Shannon Fable's Articles

The fitness industry’s reach extends far and wide. In venues ranging from small studios in large cities to huge recreational centers in small towns, scores of people rel...

Whether you’ve been forced to overhaul your current communication strategy or you’re just making minor tweaks, it’s time to bring this column to a close. H...

Group fitness is the heartbeat of the facility, but not because of the blaring music or sweaty bodies. People exercise in groups for the motivation, accountability and energy ...

The previous three installments of this column have given you a bit to think about regarding your current communication situation. As the group fitness manager (GFM), you must...

The pathway beyond group exercise instruction and personal training is not exactly clear cut. Fitness professionals realize early on that adding classes and clients to their a...

Regardless of how big or small your role is as group fitness manager (GFM), your success depends primarily on how effectively you communicate with a diverse audience. Each emp...

As we discovered in the previous installment of this column, group fitness managers (GFMs) are the communication hub connecting instructors, upper management, owners, member...

Finding the key to effective communication within a fitness facility is a conundrum. With so many employees to manage, so many customers and potential customers to serve, and ...

Kettlebells, while not new, are quickly becoming the go-to training method for elevating functional workouts for a wide variety of clients. As long as both trainer and partici...

Despite the kettlebell’s rich history, dating back at least to the 1700s, there are many people who have not yet heard of this tool. Only recently has the product caught...

Group fitness has an amazing capacity to provide enthusiasm, instruction, camaraderie and fun all in one place. But if our mission is to Inspire the World to Fitness®, our te...

The new year usually brings with it people eager—yet again—to start their yearly quest for health and fitness, after waistlines have expanded and fitness levels ha...

You’d like to purchase a new product or start a new class or group exercise program. You’ve explored the position of group exercise within the facility’s bigger picture;...

Once you’ve done your research, you’re ready to ask upper management for what you want.

Our past three columns provided base knowledge of budgeting and showed you how to create a C.A.S.E. in order to move closer to getting what you want and need. One thing you mu...

In the January 2009 issue, this column uncovered ways for you to research new programs and products and use the information to make your C.A.S.E. (Consider, Analyze, Strategiz...

Group fitness instructors and personal trainers: are you looking for the next step in your career? If so, you might be interested in moving into management. This move coul...

Group fitness managers: before you beg your general manager (GM) for new products or programs, gather the financial facts to back up your request. Quite often we lack the tool...

In the last column, we reviewed how to research and plan programming and product needs for your facility. Now it’s time to take this information and focus on how to ...

Let’s face it: not many of us went to college with the primary intention of becoming a group fitness manager (GFM). In fact, not many of us even knew the job existed unt...

Have you ever taken a step back, stumped at someone else’s success in the shadow of your failure, and wondered, “What does she have that I don’t?” Many fitness pro...

Every time we turn around, there’s a new piece of equipment to master and throw into our already overflowing fitness toy boxes. Whether you are looking for new pro...

Millions of people around the world participate in prechoreographed group fitness programs. The popularity of these classes can’t be ignored, and the instructors must be doi...

By mid-March, most of the “New Year’s resolution members” have vanished. The beach-bound bodies, once focused on shaping up before spring break, have come an...

Indoor cycling’s popularity is due to a combination of many factors. Almost anyone can do it—regardless of fitness level, age or body type. Recreational cycling&rs...

One solution is to view your group fitness department as a business. Review your definition of teamwork and develop your team’s belief in the greater good. Learn how to ...

A properly designed indoor cycling program can enhance cardiovascular health, regardless of age or ability level. But you must integrate various intensity levels to get the mo...