when teaching small group training classes, 3-5 participants, who you are
when teaching small group training classes, 3-5 participants, who you are putting thru a full body workout including warm up, each major muscle group, and cool down, do you demonstrate all exercises before class begins, or do you show clients how to perform each exercise as you go along? I feel like clients would have shorter rest periods if they were shown all of the exercises before class begins, but clients can forget how exercises are performed when there are 8 -10 exercises they need to know.
Hi Melissa. I always demo any new exercises right before the participants do that particular exercise. In my opinion, trying to show ALL of the exercises for a class before the class begins will NOT truly save you time, because I would bet anything that you would then need to again show the particular exercise before they performed it (either that or answer a lot of questions about the exercise they are about to perform) since the likelihood is that they would have forgotten your exercise cues and form.
LaRue, CSCS
www.lecfitness.com
Hi Melissa,
If you are talking about boot camp style class, then I always perform the exercises right before I ask the participants to do them. Of course, if needed, you can always coach them through each exercise to make sure they are performing each one safely. Inevitably, someone will forget the exercise, so be prepared to demonstrate again should questions arise. This obviously happens more often if you have a new participant or introduce a new exercise to the group.
I hope this helps.
Best,
Harris
Hi Melissa,
while the concept of shorter rest periods is appealing, the use of correct form should still be the paramount principle. I would demonstrate as I go along.
Karin Singleton
www.meltnc.com