If you were to ask me today what my advice would be to those new to teaching group exercise (or personal training), it would be to find a mentor! I was definitely floundering on my own during the first 3-4 years of my teaching. Looking back, finding a mentor to help guide me on my teaching journey would have been one of the most helpful experiences.

I still remember my first audition as a group exercise instructor. It had only been a month after I got my AFAA Group Exercise Certificate. I was auditioning for a class called “Kick n’ Jab” which involved cardio kickboxing interspersed with some jump rope intervals.

Looking back, I am very surprised I got the job. Even though I had passed my AFAA Group Exercise exam, I still didn’t have any “experience” in the group fitness world. Knowing what I do know now, some 15 years later, I wish that I had approached the instructors whom I was taking classes from – the ones who inspired me to get my certification to teach – and asked them for some advice before my first audition. Full disclosure: I had 3 people in my first group exercise class and none of them came back the rest of the month. And then the class was cancelled =(

I didn’t ask for guidance from other instructors, not because I thought I knew it all, but because I didn’t want to bother them outside of class by taking up their time to ask them questions. I was afraid of being annoying. Back then, YouTube wasn’t around so I was just trying to memorize what I observed in other instructors’ classes, or some DVDs I owned.

However, around 5 years ago, I started mentoring newer instructors…sort of by accident. By then, I had been teaching for a while, and several people who had been taking my classes regularly were interested and inspired to become instructors themselves. They didn’t hesitate to ask me for help, feedback and advice. I realized that it never bothered me when people asked me for help. I never thought they were a nuisance. In fact, I was 1) extremely flattered they even viewed me as a source of knowledge, and 2) extremely impressed at their desire to grow and learn as fitness professionals.

All the things that I learned on my own slowly over the years, I shared with them so that they wouldn’t make the same mistakes I made. I emphasized to them that it’s ok to make mistakes. It’s how you learn best. Just try really hard not to make the same mistakes repeatedly.

I highly recommend that all emerging fitness professionals seek out a mentor – someone they know and respect. And do not be afraid to ask for the “hard-to-hear” feedback. Personally, I’d rather know the reason why someone didn’t like my class, than be left wondering why that person never returned. In order to learn and improve, it’s very important to be open minded and to learn and take feedback from everyone around you – students, managers, other instructors, friends, family, colleagues. Only asking people who you know will give you a thumbs up won’t help you get far.

Do you have a mentor you want to give a shout-out to? Please do so in the comments below.