecfitness.com
0
Yes, I agree with everyone. My question to you is.....Have you been hired already? All the calculations you have done look great on paper and usually you have to prove yourself before any company will give that many classes. Start with one a week first to see if this is where you want to go.
AFAA is in most areas and good on the wallet. Go to AFAA.com to see where the Primary will be held near you. Sounds like you will be a great organized instructor. Good luck to you.
AFAA is in most areas and good on the wallet. Go to AFAA.com to see where the Primary will be held near you. Sounds like you will be a great organized instructor. Good luck to you.
