23 Apr 2025

How to Motivate a Group Fitness Class?

Great fitness instructors turn exhaustion into motivation. It’s your job to keep everyone pushing when the burn hits.

As a Group Fitness Instructor, your ability to motivate might be your most valuable skill. It's what turns first-timers into regulars and helps your clients get the results they show up for.

In this article, we'll show you how to motivate a class, no matter what your teaching style is or what kind of class you lead.

What does motivation really mean in group fitness?

Motivation in group fitness isn't just about shouting encouragements or playing upbeat music. It's about connecting with people and helping them work toward their goals.

Great motivation comes in many forms. Some Group Exercise Instructors are naturally high-energy while others motivate through their technical expertise or steady presence. You should lean into your natural personality while reading people’s needs, limits and motivations.

6 ways to motivate your group fitness class

Here’s how to keep your class engaged, challenged and coming back for more.

Know their why

You can’t motivate a class without understanding people’s intentions. Some come for health reasons, others for stress relief, community or just because they like starting their day with exercise. Since no two people are the same, you need to tap into these motivations by asking questions and casually chatting to people.

When you know why someone’s there, it becomes a tool for motivation. In tough classes, you can remind people why they showed up in the first place.

Create the right energy

The environment you create sets the foundation for motivation. This goes beyond just playing good music (though that helps). You need to create a physical space people want to be in.

Here are some tips to help you create a good vibe:

Music: Choose tracks that match the energy of the type of class.
Lighting: If you have control over it, adjust the lighting to suit the mood of the class.
Space: Arrange equipment and stations in a logical way.

If people like how they feel in a space, they’re more likely to keep showing up.

Master communication

How you talk to people during class can make or break motivation. Use simple language that people can process even when they’re tired, and throw in verbal motivation here and there. It also helps when people understand why they’re doing something — for example, explaining what muscle group an exercise targets.

Just keep in mind that different cues work for different people, so mix it up with technical instructions, visualisation and goal-oriented reminders.

Personalise your approach

Even in a group setting, finding small ways to personalise the experience can boost motivation. This doesn't mean sacrificing your attention to the class as a whole.

Learn names and use them during class — something as basic as "Great work, Sam," can really motivate.

Also, offer options for different fitness levels without making people feel singled out. Show the class the standard way of doing something, then offer an easier and harder variation for people at different levels.

Use the power of progression

Humans are naturally motivated by improvement. Helping people see their progress is one of the most powerful tools at your disposal.

Sometimes, people don’t feel like they’ve made an improvement until they can see it on their body. Keep track of non-visual progression cues, like how good someone’s form is or how many reps they can do, to remind them of how far they’ve come.

Show authentic passion

Passion is contagious — but it needs to be genuine. You don't need to be the most outgoing person or have the loudest voice to show you really care — it might come through in your attention to detail or the effort you put into planning your class.

Share what you love about the class you're teaching and why you believe in it. When you genuinely care about what you're sharing, motivation happens naturally.

How to build confidence to motivate

Reading the room and getting good at motivating takes time and practice. The more classes you teach, the better you'll understand what works for you and your class.

If you want to build confidence, there’s no better way than getting educated. A SIS30321 Certificate III in Fitness will teach you everything you need to create classes so good that they motivate people naturally.

Learn how to become motivational with AIPT's nationally recognised fitness courses. Or, if you want to talk through your options, call our Career Advisors at 1300 616 180 today.

22 Apr 2025

How to Be a Good Group Fitness Instructor?

Fitness

Leading a group fitness class isn't just about knowing the exercises — it's about creating an experience that people can't wait to come back to. In this article, we'll show you exactly what sets good Group Fitness Instructors apart.