Gym Fitness for Women

Whats it like being a group fitness instructor?

I'm in the process of being certified to teach a cardio class called turbo kick. Any advice on what it's like teaching a group exercise class regularly? Positives? Negatives? Funny stories? Wages? Benefits? Hours of practice before going to teach a new class? Getting hired? Club perks? I'm looking to get all and any information avaliable to be most prepared!

Public Comments

1. i have been an instructor for 11 years now. i love it!! i have an agreement with the gym owner. as long as i pay him about $10 a month out of the money i bring in from classes, i can keep teaching. (i am the only instructor/trainer in my town) some nights i have only one person, and some nights i have too many to cram in our provided space. this is not something i could make a living on, especially in my small town. i do one-on-one personal fitness training and teach aerobics on the side, but i must work an additional job to make sure i can pay my bills. instructors/trainers income is never steady and sometimes just flat out stinks. the first of each year booms, with all the new years resolutions of people wanting to become physically fit and healthier. then, inevitably, your clientele dwindles down to sometimes none as the year goes on. that's the way it's always been around here in my small town, anyway. it all just depends on where you live. even when i worked as a personal trainer in a big city where the gym offered $15/hr plus commission, there was no health benefits and there was often alot of time between clients where i wasn't getting paid. training and instructing, even in big cities, is often just a side job, as the income fluctuates and is not always dependable. there are some health insurance companies that target people with these types of professions. i myself do not have any at the moment. i wish you the best of luck in your endeavors in the fitness field.