Posted on August 05, 2013 by Jenny Cromack

One thing about the fitness industry is that it is constantly changing. For better or for worse we have “new workout that is sweeping the country” or fitness craze every year, and everyone seems to be on that constant search to find the “next big thing”. For example, I received a text this week from the creator of a new workout looking for instructors to teach their “fun, fierce and flirty…..amazing dance fitness workout in heels”. Whilst this may be other people’s cup of tea, I only own one pair of heels, rarely wear them and when I do they are taken off my feet within 10 minutes of putting them on! So in this instance I will pass up the opportunity.

In all seriousness, it got me thinking. As an Exercise Instructor, I go on courses to keep my skills up to date and to ensure that I’m qualified to teach the next big thing – it’s how I keep ‘current’ and teaching in this industry. But how do I decide what the next big thing will be when everyone says their programme is it?

As a Group Exercise Co-ordinator and someone who manages timetables, with all these up and coming classes how do I decide what will work best on my timetable for my participants and which classes should I trial?

As a Class Participant how do you know which classes you and your friends should try, which ones you should steer clear of and which ones are really going to give you the type of workout you’re after?

For example, there are (and these are only the ones that I actually know of – there are probably more!):

Chair Based classes (and I’m not referring to the ones designed to increase flexibility and movement for the older population) – Miss Booty, Burlesque Chair Dance and Zumba Senato.

Bollywood Based classes: Bollywood Beats, Just Jhoom and Masala Bhangra Workout

Dance Fitness classes: Zumba, StreetFit, Bokwa, Sh’bam and Booiaka

Burlesque Based classes: Burlex Fitness and Burlesque Passion (or “Burlates” (I kid you not))

And of course those new Fitness Craze classes: Piloxing (Boxing, Pilates & Dance), Aerial Yoga, Kangoo Jumps, Ballroom Blitz, Barre Workouts (ballet fitness), Power Hoop and CrossFit.

It’s a plyometric jumping, kettlebell swinging, martial art mixing minefield! It’s enough to send those class loving participants (and instructors) running back to the treadmills and fixed weights machines – which would be a tragedy for the fitness industry.

So here’s my advice on how you choose what to do……it’s simple…..it’s all about the instructor.

When I took part in Piloxing in Blackpool, the instructor Viveca Jensen was just amazing. She filled the room with energy and motivation and passion. She WAS Piloxing.  I wanted to be her. I wanted to be in every class with her. With that much commitment and belief and enthusiasm in her programme, I had to become qualified to teach piloxing so I could be as passionate about it as she was and share it with people. Will it be the next big thing?

Honestly – ANY new programme has the potential to be great if the instructor is great. It may not be the next global big thing, but who cares – for the participant (and therefore, the programme), if the instructor is passionate about the class and what they are doing – it will be a big thing.

Kate