Class Essentials

Questions

What “go-to” items and class essentials do you keep in your backpack or duffle bag? What’s in your professional instructor “kit” and why?

From the Experts

Always Be Prepared

Steven Trotter, MS, director of well-being at East Carolina University and principal consultant at Globetrotter Wellness Solutions, Greenville, North Carolina.

Here are my go-to items:

• a mic belt, extra microphone windscreens and batteries
• a workout towel, water bottle and ibuprofen (for myself—haha!)
• a tech kit, including an iPhone charger, aux cord, aux cord adapter and HDMI cord
• a pair of extra socks (I  had to teach in dress socks once and learned my lesson!)
• deodorant and face wipes
• hand sanitizer

I operate with the mindset “always be prepared.” Remember: You never know when you might have a spur-of-the-moment opportunity to create a memorable movement experience.

See also: How to Design Successful Group Exercise Classes

Class Essentials and More

Stacey Lei Krauss, creator of CARDIO YOGA and an international presenter, Denver.

I teach fitness, yoga and meditation. Each session requires different equipment, so I carry it all—all the time. On those days when I feel that I overpacked my bag, I remind myself what it was like being an instructor in NYC in the early 2000s: walking everywhere and carrying a huge case of CDs on my back! 

Operational Class Essentials

Although my music is on my phone, I carry an iPod as my dedicated music source and use my phone as a backup. I always bring a wall charger, power cord and external (charged) battery pack. I’ve got an aux cord for when the Bluetooth doesn’t work and a backup dongle for my phone, as well as backup batteries for the house microphone.

I keep my class notes (new choreography) on an iPad. It’s great to expand the typing so that I can see it with an easy glance. The iPad also acts as a clock and HIIT timer. I keep the screen on “night shift,” with brightness very low, so it yields only a soft glow in dark yoga rooms.

Most microphone headsets are too big for my head, so I have a pouch of hair clips to affix the headset to my hair. My students laugh, but the mic sounds better when it’s not jostling all around!

I also bring two microphone windscreens to swap out since I wash them after every class and need a dry one. A pouch of antibacterial wipes to clean the microphone headset before and after use is important, too.

I carry a notebook and pen for last-minute inspiration, names, emails and details about students (such as injuries).

I never undervalue caring for my throat and voice. Using a microphone is important, but I also carry Ricola cough drops—and pop one in before class. The cough drops also come in handy if a student has low blood sugar and gets a little woozy.

I also carry a single-size serving of almond butter as a first-aid blood-sugar snack.

Raising the Bar

These are the extras—things that my students have come to love and the small details that set me apart:

• a deck of affirmation cards that students pull from prior to class
• two printed copies of a “moving mantra” that I tape to the mirror for my students to see
• a small bag of essential oils, which I typically anoint a special towel with so I can fan people at the end of class (eucalyptus is a crowd favorite)

Self-Care Must-Haves

These are essential items I carry for myself:

• a small hand towel
• hygiene products like deodorant
• dry underlayers
• hair ties
• a water bottle
• a postclass snack (typically a nut/berry mix or almond butter)

At the end of the day, students want a good experience. One of my favorite sayings since 2020 has been “be prepared, not scared.” These days, it applies in so many situations but certainly when it comes to in-person classes. I arrive to my session 20 minutes early with everything I need and just enjoy the experience—reminding myself how blessed I am to have (literally) the best job in the world.

See also: Self-Care for Fitness Professionals

Rule of Two

Jessica Maurer, director of operations and product at FIT4MOM^®, Winter Garden, Florida.

I love the “rule of two”: If something is going in the bag, I’m going to double it—that means two chargers, two mic packs, two changes of clothes, etc. While it can seem overwhelming or unwarranted, those backups have helped me and my teammates many times.

Here are the essential items I carry:

• a change of exercise clothes
• batteries (all sizes)
• a windscreen
• ChapStick
• a mic pack/belt
• a sweat towel
• a yoga mat
• deodorant
• a water bottle
• an extra phone/iPad
• snacks
• aux cords
• phone chargers
• first-aid supplies
• headphones
• cleaning wipes
• a book of class plans and notes