Emma Barry explores how we are rediscovering the lost art of teaching rhythmically in group exercise.
From aerobics to HIIT training, we’ve watched group exercise evolve and adapted our teaching accordingly. However, with the growing popularity of coaching-based workouts, the art of teaching rhythmically – once a cornerstone of group exercise instruction – seems to have faded into the background.
I started in group exercise when rhythm-based classes like Step New Body, cycling and Bums-and-Tums were at their beat-by-beat best. Moving to music was in our blood and we invested hours to choreograph each class. We had a keen sense of timing; we could hear a beat, move to it, and cue participants ahead of the tempo changes to seamlessly transition between the movements, all while communicating to keep the class fun and participants engaged and motivated. There was a hell of a lot going on!
Today, you have to choose: the beat or the beep.
With the rise of performance-based workouts and online influencers, music became more of a motivational backing track rather than driving the experience. Instructors were like coaches, trading musical cues for the power of the numbers. Set-and-rep-driven classes or time-based workouts are alluring because they offer different performance satisfactions. The methodical approach of “10 burpees, 15 squats, 20 mountain climbers” or 20 seconds on, 10 seconds off (Tabata training) provides a roadmap to results without beat-based co-ordination. It’s precise and measurable – the perfect formula for progress for many. Other workouts focus on skill mastery, such as martial arts and Yoga, rather than moving in symphony.
The pandemic saw established group X instructors leave the profession, the frustration of delivering synched fitness experiences via Zoom and new professionals coming through without musicality skills. Teaching rhythmically was becoming a lost art.
However, group X continues to evolve and rhythm-based workouts are making a comeback, from a dance renaissance to hip-hop yoga and the new rhythm rides, which take upper-body choreography to a new level.
So, where do we find the next generation of rock star instructors? There are those from performance and art backgrounds or the many great talents we see on TikTok who synchronise movement to music. There will always be ripe recruitment from participants in the front row of the class. Others will need to learn these rhythmical skills with the help of technology to accelerate learning and class crafting.
Algorithms can help with music selection based on popularity (like the predictive power of Spotify), style, beat and genre, with apps like Struct Club to create classes to order. Instructors are the authors of the arc they create – a beginning, a middle and an end, complete with highs and lows, contrast and the element of surprise. It should have a challenging section, some recovery, and a beautiful bit at the end where we connect with the audience and give them something to think about for the day.
Beautiful human connection moments should be peppered throughout. The best instructors have nailed this. They’re charismatic and pull people in.
I’m so happy to see the revival of rhythm-based classes and encourage fitness instructors to master the art of teaching rhythmically. More than any other group exercise genre, these classes have the potential to motivate and inspire collectively. When done well, they provide a unique sense of joy – this is a one-time performance they can’t get anywhere else.
Explore more Group Ex expertise in this post on how to thrive as a group exercise instructor.
Emma Barry
Global fitness icon Emma Barry, a founding force behind Les Mills, co-founder of Good Soul Hunting and founder of Trouble Global, heralds CoverMe as the “Uber of fitness” – a game-changing app revolutionising the industry. You can find Emma on Instagram @emmabarry_gfa
